Romário Appointed Vasco Coach For 2008

Rádio Tupi broke the news that the 41 year-old - who aims to hang his boots up after playing the Carioca Cup in early 2008 - saw off the challenge of Caio Júnior and Antônio Lopes to step into the void left by the departing Valdir Espinosa at São Januário.

President Eurico Miranda confirmed the deal, giving the veteran number 11 a longer stint as Coach after Romário helmed Vasco to victory over Mexicans América, even though the Brazilian bowed out after a bad first leg loss away at the América redoubt.

“It's an old dream I've had, an idea that's been taking concrete shape since the América match, although it'll be very difficult to convince him to stay on longer than the Taça Guanabara (Guanabara Cup: the first half of the Rio de Janeiro State Championship”, explained Eurico.

The Rio de Janeiro club also plan to play a Dubai-based friendly tournament before the Taça Guanabara competition kicks off, O Baixinho being able to dribble the 30-day interim ban he's been handed down as the match is a friendly and takes place abroad.