[LEGEND] Zinedine Zidane

[Andi Istiabudi]

Real Madrid still benefiting from Zinedine Zidane's influence
By Ben Lyttleton

He has become a familiar sight at Real Madrid¹s press conferences before its Champions League matches: next to the Special One sits the Silent One, a former player whose list of honors rivals that of the coach (it includes a World Cup and European Championship success), and whose presence adds even more stardust to the Real Madrid name.

Zinedine Zidane rarely speaks at these occasions, and more often than not looks like he cannot wait to get out of the spotlight. And yet the Frenchman -- promoted in November from advisor to the president Florentino Perez to "special advisor to the first-team" -- has played a crucial role behind the scenes this season.

It was Zidane who brokered a truce between Mourinho and sports director Jorge Valdano, persuading Perez that Valdano was best kept away from the training ground and so preventing a potential midseason Mourinho walkout. He helped get the best out of striker Karim Benzema at a critical period of the season, when Gonzalo Higuain was injured and the team needed goals to get past Champions League Round of 16 opponents Lyon. He is also credited with persuading Perez that signing Emmanuel Adebayor on loan in January was a risk worth taking. Adebayor's two-goal performance in the 4-0 win over Tottenham proved as much.

Zidane spoke to the press after Real Madrid beat Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, claiming that the victory was "an important psychological advantage" before its Champions League semifinal, the third and most important game so far of their four-game sequence. It's likely that it will only be at the end of the season that Zidane may reflect on his newfound position and what it might mean for the future. His star, not for the first time, is on the rise in the Spanish capital.

It's been nearly five years since Zidane ended his career with a head butt on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final. In an interview with L'Equipe last year, he spoke of his regret at not playing on after that game. "I could easily have gone and played in the USA," he said. "Without doubt, I regret not having done that. I should have thought about the idea of this American adventure more seriously, more deeply, but there you are. It's much too late to go back now."

As it was, Zidane devoted time to his sponsors, backing Qatar's successful 2022 World Cup bid, and to his charity, the Zidane Foundation (which, he has insisted, received his lucrative payment from the Qataris). And he was always at pains to point out that he wasn't just "an ambassador" for Real Madrid. "In a way, I already was that, and I wanted to transmit my know-how and participate in the life of the club," he told L'Equipe.

He has also found a kindred spirit in Mourinho. It was hardly a genius move from Mourinho to realise that such an iconic figure would have the immediate respect of his players, but it was a powerful political gambit to get Zidane, who has the ear of president Perez, on his side as the war with Valdano continued.

Zidane, on the other hand, appreciates what Mourinho is trying to do: give the club a playing identity, and build a young side to compete with one of the best teams in the history of the game. "He is a brilliant leader, he gives all the players great belief, and makes them feel they are the best in the world before every game," Zidane said of Mourinho. "He's just what this club needed."

The same could be said of Zidane. "Football has given me so much and served me so well, I feel like I want to give something back," he also told L'Equipe, before conceding that his ambitions did not stop there. "It may be a little early to say something like this, but I would very much like to be a club president one day. Maybe president is a big word, but in any case I would really like to take care of a club."

Zidane has told colleagues that he is not sure what role he is being groomed for next at Real Madrid. But he is certainly enjoying his current one, even if he finds watching games more stressful than playing in them: "It's complicated, as there's nothing I can do to affect things."

Zidane's future at the club is not tied to the fate of Mourinho, though. His second coming at Real is under two years old, but already he has proved himself a canny political player. He scored the winner in Real's last Champions League success in 2002: this time around, most of his work goes unseen, but his influence is undeniable.

Ben Lyttleton has written about French football for various publications. He edited an oral history of the European Cup, Match of My Life: European Cup Finals, which was published in 2006.

Source : http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com

[Andi Istiabudi]

Materazzi Akui Sudah Berdamai Dengan Zidane

Bola.net - Marco Materazzi mengungkapkan dirinya telah berdamai dengan Legenda Perancis, Zinedine Zidane, atas insiden yang terjadi di Piala Dunia tahun 2006 lalu.

Berbicara kepada majalah So Foot, bek Internazionale tersebut mengatakan dirinya telah berjabat tangan dengan pemain yang menanduk dadanya tersebut.

