Zinedine Zidane

Introduction

This is Zinedine Zidane. He is a famous football player. Many people think he is one of the best football players ever. He played for big teams and won many prizes. Now, he is a coach. This text tells his story in simple words.

Early Life

Zinedine Zidane was born on June 23, 1972. He was born in Marseille, France. His parents came from Algeria. Zidane grew up in a poor area called La Castellane. He had four brothers and sisters.

As a small boy, Zidane loved to play football. He played in the streets with his friends. When he was ten, he got his first player card. He began to play for a small local team.

Starting His Career

Zidane started his professional career at Cannes. This is a team in France. He was only 16 years old. In his first game, he scored a goal. The boss of the team gave him a car as a gift!

In 1992, Zidane moved to Bordeaux. This is another French team. At Bordeaux, he became a very good player. Many big teams wanted him.

Success in Italy

In 1996, Zidane moved to Juventus. Juventus is a big team in Italy. At Juventus, Zidane became a star. He won two league titles with the team. He also won the World Player of the Year award in 1998.

Real Madrid Years

In 2001, Zidane moved to Real Madrid in Spain. The team paid a lot of money for him. At that time, he was the most expensive player in the world.

At Real Madrid, Zidane played with many other stars. He won many games and prizes with the team. In 2002, he scored a very famous goal in the Champions League final. Many people say it is one of the best goals ever.

Playing for France

Zidane played for the France national team from 1994 to 2006. He played 108 games for France and scored 31 goals.

In 1998, France hosted the World Cup. Zidane helped France win this big tournament. In the final game against Brazil, he scored two goals. France won 3-0. After this, Zidane became a national hero in France.

In 2000, Zidane helped France win the European Championship. This is another big tournament.

The 2006 World Cup

The 2006 World Cup was Zidane's last tournament. He played very well and helped France reach the final. They played against Italy in the final game.

But something bad happened in this game. Zidane hit an Italian player with his head. The referee showed him a red card. He had to leave the game. France lost the final in a penalty shootout.

Even with this bad end, many people still remember how well Zidane played in this tournament.

After Playing

Zidane stopped playing football in 2006. After some years, he became a coach. In 2016, he became the coach of Real Madrid. He did very well as a coach. He helped Real Madrid win the Champions League three times in a row. This had never happened before.

In 2018, Zidane left Real Madrid. But in 2019, he came back. He left again in 2021.

Playing Style

Zidane was a midfielder. This means he played in the middle of the field. He was very good at controlling the ball. He could make very good passes. He could also score goals.

Zidane was known for his elegance on the field. He moved very smoothly. He could do many tricks with the ball. One of his famous moves is called the "Marseille turn" or "roulette."

Personal Life

Zidane is married to Véronique. They met when they were young. They have four sons. All their sons play football.

Zidane is known for being quiet and private. He does not like to talk a lot to the press. He is also known for his charity work. He helps poor children and people in need.

Legacy

Today, Zidane is seen as one of the greatest football players ever. He won many awards in his career. He won the FIFA World Player of the Year three times. He won the Ballon d'Or once.

Zidane is also known for his good behavior on the field, except for a few moments like the head-butt in 2006. He is respected by fans and other players.

Many young players look up to Zidane. They want to play like him. His elegant style and his great skills make him a model for many.

Conclusion

Zinedine Zidane had a great career as a player and as a coach. He started from a poor area and became one of the best football players in the world. His story shows that with hard work and talent, you can reach your dreams.

Even though he is not playing anymore, people still remember his great games and goals. Zidane's name will always be part of football history.

Glossary

- **Algeria**: A country in North Africa
- **Award**: A prize given to someone who does something very well
- **Ballon d'Or**: A special prize given to the best football player each year
- **Career**: The jobs a person has during their life
- **Champions League**: A big competition for the best football teams in Europe
- **Charity**: Helping people who need help, usually by giving money
- **Coach**: A person who teaches and leads a sports team
- **Elegant**: Moving in a smooth and nice way
- **European Championship**: A big football tournament for European national teams
- **Final**: The last game in a tournament
- **Host**: To organize and provide a place for an event
- **League**: A group of teams that play against each other regularly
- **Legacy**: What people remember about you after you're gone
- **Midfielder**: A player who plays in the middle of the football field
- **National hero**: A person who is very much respected and loved in their country
- **National team**: A team that represents a country in sports
- **Pass**: To send the ball to another player
- **Penalty shootout**: A way to decide the winner of a game when the score is tied
- **Professional**: Doing something as a job, not just for fun
- **Red card**: A card shown by the referee when a player does something very bad. The player must leave the game
- **Referee**: The person who makes sure the rules are followed in a game
- **Respected**: When people think well of you and your actions
- **Roulette**: A special football trick where a player turns around with the ball
- **Tournament**: A competition with many games
- **World Cup**: The biggest international football tournament in the world

