Where are they now?: Fernando Bob
Today marks the 38th birthday of Fernando Paixão da Silva, better known as Fernando Bob.
While his stint in Saint Paul was brief—lasting only a few months during the 2018 season — Fernando Bob remains one of the most high-profile Brazilian veterans to have featured in the Loons’ midfield. His arrival was seen as a major coup at the time, bringing a decade of top-flight experience from the Brazilian Série A to a squad that was still finding its identity in Major League Soccer.
After departing Minnesota at the conclusion of the 2018 campaign, Bob returned to his home country to finish his professional career. He spent time with Boavista SC in the Campeonato Carioca, where he served as a stabilizing veteran presence in the middle of the park for several seasons. His final professional appearances came in early 2022 before he officially announced his retirement from competitive football.
Today, he resides in Brazil, having transitioned away from the professional game to focus on his life outside of football. For those who remember his thunderous left-footed switches and physical presence at TCF Bank Stadium, he remains a unique piece of the club’s early history.
