Zidane Picks Beckham for Player's Award
Copyright � 1999 Nando Media
Copyright � 1999 Agence France-Presse
TURIN, Italy (November 18, 1999 1:05 p.m. EST http://www.sportserver.com) - French World Cup winner
Zinadine Zidane believes Manchester United and England
midfielder David Beckham is the best choice for European
Footballer of the Year.
Zidane, the winner in 1998, told Thursday's Corriere dello Sport that after a year marred by injury he did not expect to be
in contention himself and he singled out Beckham from a list of
possible candidates for December's award.
"I don't deserve it again. There are other players who have
produced much more than me and who have also won more, I am thinking of (Christian) Vieri, (Luis) Figo and Rivaldo but above
all of Beckham," he said.
Zidane said Beckham's success reflected on his club: "He
has won everything, his team has won everything. The bonuses go to the player but that is not enough. You need results and for
that you rely on your team."
Juventus teammate Alessandro Del Piero also rates Beckham
one of the favorites for the top individual award in European
football.
"I'd like Vieri to get it but expect it will probably be Rivaldo or Beckham," he told the daily La Stampa.
Zidane dismissed Italian press reports that have suggested
he has already decided to leave Juventus at the end of the
season.
"I don't know what the next seven months will bring. It is not decided that I will go. It is possible I will stay for a long time, it depends on a lot of factors. My contract runs until 2004," Zidane said.
