Rio de Janeiro July 20 (IANS) Brazil s former FIFA world player of the year Kaka has revealed plans to take a year off in 2018 as he considers his future beyond football.
The 2002 World Cup winner is in the final year of his contract with Orlando City and gave a strong hint that he will retire at the end of the current Major League Soccer season in December reports Xinhua news agency.
"I m 35 which is an advanced age for a professional footballer " the former Real Madrid and AC Milan midfielder told RedeTV.
"I d like to take a year off. I started playing when I was eight years old. I ve been doing this for a long time and I think I deserve a rest. I don t rule out coaching. In my year off I think I will discover what I want to do."
Kaka paid tribute to his girlfriend Carol Dias who he said helped him make a fresh start after ending his nine-year marriage with Carol Celico.
"We are going very well and I m very happy with this new phase in my life. She is somebody who has helped me to start over again " added Kaka who was voted the world s best player in 2007.
--IANS
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