ZINEDINE ZIDANE expressed his grief over former club Bordeaux’s devastating fall from grace as France gear up for a crunch Nations League clash at the new manager’s old stomping grounds.

Zidane, 54, returns to the city where his stunning 17-year career took off to lead the French national team in Sunday’s match against Turkey at Stade Atlantique.

The France boss spent four years playing for the six-time French champions, who signed him from Cannes in 1992, and amassed a total of 39 goals as well as 24 assists in 179 appearances with the club.

The legendary playmaker has a deep bond with Bordeaux as they were the ones who sold him to Juventus in 1996 before his blockbuster move to Real Madrid five years later.

The fallen Ligue 1 giants still have a special place in the French tactician’s heart as he revealed how shattered he feels with their disastrous downfall that has seen them dropping to the sixth division.

Zidane said: “As someone who played for this club, we’re not happy, we’re even sad.

“I hope that with the new owners, Girondins will return to the very top.”

Bordeaux have been dealing with serious financial problems for years and that led to their catastrophic relegation from Ligue 1 in 2022.

Two years later, the French outfit was placed under judicial restructuring, which caused them to relinquish their professional status as well as highly-rated academy.

Bordeaux were sanctioned for failing to pay their debts as well as an estimated £8million needed for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years.

That led to last month’s administrative relegation all the way down to Regional 1, which completed their remarkable demise.

However, Bordeaux were sold in September for a symbolic €1 (£0.83) to US-based investment group Park Bench, who also agreed to take on the remaining debt.

Ever since, the former Champions League side have been trying to rise from the ashes dreaming of a sensational return to the top flight.