How Melbourne Victory A-League recruit Zinedine Machach deals with inevitable comparisons to French football legend Zinedine Zidane

EXCLUSIVE

Melbourne Victory off-season recruit Zinedine Machach knows he has big shoes to fill every time he steps onto the field – and he can thank his older brother for the high level of expectation.

The French-born star, who impressed on his A-League debut against Sydney FC, scoring a late goal in a 2-0 win, knows comparisons with football legend Zinedine Zidane are inevitable.

After all, the 27-year-old grew up in Marseille, is also a central midfielder and is named after the man many Les Blues supporters consider their best ever player.

“I was born in 1996, and at that time ‘Zizou’ was making a name for himself in Bordeaux,” Machach told Daily Mail Australia.

“My brother liked the way he played football, and my mom and dad both liked the name. So they named me Zinedine.

The 27-year-old is named after French football legend Zinedine Zidane (pictured)

“It would be fun to play like him, he was such a great player.”

Machach cut his teeth at youth level with the likes of Cannes, Marseille and Toulouse before playing senior football in Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary and Greece.

When his agent suggested in August that Australia would be his next sporting adventure, he was open to the move.

“I didn’t really know what to think about it at first because it’s so far away from the rest of the world,” he said.

‘But the level and intensity are good, and (coach) Tony Popovic, I like playing for him, he’s a smart man and a good motivator.

“We already have a close relationship and I think he can improve my football.”

The playmaker also believes victory could be a legitimate threat to the premiership.

“People have told me we’re the biggest club in Australia so we should be at the top,” he added.

“I’m looking forward to playing my role in a successful team.”