Birth Date: June 23 1972
Birth Place: Marseille
Birth Nation: France
Height: 185cm
Weight: 78Kg
Nationality: France
Position: Midfielder
His transfer from Juventus to Real Madrid was a record transfer of $68.6 million
Name at birth: Zinedine Yazid Zidane
Zinedine Zidane Rumours and Transfers
18 08 2007
Marco Materazzi has in the end broken his silence to reveal the exact phrase that prompted Zinedine Zidane to head butt him in the World Cup Final.
The 2 men have always been cagey about what was mentioned that day in Berlin on July 9 2006, even though Zizou had said it was an insult to the women in his family.
Over a year later, Materazzi has said the precise words that finished the Frenchman's career in disgrace.
The players were tugging each other's shirts during a set-piece in the Italian penalty area when Zidane turned to Materazzi and mentioned 'If you really would like my shirt, you can have it after the match.'
At this point Matrix admitted that he responded by saying, 'I'd prefer your slut of a sister.'
Zidane had taken several more paces, turned and head butted the defender in the chest, prompting his dismissal.
The revelation came in an interview with Italian magazine 'TV Sorrisi e Canzoni' and ends months of speculation.
At 1st there is rumours there were racist elements to his comment, however it appears to have been more basic trash-talk on the field of play.
It still earned Materazzi a 2 match ban from FIFA for 'provocation', only one less than his aggressor Zidane's 3 match suspension.
'I tried to learn from my mistakes,' added the Inter star. 'I have stepped over the line in the past and I apologised for that. I have matured.'
The question marks over what exactly was mentioned even prompted a joke book written along with Materazzi and all the proceeds will charity.
09 08 2007
Zinedine Zidane has started negotiations to be a guest player for Sydney FC when it takes on David Beckham's L.A. Galaxy in Sydney.
Whilst talks are at an early stage, it is thought the approach from the decorated former international and Real Madrid teammate of Beckham is serious.
Millions of dollars were invested in the November 27 match by Football Federation Australia, the New South Wales Government and Channel 10, so a large appearance fee for Zidane is unlikely to be a problem.
Tickets went on sale to the public Wednesday and an unprecedented 45,000 of the 80,000 seats were sold.
Earlier this year Galaxy approached Zidane to join Beckham in the US, an offer the club mentioned that is still open.
Zidane is one of the finest players to grace the international stage and a World Cup winning captain.
His international swansong became a shameful early exit from last year's World Cup final for headbutting Italian Marco Materazzi.
It was a tragic end to an illustrious career in which Zidane captained France to success at both the 1998 World Cup, scoring 2 goals in the final against Brazil, and the 2000 European Championship.
He was 3 times World Player of the Year and his transfer fee to join Real Madrid was a then record $113 million.
The stunning volley he scored in Real's 2002 Champions League final triumph was recently voted the 3rd best goal of all time.
He and Beckham were united at Real as part of the Galacticos project.
Beckham has struggled with an ankle injury since joining Galaxy last month and is yet to make his competitive debut for the Major League team.
A 15 minute cameo in an exhibition game with Chelsea, mostly to keep the sponsors happy, was his only time on the pitch in Galaxy colours.
09 08 2007
France Coach Raymond Domenech has stirred controversy ahead of Les Blues' Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy by making match fixing allegations against the Azzurrini.
The Azzurri face France at the San Siro on September 8 despite fears that they will be rusty after only 2 weeks of the Serie A campaign.
It promises to be a tense affair with memories of last summer's World Cup Final still new in the mind and Domenech has fanned the flames with accusations of corruption.
'The main problem maybe the referees, however that is often the problem with Italy,' he informed Le Parisien.
'In the past there were rigged games like the France v Italy U21 qualifier for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. They had bought the ref and the cheating was incredible. If it happens once you have doubts, however there are hidden agreements in Italian football.'
Equally surprisingly, the Lyon born tactician was full of praise for the controversial Marco Materazzi who was on the receiving end of the Zinedine Zidane head-butt that turned the Berlin Final around.
'He scored, he got his best opponent sent off and he converted his penalty. He was the player of the Final, not Andrea Pirlo,' the 55 year old continued.
'It is not about insults, however provoking someone until they boil over. It happens in every sport, even volleyball across the net. On the pitch any way you can unbalance the opponent and exploit their weaknesses benefits your team. Whoever provokes shows strength, whoever reacts shows weakness. As a Coach I would like my players to give the English response and have given compliments after the game regardless of the insults during it.'
06 08 2007
Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has said he does not want to transfer to Spanish champions Real Madrid.
Last week Real coach Bernd Schuster informed German television, "Ballack fits perfectly to Real Madrid. I can very well imagine him playing for my team."
