Zinedine Zidane calls Real Madrid’s 2017 Champions League final victory over Juventus “perfection.” Years later, the legendary manager reflects on the match that defines his legacy and discusses his readiness to return to the bench—with his eyes on a specific prize.
On a stage in Trento, Italy, a relaxed Zinedine Zidane leans into the microphone. He isn’t discussing a past triumph in the abstract; he’s reliving a specific feeling. “I’ve watched it four, five, six times,” Zidane said, referring to the 2017 UEFA Champions League final. “The second half was spectacular. This is football. Perfection,” he continued, in remarks at La Gazzetta dello Sport’s Festival dello Sport reported by outlets covering the event.
His public reflection offers a rare window into the mind of a manager who has spent over four years away from the dugout. His words are not just a look back at his greatest night as a coach but a signal of his intent for the future. This article unpacks that single, perfect moment. We will revisit the 2017 masterclass against Juventus, exploring how Real Madrid dismantled one of Europe’s stingiest defenses. We will then examine Zidane’s incredible legacy of success and look ahead to his next chapter, a path that seems increasingly plausible to lead to the French national team after the 2026 World Cup. For Zidane, the memory of Cardiff is more than just a highlight; it’s the standard he set and the blueprint for what comes next.
Zinedine Zidane says he’s rewatched Real Madrid’s Champions League final ‘six times’
When Zidane labels something “perfection,” the football world pays attention. His comment, made during a panel discussion at La Gazzetta dello Sport’s festival in mid-October 2025 and reported by outlets like 20minutos and RealTotal, wasn’t a boast. It was an artist’s appreciation for his masterpiece. For Zidane, perfection wasn’t just about the 4–1 scoreline; it was about the complete control, the tactical maturity, and the ruthless execution his team displayed in the second half. After a tense 1–1 first half, Real Madrid emerged from the locker room a different beast. They suffocated Juventus, pressed with intelligence, and attacked with a clinical edge that left the Italian champions bewildered.
That night, perfection meant harnessing the power of a generational talent like Cristiano Ronaldo while ensuring the collective functioned flawlessly. It was the ultimate vindication of his man-management style—calm, empowering, and tactically astute. At the same event, Zidane reiterated his desire to return to coaching, confirming the fire still burns and that managing France is an ambition, as reported by beIN Sports. His lingering admiration for the Cardiff performance suggests he isn’t just looking for any job; he is waiting for an opportunity to create something special again.
Zidane Remembers Madrid’s Stunning 2017 Champions League Victory
The final, held at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on June 3, 2017, was the first to be played under a closed roof. It was billed as a classic clash of styles: Zidane’s free-scoring Real Madrid against Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus, a defensive juggernaut. In front of 65,842 spectators, the stage was set for a titanic battle.
The first half played out as a tense, tactical chess match. Madrid struck first in the 20th minute through Cristiano Ronaldo. But Juventus were unfazed. Just seven minutes later, Mario Mandžukić produced a moment of magic, an audacious overhead kick that looped over the goalkeeper to level the score. The spectacular equalizer ensured the teams went into the break at 1–1.
Whatever Zidane said during the interval, it worked. Real Madrid emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and intensity. Cristiano Ronaldo later credited Zidane’s half-time team talk—”very positive… he really believed in us”—with sharpening Madrid’s second-half edge, as cited by The Irish Times. The shift was immediate. In the 61st minute, a long-range strike from Casemiro took a wicked deflection and flew past a wrong-footed Gianluigi Buffon. The dam had broken. Three minutes later, Ronaldo ghosted in to make it 3–1. The Spanish champions were now in complete command. The night turned worse for the Italian side when substitute Juan Cuadrado was sent off in the 84th minute. The final nail in the coffin came in the 90th minute, as Marco Asensio completed the 4–1 rout.
The victory was monumental. UEFA’s official match report records two key milestones from Cardiff: Real Madrid became the first team to retain the Champions League in the modern era, and Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in three different Champions League finals. Juventus had conceded only three goals in 12 Champions League matches before the final—Madrid scored as many in the second half alone.
Match Snapshot: Cardiff 2017
- Final Score: Real Madrid 4–1 Juventus
- Scorers: Ronaldo (20’, 64’), Casemiro (61’), Asensio (90’); Mandžukić (27’)
- Key Stat: Juventus had conceded only 3 goals in 12 games before the final. Real Madrid scored 3 in the second half.
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Zinedine Zidane: A Look at His Legacy and Next Chapter in Coaching
Zidane’s tenure at Real Madrid, across two spells (2016–2018, 2019–2021), was nothing short of extraordinary. His list of honors is staggering: 11 major trophies, including two La Liga titles and, most famously, the historic “three-peat”—winning three consecutive Champions League titles in 2016, 2017, and 2018. He is the only manager in history to have accomplished this feat. His success was built on a unique ability to manage a dressing room full of superstars, fostering a sense of unity and tactical discipline that few could master.
Since leaving Madrid in May 2021, Zidane has remained patient. His remarks at the Festival dello Sport confirmed he is ready to return, and his ambition to manage the French national team remains clear. The timeline for that possibility is well-defined. Didier Deschamps, the current France head coach, has confirmed he will step down after the 2026 World Cup, as reported by Reuters in January 2025. With Zidane reiterating his interest in the job, that remains a plausible path for his return to the dugout. It would be a fitting next chapter for a man who, as a player, delivered France its first-ever World Cup in 1998.
More than four years after he last walked the touchline, Zinedine Zidane presence still looms large over European football. His legacy at Real Madrid is secure, defined by an unprecedented era of continental dominance. As he contemplates his next move, his mind drifts back to that perfect night in Cardiff. When he presses play to rewatch that second half, it’s not just for nostalgia. It’s a reminder of his own blueprint for greatness—a standard of perfection he aims to replicate once more.
