Brazilian defender Rafinha hangs up his boots at the age of 39

Manos Staramopoulos • 23 de julio de 2025

Brazilian full-back Rafinha, has decided to "hang up" his boots. Player with a very extensive football career.

Former Brazilian Rafinha in his stage with FC Bayern Múnich in 2017.

His retirement from active duty was announced on Monday night (21/7) by the former Brazilian international full-back, Marcio Rafael Ferreira de Souza, better known as Rafinha. Thus, the end of the career of the great Brazilian full-back Rafinha, who decided to "hang up" his boots.


At the age of 39 (born 7 Sep 1985), Rafinha will try something else in his life, but not far from football. The former 4-time international is in negotiations with various teams and may take on the position of technical or sports director.


The former Bayern and Olympiacos international defender, among others, said his own “goodbye” to football with a message, through social media and of course he also mentioned Piraeus, with whom he played in the first half of the 2020-21 season, making 22 appearances.


“Football gave me everything, took me to Germany, made me champion in the Champions League, the Copa Libertadores, the Brasileirão… It introduced me to wonderful people and allowed me to live what was always my biggest dream. I am grateful to Coritiba, who opened the doors for me at the beginning. To Leverkusen, who believed in a child from Brazil. To Bayern, who was my home for so many years and where I won everything in football. To Flamengo where I lived the top in my country. In São Paulo, the team of my heart, where I had the opportunity to win a title that the club had never won before. In Olympiacos and Gremio!.


To every teammate, coach, employee, fan… a big thank you. I keep with me memories, lessons, friendships and a story that I will tell forever with pride. Today a cycle closes as a footballer. But the love for football is eternal. A new chapter begins in my life: Outside the stadiums.

 

The teams Rafinha played for and honored are:



Season Left Joined Transfer Received money

24/25 08/04/2025 No team Retired €100k

-24/25 19/03/2025 Coritiba No team €150k Free-

24/25 01/01/2025 São Paulo Coritiba €150k Free

21/22 19/01/2022 Grêmio São Paulo €600k Free

20/21 29/03/2021 Olympiacos Grêmio €1.00m Free

20/21 24/08/2020 Flamengo Olympiacos €2.40m € Free

19/20 01/07/2019 Bayern Flamengo €3.00m Free

11/12 01/07/2011 Genoa Bayern €8.00m €5.50m

10/11 04/08/2010 Schalke Genoa €12.00m €8.00m

05/06 22/08/2005 Coritiba Schalke €4.50m €5.00m

01/02 01/01/2002 Londrina Coritiba Free



Manos Staramopoulos

Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs

Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com

Athens (Greece)

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