PARIS: Zinedine Zidane said he was coping well with life outside football and had no immediate plans to embark on a coaching career.
The former France and Real Madrid playmaker, who retired after his country’s defeat by Italy in the World Cup final in July, said he did not miss competitive football.
“I’m not missing it,” he told L’Equipe in an interview on Thursday. “When Real Madrid started the season, I didn’t feel anything, but it may come.”
Zidane, who has just signed a deal to work as a consultant for French pay-television channel Canal Plus, said he might become a coach one day, but not just yet.
“I will stay close to football because that’s what I know how to do,” he said.
“If you ask me if I will become a coach, for now, it’s no. But in 10 years, I don’t know.”
Buying a club, he added, might also be on option. “That could be a nice challenge,” he said.
Zidane was shown a red card 10 minutes before the end of extra time in the July 9 World Cup final after headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest. That ensured he missed the penalty shootout that decided the match in Italy’s favour.
Zidane’s reaction was immortalised in music through the chart-topping success of the cheeky summer hit “Coup de Boule” (Head Butt).
“It (the song) was funny, even if what I did was not funny”, the 34-year-old Zidane told L’Equipe. “Anyway, it’s better to laugh about it.”
Being sent off in the final did not stop Zidane from being named last week on a 30-man shortlist for FIFA’s World Player of the Year award, an honour he has already landed three times.
In the interview, Zidane also said he would love Fabien Barthez to join Chelsea, who have a goalkeeping problem after the serious injury sustained by Petr Cech.
“I would be delighted because Fabien wanted to carry on,” Zidane said when asked about reports the former France goalkeeper might be an option for the English champions.
“It would be nice for him (Barthez) to sign for a great club, and why not Chelsea?”.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, however, suggested on Wednesday that Barthez, who announced his retirement earlier this month, would not be joining the London club.
“What we will try to do is get a third goalkeeper and Fabien Barthez is not a third goalkeeper. He is a high profile goalkeeper,” Mourinho said.
– Reuters
