Pep Guardiola has never faced Zinedine Zidane as a rival manager but the legendary Frenchman broke his heart as a player.
Despite winning everything as Barcelona captain, Guardiola remained unfulfilled on the international stage where he played 47 times for Spain.
His best shot came at Euro 2000 when a strong Spanish team headed by Raul were considered dark horses. Guardiola, then 29, starred in midfield as Spain topped Group C before running into France and peak-Zidane in the quarter-finals.
Zidane, a World Cup winner two years earlier, turned in one of his best-ever performances For Les Bleus.
He opened the scoring in Bruges with a stunning free-kick and though Gaizka Mendieta levelled from the penalty spot, France went through 2-1 after Youri Djorkaeff’s winner.
While a majestic Zizou ran the game, a heavily-stubbled Guardiola cut an increasingly frustrated figure and was booked for kicking out at Djorkaeff.
Raul missed a late penalty and as Guardiola and Zidane embraced at the final whistle, the Spaniard knew his last realistic chance of an international trophy had gone. He won his last cap the following year with injury preventing him from going to the 2002 World Cup.
The Zidane curse struck again for Guardiola in 2014. Zidane was part of Carlo Ancelotti’s coaching staff when they thrashed Pep’s Bayern team 4-0 in Munich to complete a Champions League semi-final victory 5-0 on aggregate.
Guardiola never won Europe’s biggest prize with Bayern. He will hope for third time lucky against Zidane when Real Madrid meet Manchester City this week.
10LACM17SGM
1
Its safe to say its payback time...
Mokekrt
2
Klopp like this time: where is my youth articles?🤣😂😂
DarkKing2010
2
Guardiola Felt as a Victim to Zidane when they were Playing. And he will fall as a Victim again in the CLASH of BALDS.
Modupe1998
1
#Rarephotos catching Zidane and pep with hair
Iamshadow
0
Zidane always over Pep
you make me laugh,Klopp is a third division player.Please don't come here😂😂.
Kyle2005
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You can see the guilt in Pep 🤣
MikeTeddy
1
it's doesn't matter their history... pep will come hard but zidane will come twice as hard
no not with ur toothless attackers
diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
0
it's doesn't matter their history... pep will come hard but zidane will come twice as hard
FutbolLeninDaMaster
0
1998 France was one of the greatest shows on Earth... Definitely not a easy team to dismantle and break through. that's where France became known for their entire world class Fútbol they play and started birthing Great players ever since then..⚽️
BlueBlackSnake
1
This is a great photo. Two legends in one pic 👍
MrMeeeeeee
3
Zidane 🌠 One of the most naturally gifted footballers that we had the joy to have witnessed, one of the Greatest players to have ever played the game 👑⚽️ As a child growing up , he was the player that was my favourite, he was like a work of art on the field 🌠⚽️
themainman
0
wow! so guradiola had that much a head of hair.. androgenic alopecia is really a bad thing
Koucepsz
1
That's why Pep always praise Messi because he couldn't win even a tea spoon for Spain
Winerpool
0
Zidane always over Pep