Who Did Zidane Headbutt?

Did Zidane apologize for headbutt

Zidane apologises for headbutt Zinedine Zidane has apologised for his remarkable assault on Marco Materazzi during the World Cup final, saying tonight that he was provoked by insults about his mother and sister. “I want to ask for forgiveness from all the children who watched that,” Zidane said in a French TV interview.

• There was no excuse for it.
• I want to be open and honest about it.
• I do apologise but I don’t regret my behaviour because regretting it would mean he was right to say what he said.” However, Zidane refused to specify exactly what Materazzi said that caused him to headbutt the Italian defender in the chest with 11 minutes of extra-time remaining – an act that led to his dismissal before France’s penalty shoot-out defeat.

All Zidane would say was that Materazzi repeatedly insulted him and his family, and that the Italian’s remarks were “very personal and concerned my mother and sister. I tried not to listen to him but he kept repeating them. “I am a man and some words are harder to hear than actions.

• I would have rather been knocked down than hear that.” The now retired France No10 made no suggestion that Materazzi had called him a “terrorist”.
• Materazzi himself, who scored the equaliser for Italy on Sunday, made a statement of his own this evening.
• I didn’t mention anything about religion, politics or racism,” he said.

“I didn’t insult his mother. I lost my mother when I was 15 years old and still get emotional when I talk about it. Naturally, I didn’t know that his mother was in hospital but I wish her all the best. Zidane is my hero and I have always admired him a lot.” : Zidane apologises for headbutt

Who did Zidane say was the best player ever?

Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane: Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in history – ESPN

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says he agrees with five-time Ballon d’Or winner that he is the best player in football history.A burst of goals as Madrid retained the Champions League and won a first La Liga in five years last season proved decisive as Ronaldo, 32, equalled the record number of Ballon d’Ors held by long-time rival Lionel Messi of Barcelona.Speaking at the gala ceremony in Paris on Thursday, the Portugal captain claimed that he now felt he was the greatest footballer ever.And Zidane told a news conference that he agreed as he could not argue with Ronaldo’s 418 goals in 412 games for Madrid along with the 26 team trophies he has won across his career.

“Yes,” Zidane said. “There have been many players who have made history at this club. But nobody has done what he has – the statistics speak for that. What he has done is impressive. So I think yes,” Zidane, who won the Ballon d’Or in 1998, smiled when asked if he or Ronaldo was the better player. Cristiano Ronaldo won his fifth Ballon d’Or on Thursday. AFP Photo via Getty Images in Spain have pointed to supposed evidence of distance at the ceremony in Paris between Ronaldo and Madrid president Florentino Perez, amid continuing speculation of deadlocked talks over a payrise requested by the player’s camp.

1. There is always this debate about whether Cristiano is happy and all this,” Zidane said.
2. But we all want to have him here.
3. He is happy here, at the best club in the world.
4. He said this clearly himself yesterday.” When the conversation moved to Saturday’s La Liga game against Sevilla – currently level on points with Madrid in the table and eight behind leaders Barcelona – Zidane confirmed that young centre-back Jesus Vallejo was available to step in for the suspended Sergio Ramos and injured Raphael Varane.

“Jesus will be with us tomorrow, he is good,” he said. “Rafa cannot be with us tomorrow, but the scan showed is not too big, so we will see if he is ready for our next game.” Madrid fly out on Sunday for the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, where they will either face hosts Al-Jazira or Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in Wednesday’s semifinal.

What did the French president say about Zidane?

French football president apologizes for ‘awkward remarks’ on Zidane after backlash

• France Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet apologised to on Monday after his comments on the former coach drew the ire of players, politicians and even the Spanish club.
• was one of the favourites to take charge of the national team if Didier Deschamps had stepped down but his contract was extended after he led France to the World Cup final, where they lost to Argentina in Qatar last month.
• When asked if Zidane, a World Cup winner with France in 1998 and a national icon, would now manage the Brazilian national team instead, Le Graet had told RMC: “I don’t give a damn, he can go wherever he wants.”
• Le Graet added he would not even pick up the phone if Zidane called, prompting a backlash and his subsequent apology.
• “I would like to present my personal apologies for these remarks which absolutely do not reflect my thoughts, nor my consideration for the player he was and the coach he has become,” Le Graet said in a statement reported by L’Equipe.

