With hindsight, I realise I played with a world star: France-Turkey marked by Zidane and Bordeaux reunion

Zidane returns to Bordeaux as France manager for Nations League qualifier against Turkey, his first official match in the city since leaving as a player in 1996.

Zinédine Zidane will manage France against Turkey on Sunday evening at the Stade Atlantique in Bordeaux for a Nations League quarter-final qualifier, marking his first official return to the city since his departure in 1996. Zidane spent four formative seasons at Girondins de Bordeaux from 1992, arriving at age 20 after his formation at Cannes and developing into a world-class talent under coach Rolland Courbis.

Former teammate Laurent Croci, who played 123 matches alongside Zidane at Bordeaux, reflected on those early years: "Obviously, you could see straight away he was brimming with talent. He did things in training with his feet that most of us couldn't do with our hands. He was a magician." Croci added: "Looking back, I realise I played with a world star."

At his pre-match press conference, Zidane expressed sadness at Bordeaux's current plight—the club nearly disappeared from the map and has since dropped to regional division. "It's sad. I was a player there, I played European football. I hope the club finds its way with the new owners and little by little we see Girondins back at the top," he said.