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# HOT TAKES FOR THE WEEK- Week III
- URL: https://the-overrated-player.ghost.io/hot-takes-for-the-week-week-iii/
- Published: 2026-09-15T06:01:31.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T06:01:31.000Z
- Author: The Overrated Player

WHY DO YOU WANT ZIDANE WHEN WE HAVE TIM SHERWOOD?

In the summer of 1995, Blackburn Rovers were champions of England. Alan Shearer was unstoppable. Kenny Dalglish was king. And owner Jack Walker — the steel tycoon who grew up on the Ewood Park terraces — would fund anything.

Dalglish had a tip. A 23-year-old at Bordeaux who made the ball obey him. Zinedine Zidane. Available. He and teammate Christophe Dugarry even flew to Blackburn to tour the training ground.

Dalglish went to Walker to close the deal. Walker’s response is now Premier League scripture:

“Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?”

No disrespect to Sherwood — six goals in the title-winning season, proper captain, proper lad. But he was not Zinedine Zidane.

Blackburn said no.

What they said no to:

World Cup, 1998\. With two goals in the final.

Ballon d’Or, 1998.

European Championship, 2000.

2x Serie A with Juventus.

La Liga with Real Madrid.

Champions League, 2002, with that volley at Hampden.

Most expensive player in the world. Twice.

Sherwood, meanwhile, earned three England caps.

And Blackburn? The champions who turned down Zizou finished 7th, then 13th, then 6th, then — in 1999, just four years after winning the league — relegated. The first and only Premier League champions to go down.

Imagine Shearer being fed by Zidane for five years.

Instead, we got the greatest “we have that at home” in football history.

Loyalty is beautiful. Scouting is everything.