Bolivia’s President Has Been Signed By A First Division Football Club

Evo Morales will play in midfield and wear the number 10 shirt.

Bolivian first division side Sport Boys have made arguably the most high-profile signing in the country’s history.

Reuters

President Evo Morales will play for the club based in Santa Cruz next season.

The 54-year-old is expected to play for around 20 minutes of each of the games he chooses to participate in.

Sport Boys' president Mario Cronenbold said: "He loves football and plays well.

Mario Tama / Getty

“He'll wear the number 10 shirt. We'll send him a list of matches and he'll chose which ones to play in.”

The president will be paid a minimum salary of $214 (£127) a month during his time at the club.

Mario Tama / Getty

Morales is a well-known football fan and is said to be fit and looking forward to starting his career at Sport Boys.

Many might expect the president to start on the left wing, but the club has so far only said he will play "in midfield".

Cronebold said: “As I told the president, jokingly, we are not putting the president of Uruguay on the field,” – referring to José Mujica, the 78-year-old leader of Uruguay.

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"We are contracting a person who is in very good shape and who lives soccer."

Morales is expected to make his debut in August.