2004 Real Madrid Home – Zinedine Zidane #5 Medium BNWT

The 2004–05 season was a turbulent yet fascinating chapter in Real Madrid’s Galáctico era, defined by managerial turnover, political pressure, and brilliant individual moments overshadowed by collective inconsistency. Under club president Florentino Pérez, Madrid entered the season with an extraordinary roster — Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo, Beckham, Raúl, Roberto Carlos — but the squad lacked balance, especially after the controversial sale of defensive anchor Claude Makélélé the year prior.

Real Madrid began the campaign under José Antonio Camacho, but he resigned after just three matches. Mariano García Remón took over briefly before being replaced mid-season by Vanderlei Luxemburgo, marking one of the most unstable managerial stretches in modern club history.

In La Liga, Madrid finished 2nd, behind Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona. The team showed moments of attacking brilliance but struggled with defensive lapses and predictable buildup play. In the Champions League, Madrid were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Juventus — despite Zidane’s strong performances against his former club. Domestically, Real Madrid exited the Copa del Rey in the Round of 16 after a shock loss to Valladolid, compounding frustration within the club.

The 2004–05 Real Madrid home kit, designed by Adidas, was a clean, modern all-white strip, featuring:

• A subtle silver trim on the shoulders

• A simple black V-neck collar

• Classic three stripes in shadowed white

• The Siemens Mobile sponsor

Minimalist but elegant, it perfectly matched the aesthetic of the Galácticos era — sleek, iconic, and unmistakably Real Madrid.

2. Player’s Impact – Zinedine Zidane

At 32 years old, Zinedine Zidane remained the creative heartbeat of Real Madrid during the 2004–05 campaign. Even as the squad struggled for identity and tactical coherence, Zidane’s elegance, vision, and intelligence elevated Madrid’s play whenever he touched the ball.

Zidane made 45 appearances, scoring 6 goals and delivering numerous assists. His role evolved into a deeper, more orchestrating position — operating as a hybrid playmaker who dictated tempo rather than focusing purely on attacking output. With Beckham drifting wide and Figo aging, Zidane became the primary source of line-breaking passes and transitions between midfield and attack.

Some of his standout performances included:

• A masterclass vs. Barcelona at the Bernabéu, where Zidane’s control and spatial genius kept Madrid competitive in an intense 3–0 win for Los Blancos.

• A brilliant Champions League display vs Juventus, where his ball retention and passing under pressure reminded Europe why he remained one of the greatest midfielders in the game.

• Numerous La Liga matches in which his technique stood out amid a team lacking structure.

Even as the side faltered, Zidane’s elegance never diminished. His close control, first touch, and ability to manipulate pressure continued to symbolize footballing perfection. This season also marked the beginning of his final stretch in professional football, with retirement approaching in 2006.

For many fans, 2004–05 represents Zidane’s final vintage season — the last period in which he consistently delivered complete midfield performances across an entire campaign.

3. Full Squad List (Real Madrid – 2004–05 Season)

Manager(s): José Antonio Camacho, Mariano García Remón, Vanderlei Luxemburgo

Goalkeepers:
Iker Casillas, César Sánchez, Diego López

Defenders:
Roberto Carlos, Iván Helguera, Francisco Pavón, Walter Samuel, Jonathan Woodgate (injured), Míchel Salgado, Raúl Bravo

Midfielders:
Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Luís Figo, Guti, Thomas Gravesen (joined mid-season), Santiago Solari, Celades, Borja Fernández

Forwards:
Ronaldo Nazário, Raúl González (captain), Fernando Morientes (departed January), Michael Owen (joined summer 2004), Javier Portillo