Zinedine Zidane © sportige.com
			Name		Zinedine Yazid Zidane
			Date of Birth		23 June 1972
			Place of Birth		Marseille, Frane
			Height		1.85m / 6ft 1in
			Position		Playmaker
			Nationality		French
			Italian League (2) : 1996-1997, 1997-1998 Spanish League : 2002-2003 European Cup : 2001-2002 European Super Cup (2) : 1996, 2002 Intercontinental Cup (2) : 1996, 2002 European Championship : 2000 World Cup : 1998 FIFA World Player of the Year (3) : 1998, 2000, 2003 World Soccer Player of the Year : 1998 European Player of the Year : 1998

	Season		Club	Games	Goals	Assists	Position
	1988-1989		Cannes	2	-	-	12th
	1989-1990		Cannes	0	-	-	-
	1990-1991		Cannes	28	1	-	4th
	1991-1992		Cannes	31	5	-	19th
	1992-1993		Bordeaux	35	10	6	4th
	1993-1994		Bordeaux	34	6	8	4th
	1994-1995		Bordeaux	37	6	4	7th
	1995-1996		Bordeaux	34	6	10	16th
	1996-1997		Juventus	29	5	2	1st
	1997-1998		Juventus	32	7	5	1st
	1998-1999		Juventus	25	2	2	6th
	1999-2000		Juventus	32	4	3	2nd
	2000-2001		Juventus	33	6	14	2nd
	2001-2002		Real Madrid	31	7	7	3rd
	2002-2003		Real Madrid	33	9	9	1st
	2003-2004		Real Madrid	33	6	8	4th
	2004-2005		Real Madrid	29	6	5	2nd
	2005-2006		Real Madrid	29	9	9	2nd
	1988-1992		Cannes	61	6	-	0.10 GPG
	1992-1996		Bordeaux	140	28	28	0.20 GPG
	1996-2001		Juventus	151	24	26	0.16 GPG
	2001-2006		Real Madrid	155	37	38	0.24 GPG
	1996-2006		European Cup	82	14	-	0.17 GPG
	1986-1996		UEFA Cup	26	4	-	0.15 GPG
	1994-2006		France	108	31	-	0.29 GPG
	1988-2006		Totals	723	144	92	0.20 GPG

Zidane wasn't exactly a high profile signing for European Champions Juventus when he arrived for a modest fee in 1996 but he quickly established himself in a stand-out midfield which also featured the tireless running of Angelo Di Livio, the mercurial Yugoslav Vladimir Jugovic and Zidane's captain at international level, Didier Deschamps. Despite domestic success Zidane gained a reputation as a big game bottler following non descript performances in three successive European finals, the 1996 UEFA Cup final with Bordeaux and 1997 and 1998 European Cup finals with Juventus.

In 1998 French sought to end their long, ill fated wait for World Cup glory on home soil and the nation's hoped rested on Zidane's shoulders. He was THE poster boy of the new, multi national (born in Marseille to Algerian parents) France. For Zidane a tournament which started with the ignominy of a red card in a group game against Saudi Arabia ended in absolute triumph, he scored two headed goals in a stunning 3-0 victory over Brazil in the final.

France added the European Championship two years later. Zidane was outstanding in a quarter-final victory over Spain and his extra time penalty proved decisive in an ill tempered semi-final defeat of Portugal.

After three fruitless seasons at Juventus Zidane joined the Galactico revolution at Real Madrid for a then World record fee of £47 million. Ten months later he wrote himself into Real Madrid folklore. His stunning left football volley sealed a 2-1 European Cup final victory over Leverkusen. The Spanish league title followed a year later.

Zidane announced the 2005-2006 season would be his last and in a cruel twist of irony the scene of his greatest triumph, the World Cup, would also prove to be the scene of his greatest failure. Zidane, now captain, was at his enchanting best in a sparking 3-1 victory over Spain in the last 16, scoring a magnificent individual goal. Equally impressive against Brazil in the last eight, his free kick provided the solitary assist for Thierry Henry. A Zidane penalty eliminated Portugal in the semi-final stages of a major tournament for a second time and after he converted a fortuitous sixth minute spot kick against Italy in the final his career appeared set for a fairytale ending.

With penalties looming Zidane reacted to provocation from Italian defender Marco Materazzi, who had scored Italy's equaliser, with a firm head butt to the chest in one of the most infamous incidents in World Cup history. The referee, after viewing a replay on a monitor, dismissed Zidane who watched from the bench as Italy triumphed in the ensuing shoot-out.

Zidane has somewhat of a false position in the games hierarchy. Considered by some to be an all time great to rank alongside Pele, Maradona, Cryuff, Platini etc, etc he never dominated a tournament, at either club or International level, to the same extent of his more illustrious contemporaries.

Zidane was equally dangerous off either foot, strong in the air and possessed a chilling shot. A languid, powerfully built man who belied his lack of pace with incredible balance and close control so bewitching it was as if he played football in slow motion.

Key Attributes : Flair, balance, close control

Mohammed Baybars Mehdi