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Zidane interested in Bangladesh job.

Former France and Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane has expressed interest in coaching the Bangladesh national football team.

The French legend, who is in the country at the invitation of 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus, was speaking during a visit to the villages on the outskirts of Dhaka City, where he addressed members of the Grameen Bank at its Kamal Bashulia Landless Women's Association.

"I'm overwhelmed with the enthusiasm of the people of Bangladesh," said the 34-year-old told the New Nation newspaper.

Zidane, who retired from the sport after the World Cup final earlier this year, is one of the most gifted players to have ever been involved in the game.

He has played in two World Cup finals, scoring twice in the 1998 showpiece against Brazil, and earning even more notoriety in the second, after headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest in July of this year.

Upon being asked if he had any interest in Bangladeshi football, Zidane responded: "I am not interested in playing here.

"But yes, I am interested in training the Bangladeshi team," he added.

Zidane also took part in a football match for a few minutes before leaving the village.

Rendezvous with Zidane in Bangladesh.

1. Zinedine Zidane, sporting a crown of flowers, enters the Bangladesh Football Federation Bhaban on Tuesday afternoon. 2. The French football legend is being greeted by thousands of sports lovers at the Itahata village in Gazipur in the morning. 3. Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus introduces the three-time World Footballer of the Year to some of the benefitted women of his award-winning micro-credit venture through his brainchild Grameen Bank. 4. The French talisman celebrating the birthday of Franck Riboud (R), Chairman and CEO of Danone Foods. 5. The former Real Madrid superstar signing an autograph on the shirt of a tiny tot. 6. Zizou is flanked by an army of young followers. 7. The midfield magician poses with a locally-made hat. 8. The Danone brand ambassador is enjoying a ride on a carriage at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. 9. The UN Goodwill Ambassador shakes hands with a player-to-be before the kick-off of an exhibition match in Gazipur. 10. And he is as elated as ever after scoring … Photos: Anisur Rahman.

Zidane in Bangladesh.

French football legend Zinedine Zidane, donning the Mohammedan colours, dribbles past a Abahani under-16 youngster during the exhibition match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Zidane: 'I want to help the children of Bangladesh.'

A soft-spoken Zinedine Zidane smiled his way through the brief press conference held in his honour at the BFF Bhaban at the heart of the city yesterday and left a message saying that he would be proud to do something to help the children of Bangladesh.

" I shall be proud to do something to help the children of Bangladesh and aid in the overall development of football in the country," said the French legend in his opening speech which came after Nobel Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus, the man responsible for bringing Zidane here, said that "Bangladesh are fortunate to have a footballer of Zidane's stature grace us with his presence."

Yunus further went on to say that he hoped Zidane's visit would, " change the face of Bangladesh football" in the years to come.

In a packed conference room overflowing with reporters and photojournalists, Zidane was the star attraction in a panel that also included BFF president SA Sultan, vice-President Serajul Islam Bachchu and general secretary Anwarul Haq Helal.

" I want to thank Franck Riboud of Danone and Prof. Yunus for inviting me here," said a demure Zidane.

" I am very proud to be here and I am pleasantly surprised to see the enthusiasm of football in this region," said the French legend speaking through an interpreter.

And the maestro offered hope to aspiring young Bangladeshi footballers saying that regardless of their background if they worked hard and got the correct direction they could surely make the grade as professional footballers abroad.

" I believe that anything is possible if one has a fixed goal and believes in hard work."

Answering a query from a reporter about the key differences between Asian and European football Zidane said, " Asia is probably lagging behind since football is primarily an European sport and came late to this part of the world."

He was hopeful that it would catch-up very soon though.

Also keeping in tune with his roots, Zidane said that Muslim countries doing well in football made him happy and therefore he was hopeful that Bangladesh would one day reach a standard level.

VP Serajul Islam Bachchu opened the session by saying that this was a great day for Bangladesh football and the BFF. He thanked everyone including Danone and Professor Yunus for making this day possible.

After the initial formalities Zidane was asked a variety of questions and answered queries, which ranged from speaking about his future goals to expressing his dismay at not being able to watch Indian football on TV!

Zidane confirmed that he had no plans to take up coaching at this moment saying that, " I think that at this moment I can put my skills to better use in some other sectors rather than football."

Asked how bitterly he felt about his runners-up finish in this summers World Cup, Zidane was philosophical.

"A players' career is full of ups and downs. Sometimes the good things come along and other times its all bad. It's part and parcel of a footballer's life. There have been many incidents in my life and its part of who I am."

And faced with the age-old question of who amongst Pele and Maradona was better, Zidane was diplomatic.

" I only watched Pele on TV and videos after his career had finished but I grew up watching Maradona. Both are great players in their own time and both shall live on as legends."

Zidane also dispelled any comparisons between him and Platini saying that although Platini was a great player of the 80's there was very little resemblance between themselves.

There was also a hint of humour about the press meet when an apologetic looking Zidane said that he was sorry that he was not able to comment on Indian football because of the lack of transmission in Spain or France!

