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Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha, more commonly known simply as Roberto Carlos, is a retired Brazilian footballer and coach who currently manages Sivasspor in Süper Lig. Roberto Carlos started his career in Brazil as a forward but spent most of his career as a left back and has been described as the "most offensive-minded left back in the history of the game". He was nicknamed el hombre bala due to his powerful free kicks, which have been measured at over 105 miles per hour. He is also known for his running speed, long throw ins and 24-inch thighs. In 1997 he was runner-up in the FIFA World Player of the Year. Considered one of the best left backs in history, he was chosen on the FIFA World Cup Dream Team and in 2004 was named one of the Top 125 greatest living footballers as part of FIFA's 100th anniversary celebration.
Roberto Carlos started playing for Brazil in 1992 and was a member of the Brazil national team in three World Cups, helping the team reach the final in 1998 and win the 2002 tournament. He was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 1998 and 2002. At club level he joined Real Madrid in 1996 where he spent eleven hugely successful seasons, playing 584 matches in all competitions, scoring 71 goals. At Real he won four La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League three times. In April 2013, he was named by Marca as a member of the "Best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history". In August 2012, he announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 39.
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