Former AC Milan and Manchester City star Robinho who is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence in Brazil for gang rape has taken on a surprising new role behind bars.
The 41-year-old has become the coach of the prison football team, a side ironically nicknamed “The Rapists” due to the crimes committed by many of its players.
Robinho, once celebrated as one of Brazil’s most talented forwards was convicted for his role in the 2013 sexual assault of a 23-year-old Albanian woman at a nightclub in Milan, Italy.
His legal battle dragged on for years but the Brazilian Supreme Court recently rejected his final appeal, ending any hope of overturning the verdict.
This ruling confirmed that he will remain in prison until at least 2034 when he will be 50 years old.
Sources from the Tremembé Penitentiary where Robinho is being held, reveal that football has become a central part of his life in prison.
Robinho reportedly asked prison officials for permission to organize football matches among inmates as a way to cope with life behind bars and reduce tension inside the facility.
Authorities approved the request seeing it as a way to promote discipline and unity among prisoners.
The prison team consists of inmates convicted of serious crimes including robbery, drug trafficking and sexual assault.
Robinho designs training sessions, teaches tactics and even mentors younger inmates, some of whom grew up idolizing him during his peak years playing for Santos, Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team.
Robinho’s downfall has been dramatic. Once hailed as the “new Pelé,” he was a teenage sensation at Santos before moving to Europe where he won La Liga titles with Real Madrid and later lifted the Premier League trophy with Manchester City.
He represented Brazil 100 times, scoring 28 goals and was part of the squad that won the 2007 Copa América and the 2009 Confederations Cup.
However his career began to decline after joining AC Milan where the incident leading to his conviction took place.
When the Italian court confirmed his sentence in 2020, Robinho attempted to return to Santos but public outrage forced the club to cancel his contract just days after the announcement.
Since then he has been widely condemned by the global football community with many former teammates and clubs cutting ties with him.
Despite the gravity of his crime, Robinho is reportedly trying to use his coaching role as a form of personal redemption. While many remain critical of his position, prison officials believe his involvement in sports can have a rehabilitative effect on others.