But the 30 year old Ballack informed Chelsea's website, "I have no interest in leaving Chelsea and I have had no contact with Real Madrid whatsoever. I am totally committed to Chelsea. I came here to win trophies."
Ballack's contract with Chelsea runs until 2010 and he added, "I am very happy in London professionally and for my family. The speculation about me leaving is not true. I am frustrated by my injury at the moment however I am working hard to be fit and hope to be back very soon to join my team-mates."
Madrid have made a number of offers to Ballack during his career, that included one in 2005 when he moved from Bayern Munich to Chelsea.
Last season Ballack scored 4 goals in 26 Premier League games for Chelsea.
"I thought about Michael before he went to Chelsea," added Schuster, who was speaking from Real's training camp in Irdning in Austria.
"He was linked with Real back then, when it was clear Zinedine Zidane was leaving. He could be the link between midfield and attack and would really be perfect."
01 08 2007
Real Madrid's new coach Bernd Schuster expressed relief Tuesday the Spanish giants have lost their player players, Los Galacticos, and can concentrate on being a European force again.
The 47 year old German had taken over as Real Madrid coach in July and was busy making changes behind the scenes now Real have waved goodbye to player players England's David Beckham, France's Zinedine Zidane and Brazil's Ronaldo.
Inspite of a side boasting some of Europe's best footballers, Real went 3 seasons without winning the Spanish title before Schuster's predecessor Italian Fabio Capello guided them to top spot last season, though he was sacked shortly afterwards.
The German is keen to build on that and was making some no-nonsense changes behind the scenes, checking the players diets and insisting senior players room with younger players whilst away.
"Defeat is not something often seen at Real," Schuster informed German magazine Sports-Bild.
"The club is swarming with world class players. Nevertheless the Galacticos like David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo have gone, thank God. I have felt in conversations with key people that the side's high profile reputation hindered them, so I am glad a sense of normality has returned, as well it should be."
But Schuster's home-coming was spoiled Tuesday as he lost his 1st game back in Germany when a weakened Real Madrid side were beaten 3-0 by Bundesliga side Hanover 96.
Having led 1-0 at the break in front of a 45,683-strong crowd thanks to Hungarian Szabolcs Huszti's goal on the half hour mark, Hanover wrapped up the comfortable triumph with 2nd half goals by Icelandic forward Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson and a Benny Lauth strike with 8 minutes remaining.
It was a weakened Real side with forwards Ruud van Nistelrooy and Brazilian Robinho, who was impressive in the Copa America, nowhere to be seen.
Hanover open their Bundesliga campaign against Hamburg on 11 August.
28 07 2007
Real Madrid's new coach Bernd Schuster mentioned that he is interested in signing 30 year old Germany midfielder Michael Ballack from Chelsea.
Ballack's contract with Chelsea runs until 2010 and he is reported to be on wages of £130,000 a week, however Schuster mentioned the money would not be a problem.
"With his class, he fits perfectly to Real Madrid," Schuster informed German public television station ARD.
"I can very well imagine him playing for my team."
Madrid have made a number of offers to Ballack during his career, that included one in 2005 when he moved from Bayern Munich to Chelsea.
Last season Ballack scored 4 goals in 26 league games for Chelsea.
"I thought about Michael before he went to Chelsea," added Schuster, who was speaking from Real's training camp in Irdning in Austria.
"He was linked with Real back then, when it was clear Zinedine Zidane was leaving. He could be the link between midfield and attack and would really be perfect."
20 07 2007
New The Hammers signing Julien Faubert was ruled out for 6 months with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Faubert was injured during West Ham's 1-0 friendly defeat against Czech side Sigma Olomouc in Austria on 17 July and returns to France for surgery.
The 23 year old France midfielder joined the Hammers from Bordeaux for £6.1 million on 1 July.
The Hammers manager Alan Curbishley informed his club's website, "It is a devastating blow for everybody, especially Julien."
Curbishley's frustration at seeing one of his key summer transfers ruled out until the New Year was evident.
"Julien had fitted in so well and was showing all the attributes needed to be a success in the Premier League," he explained.
"You would see in the short bit of football he has played with us that he was going to be a big hit with the supporters, so to lose him after an hour of football and only 2 weeks at the Club is a big disappointment."
George Cooper, head physio at Upton Park, added, "The injury was completely out of the blue. Julien has no history of any Achilles problems, and this kind of rupture is usually pre disposed by past steroid injections in the area, something he has never had, so it is a major shock. On the plus side, we have managed to get him to a top surgeon in Strasbourg, who has successfully operated on the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram in the past, so he is in very good hands. 2 to 3 days is the key time for this injury and everything will be done and in place for Julien within that period."
