04/19/24
February 08, 2007
Zidane to bite Big Apple?: Will Zizou follow Becks on the money trail by joining the New York Red Bulls?
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 07:37 PM - 17 comments
Of all the things to do to potentially woo Zizou, I'd think taking him to a Knicks game should be low on that list.
posted by igottheblues at 08:04 PM on February 08, 2007
Well I guess we should never say never, right? I thought this was done and dusted and he was staying retired. I'd certainly pay to see Zizou play before I would Beckham.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 08:08 PM on February 08, 2007
I'd pay to see Zizou headbutt Beckham!
posted by Drood at 08:25 PM on February 08, 2007
don't think this is gonna happen. i believe the maximum senior international spots on a team is 4. the red bulls are apparently close to signing Agustin Delgado, who would take up that fourth SI slot.
posted by goddam at 10:36 PM on February 08, 2007
unless, of course, they can get zizou a green card.
posted by goddam at 10:46 PM on February 08, 2007
He is a better footballer than Beckham, but for some reason I'd prefer if he stayed in retirement
posted by Fence at 03:20 AM on February 09, 2007
Because he seems to have owned one or more shreds of dignity and still has them?
posted by yerfatma at 06:55 AM on February 09, 2007
That could be it yerfatma.
posted by Fence at 08:04 AM on February 09, 2007
This might be a great thing for soccer in America with David Beckham and now Zinedine Zidane coming here to play.
posted by BornIcon at 08:12 AM on February 09, 2007
I'm not so sure. One ex-superstar makes it interesting. Make it four or five and MLS starts looking like the retirement castle for aging futballers. "Goddamn it, Zizou it's a rest centre! It's not a nursing home!" "You're trying to get rid of me! You want me to die!" "We are not having a family fight about this! You're going, you're going to like it and that's final! You need the help... You're not bathing enough." "NO! You don't love me! I might as well just die! And as far as the bathing goes - fuck you, I'm French!" (sobs uncontrollably)
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:20 AM on February 09, 2007
Why would Zidane playing in the MLS be bad for the league? MLS needs exposure and 'stars' so some real money starts coming into the league. If MLS hopes to be anything more than a minor league or even a 'retirement castle' as Weedy describes it this they need to do something because that league might as well not exist at this point. Like it or not bringing in Becks and Zidane puts the league in the news. None of the current players are doing that. Now...remember NASL? I used to love going to see the San Diego Sockers when I was a kid. Remember how dominate the Sockers were in the MISL of the '80's? Sure you don't! Of course...bringing in Pele didn't save that league...nor did turning into an indoor league. Get a satelite and watch the Euros...that is where the action is.
posted by stofer71 at 09:51 AM on February 09, 2007
You guys are missing the biggest fact here...Beckham and Zizou can still play at the highest level, much less at the MLS level. Zizou demonstrated this at the World Cup and Beckham looks to be getting called back into his Real Madrid side by Fabio Capello. These aren't the 38 year olds the NASL was pulling in, they are both quality players. Zidane may well not be coming out of retirement but he certainly could gain a spot on almost any team in the world if he did.
posted by Ricardo at 01:32 PM on February 09, 2007
I'd be willing to bet Zidane can still outplay almost anyone in the MLS today. Does that mean he should come over here and play? No. He's had a brilliant career, and in my opinion it would be tarnishing that legacy to play in the U.S. at this point in his life. Stay retired, my man. You've already done it all.
posted by lex2000 at 02:09 PM on February 09, 2007
I'd be willing to bet Zidane can still outplay almost anyone in the MLS today. It would be a good bet. Zidane outplayed some of the best players in the world as recently as last summer.
posted by psmealey at 11:11 AM on February 10, 2007
Have people forgotten that Zinadine Zidane was given a three match suspension by FIFA for his headbutting fiasco durng the Final? He would have to miss the first three matches he would be scheduled to play. I did find it somewhat funny though that FIFA gave a retiring player a three match suspension. I guess they figured he might change his mind.
posted by Mike Juran at 09:15 PM on February 10, 2007
Zidane would be suspended for three international matches. FIFA only hand out domestic suspensions in very rare circumstances. Zidane may also have "worked off" some of the ban by now as he offered to do three days of work in FIFA's youth programs to cover the suspension.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 03:32 AM on February 11, 2007
Zizou, Bulls, headbutting. Perfect. They could replace the team logo with his bald head exploding out of the shield.