Fernandinho left Athletico, conquered the world, and impressed Guardiola

To celebrate his 41st birthday, Bem Paraná publishes a series of special reports, including 41 football stars from Paraná.

Fernando Luiz Roza, 38, was born in Londrina in 1985. He emerged at PSTC, a club based in Londrina known for developing players. He joined Athletico in 2002 at the age of 17 and made his professional debut in 2003 under coach Vadão.

Versatile and adept in all aspects of the game, Fernandinho impressed with his vision, passing quality, and defensive power. He also shone in aerial play. For the Brazilian national team, he scored a header that secured the title in the 2003 U-20 World Cup.

Initially playing more offensive roles in midfield and even up front, Fernandinho excelled for Athletico, finishing as runners-up in the 2004 Brazilian league playing as a right-back in coach Levir Culpi’s 3-5-2 system. In 2005, he was part of the Libertadores runners-up team before being sold to Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine for 7.8 million euros – the 8th highest sale in the club’s history.

At Shakhtar, Fernandinho transitioned into a key midfielder, winning 15 titles in eight seasons. In 2013, Manchester City invested 40 million euros in the star, who became a tactical cornerstone for the English team, showcasing exceptional passing and playmaking skills. He earned high praise from the brilliant Pep Guardiola and won 13 titles in nine seasons in English football.

For the national team, he participated in two World Cups and two Copa Americas, winning the latter in 2019. He amassed 53 appearances and two goals for the Brazilian team.

To celebrate his 41st birthday, Bem Paraná publishes a series of special reports. There will be 41 reports on places in Curitiba, 41 on local habits, 41 football stars from Paraná, 41 films (one per year since 1983), and 41 bands and musicians from the capital. The anniversary is celebrated on June 17th.

The list showcases the best in these categories over the past 41 years.