Pertemuan keduanya terjadi ketika Materazzi sedang mengunjungi mantan pelatih Inter, Jose Mourinho yang sedang berada di Italia.

"Saya mendatanginya dan mengatakan 'dengar, saya minta maaf untuk apa yang telah terjadi, itu sudah berlalu.' Dia menjawab 'tidak, tidak, tidak masalah, jangan khawatir.' Kemudian kami berjabat tangan," ungkap mantan pemain belakang Perugia tersebut.

Ketika disinggung mengenai FIFA yang berusaha untuk menjembatani dirinya dan Zidane, Materazzi mengungkapkan tidak ingin melakukan hal itu, karena menurutnya hal tersebut hanya sebuah formalitas saja.

"Yang paling indah adalah pertemuan secara langsung, karena jika (meminta maaf) hanya demi FIFA dan Sepp Blatter itu hanya iklan."

"Tetapi kalau berdamai di tempat parkir atau di hotel, itu seperti dua teman atau dua musuh bertemu dan berjabat tangan," lanjutnya.

Meski telah berdamai dengan Zidane, namun dirinya tidak benar-benar menganggap masalah ini selesai, hal ini karena Materazzi ingin membahas masalah ini dengan FIFA.

"FIFA memanggil saya tetapi tidak memberi kesempatan kepada pengacara saya untuk membahas masalah ini dengan komite."

"Mereka hanya mau menjaga reputasi Zidane dan ingin membuat saya tetap terlihat sebagai si jahat," tambah Materazzi.

"Karena Blatter bisa berbicara bahasa Italia, saya tahu kami bisa berdiskusi dengan tenang. Cepat atau lambat itu akan terjadi," pungkas pemain yang mulai jarang ditampilkan tersebut. (foti/end)

Source : http://www.bola.net

[Andi Istiabudi]

Zidane Kecewa terhadap Mourinho
Ferril Dennys | Hery Prasetyo

MADRID, KOMPAS.com — Zinedine Zidane, diberitakan La Sexta dan Sports, kurang terkesan terhadap Pelatih Jose Mourinho setelah Real Madrid gagal melaju ke final Liga Champions. Zidane juga dilaporkan kecewa karena Karim Benzema tidak tampil di semifinal kedua.

Madrid harus menyerahkan tiket final kepada Barcelona karena kalah agregat 1-3. Di balik itu, ada sebuah fakta yang membuat Zidane bertambah kecewa. Legenda tim nasional Perancis itu kecewa dengan keputusan Mourinho yang tidak memainkan Karim Benzema pada dua leg semifinal Liga Champions.

Pertandingan leg kedua yang berakhir imbang 1-1, Aitor Karanka, yang bertugas menggantikan Mourinho karena harus menjalani skorsing, memang tidak memasukkan Benzema. Ia melakukan dua kali pergantian pemain dengan memasukkan Emmanuel Adebayor untuk menggantikan Gonzalo Higuain dan Mesut Oezil yang menggantikan Kaka.

Zidane dilaporkan bingung dengan taktik yang diterapkan Mourinho sehingga Benzema disimpan di bangku cadangan. Spekulasi yang berkembang di Spanyol, Benzema tidak dimainkan karena ia tidak latah seperti rekannya yang mengkritik wasit saat ditaklukkan 0-2 di Santiago Bernabeu. (LS)

Source : http://bola.kompas.com

[Andi Istiabudi]

Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane: I 'respect' Jose Mourinho's work

Club icon and French legend dismisses suggestions that he fosters any ill feeling toward the Portuguese tactician and says that he only shares his ideas with him
By Subhankar Mondal

Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has refuted reports claiming that he has any problem with coach Jose Mourinho’s approach toward matches.

Media reports in Spain on Thursday suggested that the Frenchman, who works as a special advisor to Madrid’s first team, was upset by the nine-time European champions’ defeat to rivals Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Zidane was reportedly annoyed that compatriot Karim Benzema was not introduced in the second-leg of their tie at Camp Nou on Tuesday evening when the game was level at 1-1. Madrid eventually lost the two-legged affair 3-1 on aggregate.

However, the 38-year-old has dismissed all suggestions of any problem between him and Mourinho and told Madrid’s official website: "My relationship with him and his staff is very good.