06 07 2007
Italian footballer Marco Materazzi has begun libel proceedings in the UK over reports of insults made to Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final.
Defender Materazzi was headbutted by Zidane, resulting in the Frenchman being sent off.
Materazzi is seeking damages at the High Court from the Sun, the Daily Mail and the Daily Star over says that about what the Italian had mentioned to Zidane.
His lawyer, Steven Heffer, said, "He is taking legal action to clear his name."
Mr Heffer added, "Marco Materazzi is issuing says that in the High Court against 3 newspapers, the Sun, the Daily Mail and the Daily Star for damages for libel and an injunction. He is left with no alternative as all 3 newspapers have failed to correct or apologise for their false reports of the incident. Marco has suffered enormous damage to his reputation as a due to the press reports."
Zidane, playing his last game before retiring from football, later claimed he was provoked after Materazzi had insulted his mother.
But Materazzi, who plays for Inter Milan, said that Zidane's sister was the subject.
"I was tugging his shirt, he mentioned to me 'if you would like my shirt so much I'll have given it to you afterwards,' and I answered that I'd prefer his sister," he said.
Following the headbutting incident, in July 2006, Materazzi was given a 2 match ban from world governing body Fifa, whilst Zidane was banned for 3 games and fined £3,260.
Zidane has never specified what Materazzi mentioned to him and has refused to apologise to his opponent.
06 07 2007
The Hammers forward Carlos Tevez will join Man Utd, BBC sports editor Mihir Bose understands.
The talks are under way and Tevez could move on loan or permanently to the Premier League champions.
Tevez, 23, is presently on international duty with Argentina in the Copa America in Venezuela.
The Hammers have mentioned they would like to keep him after he helped them survive in the top flight last season however doubts have remained over his Hammers future.
"I understand talks were going on for several weeks now," added Bose.
"Man Utd are certainly very keen on Carlos Tevez however they are very complicated talks due to the nature of the loan arrangement he has at West Ham. What is going on is whether he goes on a permanent move, which would involve a very high fee. Certainly, Tevez's people would would like in the region of what Zinedine Zidane went for when he moved to Real Madrid, about £40 million. Or he would go on the same arrangement his colleague Javier Mascherano went to Liverpool under when he left West Ham. That was a 2 year deal and a sort of extended loan for a much lower fee."
There was much controversy over the signing of Tevez and that of fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano by the Upton Park club last summer.
The Hammers were fined £5.5 million for irregularities that centred on who owned the players' contracts however Sheffield United, who were relegated from the Premier League in the 2006-2007 campaign, think the London club should were docked points.
An arbitration panel this week upheld a decision not to deduct points from the Hammers however the Blades are investigating whether they can appeal to the civil courts.
All through the saga, Tevez refused to allow the situation have an adverse toll on him.
Instead, at the end of last season he inspired the Hammers to a run of form that lifted the club out of the bottom 3 and sealed their top flight status.
When Tevez 1st arrived at Upton Park he found games hard to come by under the then The Hammers manager Alan Pardew however he was given a more prominent position after Alan Curbishley had taken the helm in December 2006.
Last season Tevez scored 7 goals in his final 10 Premier League games, that included the winner at Man Utd that guaranteed West Ham's survival.
He expects to delay a decision over his future until after the Copa America finishes on 14 July however United appear to be keen to tie up a deal for the player.
Arsenal and Liverpool were also linked with Tevez, who turned down a transfer to Italian side Inter Milan after failing to meet a deadline they set for him to make a decision about whether to join them.
If Tevez did sign for United he would join the Old Trafford outfit's other summer recruits in England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, Portugal winger Nani, Brazilian midfielder Anderson and keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.
22 06 2007
Bologna player Mourad Meghni admitted that that he is a transfer target for Serie A duo Napoli and Palermo.
'I have been informed that Napoli, Palermo and a Spanish side are keen on me,' the midfield playmaker informed Radio Kiss Kiss.
'Joining Napoli could be something that I would really like. They are an important club and I am happy to have been linked with such an outfit. I only hope that my future is in Italy as I love this country and people have spoken well about Napoli to me.'
Meghni was once likened to Zinedine Zidane, however he's quick to dismiss comparisons with his fellow countryman.
'I am not like him at all,' added the Parisian. 'Some people said that we are similar however I am not really up to his level. What's my role? I am a classical Trequartista even if I can also play on the wing. However, I like to start behind the forwards in a free role.'
The 1984 born player joined Bologna in 2000 and was with the present Serie B club ever since, apart from spending the 2005-06 campaign on loan at Sochaux.
