1.02.2023Bayer 04

Birthday boy of the month 3: Paulo Rink turns 50

Paulo Rink was born in the Brazilian city of Curitiba on 21 February 1973. His hometown club was Athletico Paranaense. He spent his youth at that club and often had to go in goal because he lacked the typical Brazilian style of playing. As a young player at Atletico Mineiro, he celebrated his first success in attack: as a solid and unspectacular finisher. He moved from his hometown club of Paranaense to Chapecoense and then returned to Paranaense. He scored 13 goals in 22 games back then and he came to the attention of Bayer 04.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

He finally came to Leverkusen in 1997 and, in his first year, he and Erik Meijer were the strike partners for Ulf Kirsten. He scored nine goals in the Bundesliga. Following the 1998 World Cup in France and Germany's early exit, he decided to take German nationality. His great-grandfather emigrated to Brazil from Heidelberg in 1904 so Paulo certainly had German roots. After obtaining German citizenship, he went on to win 13 international caps and became the first Brazilian in the Germany shirt and he is still called the "Alemao" (The German) in the land of his birth. He went out on loan to top Brazilian club FC Santos in 1999 but returned in the winter of 2000 and he finished the season as a runner-up in the Bundesliga with Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

His time at Leverkusen ended in November 2001 after 88 Bundesliga appearances and 29 goals. He moved on to FC Nürnberg – with a clause in the contract where he was not allowed to play for the Franconian side in Leverkusen three weeks later. After his move to Energie Cottbus in 2002, where he played for one season, his odyssey began: Paolo can definitely be described as a rolling stone as he played for five different clubs in the last four years as a player. He ended his playing career in 2007 with a testimonial in his birth city of Curitiba with his hometown club Athletico Paranaense.

Today Paulo Rink is involved in local politics in his hometown. He also set up a foundation that supports children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Paulo is 50 years old this month.

I wish you many happy returns and stay healthy!

Birthday boy of the month I: Walter Posner

Birthday boy of the month II: Ralf Falkenmayer

Related News

Bayer 04 - 30.12.2025

Bundesliga Goal of the Year: Vote now for Terrier or Wirtz

With their wonderful goals, Martin Terrier and Florian Wirtz are up for the Bundesliga Goal of the Year 2025. Voting for fans will run exclusively via the official Bundesliga app until Sunday, 4 January.

Youth - 29.12.2025

Youth teams review 2025: Thrilling final and historic progress in Youth League

Last-minute ecstasy, huge disappointment and a historic performance on the European stage - 2025 was a real emotional roller coaster, especially for the U19s. A rousing run in the knockout phase secured the team a place in the final of the German championships, where they lost by the narrowest of margins. Despite the departure of several key players, the young Werkself team quickly regained their usual strength and qualified for the knockout rounds in the UEFA Youth League for the first time at the end of the year. In 2025, youngsters Jeremiah Mensah and Montrell Culbreath made their debuts in the Bundesliga, the DFB Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. The other youth teams also contributed great performances and a number of trophies to the collective Black and Red success, while the successful Bayer 04 Future Kids project broke new ground. Read on for the 2025 review of the youth teams.

Bayer 04 - 29.12.2025

AFCON blog: Maza shines in second win for Algeria - Kofane makes debut for Cameroon

Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...

eSports - 28.12.2025

#B04eSports in 2025: Club runners-up and first showdown winners in VBL history

A memorable 12 months: 2025 was a year marked by success, intense competition and groundbreaking innovations for the #B04eSports team. After ending the 2024/25 season as runners-up, the Leverkusen-based console pros got down to business in a new, completely restructured season model, in which showdowns rather than divisions were the decisive factor on the road to the final round of the German Club Championship. Bayer 04 quickly earned a place in the history books of the most prestigious competition in German eSports and secured some valuable advantages for the coming year. Bayer04.de takes a look back at 12 months full of passion and the determination to take the next step.

Sustainability - 27.12.2025

Sustainability in 2025: Black and Red commitment to people and the environment in Leverkusen and around the world

Sustainability once again had many faces at Bayer 04 in 2025: In community activity, the club supported countless regional campaigns, including the Leverkusener Tafel, the Frauenennotruf Leverkusen e.V. and the homeless aid organisation "Kältegang". But the Black and Reds have also been involved in good causes around the world - including the Young Coaches training programmes in Uganda and Ecuador plus the Genuine World Cup in the USA, where the Inclusion Werkself competed. Bayer 04 was also fully committed to the environment and underwent external and independently certification in accordance with the European environmental management standard EMAS, for example, to analyse and optimise the club’s environmental efforts. Looking back at sustainability in 2025.