Zinedine Zidane Reveals the Story Behind Choosing Jersey No. 5 at Real Madrid

When Zinedine Zidane made his highly anticipated move to Real Madrid in 2001, fans were surprised to see the French legend opt for the no. 5 jersey at the Bernabeu, a departure from the no. 21 he wore at Juventus. In an exclusive interview with Adidas, Zidane shed light on the story behind this unexpected change.

Zidane explained that Real Madrid’s president at the time, Florentino Perez, was not a fan of larger jersey numbers. According to Zidane, Perez remarked, “’20, 30 – that’s not football, that’s American football.’ I said, ‘Alright, I’ll take the five then.'”

Taking over the iconic no. 5 jersey from Manolo Sanchis, who had defended the club colors for 18 years, Zidane instantly made the number his own and added to its legacy. The no. 5 became synonymous with Zidane’s grace, skill, and influence on the pitch during his time at Real Madrid.