What tactic does Zinedine Zidane use?

Zinedine Zidane used counter-attacking philosophy.

What formation does Zinedine Zidane play?

Zinedine Zidane mainly uses the 4-3-3 formation.

What is Zinedine Zidane's playing style?

Zinedine Zidane's playing style involves playing a counter-attacking football.

How many trophies Zinedine Zidane has won?

Zinedine Zidane has won 11 trophies across his career as a manager

Who is Zinedine Zidane? Learn About His Transformative Tactics

Basil BenoyPublished : Dec 01, 2025, 06:41 AM

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Zinedine Zidane has been a household name in football’s modern era. Zidane cemented his status as a manager after revitalising Real Madrid, winning the Champions League three times. He also became the first manager in football history to win three consecutive UEFA Champions Leagues. Zidane's role in the club was more focused on creating results and uniting the dressing room, rather than having fixed tactics. His tactical philosophy has been praised by many, characterized by their formation flexibility and attacking football. Zidane’s team focused on attacking through the flanks, with him being credited for repopularising the 4–4–2 diamond formation. In this Zinedine Zidane tactical analysis, we break down how the former Real Madrid boss made his name and what separates him from the rest.

Zinedine Zidane Bio

Zinedine Zidane was born in 1972 in Marseille, France. Zidane was considered one of the greatest midfielders to grace the game. Across his illustrious career spanning 17 years, the French midfielder represented Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid. He also had played a pivotal role for the French national team, playing an instrumental role in France’s 1998 World Cup victory, with him scoring two goals in the final. He also captained the side in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He was a decorated player, having won multiple league titles across different countries and the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid.
He retired in 2006. He served various roles, including becoming Real Madrid’s sporting director in 2011. In 2014, he was announced as the head coach of Real Madrid Castilla, the side’s B team. In January 2016, Zidane was announced as the head coach of Real Madrid. He had two stints at the club - 2016/18 and 2019/21. His stint at the club was considered as one of the most successful for a manager. He managed to win 11 trophies with the side, which included three consecutive UEFA Champions Leagues, a feat only achieved by him. Currently, he is out of coaching; however, he is considered as a top contender for the head coach role of the France national team after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Field	Info
Full Name	Zinedine Yazid Zidane
Date of Birth	23 June 1972
Current Team	None
Major Achievements	UEFA Champions League, LaLiga, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup
Clubs Managed	Real Madrid Castilla, Real Madrid
Coaching Philosophy	Counter-Attacking

Zinedine Zidane Bio

Zinedine Zidane's Tactics and Style of Play

Zinedine Zidane’s Tactics are built on the system of utilising the strengths of his players. He mainly used the 4-3-3 system, where he deployed three midfielders. The midfield trio consisted of a defensive anchor and two playmakers, with the aim of controlling the tempo of the game. Zidane encouraged his full-backs to push forward to provide width in attack and to stretch the opposition defence. His team focuses on quick transitions to take advantage of the open spaces in opposition defence. He requires his teams to supply the ball to the forwards in dangerous areas, who then utilise their skills to convert chances. During his first stint, he built the attack around Cristiano Ronaldo, using his goal-scoring ability to the maximum advantage. Zidane was also considered a tactically flexible manager, with him using formations like 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 diamond during his stint at the club.

Zinedine Zidane Tactics Comparison & Evolution: Real Madrid (2016/18) vs Real Madrid (2019/21)

Zinedine Zidane’s tactics at Real Madrid across his two stints were differentiated due to the absence of one player - Cristiano Ronaldo. Zidane primarily utilized a flexible 4-3-3 formation. He also used a 4-4-2 diamond formation during some matches. The style was defined as dynamic, with the team focusing on quick transitions. The system was largely built to maximize Cristiano Ronaldo's goal-scoring ability. Karim Benzema's movement was crucial in creating space for Ronaldo. Full-backs Dani Carvajal and Marcelo were vital attacking outlets, providing width and delivering crosses to the box. In midfield, Casemiro provided defensive balance, allowing Modrić and Kroos to control the tempo and dictate play.

The defence, controlled by Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, provided stability.
The second spell saw a big shift in tactics as the team were slowly adapting to the post-Ronaldo era. The team became more pragmatic and defensive, with the team only conceding 25 goals in the 2019/20 season, the 4th best defensive record during that season. Karim Benzema became the team’s main striker, with the goal-scoring charts dominated by various players. The biggest shift was in the defence. Full-backs didn’t advance, which allowed Real Madrid to regain possession in deeper areas. At times, Zidane pushed Casemiro forward to support the attack. Zinedine Zidane demonstrated his adaptability by prioritising results and defensive solidity over the free-flowing attacking style during his first stint.

Zinedine Zidane Trophies and Achievements as a Manager

Zinedine Zidane is one of the very few to have a successful career as both a player and a manager. He is also one of the successful managers in the club’s history, having won 11 trophies, making him the 2nd most successful manager for the club. He won an incredible 3 consecutive UEFA Champions Leagues, the first ever manager to achieve this feat. He also won two La Liga titles, the Spanish Super Cups, UEFA Super Cups, and FIFA Club World Cups with the side. Here is the list of Zinedine Zidane trophies cabinet in his managerial career.

Competitions	Achievements	Year/Season
UEFA Champions League	3	2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
LaLiga	2	2016/17, 2019/20
Supercopa de España	2	2017, 2020
UEFA Super Cup	2	2016, 2017
FIFA Club World Cup	2	2016, 2017

Zinedine Zidane Trophies

How Does Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid Lineup Look Like?

Zinedine Zidane tactics in his final stint at the club involved maintaining an oragnized defence structure and counter-attacking through the spaces created in the oppostion defence. Zidane mainly employed the 4-3-3 formation. At times, he has also used the 4-5-1 and 3-5-2 formations. Thibaut Courtois, an excellent shot-stopper, formed the base of his formation. One of the major tactical changes was the purchase of Ferland Mendy to replace Marcelo, as the manager gave more focus to defensive stability. Dani Carvajal completed the full-back position. Raphaël Varane and Sergio Ramos formed the central defence. Casemiro, Modric and Kroos formed the midfield trio. After Cristiano Ronaldo left, Zidane promoted Benzema as the main striker, making him the focal point of the attack. He was accompanied by Vinicius Jr and Marco Asensio in both flanks.

Real Madrid Starting 11 (2020/21) - Courtois; Mendy, Ramos, Varane, Carvajal; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Vini Jr, Benzema, Asensio