Obrigado, Rafinha: The rascal from Londrina

The city of Londrina in southern Brazil is renowned for music, culture, education and a very special connection to nature. It’s also produced two sons who went on to not only play influential roles for FC Bayern, but also conquered the hearts of football fans everywhere: Giovane Élber and Márcio Rafael Ferreira de Souza. Or as the latter is better known: Rafinha. The rascal from Londrina.

The nickname fits – you could hardly get more Bavarian. Rafinha is someone who always exudes joy and spreads good vibes. A people person, always with a smile on his face and a joke on his lips – whether it’s at training, in the dressing room and during title celebrations. Team-mates and Bayern staff greeted him simply with: “Amigo!” Everybody was his friend. For him that wasn’t just a word.

“My best amigos are at Bayern,” Rafinha said in an interview with fcbayern.com during the Club World Cup. He’s still in regular contact with Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer, for example. “I played together with Manu for 14 years [also at Schalke], he’s my best friend in the football business.” The cheerful German Müller always wanted musician Rafinha, who regularly organised team evenings in Munich, to play the Brazilian mega hit “Ai Se Eu Te Pego!” A team player on the pitch, a buddy for life off it. Rafinha also wants to stay in contact during the next stage of his life.

‘A very special moment’

Because now is the end. This week, Rafinha tearfully announced his retirement live on Brazilian TV on SportTV, where he’s recently been working as a pundit. “It’s been planned for a while, but today I officially announce the end of my career as a professional footballer.” It was an emotional moment, one of those rare ones in football where even seasoned players struggle to keep it together. “It’s a very special moment in my life,” said the 39-year-old, visibly moved. “I’ve fulfilled all my dreams in football.”

The moment was accompanied by video messages from old Brazilian colleagues such as Filipe Luis, Diego, Lucas Moura and Carlos Dunga. All of them praised the 1.72-metre right-back, who dribbled and fought his way into the upper echelons of the football world. And did so with passion, loyalty – and a healthy dose of zest for life.

Always running, always smiling

Rafinha wore the Bayern jersey from 2011 to 2019, playing 266 competitive games at right-back, with tireless commitment and a clear target in sight: winning. He wasn’t the loudest, not the most striking – but he was one of the most reliable. He celebrated seven Bundesliga titles and four DFB Cup wins among other successes, including the high point of the historic treble in 2013.

His departure from Bayern in 2019 – along with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry – was an emotional finale, a day that no Bayern fan will ever forget. But the club never let him go completely. In December 2023, he told members’ magazine 51: “I’d like to wear the red shirt one more time. And then Danke and Tschüss! I mean, Servus!”

In March 2025, this wish came true, at least symbolically: at the Beckenbauer Cup legends tournament to mark the club’s 125th birthday, he turned out in a Bayern shirt again. Since last month, he’s now officially part of the FC Bayern Legends.

Second home Munich

After several more clubs following his time at Bayern – including his record-breaking year at Flamengo with six trophies in 12 months – Rafinha had rediscovered his love for the Bavarian capital in his private life. He told 51 in an interview in March 2022: “I want to play for two more years, then I want to live in Munich with my family again for three or four months of the year. We still have a house there. Germany is my second home.” The father of four’s main residence is in Rio de Janeiro these days. That figures, too: Banjo, Samba, Rafinha!

He’s never forgotten his second home in Munich, and never will. Because Rafinha was more than just a reliable right-back: he was a cheerleader, a popular figure, crowd favourite, a genuine type. The very same rascal from Londrina who helped shape an era with his zest for life, his passion for football and his sense of humour.

Rafinha’s standing at Bayern was clear at his farewell press conference (video) before the final day of the 2018/19 season. A number of team-mates accompanied him in the press room to his surprise, including Neuer, a sobbing Ribéry and  Javi Martínez. “That was probably one of the nicest moments at FC Bayern,” he recalls. “Among so many stars – and I was obviously one of the smaller stars – it’s quite special to get so much respect and love.”

We say thank you for everything, Rafa! Obrigado, Amigo.

Legend Hermann Gerland recently ended his coaching career: