FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006 player's profile

Zinedine Zidane’s career began in the backstreets of Marseilles where, at the age of 14, this son of Algerian immigrants was spotted by a talent scout and offered a place at the academy of AS Cannes.
Before he had even turned 17, Zidane broke through into the Cannes first team and during the 1990/91 season, he was already a part of the established eleven that failed to beat the drop at the end of the following campaign. After the team’s relegation, ‘Zizou’ signed for Bordeaux so he could continue to deploy his talents at the highest level.

Before long, Zidane was playing a starring role for Les Girondins and enjoyed his first taste of success during the 1995/96 season when Bordeaux reached the UEFA Cup Final. Although his side lost the match to Bayern Munich, it was his exploits at Bordeaux that confirmed Zizou’s status as a worthy successor to France’s legendary midfielder Michel Platini, whom he had incidentally encountered at first hand while serving as a ball boy at the 1984 UEFA European Championship.

Offered his first cap in 1994, the international debut of the kid from Marseilles could scarcely have been more emphatic: After coming on with les Bleus trailing the Czech Republic 2-0, the gifted Zizou turned the course of the match single-handedly by scoring twice.

But his full blossoming as an international took place during the 1995/96 season, which was followed by the European Championship in England. At the tournament, Aime Jacquet showed great faith in the Bordeaux player who, like the former national coach himself, was clearly endowed with the two key qualities that make a good player: excellent technique and unwavering determination.

Courtesy of some majestic performances both for club and for country, Zidane was soon being courted by a clutch of Europe’s top clubs. In the summer of 1996, he finally settled on Juventus of Italy, picking up his first silverware with his new club the same season when ‘the Old Lady’ defeated Argentine outfit River Plate to lift the Intercontinental Cup.

This opening taste of silverware was soon followed by a pair of Italian titles, in 1997 and 1998. And that summer, Zizou added the ultimate prize to his honours list when he inspired France to their 1998 FIFA World Cup™ triumph in front of their own fans in Paris.

Winning double
During the final against Brazil at the Stade de France, he bagged his first two goals of the FIFA World Cup to become the undisputed star of the tournament. Then, in the summer of 2000, France underlined their supremacy by winning the European Championship, prompting the world’s national team coaches to again, after 1998, name him FIFA World Player of the Year.

One year later, Zidane was signed by Real Madrid for a world record €73m and he has been well worth it to Real, regaling the Santiago Bernabeu with unique acts of skill, providing his team-mates with pinpoint passes and scoring stunning goals. His finest ‘work’ was a supersonic volley that brought Real victory in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen and that said all there was to say about a fantastic player at the peak of his powers.

Injured in France’s final warm-up game for Korea/Japan 2002, Zizou was only able to appear in the last of les Bleus’ three matches in their ill-fated campaign. Two years later, at Euro 2004 in Portugal, he saved his side from an opening-game defeat against England by netting twice in the final two minutes (2-1). But the subsequent elimination by Greece, combined with the legendary number 10’s mental and physical burn-out, led him to call time early on his international career.

At least, that was until the summer of 2005 when, after enjoying his first long holiday for many years, he was no longer able to resist the lure of the national team shirt. After backtracking on his decision, he returned to help guide France through the qualification minefield to Germany 2006. Now aged 34, Zidane will grace his last international competition this summer.

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UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile

For many the ultimate midfield player, Zinedine Zidane boasts brilliant passing skills, breathtaking touch and the pace and determination to make his contribution count.

National team
Already tipped for greatness, Zidane scored twice on his debut against the Czech Republic in August 1994, yet it was in France's victorious 1998 FIFA World Cup campaign that 'Zizou' became a legend. Two headed goals in the final against Brazil capped a magnificent performance, and he was in similarly luminous form as France triumphed at UEFA EURO 2000™. Reduced by injury to just one appearance in Korea/Japan, many blamed Zidane's absence for France's poor showing. He scored three times at UEFA EURO 2004™ - including two in a remarkable comeback against England. He retired from international football after the finals only to make a dramatic return to the national team during 2006 World Cup qualifying.

Club
Born in Marseille in 1972 to Algerian immigrant parents, Zidane made his debut for AS Cannes in the 1988/89 season before moving on to FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Having helped Bordeaux to the final of the 1995/96 UEFA Cup, Zidane moved to Juventus FC. Two Serie A titles followed, but defeat in two UEFA Champions League finals - against BV Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF - marked a disappointing return from his six seasons in Turin.

2001: Joined Madrid for €76m in the summer of 2001, proving an instant hit. He finally broke his European duck by scoring a sublime volleyed winner to help Madrid win the 2001/02 Champions League final against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Added a UEFA Super Cup and Spanish championship to his list of honours in 2002/03, scoring nine times in 33 Primera División matches.

2004/05: By his own admission, this was again not one of Zidane's best seasons, but his sublime drive against Sevilla FC on 14 May, one of six goals in the league, showed he still had to old magic.

Did you know?
Having previously won both the European and World Footballer of the Year awards, Zidane was voted the No1 European player of the past 50 years in UEFA's Jubilee poll.

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.

UEFA EURO 2004™ player's profile

For many the ultimate midfield player, Zinedine Zidane boasts brilliant passing skills, a breathtaking touch and the pace and determination to make his contribution count.

National team
Zidane was already tipped for greatness before he scored twice on his debut against the Czech Republic in August 1994, yet it was in France's victorious 1998 FIFA World Cup campaign that 'Zizou' became a legend. Two headed goals in the final against Brazil capped a magnificent performance, and he was in similarly luminous form as France triumphed at UEFA EURO 2000™. Reduced by injury to just one appearance at Korea/Japan, many blamed Zidane's absence for France's poor showing.

UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying
Zidane was back to his best as France won Group 1 at a stroll, appearing in seven games and scoring three times, including the winning goal against Israel in Palermo.

Club
Born in Marseille in 1972 to Algerian immigrant parents, Zidane made his debut for AS Cannes in the 1988/89 season before moving on to FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

1996: Having helped Bordeaux to the final of the 1996 UEFA Cup, Zidane joined Juventus FC. Two Serie A titles followed, but defeat in two UEFA Champions League finals - against BV Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF - marked a disappointing return for his six seasons in Turin.

2001: Joined Madrid for €76m in the summer of 2001, proving an instant and huge hit. He finally broke his European duck by scoring a sublime volleyed winner to help Madrid win the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The midfielder added a UEFA Super Cup and Spanish championship to his list of honours in 2002/03, scoring nine times in 33 Primera División matches.

2003/04: Zidane spoke candidly about his form as Madrid's season derailed with defeats in the Spanish Cup final, Champions League and Primera División. "The plain truth is I'm playing badly," he said.

Did you know?
Having previously won both the European and World Footballer of the Year awards, Zidane was voted the No1 European player of the past 50 years in UEFA's Jubilee poll.

©uefa.com 1998-2004. All rights reserved.

BBC's UEFA EURO 2004 player's profile

Zinedine Zidane has been named Fifa's World Player of the Year three times and continues to live up to his billing as the world's best midfielder.

A magician on the ball, Zidane earned legendary status with two goals in France's 1998 World Cup final victory.

His star had been rising steadily throughout the 1990s with impressive spells at Bordeaux and Juventus.

After two Serie A titles in Turin, Real Madrid paid a world record £45.8m to land 'Zizou' in 2001.

Zidane's powers have shown no signs of waning as he won his first Champions League title in 2002, scoring a sublime volley in the final, and La Liga in 2003.

A thigh injury forced him to miss all but one of France's matches at the 2002 World Cup where they, not coincidentally, failed even to score a goal.

©bbc.co.uk 2004. All rights reserved.