Questions and Activities

Part 1: Basic Comprehension Questions

Questions
1. When was Zinedine Zidane born?
2. Where did Zidane grow up?
3. What was the name of Zidane's first professional team?
4. Which team did Zidane play for in Italy?
5. In what year did Zidane move to Real Madrid?
6. How many goals did Zidane score in the 1998 World Cup final?
7. What bad thing did Zidane do in the 2006 World Cup final?
8. What job did Zidane do after he stopped playing?
9. How many Champions League titles did Zidane win as a coach of Real Madrid?
10. How many sons does Zidane have?

Part 2: True or False

Questions
1. Zidane's parents were from France.
2. Zidane won the World Cup with France in 1998.
3. Zidane never won the European Championship.
4. Zidane was a defender on the field.
5. Zidane's special move is called the "Marseille turn" or "roulette."
6. Zidane won the FIFA World Player of the Year award five times.
7. Zidane likes to talk a lot to the press.
8. All of Zidane's sons play football.
9. Zidane was the most expensive player in the world when he moved to Real Madrid.
10. Zidane never came back to coach Real Madrid after leaving in 2018.



Part 3: Fill in the Blanks

Questions
Fill in the blanks with words from the glossary:

1. Zidane played in the middle of the field. He was a ____________.
2. The ____________ is the biggest international football tournament in the world.
3. A ____________ is a person who teaches and leads a sports team.
4. Zidane's parents came from ____________, a country in North Africa.
5. The ____________ is a special prize given to the best football player each year.
6. In the 2006 World Cup final, Zidane received a ____________ and had to leave the game.
7. After winning the 1998 World Cup, Zidane became a ____________ in France.
8. The Champions League is a big ____________ for the best football teams in Europe.
9. Zidane is known for his ____________ work, helping poor children and people in need.
10. Zidane is respected for his ____________ style on the field, moving in a smooth and nice way.



Part 4: Match the Years

Questions
Match each year with the correct event in Zidane's life:

1. 1972 A. Zidane became coach of Real Madrid
2. 1992 B. Zidane scored a famous goal in the Champions League final
3. 1996 C. Zidane moved to Bordeaux
4. 1998 D. Zidane was born
5. 2000 E. Zidane moved to Juventus
6. 2001 F. Zidane's last World Cup
7. 2002 G. France won the European Championship
8. 2006 H. Zidane moved to Real Madrid
9. 2016 I. France won the World Cup
10. 2021 J. Zidane left Real Madrid as coach for the second time



Part 5: Discussion Questions

Simple Questions for Speaking Practice

1. Why do you think Zidane is a good football player?
2. Would you like to be a football player or coach? Why or why not?
3. What can we learn from Zidane's life story?
4. Do you think what Zidane did in the 2006 World Cup final was very bad? Why?
5. Who is your favorite football player? Why do you like them?

Part 6: Writing Activity

Task 1: Write a Postcard
Imagine you are watching a football game with Zinedine Zidane playing. Write a postcard to a friend about it. Use 30-50 words.

Task 2: Your Football Hero
Write 5-8 simple sentences about your favourite football player or sports star. Use the Zidane biography as a model.

Part 7: Vocabulary Matching

Questions
Match each word with its definition:

1. Career A. A card shown when a player does something very bad
2. Tournament B. A big football competition in Europe
3. Award C. A competition with many games
4. Coach D. The jobs a person has during their life
5. Referee E. A prize given to someone who does something well
6. Red card F. A person who makes sure rules are followed in a game
7. Pass G. A person who teaches and leads a sports team
8. Charity H. Helping people who need help
9. Legacy I. To send the ball to another player
10. Champions League J. What people remember about you after you're gone


Part 9: Sentence Ordering Activity

Questions
Put these sentences about Zidane's life in the correct order (1-8):

A. Zidane became the coach of Real Madrid.
B. Zidane was born in Marseille, France.
C. Zidane moved to Juventus in Italy.
D. Zidane helped France win the World Cup.
E. Zidane got a red card in the 2006 World Cup final.
F. Zidane started playing for Cannes.
G. Zidane moved to Real Madrid.
H. Zidane stopped playing football.