Former Brazil striker Romario retires - this time for good, he says

Former Brazil striker Romario has officially announced his retirement - again.

The 42-year-old striker said he would not return to competitive play and had ended a 23-year career that includes the 1994 World Cup title, the FIFA player of the year award and more than 1,000 goals, by his own count. And, unlike several previous retirement announcements when he later changed his mind, Romario insisted he wouldn't turn back this time.

"My time is over," he said at the launch of a DVD showing 910 of his goals on Monday. "Officially, I might play a farewell game with the jersey of the national team or one of the three clubs I defended in Rio," he added, referring to former national champions Vasco, Flamengo and Fluminense.

Romario's contract with Vasco ended last month. He said he hadn't played since November and was four kilograms over his playing weight, which made his return difficult at an age when most players have already stopped.

He told a Brazilian newspaper last month he was retiring, but then recanted the next day.

Romario burst on to the soccer scene in 1985 with Vasco, with a sprinter's speed and masterly ball control that made him a worthy successor to Vasco's all-star striker Roberto "Dynamite."

Three years later, he was sold to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven for US$5 million - a huge sum at the time - and was later inducted into the club's hall of fame.

In 1993, he jumped to Spain's Barcelona, where former Dutch all-star and coach Johan Cruyff dubbed him a "genius of the goal area." Romario led his new club to the Spanish league title and was named the world's outstanding player by FIFA in 1994.

After a falling-out with Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, Romario returned to the national team in 1994 and led Brazil to its fourth World Cup title, teaming up with striker Bebeto to end a 24-year drought for soccer's top prize.

In 1995, he returned to Brazil and played for rivals Vasco, Fluminense and Flamengo. His standout play sparked a national "draft Romario" campaign for the 2002 World Cup, but coach Luiz Felipe Scolari declined to name the player to the team that won its fifth Cup title that year.

Romario made his last foray abroad in 2003, playing for Al Saad in Qatar, Miami FC in the United States and Adelaide United in Australia. But he scored few goals and returned to Brazil in quest of his 1000th goal - a mark achieved only by the great Pele.

He reached the landmark last year, although FIFA officially gave him a much lower total. Romario's count included goals scored in amateur games, scrimmages and unofficial matches against small clubs.

As player-coach of Vasco, Romario remained a major attraction for fans even after he had lost his speed and stamina.

Last year, he tested positive for the banned substance Finasteride and was suspended for 120 days in December. Romario said he had used the hair-loss medicine Propecia, which contains Finasteride, and the Superior Tribunal of Sports Justice later accepted his claim that he did not take a performance-enhancing drug and lifted the suspension.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5geRR7wFzkRKcZzBVqSb9Vsm1zOuw

Kaka tips English clubs for glory

Brazilian Fifa world player of the year Kaka believes any of the four English clubs could win the Champions League.

English teams have won the trophy only twice in the 15 years since the Premier League was formed but the AC Milan midfielder, 25, expects that to change.

He told BBC Sport: "Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all excellent and any of them could win it.

"I believe all the four English clubs have a great chance of making it all the way to the final in Moscow in May."

If one day I had to leave I would like to play in another big European team

AC Milan midfielder Kaka

All four English teams have a chance to progress when the quarter-final second legs take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, with only one definitely going out because Liverpool face Arsenal.

Kaka, who won the competition with Milan in 2007, added: "In the last five or six years, English teams have improved a lot and they are consistently at a high level now.

"But you cannot rule out the other big clubs involved still, such as Barcelona."

Kaka, who is also the reigning Golden Ball winner and FifPro world player of the year, would not rule out playing for one of the Premier League's big clubs in the future.

606: DEBATE

Do you agree with Kaka's comments?

"I am very happy here in Milan but if one day I had to leave I would like to play in another big European team," confirmed the former Sao Paulo star.

"The biggest clubs are in Italy, England and Spain so it would be in one of these countries, although it is clear they play differently in these places.

"I can compare Spain to Brazil as they play a similar type of game, the way the players play.

"The leagues are very similar in the sense that all the teams play very tactically and it is very difficult to score goals.

"I think these three championships are the most important in the world at the present moment, all very good and competitive."

