Ex-Brazil midfielder Ze Roberto to pursue coaching career

Rio de Janeiro, Nov 29: Former Brazil international midfielder Ze Roberto will join the backroom staff of Sao Paulo football club Palmeiras next year as he targets a future in coaching.

The 43-year-old ended his 24-year professional career on Monday by playing the full 90 minutes in Palmeiras' 2-0 home victory over Botafogo in Brazil's Serie A championship, reports Xinhua news agency.

"I'm going to go on vacation first. I haven't had a conversation to discuss the role yet, but I've already accepted an offer of a position," Ze Roberto told reporters.

Ze Roberto, who joined Palmeiras in 2015 from Gremio, was capped 84 times for Brazil and played in the 1998 and 2006 World Cups.

His club career included spells at Spanish giants Real Madrid and Germany's Bayern Munich.