Bayer Leverkusen Names Brazilian Football Icon Paulo Sergio as Official Bayer 04-Legend

With an illustrious sporting career spanning two decades, Sergio originally signed with Bayer 04 Leverkusen from Corinthians in 1993, spending four seasons with the club. During that time, he made over 120 appearances and scored 47 goals with Die Werkself and became a World Cup champion for Brazil before leaving for AS Roma in Serie A. He later captured a Champions League trophy in Munich.

"I am incredibly proud to represent Bayer 04 Leverkusen at an international level and in passionate football markets in South America," said Sergio. "The team has fantastic momentum both with its sporting performance on the field this season, but also as it continues to grow globally as one of the top brands in the Bundesliga and one of the world's most prominent clubs. With such a strong legacy of Brazilian and South American talents coming to Leverkusen in the past decades, there is a lot of excitement here around the club amongst fans and young footballers."

Sergio was among the first of a wave of stand-out Brazilians to play in Leverkusen, a list that includes national team players Emerson (1997-2000), Ze Roberto (1998-2002) and Lucio (2001-2004). Given his stature as a former Bundesliga star, Sergio also represents the DFL in an official capacity, providing Leverkusen unique opportunities and synergies for future events to promote the German Bundesliga on the whole.

"Our Bayer 04 sporting tradition includes many exciting players that came from Brazil and South America who are now part of the history and excellence of our club, so I am pleased for the opportunity to have Paulo Sergio working alongside us regularly on strategic initiatives in the Americas," said Bayer 04 Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro. "Sergio is a tremendous football star, but more importantly he is an incredible ambassador for the game and Bayer 04 Leverkusen with his charm, humor and character."

Leverkusen's roster currently features four South Americans including Brazilian Arthur and the only World Cup winner in the Bundesliga, starting midfielder Exequiel Palacios.

Sergio was on-hand in Leverkusen last week to meet with media and is scheduled to make appearances at watch parties and partner events for Bayer 04 in the next few months across the Americas.