Life After Football: Fernandinho | OneFootball

As we build towards our new CITY+ documentary 'Life After Football', we focus on the five main protagonists featured in this must-watch City Studios masterpiece...

Our final case study is the City legend that is Fernandinho.

Our combative former skipper is featured back in his home country of Brazil where he is faced with a difficult decision...

Fernandinho to fight on?

Of all those featured in Life After Football, the journey of former City skipper Fernandinho veers from playing to the cusp of retirement.

Will our former Brazilian legend keep going for another year or will a serious abductor injury make the decision for him.

The City Studios cameras travels over to Brazil as Ferna reaches a dramatic crossroads in his magnificent career.

The story begins with club doctor at Athletico Paranaense…

“Well, Fernandinho, you have a serious injury, a severe long adductor tendon injury,” he says.

“Something very serious that we need to consider when deciding whether to go ahead with surgery or not, is your age.

“I think it’s important that you talk to your family about what you think about your career, in terms of continuing, because all of this will influence the decision that we’re going to make.”

Perhaps sensing there would be bad news, Ferna responds: “I’ll think carefully about it, to see what is the best decision to take.”

Ferna won 13 major titles with City, racking up 383 appearances during a wonderful nine-year stay.

He always intended to end his career where it had begun, with Athletico Paranaense, and aged 37, he left the Blues to return home.

“Since I left City in 2022, I came back to Brazil and signed for Athletico Paranaense.

“It was with great satisfaction that I come back home, that I came back to Athletico Paranaense.”

But in 2024, during a league game he sat down on the turf and was eventually stretchered off.

The extent of the injury diagnosed it seemed there was no way back for the 39-year-old who faced up to five months out.

But, Ferna, inspired by the words of Pep Guardiola, wasn’t ready to throw the towel in just yet.

Our camera crew ask whether he remembers the words of the City boss?

He responds: “Yes, I remember. He asked, ‘Do you want to play a few more years?’ and I said I did, initially, for two more years.

“Pep said, ‘If you still like it, don’t quit. You’re doing well. Once you leave, you can’t come back.’

"I'm strictly following his advice.”

Deciding to push his body and make the best recovery he can, we watch his work in the gym and on the training pitch as he makes what is perhaps the final push of his career.

“It’s hard to say that from day one to day 60 of the injury, you see only progress and have no problems - you will have some setbacks and need to know how to deal with them,” he says as he works towards a return.

“For many days you don’t see much improvement,  it really affects you mentally. For a long time, you’re stuck in a very similar routine.

“Strength, strength, strength. It feels like you’re walking, taking steps, but not getting anywhere.

“There is a moment when the engine gives you an alert and it is like, ‘Hold on, I need to give it a break or it will break down.’

“I remember that in the case of David Silva, who also had a serious injury, an ACL injury.

“Sergio Aguero’s case was very specific, a heart issue that prevented him from continuing to play.

“I think in any other profession, whether you’re a doctor or an engineer, you can take a break but then come back. A footballer can’t do that.

"Sometimes, when I stop to think about [not playing anymore] it gives me the chills, you know?

“I’ve lived this since I was 10 years old. And suddenly, I’ve got to operate in a different field, in a different way, this leaves you a bit scared.”

In an uplifting conclusion, we see Ferna return to the adulation of the Paranaense fans as he warms up, before – two months ahead of schedule – returning to action and scoring a goal to affirm his decision to continue playing.

“I’ll keep playing until I physically can’t anymore, even if I’m dragging myself across the pitch,” he says.

“How do you prepare for life after football? Firstly, understand that the time has come. That will make it easier to prepare for the next step.

“The desire to keep playing is strong, very strong, but we’ll see.”

And of his connection to the City fans? “I miss them, they miss me and sometime soon we’re going to be together.”

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