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QPR owner Ecclestone denies Zidane reports

09/05/2008

Queens Park Rangers co-owner Bernie Ecclestone has denied reports that the club are lining up Zinedine Zidane as their new manager.

The Loftus Road outfit ended its association with Luigi de Canio yesterday, which Ecclestone claimed has been mooted since before Christmas.

But the Formula One supremo has sought to end speculation that the fiery Frenchman would move into football management in west London.

"I can say 100 per cent categorically 'no' to stories that we have spoken to Zidane," Ecclestone told the Times newspaper.

"We have known for six months that the coach would be leaving and we have to draw up the shortlist, but Zidane's name is not on it."

The former international, who retired from professional football 18 months ago following the 2006 World Cup, has been largely out of the spotlight since his acrimonious exit from the game.

Zidane was sent off for headbutting Italian centre-back Marco Materazzi during extra time of the final match of the tournament in Berlin in July 2006.