Most men looking to treat their other half opt for the traditional chocolates, flowers or even jewelry – but not Zinedine Zidane, who has splashed out on a football club for his wife. Zizou who is one of the greatest players of his generation, has set himself a new challenge - trying to save his wife's local football team - Rodez football team.
A shrinking local economy in Rodez, France and resulting budget cuts caused Rodez Aveyron Football to drop from the third division to the fourth. The club that played in Ligue 2 from 1988 to 1993 ended up going into debt and with their backs against the wall, turned to Zidane in April when he happened to be in town.
Zidane said "I come from the streets, a difficult neighborhood. I have never forgotten my roots. It's not because you work for the biggest club in the world that you forget everything beforehand. It's thanks to my in-laws that I have discovered this club and family. I love this region and spending time here and I feel at home."
It is not just monetary support that Zidane is offering though – last weekend he went to the trouble of reuniting some members of his 1998 World Cup-winning France team to play a friendly against the club
Rodez usually get around 800 people for games but 10 times that amount turned out for the match that included 10 members of that Les Bleus squad: Zidane, Fabien Barthez, Robert Pires, Bixente Lizarazu, Laurent Blanc, Christian Karembeu, Christophe Dugarry, Vincent Candela, Alain Boghossian and Bernard Diomede plus manager Aime Jacquet.
The fans of Rodez were treated with a thriller – a 5-5 draw – although the fact that Barthez scored one of France's goals from a penalty while playing as striker tells you it wasn't exactly the most serious match of all time.
Personally it was a great moment for me as it gave me the opportunity to see one of my greatest football class of all time alongside the Invincibles and the 2001 golden eaglets.
But what are these French stars who played in the game up to these days besides making charitable appearances?
Zinedine Zidane
The star of the class of '98 has been working as Real Madrid director of football for the past two years, although it has been unclear exactly what his responsibilities are. He has also been taking his coaching badge while working with the club's youth academy and has been earmarked for an even bigger role at the club in the post-Jose Mourinho era - with president Florentino Perez labelling him a future head coach at the Bernabeu.
Fabien Barthez
The former Manchester United keeper retired in 2007 and began a career in motorsports a year later. He has raced in a number of different series and this year he is competing in the FIA GT Series.
The former Manchester United keeper retired in 2007 and began a career in motorsports a year later. He has raced in a number of different series and this year he is competing in the FIA GT Series.
Robert Pires
Pires played in the Premier League as recently as two years ago for Aston Villa before going on to have a spell in India. Just last month he said he hoped he could finish his career in an "exotic country" – possibly in South America. He also does a lot for charity and some ambassadorial work for Arsenal.
Pires played in the Premier League as recently as two years ago for Aston Villa before going on to have a spell in India. Just last month he said he hoped he could finish his career in an "exotic country" – possibly in South America. He also does a lot for charity and some ambassadorial work for Arsenal.
Bixente Lizarazu
The Basque left-back retired just four days after Zidane in 2006 and then took up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - he even went on to become European champion in the Blue Belt Senior 1 Light Division in 2009. He also dabbles with some singing and guitar playing but is most commonly seen and heard as a popular pundit on French radio and television.
The Basque left-back retired just four days after Zidane in 2006 and then took up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - he even went on to become European champion in the Blue Belt Senior 1 Light Division in 2009. He also dabbles with some singing and guitar playing but is most commonly seen and heard as a popular pundit on French radio and television.
Laurent Blanc
One of the few members of the team that went into management. Blanc led Bordeaux to the French league title before taking over the national team from 2010 to 2012. There has been speculation that he could take over Roma this summer.
One of the few members of the team that went into management. Blanc led Bordeaux to the French league title before taking over the national team from 2010 to 2012. There has been speculation that he could take over Roma this summer.
Christian Karembeu
The midfielder, who swapped Real Madrid for Middlesbrough in 2000, retired in 2006 and is currently working as a scout for Arsenal after operating in a similar capacity for Portsmouth at one point. He is also part of a consortium hoping to get a Pacific Island team in Australian's A-League, works for the "Champions for Peace" group in Monaco and even hosted a travel show on French television. He had a high profile marriage to Slovak model Adriana Sklenaříková but they divorced last December.
