Our global ambassador Zinedine Zidane

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    Meet Zinedine Zidane in The Never Ending Pass

    Zinedine Zidane is a retired French football player who won all the major international and European trophies. He is one the most loved icons in France and worldwide.

    Ambassador of the Danone Nations Cup for 8 years, he enhanced the awareness of the event thanks to his involvement.

    For a young footballer, being sponsored by Zinedine Zidane is the greatest honour imaginable. His commitment to the Danone Nations Cup has boosted the event’s profile enormously.

    For each of the last six years, France’s celebrated number 10 has been there on the pitch with the children to kick off the World Final.

    Interview with Zinedine Zidane:

    You’ve been ambassador of the Danone Nations Cup for nearly ten years. What’s behind that loyalty?

    At some point in your life,you want to give something back. Football has given me so much, and I wanted to pass on my experience to the younger generation, not just from a technical point of view, but more in terms of the state of mind you need to adopt. When you’re 11, football really is just a game. It’s a passion that you live to the full with your friends. My message is a simple one. You have to hold on to that attitude through the years. Football has the power to bring people together, whether on the pitch or in the stands. Every year, I’m amazed to see all these kids coming from the four corners of the earth, with their different languages andcultures...yet when they come together on the pitch, all the barriers disappear!

    What’s your role at DANONE?

    I’m helping to develop programmes and initiatives for children, which of course includes the Danone Nations Cup. I’m keen to pass on what life has given me and give something back, and so it was only natural for me to join forces wi th Danone and Franck Riboud, who are launching a number of initiatives for children in every part of the world. Together, we’re developing prog r ammes focusing on nutrition, physical and intellectual development, for children all over the planet. I am also in the Danone Communities board alongside Franck Riboud and Professor Yunus.

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    24 August 2012

    Denis Odoi, Ambassador of Belgium

     For the 2012 edition, Denis Odoi, 22 years old, is the ambassador for Belgium. From the town of Louvain he is a very promising player. He is considered as one of the best defenders in his category and already interests various clubs. The human and sport values of the Danone Nations Cup appealed to this player who first accepted to be "godfather" in 2011 with his good friend Steven Defour. The two players have known each other since the age of 15 : they met at the Topsportschool in Louvain. Back then, Denis Odoi was being trained at Anderlecht. In 2008, he chose the Oud-Heverlee club before becoming one of the pillars of Saint-Trond in 2009. Denis also had the opportunity to take part in the first ever edition of the Danone Nations Cup in 2000 in Paris at the Parc des Princes ! " As a boy, I also dreamt of a football career... Now it's my turn to support and encourage these boys and girls to fulfill their dreams and to make the most out of this amazing adventure !" says Denis.
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    24 August 2012

    Vitaly Rodionov Ambassador of Belarus

    Vital Viktaravich Radyyonaw (born 11 December 1983) is a Belarusian footballer (striker) playing currently for BATE Borisov. He is a member of the Belarus national football team.  He began his career in Lokomotiv-96 Vitebsk, before being scouted from Torpedo Zhodino. He played 57 games for Torpedo, before being transferred to FC BATE in 2005. In 2012, Rodionov became the top scorer for BATE in the Belarusian Premier League with 57 goals.
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    24 August 2012

    Neil Tovey, Ambassador of South Africa

    "Mokoko", as he is nicknamed, is a former captain of the South Africa national football team, and in 1996 became the first white player to raise the African Cup of Nations trophy. In total he won 52 caps for the national side without scoring a goal.[1]He played for Kaizer Chiefs becoming a very important player for the club. He has set several records for the club, including most appearances at club level, and most starts in a season: 52 in the 1992 season.Following retirement, Tovey went into management. He and Miguel Gamondi were appointed co-coaches of Mamelodi Sundowns and guided the club to the South African title in 2006. He also coached Hellenic and worked as youth coach.He has been the DNC ambassador for 5 years in South aFrica and assist with press interviews, with training camps for the team who will attend the DNC World Final and also press conferencs in South Africa.
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    24 August 2012

