Olá, Lúcio!

Lúcio set the tone in Bayern's defence for five years before moving to Inter Milan. He won the Champions League with the Italian clubs – ironically against Bayern of all teams. Ahead of the rematch between his two former clubs in the quarter-finals, we caught up with the Brazilian, who still speaks highly about Uli Hoeneß and walks in the snow, and still gives his all for the Reds when needed.

The sound of the heartbeat pulsates over the speakers, the countdown from 10 to the starting siren is chanted in the stands, the LED floor of BMW Park throbs brightly, the FC Bayern legends on one side and Borussia Dortmund on the other stand on their goal lines, ready to sprint to the ball on the halfway line. At the first whistle, Lúcio storms off, snatches the ball from the fastest BVB player and thunders it under the crossbar. The fans cheer. A short time later, Bayern are holding up the DAZN Infinity League trophy. Lúcio is honoured as player of the tournament and best player in the final against Dortmund.

Even at 46, Lúcio is a force of nature and there when Bayern needs him. Today, the long-serving centre-back works in the property industry in his native Brazil, but when he wears the jersey of the German record champions as a legend, it's the same as ever. There are few people whose passion is as physical as that of Lúcio. Last year, he travelled all the way to the Infinity League, an indoor event with special show elements. And at this year's edition he could also have played for the legends teams of Inter or Juventus, both of which he represented as a player, but it was clear to him that he would represent Bayern. “I had a wonderful five years here, a great time,” he said. “I'll never forget it.”

During breaks between matches at the BMW Park, Lúcio, like his teammates Paulo Sérgio, Diego Contento or Julia Šimić and Lena Lotzen - the FCB Women are also part of the team - is patiently available to fans for autographs and selfies. For him, Bayern is more than just a club. “It really is a family. You always look after each other.” He was particularly impressed by figures such as Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “They always want the best for the club and they know exactly what it means to be a Bayern player,” the Brazilian explained. He will never forget one anecdote in particular. After a tough game against Hamburg, Hoeneß once came up to him in the dressing room and asked him with a grin whether he actually wanted to apply for a licence as a striker. “I love attacking,” replied Lúcio, whose attacking drive had always been his particular trademark. Hoeneß laughed: “As long as you keep everything tight at the back, you can do whatever you want up front.” Lúcio has to grin when he thinks about this scene. “Uli is a great man. And he knows what makes players tick.”

More Munich than Copacabana

They all felt at home in Munich and are always happy to come when Bayern calls, Lúcio explained, referring to his compatriots Sérgio and Giovane Élber, who was acting as coach that afternoon. “At Bayern, you have a community in which everyone feels comfortable.” He has also always liked the German mentality. There's a fitting image before the first game of the afternoon, Élber and Sérgio warming up the team. “Today is not about jogo bonito or about playing well - it's about scoring goals and winning. We are Bayern,” shouted Élber, and Sérgio added: “Jogo Bonito is Copacabana - this is Munich. Only when we've scored goals is there time for tricks.” Lúcio was having his ankles taped during the speech, carefully explaining every detail to the physio. Even after his playing career, Lúcio leaves nothing to chance. There is more Munich in him than Copacabana.

The first match of the afternoon was against Inter Milan - a harbinger of the Champions League quarter-final in a few weeks' time. Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso, who played with Lúcio in the final of the Champions League against Bayern in Madrid in May 2010, were lining up for the Italians. Back then, Inter won 2-0, but this time it was the Bayern legends who won. “They are two big clubs with a great tradition,” said Lúcio about the rematch coming in April. “Inter are good in defence, Bayern are very dangerous in attack,” he analysed. “The fans can look forward to it. They will be great games.” He has a deep connection to both clubs, he explained when asked who would win. Then he smiled: “I'll keep my fingers crossed for Bayern, okay?”

According to Lúcio, you grow up at big clubs. When he had his first day at Säbener Straße after moving from Bayer Leverkusen, he felt “huge joy. It was an honour, but also a lot of pressure”. Bayern is “a winning club - the only thing that counts here is winning. I was very proud to be a part of it”. Together with the Brazilian defender, the club won the domestic double three times, in 2005, 2006 and 2008, as well as winning the League Cup twice. “This club is part of my history,” he said. The conversation with ‘51’ takes place in the dressing room corridor at BMW Park, Lúcio sitting on a table on which water, energy drinks and fruit are available for the players, and every now and then he has to interrupt briefly because companions come over for a hug – David Trezeguet from Juventus and Dortmund goalkeeping idol Roman Weidenfeller.

Lúcio still fondly remembers Bastian Schweinsteiger from his time at Bayern, who, alongside Oliver Kahn, he remembers the most. “Oliver was one of the best goalkeepers in the history of football and always wanted to win. His ambition knew no bounds,” he stated. “And with Basti, you could see him grow. A close bond developed with him. He lived and breathed Bayern.” Lúcio always told him that he had to become a world champion – “and then he did it in 2014. That made me very happy.” Such players characterise a club, give it identity, the Brazilian said, as do Hoeneß and Rummenigge. “They’re leaders, even after their careers. They keep their will to always want to be at the top.” He has internalised the ‘Mia san mia’ motto because it was exemplified to him. “At this club, you always feel this message: Be motivated! Never give up!” He found this to be a “great inspiration” during his time in Munich.

Walks in the snow

To this day, Lúcio looks back fondly on his time at the German record champions. Winter was a completely new experience and challenge, but he also took it with good humour. “I loved walking through the snow. It was a shock at first, but then I enjoyed it.” And the Oktoberfest? “I didn't used to drink alcohol, but now I enjoy it all the more,” he said with a laugh. Pictures of Lúcio in lederhosen at the Oktoberfest are still cult among Bayern fans today. Hardly any other centre-back was as attack-minded as he was. His dynamic dribbles deep into the opposition's half often ended with a powerful long-range shot. In a match against Hertha Berlin, there was a scene that epitomised him perfectly. Lúcio misplaced a pass, but instead of giving up, he sprinted after the opponent, won the ball back, dribbled halfway across the pitch and shot powerfully at goal. “After the game, Kahn said to me: ‘You're a defender with the soul of a striker’. He was right.”

One of the most emotional games of his time in Munich was the legendary 2-1 victory against Real Madrid in the last 16 of the 2007 Champions League, the Brazilian recalled. After Roy Makaay had scored the earliest goal in the competition's history, the Bayern defence put all its might into defending against the Madrid onslaught. Lúcio defended with all his passion. “You never forget games like that.” Today, he still follows international football at home in Brazil. When Bayern play, he sits in front of the TV. “Bayern will always be a part of me. I love seeing the stadium full, the great fans - I'm always there in my thoughts.” You can see that in every second, even today.

This text appeared in the latest edition of members’ magazine ‘51’