“I admit that I made awkward remarks which created a misunderstanding. Zidane knows the immense esteem I have for him, like all French people.” On Sunday, Le Graet had said Zidane was on the radar and had plenty of support but stood no chance of replacing Deschamps.

1. Zidane was the first coach to win the Champions League three times in a row when he was in charge of Real Madrid.
2. The 50-year-old, who also won the 2000 European Championship with France in a glittering playing career, is currently without a job after he left his role with the Spanish club last year.
3. France forward was one of the first to voice his disapproval after Le Graet’s comments were aired.
4. “Zidane is France, we don’t disrespect the legend like that,” Mbappe said on Twitter.
5. Le Graet’s dismissal of Zidane as a potential successor to Deschamps comes two years after the 81-year-old official had backed the former midfielder to take up the reins if he was available.

Apart from coaching Real, Zidane also spent five seasons as a player at the LaLiga club where he won the league and Champions League. The Spanish club described Le Graet’s comments as ‘unfortunate’.

• “These remarks show a lack of respect for one of the most admired figures by football fans around the world and our club is awaiting an immediate correction,” Real Madrid said.
• “The statements by the president of the French Football Federation are inappropriate for someone holding such representation and are in themselves unsuitable.”
• France’s Minister for Sports Amelie Oudea-Castera was one of many politicians who reacted to Le Graet’s comments, saying the president of the country’s “biggest sporting federation” had crossed a line.
• “Yet more out-of-touch comments and on top of that a shameful lack of respect, which hurts us all, towards a legend of football and sport,” she wrote on Twitter.

French politician Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade had also demanded an apology from Le Graet, saying on Twitter: “Zidane is a monument of French football and sport. A personality loved by all French people Our football deserves better than that.” : French football president apologizes for ‘awkward remarks’ on Zidane after backlash

Why is Materazzi not in FIFA

Zinedine Zidane was banned by FIFA for three games for head-butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest during the World Cup final. Now retired, the former France captain will serve his punishment by doing community work. Materazzi was suspended for two matches for provoking Zidane with insults.

World soccer’s governing body also fined Zidane $6,000 and Materazzi $4,000 after a disciplinary committee heard the French player’s account of what led to the incident. Zidane, who retired after his team’s loss in the July 9 final in Berlin, was sent off for ramming Materazzi in the chest with his head.

He agreed to complete three days of community service with children as part of FIFA’s humanitarian projects. “Community service is not something foreseen in the regulations,” FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said in Zurich. “It is a gesture, given the special circumstances involved.” Zidane has said he attacked Materazzi after Materazzi insulted his mother and sister.

1. Materazzi denied insulting Zidane’s mother.
2. FIFA said Materazzi was punished for “repeatedly provoking Zidane.” “Both players stressed that Materazzi’s comments had been defamatory but not of a racist nature,” FIFA said in a statement.
3. The players apologized to FIFA for “their inappropriate behavior and expressed their regret at the incident,” FIFA said.

Materazzi will miss Italy’s opening two Euro 2008 qualifiers, against Lithuania on Sept.2 and France on Sept.6. Zidane spent about 90 minutes in a private hearing yesterday morning before a five-man FIFA committee. Materazzi appeared before the FIFA panel last week.

• We respect the definitive verdict by FIFA’s disciplinary commission,” Italian Soccer Federation Commissioner Guido Rossi said.
• But the episode was captured on television and is up to the judgment of people throughout the world.” FIFA President Sepp Blatter had suggested Zidane, widely considered one of the greatest players of his generation, could be stripped of his Golden Ball award as the World Cup’s best player.

The issue was not addressed by the disciplinary panel, FIFA said. – From News Services

What did Martinez say to Zidane?

‘Yes, I was tugging his shirt, but when he said to me scornfully ‘ If you want my shirt so much I’ll give it to you afterwards ‘ is that not a provocation? I answered that I’d prefer his sister, it’s true. ‘It’s not a particularly nice thing to say, I recognize that. But loads of players say worse things

Are Zidane and Materazzi friends?

Materazzi: “I’m not friends with Zidane, but I respect him” “I love Brazil, I was there for the World Cup finals. During ten days I saw the passion that breathes for football. At Copacabana and Ipanema I saw many pitches on the beach, a dream for any kid.

