Retired French football captain Zinedine Zidane has arrived in his parents' homeland Algeria for the first time in 20 years.
Retired French football captain Zinedine Zidane has arrived in his parents' homeland Algeria for the first time in 20 years.
He was invited by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for a five-day visit.
He was invited by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika for a five-day visit.
Zidane is expected to inaugurate a health project set up with money from a charity football match to help victims of the 2003 Boumerdes earthquake.
Zidane is expected to inaugurate a health project set up with money from a charity football match to help victims of the 2003 Boumerdes earthquake.
Zidane is regarded as a hero by Algerians and the many French of Algerian origin.
Zidane is regarded as a hero by Algerians and the many French of Algerian origin.
Zidane, who retired after this year's World Cup final, in which he was sent off, is expected to kick-off an Algerian league match on Thursday.
Zidane, who retired after this year's World Cup final, in which he was sent off, is expected to kick-off an Algerian league match on Thursday.
He travelled with both his parents, who moved to France in 1986 and is also due to visit the village of their birth Aguemoune, in the Kabylie region.
He travelled with both his parents, who moved to France in 1986 and is also due to visit the village of their birth Aguemoune, in the Kabylie region.
"Zidane is a hero. He grew up in France but all Algerians have to be proud of his career," university student Malika Djeddi, 23, told Reuters news agency.
"Zidane is a hero. He grew up in France but all Algerians have to be proud of his career," university student Malika Djeddi, 23, told Reuters news agency.
"He has honoured Algeria and set an example of what Algerian youth should be."
"He has honoured Algeria and set an example of what Algerian youth should be."
The region of Bourmerdes, east of the capital, Algiers, was devastated by an earthquake on 21 May 2003, killing more than 2,000 inhabitants and injuring about 10,000.
The region of Bourmerdes, east of the capital, Algiers, was devastated by an earthquake on 21 May 2003, killing more than 2,000 inhabitants and injuring about 10,000.
Zidane helped organise a match later that year between the French national team and Marseille, where Zidane made his name, to raise funds for victims of the earthquake.
Zidane helped organise a match later that year between the French national team and Marseille, the town where Zidane grew up, to raise funds for victims of the earthquake.
At 1800 GMT today on BBC World Service radio World Have Your Say will be talking to Algerians around the world about Zidane's trip. What do you think about the visit to his parents' homeland? Send us your comments.
At 1800 GMT today on BBC World Service radio World Have Your Say will be talking to Algerians around the world about Zidane's trip. What do you think about the visit to his parents' homeland? Send us your comments.
