Enzo Zidane explains why he has retired from active football aged 29

Former Real Madrid midfielder Enzo Zidane, son of football legend Zinedine Zidane, has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 29.

After being without a club since 2023, Enzo has decided to hang up his boots, ending a career that saw him play across several European leagues but ultimately fall short of the lofty expectations placed upon him.

Enzo came through the ranks at Real Madrid, where his father Zinedine was a legendary player and later, a celebrated coach. Enzo’s only appearance for the senior Real Madrid side came during the 2016/17 season in a Copa del Rey match against Cultural Leonesa. He marked his debut with a goal in the 6-1 victory, a match that also saw Martin Odegaard make his debut for the Spanish giants. While Odegaard’s career has soared, with the Norwegian now captaining Arsenal and regarded as one of Europe’s top playmakers, Enzo’s path has been less illustrious.

Following his brief stint at Madrid, Enzo embarked on a journey across Europe, playing in Spain’s lower divisions, Switzerland, Portugal, and France. His last club was Fuenlabrada, a third-tier Spanish outfit, where he made 29 appearances during the 2022/23 season. His final professional game came in May 2023.

Enzo’s decision to retire, according to reports from Spanish outlet AS, stems from frustration and “boredom” after being unable to secure a new club. His focus will now shift to his family, including his wife Karen and their three daughters.

In a 2018 interview with Marca, Enzo spoke about the challenges of growing up as the son of one of football’s greatest-ever players. He described the constant comparisons and criticism he faced throughout his career but maintained that his priority was to forge his own identity as a footballer and make his family proud.

Enzo’s retirement marks the end of a career that never quite reached the heights that many had anticipated. However, his love for the game and desire to explore different footballing experiences, as he once expressed, will remain a significant part of his journey. While Enzo steps away from the game, his three younger brothers—Luca, Theo, and Elyaz—continue their football careers at clubs such as Granada, Cordoba, and Real Betis, respectively.

Despite the weight of his surname and the pressures that came with it, Enzo Zidane leaves behind a career shaped by resilience and the pursuit of his own path, away from the immense shadow cast by his father.