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6.07.2024Bayer 04

Happy birthday, Zé Roberto!

Zé Roberto thrilled Bayer 04 Leverkusen fans and many other football aficionados in Germany for four years from 1998 to 2002. To this day the Brazilian has stayed in touch with the club where he furthered his great international career. Today, on 6 July, the former star celebrates his 50th birthday. On behalf of Bayer 04, “Happy birthday, Zé! You’re always welcome in Leverkusen.”
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Zé Roberto visited the club a few weeks ago. He watched the training session, talked with Arthur and head coach Xabi Alonso and said hello to many employees he knows from his time at Bayer 04.

Arthur und Zé Roberto

The midfielder made his debut for the Werkself in the summer of 1998. Four years later he left the club after 113 Bundesliga matches (18 goals), three runners-up finishes and one UEFA Champions League final. He went on to win four Bundesliga titles and four DFB Cups with Bayern Munich. He was named in the FIFA All-Star Team in the 2006 World Cup in Germany even though Brazil were knocked out in the quarter-finals. Bayer 04 fans included José Roberto da Silva Júnior, his real name, in their dream team to mark 40 years of the club being in the Bundesliga.

Zé Roberto

Zé Roberto finished his playing career at Palmeiras at the age of 43 in November 2017. He had led the team to one championship title and one cup triumph. And the Brazilian is still active now at the age of 50, including in the Baller League. He also offers online training programmes as a fitness influencer and has 2.8 million followers on Instagram.

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