Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane, born 23 June 1972), nicknamed "Zizou", is a French retired footballer and current manager of Real Madrid. He played as an attacking midfielder for the France national team, Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid. Renowned for his elegance, vision, ball control and technique, Zidane was named the best European footballer of the past 50 years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionSoccer Player
Date of Birth23 June 1972
CityMarseille, France
CountryFrance
Before it was hard to talk about certain things, especially if, like me, you came from a difficult area or an immigrant background.
I want to give something to the children that soccer has given to me.
That's not the case, but over here these type of little things are normal to fill the pages of newspapers. You shouldn't attach too much importance to it. I let others talk and concentrate on what I have to do.
I would not have come back otherwise. I did not only do it so we would qualify but because this team has the players who are capable of achieving something.
It's in my head. I'm not sure if I will keep going until 2007. I have six more months with Real Madrid, the World Cup and then we will see.
I want to finish my season and have a good World Cup and then we'll see. I had a groin problem that lasted a long time and also an ankle problem, but now I'm a lot better physically.
But the most important thing is to be ready for the two matches in September, which are essential. They needed a little something extra to help them win. Everyone played a good match.
It's simple. If we want to have our destiny in our own hands, we need to win our four matches.
We have two matches ahead of us. You have to be honest, if you can't beat the Faeroe Islands then there is a problem.
We had a long discussion. I have always said the French team is the most important thing that has happened to me. I thought deeply about it and I want to play for France again.
We'll have to be tough in Dublin. We'll need to have a strong physical presence because the Irish are going to come at us hard. But we're more than capable.
We are back to being the old Real Madrid. If we keep playing like this then I'm sure we'll win something.
Yes, I will play the World Cup (if we qualify).
Until my last breath. I won't say. It's too intense.