Kaka has played for Milan since 2003 when he signed from Sao Paulo for £4.25m. In his time in Italy he came up against England coach Fabio Capello many times - when the Italian was at Roma and Juventus.

KAKA FACTFILE

Born: 22/4/1982, Brasilia

Full name: Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite

Clubs: Sao Paulo, Milan

Major honours: Serie A (2004), Champions League (2007), Super Cup (2003, 2007) World Cup (2002)

Brazil: 59 apps, 22 goals

Kaka says he believes the Football Association have made a very shrewd appointment, despite the criticism they received for appointing another foreigner in the England post.

"I don't think there is any doubt that Fabio Capello is a very fine manager," said Kaka. "I believe he can win a lot with the England team in the time he spends as the national team manager.

"It would have been something new if Capello had been the first foreign coach with England but Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson has already been there.

"Brazil has always had a Brazilian coach and the same for Italy but in England it has happened before so it's not a big deal having a foreign coach."

Kaka has dropped below his usual sublime standards this season, with Milan lying in fifth place in Serie A and losing to Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League too.

But, despite his inconsistent form and a season disrupted by tendinitis in his knee, Kaka wants to experience the high of being named the world's best player again.

"It was a big honour to win the award, there are a lot of players in the world and to come first was a great feeling," he revealed.

Kaka

Kaka (left) has great expectations for fellow countryman Pato

"I'm very happy to have had that and I would like to win it again because the sensation of winning that type of award is unique.

"I don't think I am the best player in the world, I just think I'm one of the best, with others such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o."

Kaka also predicts his Brazilian team-mate at Milan, 18-year-old striking sensation Alexandre Pato, will join him as a winner of the top individual prize in football one day.

"As for Pato, he is an amazing player. He is very young though, only 18-years-old," commented Kaka.

"He has an incredible future ahead of him and he can do a lot of things with Milan. He needs to be allowed to grow and to improve without too much pressure on him."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7290977.stm

Happy To Stay

Kaka has once again declared his happiness at Milan, while he has also predicted a massive future for team-mate Alexandre Pato.

The current European and World Footballer of the Year has endured something of a frustrating campaign due to injury.

With Milan struggling to qualify for next season’s Champions League, there have been fears that top players, like Kaka, may want to leave the club.

“I am very happy here in Milan, but if one day I had to leave I would like to play for another big European team,” he told BBC Sport.

“The biggest clubs are in Italy, England and Spain, so I would have to be in one of those countries, although it is clear that they play differently in these places.”

Pato

Kaka’s compatriot Alexandre Pato has enjoyed a wonderful start to his Milan career, having scored seven goals in 14 league appearances since his debut in January.

“As for Pato, he is an amazing player. But he is very young though at just 18-years-old,” he stated.

“He has an incredible future ahead of him and he can do a lot of things for Milan. He needs to be allowed to grow and to improve without too much pressure on him.”

Champions League

The English Premiership is dominating the Champions League this season, and Kaka believes that one of the four teams left have a great chance of winning the competition.

“Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all excellent and any of them could win it,” he noted.

“I believe that all four English clubs have a great chance of making it all the way to Moscow for the Final in May.

“In the last five or six years, English teams have improved a lot and they are consistently at a high level now. But you can’t rule out the other big clubs still involved, such as Barcelona.”

Capello

Finally, Kaka backed former AC Milan and Juventus coach Fabio Capello to turn around England's fortunes on the international stage.

"I don't think there is any doubt that Fabio Capello is a very fine manager," he added.

"I believe he can win a lot with the England team in the time he spends as the national team manager."

http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=650259

Ronaldo in Brazil return hint

Striker Ronaldo has hinted that he might attempt to reach full fitness playing for Flamengo in Brazil before returning to AC Milan.

The 31-year-old samba star has been ruled out of action since suffering a potentially career-threatening knee injury in February. And, despite facing another seven months on the sidelines, Ronaldo is already looking at how he can resume his playing career once the problem has healed.

The three-times World Player of the Year's contract at Milan in Italy will expire at the end of the season, but he hopes to be handed an extension despite his injury absence. However, Ronaldo has revealed that he could prove his fitness with a few months playing back in his homeland for Rio de Janeiro outfit Flamengo, who he supported as a boy and intimated that he would like to finish his career there in the past.