“I follow their work and collaborate with them in everything related to the first team. I have total respect for Jose Mourinho's work on the Real Madrid bench. I only share comments or ideas on the first team with him."

Zidane was appointed in this role in November last year and is said to being groomed as a coach for Madrid in the future.

Source : http://www.goal.com

[Andi Istiabudi]

Soccer-Zidane defends Blanc in quota row

PARIS May 7 (Reuters) - Former France great Zinedine Zidane has urged national coach Laurent Blanc not to resign over a racial quota row which has thrown the game into turmoil.

Blanc, a team mate of Zidane when a multicultural France won the 1998 World Cup, is under pressure after attending a soccer federation meeting in November where reports say the idea of quotas for Arab and African youth players was discussed.

"I think he started doing a great job and he has a real project," Zidane, who is of Algerian heritage, told www.lequipe.fr on Saturday in excerpts from an interview due to be published on Sunday.

"We must leave things as they are, it would be crazy if he left because of this."

Some France98 players, notably Senegal-born Patrick Vieira, have attacked Blanc but others, including Didier Deschamps, have backed the coach, who has led France to the top of their Euro 2012 qualifying group after their woeful World Cup last year under Raymond Domenech.

Blanc "is certainly not racist" and "has never thought like that", Zidane added, before querying the alleged federation discussion.

"The idea of...discriminating (against) kids with dual nationality is absurd to me," he said.

A Reuters correspondent said Blanc returned to his home in Bordeaux on Saturday after spending time at a spa in Italy. He is due to be interviewed in twin inquiries from the federation and the Sports Ministry.

The initial findings of the ministry investigation are expected on Monday.

Source : http://af.reuters.com

[Andi Istiabudi]

Zidane: Varane Serupa Blanc

Bola.net - Legenda Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane menyanjung calon bintang baru El Real, Raphael Varane sebagai pewaris keandalan kompatriotnya, Laurent Blanc.

Pemain berusia 18 tahun itu diperkirakan akan segera menuntaskan proses kepindahannya ke Bernabeu pekan depan, meski hanya memainkan 23 pertandingan Ligue 1 bersama klubnya, Lens yang justru terdegradasi musim kemarin.

Real kabarnya mengalahkan para pesaingnya yang juga memburu Varane seperti Arsenal, Manchester United serta Paris Saint-Germain.

"Ia pemain yang bertalenta dan juga menjanjikan - dan itu jelas menarik minat klub bertalenta seperti Real Madrid, dan saya juga amat menyukainya," ujar Zidane yang kini menjabat penasehat presiden Madrid, Florentino Perez.

"Ia juga bermain di jantung pertahanan, yang itu amat sulit ditemukan. Sejak Laurent Blanc, ada beberapa pemain amat bagus di posisi itu tapi saya tak pernah melihat yang sekaliber dia, serupa dengan Blanc."

Blanc sendiri bermain bersama Zidane di skuad Les Bleus yang menjadi juara dunia tahun 1998 serta juara Eropa dua tahun kemudian. (afp/row)

Source : http://www.bola.net

[Andi Istiabudi]

Zidane Lakoni Peran Baru di Madrid

Bola.net - Legenda hidup Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane kini akan lebih sibuk di Santiago Bernabeu. Pasalnya mantan bintang Perancis ini kini mengemban jabatan baru dalam skuad Los Blancos.

Zidane selama ini telah menjadi jembatan penghubung antara skuad utama Madrid dengan pihak manajemen. Selama ini kehadiran Zidane di Santiago Bernabeu dinilai positif oleh banyak pihak.

Dan kini Zidane sendiri yang mengatakan jika dirinya akan menduduki posisi baru di raksasa Spanyol tersebut. Seperti yang dilansir oleh DirectSport Zidane akan menempati posisi baru sebagai Direktur Teknik skuad Los Galacticos.

Selama ini Zidane telah menjalin hubungan yang baik dengan pelatih Real, Jose Mourinho. Peningkatan peran Zidane di skuad Madrid diperkirakan akan memberikan efek positif dalam tim.

