ZINEDINE ZIDANE

 Personal Information

Name: Zinedine Yazid Zidane  Famous As: Zizou   Date of Birth: 23 rd June, 1972    Hometown: Marseille, France  Height: 6' 1"  Nationality: French National  Current Club: Real Madrid (retd.)  Playing Position: Attacking Midfielder

 Life before Football

 Zinedine Zidane, a prominent name in the history of Football, was given birth on 23rd 
 June 1972 in the city of Marseille, France. He was the fifth child of the family. He
 belonged to a Muslim Family of the Algerian Kabyle Berber ethnic origin. He got married
 to a Christian woman, Véronique Zidane, in the year 1993 and since then he was
 indulged in promoting racial and religious tolerance espeially among the young. Even
 before entering the field of football, he as a staunch follower of the game and used
 to take part in indoor football activities. At the age of 14, Zidane left and participated
 in the league championship for first year junior selection, where AS Cannes' recruiter,
 Jean Varraud, observed his game play and talent very closely. This was hence the
 start of an era in Zidane's long journey for the game they call "The Global Game."

 International Career

 Zidane earned his first cap for the National French Soccer Team on 17 th August, 1994 
 against the Czech Republic. He scored two goals in that game and refused the team
 with an upsetting defeat. He earned a name for himself and after getting a head start,
 a very promising and talented player could easily be viewed in the near future for the
 wellbeing of the French Football.

 Zidane was also a part of the winning French Team 1998 Fifa World Cup. He was not
 only a part of the team, but lead the team to victories against first Italy in Quarter-
 finals and then Brazil in the Final where he twice headed the ball which ended up at
 the back of the net. France won the match, adding the trophy of the Fifa World Cup
 1998. Given his contributions to the game, Zidane was named the Fifa Player of the
 Year and the World Soccer Player of the Year in 1998.

 In Euro 2000, Zidane again inspired many by his great unique skills, and helped his
 team reach the final of the cup. France went on to win the tournament by defeating
 Italy in the final. It was Zidane again who brought this light in the history of French
 Football who scored many important goals in the quarter final and the semi final
 against Spain and Portugal respectively.

 The 2002 Fifa World Cup was a dark patch in the life of the great Frenchman. He
 faced a severe thigh injury which prevented him from playing the first two games of 
 the World Cup. Without Zidane's imagination and visualization France looked like they
 were heading nowhere. Zidane came back from his injury just in time to play in the
 last game for France in that world cup, save for anyone who had seen his
 performance previously it was quite evident that he was not playing his game and
 hence France was out and over of the World Cup in the first round.

 In Euro 2004, Zidane again led the team strongly paving way for France to reach the 
 quarter-finals. They were defeated by Greece, who went on to win the Cup. This
 defeat led to the retirement of Zidane from the International arena. He announced
 his retirement on August 12, 2004.

 Almost a year later, Zidane announced that he wanted to play again for the National
 Team and represented them in the upcoming Fifa World Cup, 2006. The Frenchmen
 scored significant goals in the Cup, making way for the French Team to reach the
 final. He scored a goal in the 91 st minute against Spain in the pre quarter final stage
 of the World Cup which made their way to the Quarter Final. On 9 th July, 2006
 Zidane played his last match for the French National Team, and it couldn't get any
 more imperative for Zidane. The stage was set for the final of the World Cup. The 
 career of the great French men ended in a disaster (Materazzi Zidane) when he was 
 shown a red card for head-butting the Italian Materazzi, getting the game into
 disrepute.

 Zinedine Zidane, a tireless flashy attacking midfielder with unique dribbling skills, is
 often considered to be the best football player ever to play the game and perhaps
 one of the most talented players of all time. He has been given the nicknames of 
 "magician" and "genius" for the great skills he was gifted with. Even with time as his 
 enemy, the legacy of Zinedine Zidane will remain intact for the great contributions
 made by the "Magician" for Soccer.

 Club Career

 Zidane played his first club game representing the Cannes in 1986. He remained with
 the team for four years. He showed great character and determination and then
 played for the team and scored his first goal on February 8th, 1991. This made his
 way to the UEFA Cup where he again represented Cannes. After that, Zidane spent
 four years with FC Girondins de Bordeaux, leading them to victory in the 1995
 Intertoto Cup and to a 2nd place in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup tournament.

 In the Year 1996, Zidane was transferred to the Italian League, Juventus F.C. He
 made great contributions to the club and was ranked amongst the top players.

 In 2001, Zidane got transferred to the Spanish League, Real Madrid. The contract
 that was made for this deal was the most expensive ever in the history of Spanish
 Football. He scored the winning goals for the club in the Champians League final of
 2001-2002.

 On 7 th May 2006, Zidane played his last game for Real Madird. He was given a warm 
 farwell and the fans waved him goodbye with tears and fond memories that they were
 privilidged with in the great magician of the game.

 Career Highlights

 With the French national team:

• FIFA World Cup
• Winner: 1998
• Appearances: 1998, 2002
• European Championship
• Winner: 2000
• Appearances: 1996, 2000, 2004

 With Juventus:

• European Super Cup: 1996
• Intercontinental Cup: 1996
• Serie A champions: 1996/1997, 1997/1998
• Italian Super Cup: 1997

 With Real Madrid:

• UEFA Champions League: 2001/2002

• Intercontinental Cup: 2002
• Spanish League - La Liga champions: 2002/2003

 Personal honours:

• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1998, 2000, 2003