‘I really feel at home here’: Bayer 04 legend Jorginho back in Leverkusen

"I know I will witness Bayer 04 become German champions one day" Jorginho stressed on his last visit to the BayArena in 2023. Just one year later, his prophecy became a reality. Now he's back in Leverkusen for the first time after the historic double win, including the first league title.

The former right-back, who wore the Bayer cross on his chest from 1989 to 1992, was the second Brazilian ever to play for the Werkself and played a decisive role in the joint success story of the club and the South American country. This time, the Black & Red legend visited his former home of Leverkusen alongside 14 Brazilian children from his social project ‘Bola Pra Frente’ as part of a co-operation with a comprehensive school in Cologne-Chorweiler.

Half-time chat with Carro to loud applause

On Friday, Jorginho had already returned to the BayArena for a film shoot, to the place where he scored ten goals and provided 24 assists in 101 appearances for Bayer 04 - back then still at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. "Of course it was difficult to understand everything at first, but I quickly learnt German. All in all, I had a really great time here in Leverkusen and I learnt a lot from it," said Jorginho,reflecting on his years with the Werkself as his gaze swept across the stadium pitch.

On Sunday, he returned to the hallowed turf to watch the Werkself's 1-1 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach in the BayArena with the children from his social project in Rio de Janeiro and 16 schoolchildren from Cologne. During a joint half-time chat, after which Jorginho was loudly cheered by the Leverkusen fans, Bayer 04 CEO Fernando Carro described the work of Jorginho and his daughter Vanessa Campos as "unique" and added: "We're very happy that the Brazilian schoolchildren are here today and have been given this opportunity. We at Bayer 04 will continue to support the project."

Jorginho was also clearly delighted to be able to show the children in his project the city with which he still has strong ties: "I learnt a lot in Leverkusen and never thought that I would be able to use that for my home country."

Emotional Meet & Greet WITH Arthur

The following day, the children experienced the Werkself up close and personal in the truest sense of the word. After a tour of the BayArena, the group was spellbound as they watched the Leverkusen first team train. "They were really excited to see how big and well-organised a professional club like this is," explained Vanessa, who runs ‘Bola Pra Frente’ alongside her father Jorginho. She could only imagine how much this visit meant to the children: "Some of them were in tears of joy when they entered the Arena because they only know the stadium and the amazing fans from the television or video games."

One person who had previously only experienced Bayer 04 on the console is 18-year-old Ramon, who was particularly impressed by the fans: "The best thing was how everyone sang 'Leverkusen, Leverkusen'." He was also impressed by "how modern everything is here, but at the same time the club honours the past and its personalities".

The highlight of the day was the meet & greet with Brazilian Werkself star Arthur - also for Ramon: "I'm really looking forward to meeting him and want to ask him about his wishes and goals at Bayer 04." No sooner said than done: Arthur answered all the children's questions in the Premium Lounge of the BayArena and clearly enjoyed being amongst his fellow countrymen once again. When the topic turned to his family, one or two of the children couldn't hold back the tears and, when it was over, all the participants left the stadium happy.

Jorginho is also certain that the trip will have a positive impact on the children: "It's really nice for them because they've had a great experience here with this fantastic stadium and the unique atmosphere. And they understand that there's another world outside the favelas."

Visit to ‘Bola Pra Frente’ in Brazil

"I'm a World Cup winner, but this is a much nicer trophy for me." Jorginho was visibly moved when he uttered those words as he showed a Bayer 04 delegation led by Fernando Carro and Paulo Sergio the project close to his heart in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro during the training camp in summer 2025. The 61-year-old led the group through poverty-stricken housing complexes and explained how he grew up here surrounded by alcohol, drugs and crime and now wants to help young people on their way to a safer life. "That was a dream, my dream. And today, with ‘Bola Pra Frente’, it's no longer a dream. It's a reality. And it's even more beautiful," he explained to the delegation.

The insights visibly got under the skin of the participants, as Carro confirmed again in the half-time chat on Sunday: "The visit touched our hearts. It was emotional and we're very happy we were able to witness it with our own eyes."

About the ‘Bola Pra Frente’ project:

Jorginho launched the project in 2000 with his future teammate Bebeto. In Rio de Janeiro's Guadalupe neighbourhood, ‘Bola Pra Frente’ uses sport and culture to help young people achieve a self-determined future and a cultivated lifestyle away from drug use and crime. It's one of the largest social and sporting projects in the state capital.

Over 450 young people aged between 6 and 17 receive professional educational support from professional athletes, sports instructors, psychologists and social workers with the aim of providing a holistic education. The children and young people take part in free courses in areas such as language, maths and dance, and are given the opportunity to take part in sporting activities and work on career-orientated projects. The project has already successfully enabled more than 15,000 young people to start a structured, hopeful life.

Bayer 04 has also previously supported ‘Bola Pra Frente’, including with an auction of matchworn jerseys in 2020. "Fernando, Bayer 04 and I get on well," says Jorginho, delighted with the collaboration, adding: "We have to join hands and work together for a better world."