Zinedine Zidane Announces Long-Awaited Football Return

Zinedine Zidane has announced a long-awaited return to football after a lengthy spell away from the game.

Zidane has not been involved in the beautiful game for an extended period, having left Real Madrid for a second time in 2021 following a trophyless campaign.

The 53-year-old was linked with a number of coaching vacancies in that time, including declining the United States job.

He was recently in New York with Adidas to help launch the new World Cup ball ahead of the showpiece in 2026 but Fabrizio Romano has reported on the Ballon d'Or winner's next move.

The Frenchman is poised to return to the Orange Velodrome in his hometown of Marseille with Universe Football for what is described as a "special family project".

Though details are scarce, Universe Football's website appears to indicate there will be a legends match where Zidane will be front and centre.

He has starred in two previous editions but has now starred in a charity match since March 2024.

The brand have teased further announcements for "a third edition" and say they will produce a "sporting event bringing together big football stars as well as numerous celebrities during an exceptional evening".

Ex Marseille stars Franck Ribery, Samir Nasri and Djibril Cisse have been involved in previous years, as have his sons Theo, Elyaz and Luca.

For Zidane, returning to the Veledrome - home of his beloved Marseille, will be a special experience that will bring back plenty of childhood memories.

Though he never played for Marseille and instead represented Bordeaux in his native prior to turning out for Juventus and Real, Zidane grew up supporting Marseille, who won the Champions League in 1993.

"The Velodrome was mainly with the French team," he told Mamadou Niang for Canal+ Afrique last year.

"When I was little, I used to come to the stadium. From 11 to 14, I used to go there with my friends, to the Virage Nord, below the scoreboard. I saw my idols play: Enzo Francescoli, Karl-Heinz Forster, all those crazy players who played for Marseille.

"I was a Marseille supporter, I'm still passionate about Marseille."