Zidane’s Son To Make His International Debut…For Spain.

March 24th, 2009 | by: chris |

Yes, you read that headline correctly. Now try and soak it in. Try and soak in the fact that France’s greatest ever footballing export will see his son pull on the rival international colors of the hottest car in the showroom at the moment.

Enzo Zidane was born in France, when papa was merely a fresh debutant for Les Bleus and still a ways off from being thought of as the (second?) greatest footballer of his generation. When dad moved to Torino and then off to Madrid, Enzo tagged along, as you’d expect. The family still lives in Madrid – eight years now – and Petit Zizou, the real one, is playing for Real Madrid’s youth team, and thus Enzo has decided that he would rather play for Spain, the country which produced his maternal grandparents.

Now this is only U-15 and there’s nothing to say he’ll actually get the opportunity to contemplate reversing his choice in nationality and if he does get that opportunity, which he would choose as his senior country.

There are precedents, of course, but none with a papa of Zinedine’s stature. The closest one can come is actually another Spaniard, Bojan, whose Serbian father played in Spain and whose mother is Spanish. Only difference there is that Bojan was actually born inside the walls, whereas Enzo was born in France.

Enzo might turn out to be nothing more than the next Jordi Cruijff – which isn’t all that bad, mind you, but papa he is not – or the next Diego Maradona bastard, but this must still sting a great deal for France as the true heir to the throne as “Next Zizou” and the son of its greatest ever player chooses what is currently the greener grass.

International Football News – World Cup Blog RSS Feed

Michel-Olivier

evra and viera play for france, why not enzo for espana
http://community.livejournal.com/zidanefans/ Talia

Are you sure he’s been called up to the Spain Under 15’s?? As far as I can tell he was called up back in February (along with another boy from his Real Madrid Infantil A team) to represent all MADRID teams in the Seleccion Madrileña competing in the Campeonato de Espana. At the same time, other boys from other Real Madrid teams were called up for the Seleccion Española competing in International matches. This was all posted on the Real Madrid website back when it was announced. The Spanish articles all say he is representing the MADRID selection; they don’t say the SPANISH selection. The French press is in a tizzy over this though assuming he is being called up for Spain and calling it a sacrilege. Does anybody have any more current information?
Aaron

NOOOOOO! Thats awful. Michel-Olivier,Evra and Viera’s respective fathers did not achieve the title of greatest footballer in the world while playing for Senegal, nor did they ever. The horrible thing about this is how ironic it is. At least he’s not playing for Italy.
LeChefLaurent

YEAH!!!…BUT…can he headbutt????
sandrahn

Chris, Enzo’s mother is Spanish, he is therefore half Spanish and has lived most of his life in Spain: 8 years of it. Doesn’t surprise me that you’re not aware of that. Big freaking deal! Anyone who’s paid any attention to Zidane’s career and family life knew about Enzo being in Real Madrid’s youth academy for some time now and that if he were ever to play for any country it would very likely be SPAIN not France, so this is absolutely nothing new, nor is it a big deal. Those of us who’ve paid attention would be very surprised to see him play for France since that is a country he only visits to see his paternal grandparents.
Bobo

^ Actually, sandrahn, Enzo’s mother is French. Her parents were from Spain. Can’t say I blame the French for getting worked up at the possibility of a child born in France to French parents playing for Spain. But before this becomes some sort of a crisis situation, he’s not his father and chances are that he will only ever watch Spain from a couch. Who really cares?
Alan

Yet another indignity suffered by France. Put it with the others.
jeanpierre

might be a great loss or not but I still want all the little zidanes to play for france, what about the other zidanes? are they playing for spain too? say no