Man Utd boss or coaching Cristiano Jr? Ronaldo tipped to become ‘very good manager’ after hanging up record-breaking boots & passing knowledge on to the next generation

At 39 years of age, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is approaching the end of a remarkable playing career. He is still far from being finished, with there a desire on his part to reach 1,000 goals before retiring, but the day will come when record-breaking boots have to be hung up for the last time.

Ronaldo will have a big decision to make at that point, with it expected that he will look to remain connected to football in some capacity. He boasts vast experience that can be passed on to the next generation, having reached the very top of the world game and stayed there for two decades.

Former team-mate Wes Brown has suggested that CR7 could retrace steps to Manchester United at some stage, with the ex-Red Devils star – speaking in association with Instant Casino – telling GOAL when asked what role Ronaldo would fill at Old Trafford: “When you are talking about Cristiano, he can pretty much choose what he wants to do when he hangs his boots up. He’s a guy that is very passionate about football and when he has retired from playing, I’m pretty sure – if he wants to – he would be a very good manager or coach.

“He has been at the highest level, he has done it for so many years, and he would be a big benefit for the players around him. He has got that passion, that focus. We will all have to wait and see, but he would definitely be up for it and say that he’d love to do a really good job after what he’s done in his career.”

Pressed on whether Ronaldo may fancy the opportunity to work with his son Cristiano Jr - as the talented teenager continues to catch the eye in Al-Nassr’s academy system – Brown added: “It depends. I don’t know how exactly it works with them, but I’m sure he will want his son to do absolutely fantastic in the game.

“If he wants to be a professional footballer, he has definitely got the best dad to try and help him do that. We’ll have to wait and see. But Ronaldo has done everything, won everything, and if you want to learn off anyone then it would definitely be him.”

Ronaldo - who continues to top Forbes lists relating to the highest-earning athletes in football and sport as a whole - has earned and achieved enough to relax in retirement and avoid the stresses of professional competition, but passion has always burned bright in the Portuguese and it is difficult to see him walking away entirely.