Zinedine Zidane to retire after World Cup

[aldago]

Zidane to retire after Cup

From correspondents in Paris

April 26, 2006

REAL Madrid's playmaker Zinedine Zidane has announced that he will retire from football after this northern summer's World Cup in Germany.

"After the World Cup, I will stop playing football," Zidane told Canal Plus television.

"The World Cup is my last goal. That's the only thing I want to focus on," said Zidane, affirming that his decision is "definitive".

"I want people to be in the know before the World Cup."

Zidane initially announced his retirement from international football in August 2004 after a disastrous Euro campaign with France.

But the Marseille-born father-of-four went back on that decision a year later to help the French national team qualify for this year's World Cup.

"The context was different then," Zidane said.

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"This is definitive. I'm stopping everything. Afterwards I can play as an amateur but that's up to me. I'm relieved. Now I can look forward to the World Cup."

Agence France-Presse

Source: Fox Sports

Sad news :(

[BreakingBenjamin]

Wow, all this years seeing Zidane on the camp, and now ... Nothing :( Well, I think it's fair, he deserves his jubilation.

[Mx]

Sad news, but he has been playing for a long time. So it was expected he'd quit definitely soon.

[faraway.]

A truly magical player. I will never forget his Champions League Final goal against Bayer Leverkusen. Classic.

Thanks for the memories ZZ.

[flapjackman176]

its sad.. a great player witht he misfourtine of so many depressing cups with the French squad.

[giga Veteran]

Aw man. Well..my salute to him. One of the best midfielders..ever. (Y)

[BigGiantHead]

^ I agree. He was fantastic. Hope he finishes the WC with a bang.

[bayrider]

Anyone got a video of that goal from the WC i think where he scored from the edge of the field as he was about to fly out of bounds? Amazing shot.

[aldago]

i think that the goal he scored against deportivo de la coru?a was better than the goal against bayern

link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK9BafqpbhM

[redFX]

He'll definitly be a legend.

Hope the wolrd cup goes good for him... end it with a bang

[former1]

My footballing hero gone :( It'll be sad to see him go. But as previous people have said, I hope he finishes the WC with a bang - and takes the cup.

[Vykranth]

Hep, Hep, Hep!!!

There is still the World Cup this summer and one can expect that we will see some Zidane Magic

[dt26]

We know why Real were after Stevie G now.

[Powa]

I think it's a good thing, as he's been in awful form all season. He's just not got the legs for it anymore. Still, he is one of my favourite all time players.

[Martyn]

Zizou is a true legend, what he does with a football is simply magical. He was my favourite player, the goal he scored in the Champions League final was amazing. A true great, I hope he has a good World Cup as that would be an appropriate send off.