Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha or simply Roberto Carlos has officially announced his retirement from professional football yesterday.
The 39-year-old veteran defender has taken the decision to hang up his boots after previously announcing that he would call time on his career at the end of the season. He has been working actively to promote Anzhi in recent months and is expected to become an assistant coach at the big-spending Russian side once he gets his licence.
Roberto Carlos – what makes him great
It’s immensely my belief that he is the best Left back in the modern era. A left back who can attack , and amazing runs in the flank and crossing the ball without any intention in attack which can terrorize defences and a free kick which are almost as good as Beckham’s. As a kid who grew up in the late 90’s players like Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Zidane, Figo caught the eye of fans all round the globe. Carlos was the one of th early implementers of full back overlapping runs. His curlers from outside the box was loved by everyone and who can forget that famous free kick against France. Born in a small city called Garca in Sao Paulo, Carlos’s football started in the streets much like many famous footballers, but Roberto Carlos did not have other options as his family was not able to provide him any support to his dream. He spent his childhood between helping his parents in farm jobs, and playing with his friends after all his work duties were over. In 1981, Roberto Carlos moved with his family to Cordeirópolis, he began playing starting from the State Public School Colonel José Levy.
Verônica Mario Mascarin, his teacher, says: “Roberto Carlos was a good boy who kept good relationship with everyone, he has always been a leader”. Marta Iria M. Bertanha, another teacher, states: “Roberto Carlos always said, my father is an athlete and I wish to be a hero like him”. The uncultivated area behind his school was the field where Roberto started his first kicks.
União São João, a football club based in Araras (São Paulo state) is where started his professional career, he captured all the hearts of the fans with his amazing skills and down to earth personality. “First comes God, then the family, the work and recreation which is football, my great passion”- these where the words from his after he signed his first professional contract. Then began the journey of an incredible player who changed the meaning of the word defender single handedly.
Beckham hugs Roberto Carlos Real Madrid won the Spanish league titleClubs, Internationals and More
After a couple of years at União São João, Roberto Carlos moved to Palmeiras where he won two Brazilian leagues and was instantly recognized from top European clubs. Carlos joined Inter Milan in the summer of 1995 only to leave the club at the end of the season due to row with then manager Roy Hodgson. At the Santiago Bernabeu, the Brazilian achieved iconic status as he helped Real to win four La Liga crowns, three Champions League trophies and three Spanish Supercopas, among other pieces of silverware. After 11 years at the Spanish capital club, he spent two years at Fenerbahce before signing for Corinthians – the last club he represented before signing for Anzhi in 2011.
He won 125 international caps for Brazil and was part of the team which won the World Cup in 2002 and the Copa America in 1997 and 1999. He made his debut in 1992, when he was still playing his trade at a lesser known club União São João. Carlos made seven International caps the same year. He was also a part of the legendary world cup winning team in 2002 and started the final against Germany which they won 2-0 lifting the cup for the fifth time. After the tournament Carlos was also included in the World Cup’s All Star team. In the next edition of the World cup in 2006 Brazil lost to France 1-0 in the Quarter finals, following which Carlos decided to retire from International football mainly because of the criticism he faced from fans for his failure to mark goalscorer Thierry Henry. That was his last International match.
Following his announcement to retire Anzhi’s manager Guus Hiddink was reported saying: “Roberto had been a world class player, but unfortunately he doesn’t play any more, he also stated that Roberto will now take up a role to develop Anzhi for the good of the game in the Dagestan region and the whole of Russia.” Roberto Carlos wants to play one last time and stated his intention af a testimonial match against Real Madrid. “I have had talks to play a farewell match between Real Madrid and Anzhi,” he is quoted as saying by EFE.
Here is the video of that magic freekick he scored,
Titles
| 1991 | Juniors World Vice-Champion (Brazilian Team) |
| 1991 | Pre-Olympics Champion (Brazilian Team) |
| 1993 | São Paulo’s Champion (Palmeiras) |
| 1993 | Champion of Rio-São Paulo tournament (Palmeiras) |
| 1993 | Brazilian Champion (Palmeiras) |
| 1994 | Twice São Paulo’s Champion (Palmeiras) |
| 1994 | Twice Brazilian Champion (Palmeiras) |
| 1995 | São Paulo’s Vice-Champion (Palmeiras) |
| 1996 | Spanish League Champion (Real Madrid) |
| 1996 | Umbro Cup Champion, tournament played in England (Brazilian National Team) |
| 1996 | Pre-Olympics Championship (Brazilian National Team) |
| 1996 | Vice-Champion Olympic Games Atlanta (Brazilian National Team) |
| 1997 | Spanish League Champion (Real Madrid – season 96-97) |
| 1997 | America’s Cup Champion (Brazilian National Team) |
| 1997 | Nations Cup Champion in Saudi Arabia |
| 1998 | Europe’s Champions Cup (Real Madrid) |
| 1998 | World Vice-champion in France (Brazilian National Team) |
| 1998 | Intercontinental Cup Champion (Real Madrid) |
| 1999 | Two times Champion of European’s Champions Cup (Real Madrid) |
| 2000 | Champion of Spanish League (Real Madrid – season 00-01) |
| 2001 | Three times Champion of European’s Champions Cup (Real Madrid) |
| 2002 | UEFA’s Supercup Champion |
| 2002 | World Cup Champion, Japan – Korea (Brazilian National Team) |
| 2002 | Intercontinental Cup Champion (Real Madrid 2 x 0 Olimpia) |
| 2003 | Champion of Spanish League (Real Madrid – season 02-03) |
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