But the man affectionately called Zizou saved the best for last. When an overeager reporter engaged the services of Professor Yunus to ask the ex-Real Madrid star to take over as coach of Bangladesh, Zidane answered with a wry smile and the hint of a nod.

However, professor Yunus rescued him from the predicament by answering the reporter saying that he had talked about that very thing with Zidane and maybe something could be arranged in the future.

"Maybe in the future," was Prof. Yunus's reply.

Zidane in Bangladesh.

ZZ touches down in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Living football legend and former Real Madrid Zinedine Zidane arrived in Dhaka last night for a brief three-day stay. The Frenchman was given a warm but simple welcome on his arrival at the Zia International Airport.

Secretary for Youth and Sports Sirajul Islam received him after Zidane, clad in jeans, white t-shirt and black jacket, descended from a Singapore Airlines flight at 10.30pm. Bangladesh Football Federation general secretary Anwarul Hoque Helal and Grameen officials were also present.

Zidane will make a public appearance at the Bangabandhu National Stadium this afternoon. A brand ambassador of Danone Foods, he will visit the head office of Grameen Bank this morning. He will inaugurate the plant of Grameen Danone Foods and is expected to make a curtsey call on President and Chief Advisor of the Caretaker Government Prof Iajuddin Ahmed tomorrow.

A World Cup winner in 1998 and thrice World Footballer of the Year, Zidane will depart Dhaka tomorrow evening.

Zizou: Real Madrid can end two years of hurt.

Zinedine Zidane says victory for Real Madrid on Sunday against Barcelona will kickstart their Liga season.

Zizou, who has just agreed a commentary deal with Canal+, said: "To tell the truth, I have not seen a single game of Madrid this campaign.

"I find out what is happening because some friends inform me who I left there. I know that the team has had bumps, but a win over Barcelona will recover a little of the confidence that was lost during the past few years."

On his personal plans, Zizou added: "I do not regret retiring. I've run a little, played some tennis. But football? I haven't done anything."

Zidane in frame for FifPro award.

Former France captain and Real Madrid player Zinedine Zidane is in the running for the 2006 FifPro Player of the Year award.

The former Real Madrid star bowed out of football in shame with a red card in the World Cup final for a headbutt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi.

Materazzi is also on the list of 55 nominations, along with last year's winner, Brazilian Ronaldinho.

The Premiership has 18 players in the frame for the award which will be announced on 6 November in Athens.

Chelsea are the best represented club in the list with nine players, including recent recruits Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko.

In terms of nationalities, world champions Italy have 10 nominated players along with Brazil, while England number six internationals.

Cole and his Blues team-mates John Terry and Frank Lampard are joined on the list by Manchester United duo Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney - who took last year's young player award - and Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.

As well as the individual award, ballot forms were sent to 43,000 players asking them to pick a world XI for the event, which has been organised by the international players' union.

Except him more Real Madrid player is also in the shortlist. They are-

Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Roberto Carlos (Brazil), Cicinho (Brazil), Ronaldo (Brazil).

Some former Real Madrid player is also among the list. they are-

Luis Figo (Portugal), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Claude Makalele (France).

Recently retired Real Madrid player Zidane is French favourite.

No buts about it, Zinedine Zidane is France's favourite personality.

Despite the head butt on an Italian defender that arguably cost France the World Cup, the former captain of the national soccer side is by far the most popular personality in the country, a new poll showed on Sunday.

Zidane was shown a red card 10 minutes before the end of extra time in the July 9 final after felling Italy's Marco Materazzi. That ensured he missed the penalty shoot-out that decided the match in Italy's favour.

But a survey by pollster Ifop for the Journal du Dimanche showed Zidane -- hailed as a footballing genius and one of the finest players of his generation -- is now the country's most popular figure for 48 percent of French people.

"The day after July 9, for many, his reputation seemed to have sunk. His head butt had ruined everything. And yet...," the newspaper said of Zidane in an article accompanying the survey.

"We have to believe that the French have forgiven him, have even knighted him," it said.

Zidane's 48 percent was way ahead of the country's former favourite Yannick Noah, the ex-tennis champion who has launched a successful new career as a pop star. He came second with 30 percent.

Third place, with an unspecified figure, went to ecologist Nicolas Hulot followed by ageing French rocker Johnny Hallyday and film star Jean Reno.

The head butt ruined Zidane's swan-song, as the final was the last competitive match in an illustrious career that had taken him from his native Marseille to footballing giants Juventus and Real Madrid.

Zidane later said he had struck Materazzi after the Italian insulted his sister and mother, and offered only a partial apology for his actions. The pair were fined and given three- and two-match bans respectively by FIFA last month.

French President Jacques Chirac captured the mood of national forgiveness in the wake of the narrow defeat, hailing Zidane as a "virtuoso, a genius of world football" admired and loved by the country.

With the chart-topping success of the cheeky summer hit "Coup de Boule" (Head Butt), which immortalised Zidane's strike in song, it was clear France had forgiven its favourite son.