Roberto Carlos to retire this year

Brazil legend Roberto Carlos to call time on playing career by the end of the year The former Real Madrid defender has still been lining out for Anzhi Makhachkala but beginning next year he will focus solely on his coaching role with the Russian club Brazil legend Roberto Carlos has announced that he will retire from the game at the end of the year. The former Real Madrid and Inter left-back has been lining out as a defensive midfielder with Anzhi Makhachkala of late but has decided that he will focus solely on his coaching role with the Russian club from 2013 on. The man responsible for one of the most extraordinary free-kicks in history against France in 1997, in an interview with Globoesporte, explained that he now feels ready to hang up his boots and insisted that he would not reverse his decision. Roberto Carlos began his illustrious playing career with Uniao Sao Joao but it was with Palmeiras that he made his name and he secured a move to Inter in 1995. The defender only spent one season at San Siro, though, before joining Real Madrid, with whom he firmly established himself as one of the most exciting full-backs the game has ever seen. He made 370 league appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 47 goals, before leaving for Fenerbahce in 2007. Roberto Carlos returned home in 2010 to link up with Corinthians before taking up the opportunity to join Anzhi last year.