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Socrates joins Garforth Town
In one of the most unlikely moves in recent times Brazilian legend Socrates has agreed a deal with Yorkshire non-League team Garforth Town.
The majestic midfielder retired 14 years ago but the lure of a spell in the Northern Counties East League has proved too much for the 50-year-old.
Socrates skippered Brazil at two World Cups and was unquestionably one of the greatest players of his generation.
Garforth already have one former international on their books in the form of Lee Sharpe.
But Socrates, who still has his famous long hair and beard, will undoubtedly be the most high-profile player to pull on the Garforth shirt after signing a one-month deal with the club.
He is expected to make his debut against Tadcaster Albion in front of a capacity 3,000 home crowd at Garforth - a far cry from playing in front of 200,000 at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
Socrates - not surprisingly - has a reputation as a deep thinker with strong views not only on football but society in general.
Quite what he will make of Garforth - a former pit village in the heartland of West Yorkshire - remains to be seen.
A doctor by profession, his new team-mates will include a gardener and an electrician.
He has been brought to the club by Garforth owner and manager Simon Clifford - who has built up a string of contacts in Brazil through his Socatots coaching schools.
Clifford, 33, said: "It is a fantastic coup. Our fans will be pinching themselves when they see Socrates running out."
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