Sebelumnya Zidane menjabat sebagai penasehat klub. Dimana dirinya sering memberikan masukan kepada Presiden Florentino Perez mengenai kebijakan transfer pemain. (direct/mac)

Source : http://www.bola.net

[Andi Istiabudi]

Zidane: Saya Direktur Madrid Yang Baru

Bola.net - Legenda terbesar Prancis, Zinedine Zidane, membenarkan bahwa dirinya bakal segera menjadi Direktur Olah Raga yang baru bagi Los Galacticos Real Madrid.

Sebelumnya pria berusia 39 tahun tersebut hanya menjabat sebagai penasehat Presiden Florentino Perez, dirinya ibarat menjadi jembatan bagi pasukan Los Blancos dengan direksi Bernabeu.

"Saya akan menjadi Direktur Olah Raga tim utama Madrid," ucap pria yang menjadi pemain dari 2001 hingga 2006 bagi El Real tersebut di sela-sela laga amal kepada AFP.

Pria yang terpilih sebanyak 3 kali sebagai pemain terbaik Dunia FIFA tersebut mengaku belum begitu paham dengan fungsi dirinya di jabatan anyar tersebut, setidaknya ia akan lebih dekat dengan Jose Mourinho dan pasukannya.

"Kita akan lihat nanti, ada banyak orang yang bertanya hal yang sama kepada saya, yang jelas keputusan ini banyak dipengaruhi oleh keinginan Mourinho dan juga Florentino,"

"Real Madrid adalah hal yang paling penting yang terjadi dalam diri saya, baik sebagai pemain maupun sebagai seorang pribadi. Saya akan melanjutkan pekerjaan ini karena inilah tim terbaik,"

Real Madrid sendiri belum mengkonfirmasi secara resmi terkait hal ini, yang jelas sport Direktur Olah Raga mereka sedang lowong, akibat pemecatan Jorge Valdano yang disebut-sebut kerap berselisih dengan Jose Mourinho.

Source : http://www.bola.net

[Trezz Kiko]

Zidane Cetak 5 gol Dalam 22 Detik

Bola.net - Kita semua telah menjadi saksi akan kehebatan Zinedine Zidane semasa dirinya aktif bermain bola. Dan penampilan Zidane di beberapa pertandingan amal masih saja bisa memikat perhatian banyak penonton.
Video di bawah ini mungkin akan menimbulkan anggapan jika Zidane pensiun terlalu dini. Bahkan mungkin Zidane masih bisa bersaing untuk bisa bermain bersama skuad Timnas Prancis.

Tampil di acara reality show Spanyol bernama "Cracks", Zidane bersama Enzo Francescoli memberikan kesempatan kepada talenta-talenta muda untuk menjadi pemain sepak bola profesional.

Pada awal minggu ini, Zizou yang mempersiapkan diri untuk tampil di Crack berlatih melepaskan 5 tendangan penalti sekaligus. Hasilnya, dalam waktu 22 detik Zidane berhasil menceploskan ke-5 bola melewati sang kiper, tendangan penalti terakhir Zidane mengingatkan kita kepada tendangannya ke gawang Gianluigi Buffon di partai final Piala Dunia 2006.



www.bola.net

[Andi Istiabudi]

Saya suka dengan permainan Zidane saat masih membela Juventus ketimbang saat di Real Madrid ...

Former Juventus & Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane is the greatest player of last 20 years, claims Marcello Lippi

The former Italy coach has voiced his opinion that the Frenchman was the cream of the crop over the past two decades, while Diego Maradona dominated before that

The two worked together in Turin from 1996 until 1999, and Lippi has nothing but praise for the retired France international.

"The greatest player of the past 20 years? It has to be Zidane. He had everything. You never needed to tell him anything as he did it all by himself and knew what was expected," Lippi told Il Mattino.

"In the 20 years before him. Diego Maradona was arguably the best. There's no doubt about that in my opinion."

Lippi also discussed the upcoming Serie A match between Napoli and Inter at the weekend, two teams he has both coached, and made it clear that Saturday's game promises to be an exciting one.

"I am sure that the match at San Siro will be a spectacular one. You need a lot of quality if you are to beat Inter, and Napoli have plenty of class. [Ezequiel] Lavezzi, [Marek] Hamsik and [Gokhan] Inler have plenty to offer."

Source : http://www.goal.com