Football
Reuters 16y

Soccer-Ribery dreams of emulating Zidane

PARIS, March 11 - France's Franck Ribery, enjoying
a superb season with his Bayern Munich club, said his goal was
to become as great as Zinedine Zidane.

"I'll do everything I can for that," the attacking
midfielder told French sports daily L'Equipe when asked whether
he believed he could eventually match retired France playmaker
Zidane, one of the sport's all-time greats.

"Up to now I'm satisfied with myself," Ribery said in an
interview published on Tuesday. "I'm still a long way from
Zidane but I have many years ahead of me."

The 24-year-old, who helped France reach the final of the
2006 World Cup in Germany, has reached a new dimension since
joining Bayern from Olympique Marseille last year.

His unique skills, playmaking ability and taste for splendid
goals have made him the darling of Bayern fans and German media.

"If I stay at this level and play a good European
Championship, this could be a great year for me," he said,
adding that the Ballon d'Or, formerly known as the European
Footballer of the Year award, was on his mind.

"I'm thinking about it," he said. "I'm a player who wants to
win everything and, if possible, even the Ballon d'Or."

Ribery offered depressing news to French clubs by ruling out
a return to France.

"I can't see myself playing for a French club again, even
for (six-times champions and Ligue 1 leaders Olympique) Lyon,"
he said. "Here (at Bayern), everything is so well organised. You
just can't compare."
(Writing by Patrick Vignal, editing by Rex Gowar)

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