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Zinedine Zidane Soccer Sports Gear: Shoes, Jerseys And Autographed
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Published: December 19, 2006
Recently propelled into the spotlight with the head-butt heard round the world during the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, Zidane's infamous skull first attracted attention after the footballer scored two headers against Brazil in 1998, helping France win its first ever FIFA World Cup title.
This French athlete also has a head for business. His transfer to Real Madrid's football squad in 2001 set the world record as the highest priced transfer in the sport's history at 66 million euros. However, his 6.4 million euro salary is eclipsed by the 8.6 million euros per year he earns through advertising sponsorships.
Even after the Zidane red card occurred when he head-butted an Italian opponent during the World Cup finals, all of the French footballer's sponsors stood by his side. His sponsors include food group Danone, insurance company Generali France, France Telecom and Adidas, who has stuck with the footballer for more than 10 years.
Despite his tendency to start trouble, this tenacious footballer has practically cornered the European football market. Football collector's gear, such as his trademark number five Real Madrid jersey, generally cost about $65. However, once autographed by Zidane, the price skyrockets, costing between $320 and $850.
As a world famous sensation, anything Zidane autographs turns a massive profit. For example, a large autographed photograph of Zidane playing for Real Madrid will cost fans 90 British pounds, or approximately $175. An autographed Zidane France 2006 World Cup jersey will cost fans nearly $500.
Fans and amateur athletes alike even purchase their own versions of the French footballer's soccer shoes, the Adidas Predator Pulse. Sponsored by the athletic mogul, these Zidane soccer shoes cost around $135 per pair and give players the thinnest and lightest version of Adidas' Predator soccer shoe line.
The French footballer retired from Real Madrid's football squad on May 7, 2006. During the game, his teammates wore jerseys reading Zidane 2001-2006. Though the game, which was against Spanish opponents Villarreal CF, ended in a 3-3 draw, Zidane scored Madrid's second goal.
The footballer left Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu stadium after a rousing ovation from fans cheering merci, or thank you, to the French sensation who spent the last five years of his career as a Madrid midfielder.
Since his retirement, the French footballer's football paraphernalia has expanded into an empire. As his career begins to loom in hindsight, autographed commodities begin to rise in both cost and rarity. One of the top football players in history, Zidane joins the ranks of other athletic heavyweights memorized and acclaimed by history.
Sources:
Real Madrid. 2006. Eurosport. 13 Dec. 2006.
Zinedine Zidane. 25 April 2004. The Franco Files. 13 Dec. 2006.
Zinedine Zidane. 2006. Wikipedia. 13 Dec. 2006.
Zidane, Zinedine. 2006. FIFA World Cup. 13 Dec. 2006.
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