Dominique Sévérac prefers Platini over Zidane for the French legend

In the RTL studios, the microphone captures the breath of a summer in which France has appointed its former number ten as head coach. Zinédine Zidane, 1998 World Cup and 2000 European champion, dons a new hour of glory within the Bleus.

The former Real Madrid player has officially taken over from Didier Deschamps, who had been managing the Bleus for more than a decade. This transition places Zidane at the helm of a team that won the World Cup and the European Championship under his influence.

Considered by some as the greatest player in the history of the French national team, he embodies a living legend of the sport. However, this view is not shared by everyone, and the debate over his standing remains open.

Dominique Sévérac's point of view

Journalist Dominique Sévérac, who has followed the performances of the former Real Madrid player, has also studied the career of Michel Platini, an iconic figure of French football. He states that, for him, Platini dominates the pantheon of French footballers.

“For me, it’s Michel Platini. It’s not Zinédine Zidane. I prefer Michel Platini’s club career, I also prefer his international career. I think there would be no 1998 if there wasn’t first 1984 (Euro). In 1984, he scored nine goals, all with his head, left foot, right foot. He did everything, he brought that first title to France, he opened a new era for French football.”

Arguments against Zidane

Sévérac notes that Michel Platini was crowned three times Ballon d’Or, an achievement that the rules of the time valued differently. In contrast, Zinédine Zidane received only one Ballon d’Or in 1998 and accumulated fourteen red cards, which, according to the journalist, limited his chances of obtaining other awards.

Le Parisien highlights that Zidane was a natural captain, endowed with a major influence on French football, and that after his playing career he became a brilliant manager, notably by opposing the use of VAR.