Zinedine Zidane: „My future? Compulsory in soccer!”
March 2008
an article from the French magazine Tele
Star translated by magician10
A phone call from Madrid. On the occasion of the resuming of the Champions
League on Canal +, Zinedine Zidane talks to us about soccer but also about his
career, his projects and his family.
Tele Star: You appeared in the movie “Asterix at the Olympic Games”. You want to
make a reorientation?
Zinédine Zidane: No, not really. After having seen the movie, I told myself that
acting is a real (difficult) job. And it’s obviously not mine. (he laughs)
TS: You’ll return to television for the resume of the Champions League. Is
talking soccer your balloon full of oxygen?
ZZ: It’s always a nice moment. I’m not a commentator but returning to Canal + to
talk about the Champions League, the top class, is more comfortable.
TS: You said at the beginning of the year “Returning to soccer sounds good to me…”
ZZ: But not as a professional player.
TS: In which field then?
ZZ: I don’t know yet. But if I have a role to play in my country, then it’s in
soccer. Maybe I’ll take more responsibility in the Club “Nouvelle Vague” in La
Castellane, my district. I fancy putting on the boots from time to time.
TS: Honestly, did the offers from the American clubs appeal to you?
ZZ: The American experience would only be useful for my children, so that they’d
learn the language, that could attract me. But I don’t want to return to play a
walk-on role.
TS: A typical day of Zizou resembles what?
ZZ: The day of a house husband. I eat breakfast with my children. Then I bring
them to school. I work out for two or three hours – I ride a bike, I do pushups
- then I eat lunch. I have some appointments in the afternoon and from 5 pm I am
available to my family again. I have for children, so I don’t hang out.
TS: Do you cook for them?
ZZ: (he laughs) I don’t cook neither do I wash the dishes. But I did it when I
was young, I simply passed on the duties.
TS: Enzo, your oldest son, plays for Real Madrid. They are already calling him a
prodigy.
ZZ: I don’t have the habit of talking about him, other people already do that
often enough in my place. But he fights it out.
TS: But does he really have the same style of play as you have?
ZZ: Like father, like son. We do resemble each other in gestures. But he must
let the things develop slowly. He does well in school, that’s what’s most
important.
TS: One year and a half after your retirement, were you surprised to be still
the 2nd most liked personality in France?
ZZ: Obviously. But I don’t let this fool me. I owe my popularity mostly to my
career. It’s a good mark of recognition on the part of the public.
TS: After your fit of range during the World Cup Final, were you afraid that the
people wouldn’t support you anymore?
ZZ: I wasn’t afraid, no, but I did think about it. It had to be difficult but in
the end I received a lot of sympathy. Even though I know that deep inside they
will always stay a bit disappointed.
Some of his favorites:
His favorite TV show: Prison Break
His favorite programs: Documentaries about animals and sports transmissions: of
course soccer, formula 1 and basketball
His personal highlight: “I love watching Koh-Lanta with my children. I really
like Denis Brogniart and the concept of the show.”
He also talks about Karim Benzema:
The new prodigy of “Les Bleus”, Karim Benzema, 20 years old and always compared
to Zizou. And rightfully so according to the star: “He astounds me. He can do
anything and he also scores a lot of goals. He’s someone who’s normal in life
and extraordinary in a game.”