World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane will remain at Real Madrid for an extra two years after reaching an agreement to extend his contract until June 30, 2007, the Spanish club said on Thursday.

"I'm delighted," the French playmaker told the Real Madrid website. "It was what the club wanted and what I wanted.

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"For me the most important thing is to play football and doing that here at Real Madrid is the greatest pleasure I could have."

Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano said the decision to renew Zidane's contract demonstrated the club's long-term commitment to the player.

"We thought it was best to provide stability to the club by extending his contract for two more years," he said. "Now we can all enjoy seeing 'Zizou' play until at least 2007."

Valdano added that he was not concerned by the fact that Zidane would be 35 when he completes his new deal.

"His game his based on technique and intelligence and so we are confident he will be able to maintain his high competitive standards."

After guiding France to victory in the World Cup in 1998 and the European championships in 2000, Zidane was targeted by Real president Florentino Perez as part of his plans to construct a "superteam" for the club's centenary season.

RECORD FEE

Lengthy negotiations followed, but Perez finally persuaded Juventus to part company with the French midfielder in July 2001 for a world record fee of $66 million.

Zidane had a difficult start at Real and some commentators even doubted the wisdom of his signing after his first few games for the club.

But after his hesitant first few months, he gradually settled and went on to become an integral part of the team under then coach Vicente del Bosque.

He played a key role in helping Real to a record ninth European Cup in his first season, scoring a spectacular winner in the 2-1 final victory over Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park.

He turned in some virtuoso performances in his second season as he helped Real to the league title and has become one of the club's most prized players both on and off the pitch.

Now 31, the Marseille-born Frenchman clearly relishes playing alongside his attack-minded team mates at Real and managed to record the second highest scoring tally of his club career with nine league goals last season.

This term he has weighed in with some delightful efforts to help Real to the top of the table and it was his unhurried presence in midfield that provided the key to important victories over arch-rivals Barcelona and title contenders Deportivo Coruna before Christmas.

Last December he succeeded Real Madrid team mates Luis Figo and Ronaldo as World Player of the Year, the third time in his career he has received the award.

He will helping France defend their European championship title in Portugal this summer, but it is not yet clear whether he will extend his international career to take in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.