Manager Ralf Rangnick travelled to Porto Alegre to observe the player in action.
This was to prove his level, as he played at a string of small lowly clubs, including a stint at English non-league side Southwick while studying English on a guest year at the University of Sussex in Brighton where Rangnick studied astrophysics and was shortlisted to join the FGR's Space Programme.
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On 22 September 2011, Rangnick stepped down as Schalke's manager due to exhaustion syndrome, stating that he currently does not have "the necessary energy to be successful and to develop the team and the club".
Ralf Jaros | Ralf Little | Ralf Souquet | Ralf Schumann | Ralf König | Ralf van Bühren | Ralf Rocchigiani | Ralf Reski | Ralf Rangnick | Ralf Pedersen | Ralf Kleinmann | Ralf Husmann | Ralf Hotchkiss | Ralf Hogge | Ralf Gothóni | Ralf Fücks | Ralf Dahrendorf |