zizou-facts and quotes

• Nicknamed "Zizou"
• Born in marseilles, France, of Algerian parents
• Scored his first goal professionally in 1991; the president of the cannes football club gifted him with a car.
• In his first international game (playing for France against the Czech Republic) in 1994, he scored two goals in 17 minutes
• Won Golden ball European MVP award for leading France to victory in 1998
  
• FIFA Player of the Year in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006
• Became football's most expensive player in 2001, when Real Madrid acquired him for £46 million (roughly $66 million)
• Christian Dior's first male model
• After being sidelined several times with injuries, he announced he would retire after 2006 World cup games in Germany
• Captained the French team in World Cup 2006 games; they lost to Italy
• headbutted opponent Marco materazzi after a brief altercation in the 100th minute of the World Cup Final game. Zidane was red-carded, banished from the field.
• Still won 2006 FIFA Golden Ball
• Is featured as a LEGO minifigure, included in some of the soccer playsets

QUOTES

"I have won many awards and I am very happy about this, but I am not the best player in the world." — Zinedine Zidane

"It doesn't matter how many times you win an award, it is always very special." — Zinedine Zidane

"When we don't know what to do, we just give the ball to Zizou and he works something out." — Bixente lizarazu

Lampard Could Force Barça Move

Barcelona could buy Frank Lampard in the summer for as little as €7m from Chelsea if the player chooses invoke a new FIFA ruling that would allow him to go. With the player already searching for a house in the city, rumours are growing by the day.

The England midfielder has already been seen house hunting in Castelldefels close to Barcelona and that has led to speculation that he could be lining up a switch to Camp Nou.

Lampard could use the FIFA rule that allows players to just pay up the remainder of their contract when they want to join another club after record ruling from Court of Arbitration for Sport.

That means that he could leave Chelsea even if the club do not wish to sell in order to complete his dream move to Barça.

While Lampard and his Catalan wife already own property in her home city of Barcelona, the recent trip saw the former West Ham star claim that he needed a house within four months.

One report suggests that the move could be facilitated by José Mourinho taking over at Camp Nou if Frank Rijkaard steps down in the summer, but that appears unlikely.

Deco has already hinted that he wants to leave and that move would pave the way for Lampard to come in an be the attacking force in midfield for Barça.

Lampard has already turned down a contract offer from Chelsea and has just one year left on his deal at the end of the season.

Whether the Blues could, or indeed want to, tempt the 29-year-old with an improved contract remains to be seen and will certainly determine whether he stays or goes.