Zidane officially returns to football in France

Zinedine Zidane is preparing to re-enter the football scene following an extended break, with a fresh and never-before-seen venture in France.

Zinedine Zidane, the legendary former midfielder now aged 53, has not returned to football since stepping down as head coach of Real Madrid in 2021, after the Royal Spanish Club lost a tight title race to Atletico Madrid in the final round.

While waiting, Zidane will make his return to the pitch on December 7 in an event described as unprecedented in France. The event, called Universe Football, will take place at the Orange Velodrome stadium in Marseille, gathering football icons such as Zidane, Didier Drogba, alongside numerous artists and celebrities.

According to plans, the stadium will host four matches following a format similar to the Kings League, which means 7-a-side football. Gerard Pique, founder of the Kings League in 2022, will also be present along with notable names like Dimitri Payet, Robert Pires, and former PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi. Additionally, there will be two matches featuring legends and a friendly game for artists, concluding the evening with performances by singers and popular social media figures.

Zidane once shared that he frequently visited the Velodrome stadium as a child, standing with friends in the Virage Nord stand to watch idols like Enzo Francescoli and Karl Heinz Forster play. His love for Marseille remains strong to this day.

All ticket sales will be donated to the charity Des Coccinelles Rouges pour Thomas in Marseille, which supports children suffering from cancer and serious illnesses. Each ticket will contribute 1 Euro to the fund, and the jerseys worn during the match will be auctioned off, with all proceeds going to humanitarian causes.

Since leaving Real Madrid after the 2020/21 season, Zinedine Zidane has not officially resumed coaching. However, according to revelations from Diario AS, the 1998 World Cup champion has reached an agreement for a new position, and the announcement is expected soon. Notably, many sources suggest that Zizou is currently the leading candidate for the head coach role of the French national team.

If this scenario comes true, Zidane will inherit a significant legacy. Didier Deschamps has been with Les Bleus since 2013, achieving numerous major honors, including the 2018 World Cup victory and the run to the 2022 World Cup final, where France was narrowly defeated by Argentina in a dramatic match.

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