1. I’m a friend of Ronie, I think he was the best player I ever played with, I do not say this because he is my friend, but because he did the things that could possibly only be done by Maradona, maybe Messi.” Marco Materazzi spoke to ‘Esporte Espetacular’, a show on Radio Globo.
2. Many topics were addressed by the former number 23 of Inter, from the head of Zidane in the World Cup final won by Italy, to his relationship with Ronaldo and Julio Cesar, close friends as well as Mourinho, the Special One with whom he rose to the roof of Europe together with at Inter.

RONALDO – “Why I consider him the best? Ronie was a player who could win games by himself. Absolutely. I remember the 2002 World Cup, he had eight goals and won the Cup, I am not saying he did it alone, but almost. Only the physical problems stopped him from winning three World Cup like Pelé.

• If he had felt well in the World Cup in France perhaps the tune would be another.” RIO AND JULIO CESAR – “I love Brazil, I can not wait to go back.
• I was on vacation with my family and I loved it, because I was in the city of Julio Cesar, a brother to me, a person with whom I shared many victories.
• I repeat, can not wait to return to Brazil.

It is a great place and cheerful. And the best thing is that it is always smiling.” ZIDANE – “We are not friends. But I do not hold a grudge or hatred for him. Instead, I have respect for a great champion, a colleague, because he is a world champion like me.

There are things that happen on every pitch, in every oratory, as they say in Italy, in every favela. The most important thing is that I won the Cup.” WORLD CUP FINAL – “The first thing that comes to mind is the moment I lifted the cup. It was the best moment of my career. When you think that in your country, although small but with great traction football, only about eighty people may say: “I won the World Cup with Italy.” This is the greatest source of pride that a player can have.

But I do not feel like a hero. I’m a normal person, simple. Perhaps the best thing is this: be simple to become great.” MOURINHO – “José allowed me, although I was 37 then, the possibility to win everything you can win. When you want to grow and learn and meet sincere people, people who tell you things to your face, you may not get to the top, but you do, however, conquer a friend.

Why did Zidane hit Materazzi

Editor’s note: Each day between now and the kickoff of the first match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Nov.20, we’ll unveil a different memory from World Cup history. The countdown from 101 continues with Zidane’s headbutt. For anyone under 40, Zinedine Zidane’s moment of madness in the 2006 final is surely their most memorable World Cup moment by a considerable distance.

• What’s so crazy about the French legend’s spectacular, out-of-nowhere headbutt into the chest of Italian defender Marco Materazzi is when it happened: with the score tied at one of extra time of the decisive match and the title on the line.
• But it was more than that.
• Zidane was unstoppable at the World Cup.

At 34, he had announced before the tournament that he’d retire after it, and he played every game as though it were his last. It was Zidane who had given Les Bleus a first half lead from the penalty spot with an audacious chip that fooled Azzurri backstop Gianluigi Buffon, the best goalkeeper in the world at the time.

Materazzi knew what Zidane was capable of. Before the start of the additional 30 minutes, Buffon and Italy coach Marcelo Lippi implored the defender to mark “Zizou” more closely. Depending on who you believe, Materazzi actually apologized to Zidane for tugging on his jersey, explaining that he couldn’t afford to give him an inch.

The war of words had begun. France’s No.10 responded that if he wanted it, he’d give Materazzi his shirt after the game. When Materazzi responded with a juvenile off-color remark about Zidane’s sister — the Italian claimed afterward that he didn’t know if he even had a sister — Zidane lowered the boom.

How good was Marco Materazzi?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marco Materazzi Ufficiale OMRI ( Italian pronunciation: ; born 19 August 1973) is an Italian former professional footballer and manager, Early in his career, Materazzi played with various Italian teams in Serie B and Serie C, and with Everton in the Premier League,

1. He spent two periods with Perugia (1995–98 and 1999–2001) and signed for Inter Milan in 2001 for €10 million.
2. At club level, he won a number of major honors with Inter, including five Serie A league titles in a row from 2006 to 2010, one UEFA Champions League, one FIFA Club World Cup, four Coppa Italia titles, and the Supercoppa Italiana four times.

Materazzi earned 41 caps for Italy from his debut in 2001 until 2008, playing in two World Cups and two European Championships. He was one of the key players in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final against France; he gave away an early penalty that led to France’s first goal, scored Italy’s equalising goal twelve minutes later and, in extra time, received a headbutt from Zinedine Zidane who was punished with a red card.

What happened to Materazzi after Zidane headbutt?

