As rumours over Zinedine Zidane’s appointment at Manchester United gain traction again, we look at the woman who has been by his side since the Real Madrid icon was a teenager
Zinedine Zidane and his wife Veronique have once again been linked with a Manchester move(Image: Getty)
Zinedine Zidane is once again being linked with the Manchester United job as speculation ramps up over who could succeed Ruben Amorim.
Current Red Devils boss Amorim’s gruelling tenure at the helm is showing no signs of improving as his side suffered their third Premier League defeat of the season against Brentford last weekend. Their miserable form, along with being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town, means the Portuguese could find himself on the chopping block, having taken on the role less than 12 months ago.
Legendary former French footballer and manager Zidane is a name that has cropped up as a potential candidate, having been touted as a top option for the position for several years. The 53-year-old has been without a managerial job since he left Real Madrid for a second time in 2021.
The former Ballon d’Or winner’s outstanding first spell at the Santiago Bernabeu between 2016 and 2018 saw him win nine trophies, including a remarkable Champions League three-peat, which has made him an attractive option in the eyes of many affiliated with the Red Devils.
However, Zidane has addressed those rumours in the past by saying his grasp of the English language is not sufficient to take on the role. Many also believe he is waiting on the sidelines for Didier Deschamps to vacate his role as the France national team manager. Reports have suggested that Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, as well as Gareth Southgate, are above him on Ineos’ shortlist, should they reluctantly sack Amorim.
But stranger things have happened in football as we now delve into the World Cup winner’s marriage with model Veronique Fernandez, who could move to Manchester with him if he is eventually appointed.
The suave Frenchman met Veronique in 1989 when they were both teenagers. Born in Rodez, France, to Spanish parents, Veronique went to university to study biology but dropped out.
Veronique has been married to Zidane for over 30 years(Image: Getty)
She later attended the Rosella Hightower School in Cannes, where she aspired to become a professional dancer. There, she first encountered Zidane, who was playing for AS Cannes at the time.
Despite living in strictly gender-segregated accommodation and being too nervous to speak to her on the many instances when they bumped into each other, the shy future legend eventually gathered the courage to strike up a conversation with her after a few months with a simple, ‘Hello’. Things progressed quickly from there as they moved into a small studio flat shortly afterwards.
Five years later, in 1994, the couple tied the knot in a grand ceremony at Bordeaux town hall. Fernandez put her dreams of becoming a professional dancer on hold to support her footballer husband’s career.
Veronique studied to become a dancer(Image: Getty)
In 2013, Zidane was with his wife visiting his in-laws in Rodez, a small town in the south of France. There, he was met by the owners of the local football club – Ligue 2 side Rodez Aveyron FC – who explained that the team was falling on hard times financially. The Zidanes pledged to support the club, both financially and with occasional appearances at matches.
“I come from the streets, a difficult neighbourhood,” Zidane said. “I have never forgotten my roots. It’s not because you work for the biggest club in the world that you forget everything beforehand. It’s thanks to my in-laws that I have discovered this club and family. I love this region and spending time here and I feel at home.”
Their sons have all gone on to become footballers
Zinedine and Veronique have four sons together: Theo, Luca, Elyaz and Enzo. The oldest is Enzo, 30, who played as a midfielder for Spain at youth level and Real Madrid’s reserves before retiring in 2024.
Luca, 27, made two appearances as a goalkeeper for Los Blancos when his dad was in charge before playing for the likes of Eibar and Granada. He most recently switched his allegiance from France to Algeria, where his dad’s side of the family originates. Elyaz, 19, plays for Real Betis’ B-team as a centre-back, and 23-year-old Theo is a midfielder for second division side Cordoba.
In June last year, Zidane and his wife celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary by hosting a ceremony with their friends and family present, where they renewed their vows.