"I have a beautiful relationship with my team (Milan), the doors will always be open for me there, but I have to be up to it," Ronaldo told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The idea is to play in Brazil for a few months, maybe at Flamengo, and if everything goes well, reappear in red and black (of Milan)."

http://www.clubcall.com/index.jsp?storyID=336560

Brazilian forward Edmundo to retire after 2008 season

Brazilian soccer star Edmundo said on Wednesday that he will retire from the game after 2008 season.

"When I am on vacation, my friends are at work. When my friends are on vacation, I am at work. I am getting tired of this. For this reason, I have decided to hang up my boots after this season," said the 37-year-old player.

Born on the 2nd of April in 1971, Edmundo has made his mark in Brazil's national soccer league. He began his career for Vasco in 1990.

Three years later, he left the team and went to Palmeiras where he was considered to be the team's key player. He helped the team win the Sao Paulo championship in 1993 and 1994.

After his stay with Palmeiras, he left for Flamengo and Corinthians and then returned to Vasco to help win the 1997 Brasileirao tournament, finishing as leading scorer with 29 goals.

As a member of the Brazilian national soccer team, Edmundo played 39 games, including the 1998 World Cup when Brazil lost to France by a score of 3-0 in the final.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/03/content_7910807.htm

Pato as good as Ronaldo says Dunga

Brazil coach Dunga believes Alexandre Pato can emulate Ronaldo after the teenage prodigy marked his international debut with a sublime winner against Sweden.Pato, 18, only made his first appearance for AC Milan two months ago but is already being heralded as a phenomenal talent. He underlined his huge potential with a breathtaking cameo at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Wednesday to clinch a 1-0 victory over Sweden.

The young star had only been on the pitch for 12 minutes as a second-half substitute when he punished Rami Shaaban’s mistake with a curling effort from an acute angle wide on the left wing.

Ronaldo, a World Cup winner in 2002, played alongside Dunga earlier in his career and the Selecao coach is convinced Pato has the same world-beating ability as his Milan teammate.

“He is in the style of Ronaldo at that age,” Dunga said. “They both like to get involved and try to do what you tell them. You have to give players like that room to be creative.

“I don’t think he is a normal talent. There are some people that can make a big difference and he is one of those players.

“He has developed in the time he has been in Italy and already has good standing at Milan.

“He is very young for this but he is humble, modest and keeps working.

“It was an important goal. To do this in his first game gives him confidence.”

It was fitting Pato made such an instant impact in a match arranged to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Brazil’s first World Cup final triumph, a 5-2 win over the Swedes that established Pele as the game’s first global star.

While Dunga is excited to work with Pato, he is keen to let the precocious youngster develop at his own pace. The next step will be to take part in the Olympics Games in Beijing later this year.

“He is ready to start. He has the Olympic Games coming up and that is a big opportunity for him,” Dunga said. “He’s a really promising player but we can’t put too much responsibility on him. We have to break him in gently.

“We can’t expect him to do everything on his own. He has to come into his game naturally but he definitely has talent.

There are a lot of expectations but we don’t want to exaggerate.”

http://soccerglobe.net/2008/04/02/pato-as-good-as-ronaldo-says-dunga/

Scolari: Don’t Destroy Pato

Former Brazil national team boss Luiz Felipe Scolari says that Milan sensation Alexandre Pato is being over-hyped, and is worried that this could have a negative effect on the teenager.

Pato was presented as the new phenomenon of Brazilian football when he signed for Milan from Internacional last summer.

Since making his debut for the Rossoneri in January, the 18-year-old has not disappointed, and has already scored seven goals in just 14 Serie A appearances.

However Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is worried that the striker is receiving too much praise, and is being over-hyped.

"Alexandre Pato is a great player, but is not currently outstanding,” said the Gene Hackman-lookalike, who is now in charge of Portugal.

"To make sure that he becomes a phenomenon we have to see how he handles the lifestyle that goes with playing on and off the pitch.

"Right now he is great, but we cannot get too enthusiastic. If we force him onto the red carpet, he could also stumble."

Pato had a sensational international debut, when he came off the bench to score Brazil’s winner in their 1-0 friendly win over Sweden last week in London.

http://goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=646536