HOLLYWOOD: Former Brazil forward Ronaldo hinted on Wednesday he will try to get back into shape with an eye on coming out of retirement to play with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the second-tier North American Soccer League (NASL).

The 38-year-old three-time FIFA world player of the year, who last played professionally with Corinthians in February 2011, recently became a minority owner of the Strikers who compete in the 11-team league which is part of the feeder system for Major League Soccer (MLS).

During a news conference attended by the mayor of Fort Lauderdale and NASL leadership, the former Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Barcelona star said his return to the game would help the league and football in America.

“That is not easy because I love to play, I love football, that was all my life my big love. When I retired, I stopped playing because of my body, so much pain and injuries,” said Ronaldo.

“To play a football game you have to be in very good shape. I will try for myself, it’s another challenge, I am sure it will help the league, help the team.

“I will train a lot, and if the [coach] needs me, maybe,” he said, adding with a smile that he would like to play if the Strikers were to reach a final.

Since retiring as a player, Ronaldo has become a part-owner of a marketing company called 9ine Sports and Entertainment, which represents Barcelona forward Neymar and mixed martial arts fighter Anderson Silva.

He joins a team that lost to San Antonio in last year’s NASL final last season. Fort Lauderdale averaged 3,092 for home games, almost half the league average of 5,989.

“I can’t be a manager, because I think it’s too tough managing 30 players thinking in different ways,” Ronaldo said. “I think being an owner is a good way to teach our players the way I won.

“It’s a new challenge for me. I’ve been working a lot in different things. Last year I was involved in the World Cup as a member of the organizing board, and I was also commentating matches during the World Cup for TV Globo. And now it’s a great opportunity to manage as an owner of a great team.

“The Fort Lauderdale Strikers is a team with history, tradition. Soccer in America is growing, so I think it’s a great opportunity.”

The Strikers, who open their season on April 4 against the New York Cosmos, said they will try to bring in players from Brazil, using the connections of Ronaldo and their other Brazilian owners.

“We want to have all the best players,” Ronaldo said. “But we don’t have the money yet. We have a budget.”

Former Spain and Real forward Raul recently joined the Cosmos at the age of 37.

Ronaldo, who also played for PSV Eindhoven and AC Milan in Europe, won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 scoring both goals in the 2-0 win over Germany in the final.

The Strikers were part of the original NASL in the 1970’s when George Best, Gordon Banks and Gerd Mueller played for the club. The club was recreated in 2011 and plays at the old team’s Lockhart Stadium but rarely in front of more than 3,000 fans.

The NASL, which has no connection to the original North American Soccer League, is in between the MLS and the third division USL Pro league. There is no promotion and relegation between the three American leagues.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2015

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