Aug.22 (GMM) World champion Fernando Alonso looks set to follow in Michael Schumacher's footsteps by joining a local Swiss football team.

The French language Swiss newspaper '24 Heures' reports on Wednesday that the 26-year-old, who lives locally with his wife, last week practiced for the first time with Prangins FC; a third division club whose local pitch overlooks Lake Geneva.

Alonso moved to Switzerland late last year, and now lives in a villa in Mont-Sur-Rolle -- mere kilometres from Schumacher's Swiss home.

Seven time world champion Schumacher plays for FC Echichens; another Swiss third division club.

A friend of Alonso's said: "His goal is to be able to play simply, first of all to stay in shape, and to play a sport at the heart of a team."