Brazil's Roberto Carlos set to begin coaching career at modest Sivasspor: Report

ISTANBUL

Despite not winning any league title with Fenerbahçe, Roberto Carlos had become the darling of the supporters.

The Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos, who spent two-and-half years at Fenerbahçe, is poised to return to Turkey but this time to make his debut as a coach. 

The former darling of Fenerbahçe supporters is set to meet the executives of Sivasspor this week, daily Milliyet reported May 19. "Roberto Carlos and Sivas have reached an agreement in principle. He will sign the contract on Tuesday [May 21] or Wednesday [May 22]," the Brazilian's manager, Özkan Doğan, told Milliyet.

The 39-year-old had finished his career at the end of the 2011-2012 at the Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala, where he held the position of caretaker manager since.

Sivasspor director, Mecnun Odyakmaz, also confirmed their burning interest. "We are seriously interested. We will be able to say more in a couple of days," he said.

The Central Anatolians had parted ways with coach Rıza Çalımbay after two seasons. Çalımbay had successfully returned to a respectable place in the standings the modest club that once defied the big Istanbul teams, even “spoiling” their rivalry inter se by showing serious title contender claims despite their small budget. However, Çalımbay resigned May 18 after a season with many up and downs, too many for the taste of any Turkish club owner who declares ambition.

Roberto Carlos was part of Fenerbahçe's squad that reached the Champions League quarter-finals in the 2007-2008 season. He left Fenerbahçe midseason in 2010 to join the Brazilian giants Corinthians before playing his last season for the big-spending Dagestan side Anzhi.