BASEL (Switzerland), Dec 15: Real Madrid’s French midfield star Zinedine Zidane was named FIFA Player of the Year for the third time on Monday, ahead of Arsenal’s Therry Henry and Brazilian team-mate Ronaldo.
The 31-year-old Zidane is the midfield hub of both Real and France, combining a prodigious work-rate with an enormous talent for providing goals for his team-mates.
He won the World Player of the Year award in 1998 and 2000.
Based on a worldwide vote by 142 national team coaches, Zidane received 264 points with French compatriot Henry second on 186 and Ronaldo third on 176.
Juventus’ Czech Republic midfielder Pavel Nedved was fourth with 158 points followed by Real Madrid’s Brazilian wing back Roberto Carlos with 105.
Zidane was voted best player by 35 coaches against 21 for Henry and 26 for Ronaldo.
His two previous successes came in years when he was instrumental in France’s triumphs in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
He joined Real Madrid for a world record 75 million euros ($90m) from Juventus in 2001.
He proved his worth by scoring the winning goal in the 2002 Champions League final for Madrid to become the champions of Europe for a record ninth time.
He joined French first division side Cannes as a 16-year-old in 1988 and moved to Bordeaux in 1992. Juventus bought him for four million dollars in 1996 after he had inspired Bordeaux to a UEFA Cup win over the Italian giants.
Zidane won the European Super Cup, two Intercontinental Cups and two Italian Championships with Juventus but missed out on the Champions League.
He has scored 23 goals in 86 international appearances since making his debut against the Czech Republic in 1994.
But perhaps his most important were the two headers he scored against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final.—AFP