    Mohamed EL SCHALHOOB The Saoudi Arabia Ambassador

    Mohammad Al-Shalhoub has been the ambassador for the DNC in Saudi Arabia for the past 3 years.  This Saudi Arabian football player currently plays as a Left-winger for Al Hilal.He has been a member of the Saudi Arabian national team since 2000 when he was just nineteen years' old, and was recently called up to the squad to participate in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.In November 2006 Mohammad Al-Shalhoub was selected the 3rd best Asian footballer of the year. For 2009–10, he was selected as the Top goal scorer of the Saudi Premier League.
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    15 May 2012

    Denis ODOI, Ambassadeur Belgique

     Pour l’édition 2012, Denis Odoi, 23 ans, est l'ambassadeur pour la Belgique. Originaire de Louvain, c'est un joueur très prometteur. Denis Odoi est considéré comme l’un des meilleurs défenseurs dans sa catégorie et intéresse déjà plusieurs clubs. Les deux joueurs se connaissent depuis l’âge de 15 ans : ils se sont rencontrés à la Topsportschool de Louvain. A l’époque, Denis Odoi effectuait sa formation à Anderlecht. Ensuite il a appris à connaître Steven Defour, ancien ambassadeur de la DNC, au KRC Genk. En 2008, il choisit le Club de Oud-Heverlee pour ensuite devenir l’un des piliers de Saint-Trond en 2009.  Les valeurs humaines et sportives de la Danone Nations Cup ont séduit ce joueur qui a premièrement accepté d’être «parrain » en 2011 avec son grand ami Steven Defour. Eux aussi ont réalisé leurs rêves : pratiquer le football à haut niveau.Par ailleurs, Denis a également eu la chance de participer à la toute première finale internationale de la Danone Nations Cup, en 2000 à Paris, au Parc des Princes ! « Etant petit garçon, moi aussi je rêvais d’une grande carrière de footballeur… A mon tour de soutenir et d’encourager ces jeunes à réaliser leur rêve et à profiter au maximum de cette  magnifique aventure ! » conclut Denis.
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    03 April 2012

    Richard Krajicek, Ambassadeur des Pays-Bas

    Former Dutch tennisstar, Richard Krajicekwon the singles in Wimbledonin 1996, beatingPete Sampras in thequarter finals. The Richard KrajicekFoundation collaborates with DANONENetherlands to enable children fromunderprivileged backgrounds to takepart in the Danone Nations Cup.
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    03 April 2012

    Richard Krajicek, The Netherlands ambassador

    Former Dutch tennisstar, Richard Krajicekwon the singles in Wimbledonin 1996, beatingPete Sampras in thequarter finals. The Richard KrajicekFoundation collaborates with DANONENetherlands to enable children fromunderprivileged backgrounds to takepart in the Danone Nations Cup.
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    25 July 2011

    Christophe Dugarry, France ambassador

     Christophe Dugarry is the ambassador for the first time. He won the World Cup in 1998 alongside his friend Zinedine Zidane, the world ambassador of the DNC. As a child, he took part in similar tournaments which are among his best memories of football.He is very famous in France, as he works for the broadcaster of the domestic league. 
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    21 June 2011

    Tarek Hadj Adlane, Algeria ambassador

     Tarek Hadj Adlane is one of the most known algerian football player. He holds two records: one for the goals scored in championship (320), and one for receiving the Golden Shoe three times in 1990, 1994 and 1995.He started his carreer in one of the most prestigious African club (Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie – JSK) where he won more than 5 prizes.After some time in Saudi Arabia, Tarek Hadj Adlane comes back to Algeria in the USM Alger club where he won 4 times the Algerian Cup.
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    27 May 2011

    David Jarolým, Czech Republic ambassador

    David Jarolým come back to Czech this year after 13 year abroad. He played in Europien countries . He  also played in Czech Republic Repre in 30 matches. David is well known, poositive PR, w/o any  activities(like DNC) in Czech Republic. He will be confirm at the end of March.  The idea is to have a ambassador for more than one year to realy build a link between ambassador and DNC, to have a good PR.(benchmark is Petr Čech and Mc Donald ´s cup n Czech).
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    27 May 2011

    Dimitar Berbatov, Bulgaria ambassador

     Ambassador for our tournament since 5 years.He is former player of Man. United and currently playing for Fulham, England league.
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    27 May 2011

