French football legend Zinedine Zidane will be coming to Australia with a star-studded international team to play an exhibition match in Sydney next month.
Zidane will be joined by former French team-mates Marcel Desailly and Robert Pires, as well as Danish international Jesper Olsen and Switzerland's Flavio Celestini for the match on June 1.
France's world cup winning coach Aime Jacquet will be in control of the team which will take on an Australian side made up of players from the 1997 World Cup qualifying squad.
Frank Farina will coach the team that is expected to include Paul Okon, Tony Vidmar, Craig Foster and Stan Lazaridis.
Australian and Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, who is recovering from foot surgery in Sydney, said bringing Zidane to Australia was a massive coup.
"David Beckham was here (in Sydney) recently and he's one of the most iconic and marketable players in the world," Cahill said.
"But 'Zizou' is one of the biggest players in the world. He is poetry in motion, and he so passionate about football."
"What a special opportunity this is for Australian kids to see him."
Zidane will also conduct a coaching clinic for youngsters at Sydney Football Stadium the day after the match on June 2.
Promoter Alain Barataud said kids were one of the key factors to getting the French superstar to Australia.
"Once he found out it was for kids, he said OK, no problem, and he is donating his services for free," Barataud said.
Zidane is widely regarded as one of the greatest to ever play the game, but ended his career in controversy when he was famously red-carded in the 2006 World Cup final after head-butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi.
The 36-year-old retired from professional football after the tournament.
Zidane will be joined by former French team-mates Marcel Desailly and Robert Pires, as well as Danish international Jesper Olsen and Switzerland's Flavio Celestini for the match on June 1.
France's world cup winning coach Aime Jacquet will be in control of the team which will take on an Australian side made up of players from the 1997 World Cup qualifying squad.
Frank Farina will coach the team that is expected to include Paul Okon, Tony Vidmar, Craig Foster and Stan Lazaridis.
Australian and Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, who is recovering from foot surgery in Sydney, said bringing Zidane to Australia was a massive coup.
"David Beckham was here (in Sydney) recently and he's one of the most iconic and marketable players in the world," Cahill said.
"But 'Zizou' is one of the biggest players in the world. He is poetry in motion, and he so passionate about football."
"What a special opportunity this is for Australian kids to see him."
Zidane will also conduct a coaching clinic for youngsters at Sydney Football Stadium the day after the match on June 2.
Promoter Alain Barataud said kids were one of the key factors to getting the French superstar to Australia.
"Once he found out it was for kids, he said OK, no problem, and he is donating his services for free," Barataud said.
Zidane is widely regarded as one of the greatest to ever play the game, but ended his career in controversy when he was famously red-carded in the 2006 World Cup final after head-butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi.
The 36-year-old retired from professional football after the tournament.
