332 games in the Bundesliga
That’s why the ex-Bayern star is returning to the youth club at the age of 39
12/26/2024 – 10:07 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Even at 39, Rafinha is far from tired of football. At the turn of the year he joined his youth club – with a clear goal.
Rafinha became known in the Bundesliga through his time at FC Bayern Munich and Schalke 04. Now the former Brazilian national soccer player is returning to his youth club Coritiba FC at the age of 39. Rafinha will play for the Brazilian second division club from January 1, 2025 and should help them achieve promotion to the Série A.
In a club announcement on social media, Rafinha explained his move as follows: “I am here to fulfill the promise I made when I left almost 20 years ago.” He also emphasized his connection to his youth club: “I’m back in Coritiba, the club that discovered me and that opened the doors to the world of football for me.” He also expressed his ambition: “It is a pleasure to return and help Coritiba reach the level the club deserves.”
Coritiba’s main goal for 2025 is to return to the Brazilian top flight. The club last played in the Série A of South America’s largest country in 2023.
Rafinha, who was born in Londrina, was active for the club between 2002 and 2005 and from there moved to FC Schalke in Gelsenkirchen. The transfer fee at that time was five million euros. In the 2010/11 season he was under contract with FC Genoa in Italy, from where he moved to FC Bayern Munich and stayed there until 2019.
The defensive specialist played a total of 332 Bundesliga games. This makes him the Brazilian with the third most games in the German elite football league. Only Naldo (358) and Zé Roberto (336) have more encounters.