The midfielder, who swapped Real Madrid for Middlesbrough in 2000, retired in 2006 and is currently working as a scout for Arsenal after operating in a similar capacity for Portsmouth at one point. He is also part of a consortium hoping to get a Pacific Island team in Australian's A-League, works for the "Champions for Peace" group in Monaco and even hosted a travel show on French television. He had a high profile marriage to Slovak model Adriana Sklenaříková but they divorced last December.
Christophe Dugarry
Five years after winning the World Cup, Dugarry found himself playing up front for Birmingham City before finishing his career in Qatar. He has worked as a pundit since hanging up his boots and has never stated a desire to coach, preferring instead to spend more time on the golf course.
Five years after winning the World Cup, Dugarry found himself playing up front for Birmingham City before finishing his career in Qatar. He has worked as a pundit since hanging up his boots and has never stated a desire to coach, preferring instead to spend more time on the golf course.
Vincent Candela
The left-back often had to play second fiddle to Lizarazu but did get some playing time in both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs. He also had a brief spell at Bolton - and a voice over role in the Italian dubbed version of Shaolin Soccer. In retirement he became a football agent but there is some talk that he could join Blanc as an assistant at Roma, where he played for eight seasons.
The left-back often had to play second fiddle to Lizarazu but did get some playing time in both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs. He also had a brief spell at Bolton - and a voice over role in the Italian dubbed version of Shaolin Soccer. In retirement he became a football agent but there is some talk that he could join Blanc as an assistant at Roma, where he played for eight seasons.
Alain Boghossian
Boghossian came on as a substitute in the 1998 final. He retired in 2003 but became assistant manager to French national team boss Raymond Domenech in 2008 and then a technical director when Blanc arrived. He left in 2012 when Didier Deschamps became coach. He is also a talented golfer.
Bernard Diomede
The winger who had a brief spell at Liverpool only won eight caps for France but started three times in the 1998 World Cup. Since retiring in 2006 he has set up an award-winning football academy in Paris and also works as a pundit.
Aime Jacquet
Immediately after guiding France to glory in 1998 Jacquet decided to quit as France manager and instead become the French Football Federation's technical director. He stayed there until he retired from football for good in 2006.
Boghossian came on as a substitute in the 1998 final. He retired in 2003 but became assistant manager to French national team boss Raymond Domenech in 2008 and then a technical director when Blanc arrived. He left in 2012 when Didier Deschamps became coach. He is also a talented golfer.
Bernard Diomede
The winger who had a brief spell at Liverpool only won eight caps for France but started three times in the 1998 World Cup. Since retiring in 2006 he has set up an award-winning football academy in Paris and also works as a pundit.
Aime Jacquet
Immediately after guiding France to glory in 1998 Jacquet decided to quit as France manager and instead become the French Football Federation's technical director. He stayed there until he retired from football for good in 2006.
And what has happened to the other France '98 squad members not at the match in Rodez?
Patrick Vieira - Manager of Manchester City's elite development squad.
Youri Djorkaeff - Pundit and charity work.
Patrick Vieira - Manager of Manchester City's elite development squad.
Youri Djorkaeff - Pundit and charity work.
Stéphane Guivarc'h - Coach and chairman of U.S. Trégunc in the Ligue de Bretagne.
Lilian Thuram – Political activist.
Emmanuel Petit - Charity work and consultant for FC Rouen.
Didier Deschamps – Manager of France.
Marcel Desailly – Football development in Ghana, punditry, charity work.
Thierry Henry – New York Red Bulls striker.
Frank Leboeuf – Actor and pundit.
David Trezeguet – Recently retired, played for River Plate in Argentina earlier this year.
Bernard Lama – Former coach of Kenya and involved with a Senegalese football academy.
Lionel Charbonnier – Technical director with the Indonesian FA.
Lilian Thuram – Political activist.
Emmanuel Petit - Charity work and consultant for FC Rouen.
Didier Deschamps – Manager of France.
Marcel Desailly – Football development in Ghana, punditry, charity work.
Thierry Henry – New York Red Bulls striker.
Frank Leboeuf – Actor and pundit.
David Trezeguet – Recently retired, played for River Plate in Argentina earlier this year.
Bernard Lama – Former coach of Kenya and involved with a Senegalese football academy.
Lionel Charbonnier – Technical director with the Indonesian FA.
ZIZOU! A LEGEND OF OUR TIME
ReplyDeleteSo henry is the onli one still active... Real Legend
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