Zinedine Zidane said he was coping well with life outside soccer and had no immediate plans to embark on a coaching career.

The former France and Real Madrid playmaker, who retired after his country's defeat by Italy in the World Cup final in July, said he did not miss competitive football.

"I'm not missing it," he told L'Equipe newspaper Thursday. "When Real Madrid started the season, I didn't feel anything, but it may come."

Zidane, who has just signed a deal to work as a consultant for French pay-television channel Canal Plus, said he might become a coach one day, but not just yet.

"I will stay close to football because that's what I know how to do. If you ask me if I will become a coach, for now, it's no. But in 10 years, I don't know."

Zidane was shown a red card 10 minutes before the end of extra time in the July 9 World Cup final after headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest. That ensured he missed the penalty shootout that decided the match in Italy's favor.

Zidane's reaction was immortalized in song with the chart-topping success of the cheeky summer hit "Coup de Boule" (Head Butt).

"It (the song) was funny, even if what I did was not funny," the 34-year-old Zidane said. "Anyway, it's better to laugh about it."

Being sent off in the final did not stop Zidane from being named last week on a 30-man shortlist for FIFA's World Player of the Year award, an honor he has already landed three times.

Zidane also said he would love Fabien Barthez to join Chelsea, which has a goalkeeping problem after the serious injury sustained by Petr Cech.

(Shanghai Daily October 20, 2006)