    Javier Zanetti, Argentina ambassador

     The foundation ‘Pupi’, founded by the former captain of the Argentinean nationalteam, Javier Zanetti, nicknamed Pupi, helps more than 100 children from disadvantaged backgrounds every day, by offering them school supplies, recreational activities and children parties as well. The principle which connects the Danone Nations Cup to this foundation is very simple: for every spectator coming to the Regional Finals and then to the National Final, DANONE offers 1 liter of milk to the Foundation.
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    27 May 2011

    Vitor Baía, Portugal Ambassador

     Vitor Baía is the Portuguese ex-player with the most titles ! He was a goal keeper in clubs such as Futebol Clube Porto ( European Champions League 2011) and Barcelona Football Club where he ended his career as Champion.  He is now the National Ambassador for DNC in Portugal.  Baia chose to be the Ambassador for DNC because the values he defends are in line with the DNC Values - sport and food for more healthy generations. He also runs a Foundation that helps children in Portugal. As part of our partnership with Vitor Baia, Danone is also helping to build a house for poor children in Portugal.
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    25 May 2011

    Maxim SHATSKIKH, Ukraine ambassador

    The Celebrity in Ukraine is a popular football player. We involve him to represent the project. At the start of the season we make a video where he speaks to the kids, wishes all the best in the competition of this year, encourages kids and tells his story how he started playing football. During different stages he may come to some competitons and watch the game, say something to the kids. He is usually present at the National Final, supporting kids, saying welcoming word and awarding them.
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    18 May 2011

    Georghe Hagi, Romania ambassador

     Gica Hagi made his debut in a national competition at the early age of 11, in 1976 at the “Red Ties” Cup finals a national junior championship.The debut in Romania’s premier football league came at only 17 and the first call to the national senior football team came less than a year later.  Soon afterwards followed Hagi’s first participation in a European Football Championship (France 1984), three championship titles in Romania, two cups in Romania, the European SuperCup (1987) and his first qualification to a FIFA World Cup; Italy 1990. Romania’s best football player left in 1990 for Real Madrid, and 4 years later led Romania’s “yellow bunch” to the nation’s greatest football performance: World Cup quarterfinals in USA 1994.  Another two European Championships (England 1996 and Belgium-Netherlands 2000) and one more FIFA World Cup (France 1998).After the memorable World Cup in USA, Hagi returned to Spain. But this time to play for CF Barcelona, alongside other great footballers such as Gica Popescu, Stoichkov and Figo. The Galatasaray Istanbul followed with an impressive collection of national and international trophies: four championship titles, two cups, the UEFA Cup and the European SuperCup.In 2008, 32 years after his debut in a national competition, Gheorghe Hagi announced his return to football in order to thank to all those who had given him the chance to make himself known, by launching a football competition for junior players: the Hagi Cup.Two years later, Danone , who have been organising the DNC since 2000, decided to join efforts in promoting junior football, creating together an unrivalled competition: the Hagi Danone Cup.Hagi, the “King” of Romanian football, holds a couple of records – the highest number of goals scored by a Romanian football player (317) and the highest number of goals scored in European competitions (32). He has high hopes that these figures will be surpassed not by just anyone but by a kid who will say: “Yes, I played in the Hagi Danone Cup!”.
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    12 May 2011

    Cafu, Brasil ambassador

    For the 3rd year of partnership, Cafu is the ambassador for Brazil’s Danone Nations Cup 2011.He holds the record for the most games played for the Brazilian team with 148 matches and was part of the team when Brazil won the World Cup for the fifth time.Besides being a very famous and recognized football player in the country, Cafu is also linked to social initiatives specially with Cafu Foundation – his initiative to give opportunities to poor children to learn football.
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    12 May 2011

    Tsuyoshi Kitazawa, Japan ambassador

     Ambassador of theDanone Nations Cup since 2009. Tsuyoshi Kitazawa came to all regional tournament sites and of course the national final to support and directly interact with the kids. One of the ambitions for Japan's DNC this year is to build a "circle of DNC supporters" (or DNC family) by connecting with current and retired professional football players who shares our values and dreams. Mr. Kitazawa will play the key role in this effort by leveraging his strong network within the football community.