Portuguese stars go back to school

Hundreds of Portuguese football stars, including Benfica's international striker Nuno Gomes, are going back to school to complete their education, the players union said on Wednesday.

“We have already approached 1,600 players and 850 are interested,” Joaquim Evangelista, the head of the union, told AFP.

The 32-year-old Gomes, as well as Sporting Lisbon skipper Joao Moutinho and teammate Miguel Veloso, who are both 22, have expressed an interest in the government-backed, adult education scheme, New Chances, which was launched in 2005.

“Even well-known players feel a need to do this, either out of self-respect or because they are aware that they will be better prepared after the end of their careers,” added Evangelista.