His popularity rating remains unchanged. Present in Paris this Wednesday to attend the religious ceremony organized in honor of Rolland Courbis at the Madeleine church, Zinedine Zidane was hugged by several fans after leaving mass.
Surprisingly alone, without any loved ones or security agents to supervise him, the former number 10 of the France team pushed through the crowd for several meters, not without responding favorably to the countless requests for selfies and autographs from passers-by who were captivated to come across him so simply in the streets of the 8th arrondissement of the capital.
“We love you Zidane, we love you”, “Oh Mr Zidane, the legend”, exclaimed some of them when they saw the 1998 world champion, hat screwed on his head and sunglasses fitted well. “Congratulations on your son’s journey,” even says a fan, in reference to Luca Zidane’s participation in the 2025 African Cup of Nations with Algeria.
Passersby provided security
Faced with the increasingly large crowd, some onlookers even felt obliged to provide security! “Leave Mr. Zidane alone,” cried one of them, inviting the other people present to give space to the former protégé of Rolland Courbis so that he can move forward.
Very calm despite this somewhat incongruous situation, Zidane responded favorably to all the fans’ requests, sometimes insistent in a context not conducive to such a gathering.
As a reminder, the ex-Real Madrid coach wanted to say goodbye to his mentor at Bordeaux between 1992 and 1994, also known for having invented and popularized the nickname “Zizou”, which has since entered into posterity. After this first ceremony in the capital, the funeral of “coach Courbis” will take place in Marseille, his city of birth and heart, on Saturday January 17.
“He’s someone who mattered to me,” confided “ZZ” to La Chaîne L’Équipe before the ceremony. “Today (Wednesday), I am simply there for him. There’s not much to say. This is sad news. I am here for him and his family. He was someone who was touching. »
