NEW DELHI -- Former Brazil and Real Madrid star Roberto Carlos will turn out for Delhi Dynamos in this year's Indian Super League in addition to being the manager, the team announced on Thursday.
The 42-year-old Carlos last played competitive football in September 2011 but held a similar double role briefly at the Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in 2012. He will be the oldest player in the eight-team franchise-based professional league, which will run from Oct. 3-Dec. 20.
"I'm looking forward to this stint as an opportunity to impart new playing techniques to players, hone their skills and raise their fitness levels," said Carlos, who had been named manager earlier this week. "I feel happy that I will make a meaningful contribution toward building a world class team in ISL."
The ISL, which evoked a lot of interest in its inaugural edition last year with players like Alessandro Del Piero, Robert Pires, Luis Garcia and David Trezeguet turning out for different sides, will also see French star Nicolas Anelka in a similar player-manager role at Mumbai City.
Carlos, who was named as manager earlier this week, is the second-highest capped Brazilian player and scored 11 goals in 125 appearances. He was a member of the World Cup squads which reached the final in 1998 and won in 2002.
He also helped Brazil win the Copa America in 1997 and 1999 and won the Champions League three times with Real Madrid.
Carlos, whose managerial experience includes stints with Turkish sides Sivasspor and Akhisar Belediyespor, has the task of shepherding a Delhi team which failed to reach the semifinals of the inaugural edition last year.