South Melbourne open talks with Brazil legend Roberto Carlos ahead of A-League expansion bid

EXCLUSIVE: SOUTH Melbourne have opened talks with World Cup winner Roberto Carlos to be its inaugural A-League coach as its push for a licence gathers steam.

SOUTH Melbourne has commenced negotiations with Brazilian World Cup winner Roberto Carlos to be its inaugural A-League coach as its push for a licence gathers steam.

And South’s bid chief Bill Papastergiadis says fellow Real Madrid legend Chendo has also expressed interest in becoming the club’s technical director if its ambitious drive to be included in an expanded competition in 2018-19 is successful.

Carlos played 125 games for Brazil between 1992-2006 and spent 11 years at Real Madrid where he won three Champions League and four La Liga titles.

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Carlos recently attended the Champions League Group stage draw. AFP Photo/ Valery Hache.

The 43-year-old, who has previously coached in India and Turkey, would be arguably the highest profile coach in the competition’s history.

The 2002 Ballon d’Or runner-up was quoted earlier this month as saying he would be interested in coaching in the A-League, but the Herald Sun can reveal that South Melbourne has put itself at the front of the queue — should it be granted A-League entry.

“We are excited and thrilled that we have some of the greatest names in international football who wish to be a part of South’s resurgence,” Papastergiadis told the Herald Sun.

Carlos took on the Socceroos at the 2006 World Cup. Pic: Gregg Porteous.

“The club’s reputation allows it to attract some of the biggest names.

“South should be the next A-League club. It has the best football facilities in Australia, the best junior development program, set the attendance records in the previous NSL and now has people with the best international qualifications wanting to lead the club.

“South is excelling both on and off the field in every way possible. The interest by Roberto Carlos and Chendo evidences this pursuit of excellence.

“The FFA needs to allow clubs that excel to be a part of the future of football in Australia.”

South Melbourne chief Papastergiadis with Real Madrid legend Chendo.

South Melbourne, the Oceania club of the 20th century, has forged ties with Real Madrid, the FIFA club of the century, whereby junior South teams travel to Spain to play Madrid each year.

The Genova International School of Soccer helped facilitate talks between South, Carlos and Chendo, who played 363 games for Madrid between 1982-98 and went to two World Cups with Spain.

Papastergiadis met with Chendo, Madrid’s current “first team delegate”, in September at the club’s headquarters.

The 55-year-old toured South’s Lakeside Stadium facilities when Real Madrid played in the International Champions Cup in Melbourne last year and is said to have expressed an interest in developing a “whole club training program” from the under 7s to the senior team.