Zindane to become Real Madrid director of Football

 　　MADRID, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Zinedine Zidane announced this Thursday that he is to become the new director of Football for the first team at Real Madrid.

　　Zidane was speaking at the presentation of the television programme, "Futbol Cracks" when he made his announcement.

　　The legendary¹ former Real Madrid and Juventus player and French international had previously² been working as an advisor³ to Real Madrid President, Florentino Perez, who he thanked for his decision to change roles in the club towards a closer working relationship with coach, Jose Mourinho.

　　"Mourinho influenced me, but Florentino influenced me more," said Zidane, who was not specific about the exact role he would be carrying out.

　　"We will have to see, everyone is asking me the same, but I will be in the role from Monday until the end of the season," he added.

　　Zidane also valued the signing of young central defender⁴ Rafael Varene from Franch side Lens and he was full of praise for his fellow countryman.

　　"He has a great future and it is good that he has arrived at Real Madrid at such a young age. The coach likes him and that is why he is here. He is good enough to play in this side, he will be able to help and be a first choice player for the future," said Zidane.

1 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

3 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

4 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。