Brazil great Roberto Carlos wants to coach South Melbourne

Brazilian football great Roberto Carlos has begun formal talks with South Melbourne to become their inaugural coach should they succeed in their bid to join an expanded A-League.

Roberto Carlos Source: Twitter @smfc

The Real Madrid legend fronted a press conference at Lakeside Stadium on Monday to reveal his vision for the National Premier League (NPL)  club.

South Melbourne bid chairman Bill Papastergiadis announced that formal talks were underway with Carlos, who has coached clubs in Russia, Turkey and India admitting he's be up for the job should the former National Soccer League powerhouses return to Australia's top flight.

“My idea would be to come here and keep winning... If I go to a club and marry a project, I go to win," Carlos told media on Monday.

“South Melbourne should be the reference for Australian football. They’re already good. I’ve been following the team. The importance is to go up.

“What I’ve seen here has moved me, the complex and the people.The most important thing now is for the club to go to the A-League and that together we make more history on top of what we’ve seen."

Carlos trained South Melbourne’s juniors on Monday while over 500 guests will attend a function to hear him speak at Crown Palladium on Tuesday.

The World Cup winner urged expansion of the A-League saying "the more teams the better".

He hailed South Melbourne as an important club on the world stage and and hinted he'd bring big names to the side.

"When you talk about South Melbourne, you know where it comes from. Many famous people came through this club and it’s an important club in world football," Carlos said.

"My ex-teammates and friends will come marry the project with me. They’ll be close to us.”

South Melbourne have been very vocal about their ambitious bid to join the A-League, but neither the club nor Carlos ruled out joining a second division.

“South has commenced negotiations with Roberto Carlos to coach our club when we enter the A-League. Not if, but when," Papastergiadis said.

“Roberto Carlos and South Melbourne is a match made in heaven. We are the FIFA Oceania Club of the Century, we're the champions of the men’s and women’s seniors (top state tier), the best junior club in the state and we have own purpose stadium, a $70 million facility.

“We’re also hearing stories about the B-League. We’re willing, ready and able to participate in a B-League when it’s ready to be formed."