South Korean football club FC Seoul has offered its defensive back Adilson dos Santos a coaching position starting next season, officials said Thursday, asking the Brazilian veteran to contribute to the team in another capacity.

The K League Classic club said it recommended the player, affectionately called Adi, retire and begin a new chapter in his football life as coach. Adi turns 38 in May, and FC Seoul said it believes he may no longer be the same player because of his declining stamina.

A team official said it would have been disrespectful for FC Seoul to simply deal Adi or terminate his contract and force him to retire, considering years of his service to the club.

"As much as any other South Korean player, Adi has been a legendary player for our club," the official said. "In case Adi rejects our coaching offer, we will consider bringing him back as a player in the new season."

Adi has been with FC Seoul since 2006 and has helped the club win two league championships, in 2010 and 2012. He holds the record for most K League Classic appearances by a foreign player with 264 matches.

Thanks to his professionalism on and off the field, Adi has long been viewed as one of FC Seoul's spiritual leaders. In recent seasons, however, he appeared to have lost a step as a fullback.

FC Seoul also said it is in talks with 25-year-old Spanish defender Osmar Barba, who has played for the Thai club Buriram United in the past two seasons. The South Korean club denied an earlier report out of Thailand that the defender, simply known as Osmar, has already joined the K League Classic.

"We'd like to add a young and promising defensive back," the FC Seoul official said. "That's why we're looking to sign Osmar." (Yonhap News)