ROME (AP) Nearly 10 years after ending his playing career by head butting Marco Materazzi in the World Cup final, Zinedine Zidane will return to the international spotlight in Italy on Wednesday when he manages Real Madrid against Roma.
Having replaced Rafa Benitez as Madrid's coach last month, the game at the Stadio Olimpico will mark Zidane's managing debut in the Champions League.
While Materazzi is not likely to attend the round of 16 first-leg match, Zidane will come across some familiar faces from the 2006 final in Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi.
Zidane assumed international fame during five seasons as a player with Juventus, winning two Serie A titles, but his legacy in Italy will forever be linked to the incident with Materazzi.