It’s home to just 60 people and is so remote that even Google has barely mapped its streets.

The perfect place, then, for a football legend like Zinedine Zidane and his family to take a break from the spotlight.

The hamlet is called El Chive and sits some 72km inland from the city of Almeria, in Andalucia.

Zidane’s home, known locally as ‘El Chorrico’, sits on the edge of the village and reflects the area’s traditional rural architecture.

However, it stands out thanks to its three storeys, large terraces overlooking the mountains and a private swimming pool – reportedly the only one in the entire hamlet.

Rather than attracting attention, locals say the French football icon blends into village life and is treated like any other neighbour.

The property has become a family retreat during the hot summer months, offering privacy far from the media attention that usually follows one of football’s most recognisable figures.

Zidane’s connection to El Chive comes through his wife, Veronica Fernandez, whose parents, Antonio and Ana, were born in the village before emigrating to France during the 1960s in search of work.

Although Veronica was born in Rodez, southern France, her parents maintained close ties to their Andalucian roots and passed that connection on to their daughter.

Over the years, the family has continued returning to El Chive, making it a second home.

Residents say Zidane has become a familiar face in the village and is able to enjoy a level of anonymity rarely possible elsewhere.

Located around 72km from Almería city, El Chive has no school or pharmacy, but its peaceful setting and traditional way of life have become part of its appeal.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.