Chicago Fire make pitch to land Zidane

CHICAGO (AFP) - French star Zinedine Zidane, whose legendary career ended with an infamous head-butt in last year´s World Cup final, has received a comeback offer from the Chicago Fire, a US newspaper reported.

Fire general manager John Guppy told the Chicago Tribune newspaper that his team and rivals from Major League Soccer have been in touch with the playmaker in hopes of luring him out of retirement, but all bids have been rejected.  "We reached out to Zidane," Guppy said. "But so has every other MLS club. The feedback we´ve all gotten is that he has retired."

Guppy said the Fire also made an offer to local product Brian McBride, a US World Cup standout who Guppy said will likely remain with Fulham of the English Premiership.  "We offered Brian a contract," Guppy said. "He said he would love to play in Chicago but needed to consider his options."

Guppy also said a bid also failed for Swedish forward Henrik Larsson, currently on loan with Manc hester United.  The team is likely to look for a Polish or Mexican player to appeal to city ethnic groups that have been major supporters of the Fire.