Zidane to retire in 2005
( 2003-07-30 11:18) (Agencies)
France midfielder Zinedine Zidane will retire when his Real Madrid contract
expires in 2005, he said on Tuesday.
Zidane, who will be 33 in two years' time, told reporters: "I'm under
contract with Real Madrid for two more years and, until then, I will play as
well as possible, in any competition."
"After those two years, I will quietly retire."
Zidane, who joined Madrid from Juventus for a world-record fee of $64.4
million in 2001, is currently on a three-week tour of China with the Real squad
preparing for next season.
The playmaker, who was world player of the year in 1998 and 2000, has 82 caps
for France and was in the team that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European
championship.
Zidane's final matches for his country are likely to be during next year's
European championship in Portugal.
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