Brazil Legend Romario Retires From Football
Brazil legend Romario has announced his retirement from football after 27 years in the game.
The 42-year-old, who has not played for Vasco da Gama since November due to a drugs ban, had revealed last month that he would be finally hanging up his boots at the end of March.
"I am not going to play any more. I have already stopped. I am out of shape,” Romario told O Dia newspaper.
"My last game was a long time ago and it is over for me."
Romario has retired from both playing and coaching and his only footballing involvement will be to help the Brazilian Football Confederation in their preparations for the 2014 World Cup.
"I am not going to return to Vasco. I am not going to work now and they are not paying me but our friendship continues," he added.
"I have talked to the board about my decision. On Sunday I am going to travel to the Caribbean.
"I have made this decision myself. If I had wanted to continue playing I would have returned to Vasco but that is not in my thoughts.
"I want to be with my children and we are travelling a lot. This makes me happy."
Romario has had a glittering career, in which he has also starred for the likes of PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Valencia and Vasco da Gama.
Last year he reportedly became only the second player ever, the other being Pele, to hit 1000 goals in professional football, when he scored a penalty for Vasco against Sport Recife.
He was also a star of the Brazil national team, and was at the peak of his powers in 1994 when he largely carried an ordinary team all the way to the World Cup final in America, where they defeated Italy on penalties.
