Zinedine Zidane Regrets Headbutting Materazzi in 2006 WC Final

France football legend Zinedine Zidane expressed regret over the incident in the 2006 World Cup final.

File photo of Zinedine Zidane. (Photo: Reuters)

Ten years after Zidane’s infamous headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi which earned him a red-card, retired France football great Zinedine Zidane expressed regret on Friday over the incident in the 2006 World Cup final.

I am not proud of what happened in 2006. I am not advising anyone (player) to behave in the same manner.

Zinedine Zidane

The final was the French football legend’s last ever appearance as a player.

Zidane, who guided France to its first-ever World Cup title in 1998 with two goals in the summit clash against Brazil, is on his first ever visit to India with his wife Veronique as wellness ambassador of Kanakia Paris, which is a French-themed residential project coming up in the Bandra-Kurla Complex.

The three-time FIFA player of the year was answering a query on what advice he gives to the players of famous Spanish club Real Madrid as the manager when confronted with a similar situation.

I tell them you have to control yourself as provocation will always be there (from rival players). But it’s part of life to make mistakes, but you have to learn from your mistakes.

Zinedine Zidane

Zidane, among the greatest footballers in the history of the beautiful game, said winning the Champions League as manager of Real Madrid gave him a huge satisfaction while as a player it was wonderful to win it (in 2002).