Published : 16:27, 11 Apr 2023 Updated : 16:27, 11 Apr 2023

Former Italy star Marco Materazzi has finally opened about Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt on him at the 2006 World Cup final. The pair’s altercation 17 years ago is still remembered as one of the most iconic moments in football history with French icon Zidane had his moment of madness on the biggest stage of them all. 3 Zidane was sent off in the 2006 World Cup final for headbutting Materazzi Credit: Getty 3 The Frenchman was shown a straight red card following his actions Credit: getty To this day, the words exchanged between both stars have been shrouded in secrecy, despite rumours suggesting Materazzi issued an insult towards Zidane about his mother Malika.

However, Zidane told French publication L’Equipe that the former Everton and Inter Milan defender did not say anything about his mother. “He provoked me by talking about my sister Lila,” Zidane said. “I’m not proud of it, but it’s part of my career. At that time, I was more fragile. He didn’t insult my mother, but he did insult my sister.” Materazzi has also spoken of the incident explaining what sparked the headbutt from the Frenchman.

“You know the NBA? Trash talking – my trash talking nothing, very minimal, nothing,” he told Italian Football TV, “Zidane offered me his jersey, I said no I prefer his sister” – Marco Materazzi on what was really said before he got headbutted pic.twitter.com/0XlVrgeJso — Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) April 7, 2023 3 Italy got the last laugh as they won the World Cup defeating France on penalties Credit: Getty “He offered me his jersey, I say, “No, I prefer your sister'”. Zidane, who won the World Cup in 1998, scored an audacious Panenka penalty to put France ahead in the match, with Materazzi scoring Italy’s equaliser later in the first half.

Why did Zidane retire so early

Why early retirement might be a good option for footballers Footballers and most athletes, in general, have relatively short careers when compared to other professions. If the average person starts working a job at the age of 18, they can expect to work for nearly 40 years before considering retirement.

• Footballers, however, do not share this luxury.
• Most footballers hit the peak of their abilities in their late 20s and start to decline around their mid-30s.
• Thus, retiring at about 36 years of age is considered normal.
• However, many players throughout history have opted to retire earlier in their careers.

As the game of football develops, this might be a trend that we see more of in the near future. Zinedine Zidane is considered to be one of the finest footballers to ever grace the beautiful game. Despite having a decorated career, Zidane announced his retirement in 2006 at the age of 34, with his last ever game being the infamous 2006 World Cup final.

1. When talking about his retirement, Zidane cited his “poor form”, saying “I didn’t want to go on for another year.
2. The past two years I haven’t been on top form and that’s no good when you play at a club like Real.” Despite his claims, it can be argued that Zidane was in fine form, contributing 9 goals and 12 assists from midfield in his final season at Madrid.

So, why did Zidane retire at 34? At the end of the day, any footballer’s choices come down to how they feel about their own body, fitness, and ability. Despite not facing a clear decline in form, Zidane felt that he was no longer capable of performing at the level that he wanted.

• Naturally, he decided to end his career on his own terms.
• Today he is hailed as a legend of the sport.
• On the other hand, the concept of retirement seems to be a foreign one to fellow Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
• At the age of 38, the Portuguese star seems to show no signs of slowing down.
• Despite being considered one of the best players of all time, it is hard to deny that Ronaldo’s reputation has taken somewhat of a hit in recent years.

His last year at Juventus and short-lived return to Manchester United were largely unsuccessful and have not helped his status in the world of football. Thus, it could be argued that an early retirement, similar to that of Zidane could have been beneficial to the star.

If Cristiano had retired in 2018 at the age of 33, after lifting his fifth Champions League with Real Madrid, his legacy as a footballer would have been looked at much more favourably in retrospect. Except for a few Serie A titles with Juventus, Ronaldo has failed to win a trophy worthwhile since leaving Real Madrid and is now playing for Al Nassr.

With rumours of Toni Kroos considering retirement at the age of 33, and still playing at a high level for Real Madrid, it may be a sign that more footballers should be open to the option of early retirement. After all, retiring on your own terms and at the top of your game isn’t really as bad as it sounds.

Why was Zidane rejected by Algeria

fscat Member – May 2, 2005 Chicago, IL #1 fscat, Jul 10, 2006 I was reading a profile on wikipedia.org about Zinedine Zidane and it implied that he wanted to play for the Algerian National Team but the coach at the time rejected him because he was too slow. So does that mean he originally would have played for Algeria over France?