Rafael Gladiador

Rafael Teixeira de Souza (born 13 July 1992) in Água Boa, commonly known as Rafael Gladiador, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a striker for Palmas.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Teixeira and the second or paternal family name is de Souza.
Rafael Gladiador
Personal information
Full name Rafael Teixeira de Souza
Date of birth (1992-07-13) 13 July 1992
Place of birth Água Boa, Brazil
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Juventude
Youth career
0000–2011 Bahia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Bahia 13 (1)
2013 → D.C. United (loan) 7 (1)
2013 → Atlético Goianiense (loan) 4 (0)
2014–2015 Atlético Zacatepec 4 (0)
2015 Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard 12 (6)
2017 Tupi 10 (2)
2019 Cabofriense 6 (1)
2019 Paços de Ferreira
2020 Patrocinense 9 (1)
2020 Juventude
2021– Palmas 8 (5)
International career‡
2011 Brazil U20 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 December 2021
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 September 2019

Club career

In 2011, Rafael Gladiador signed for Bahia's first team from its reserve squad. In 36 appearances for Bahia he scored 10 goals.

On 9 January 2013, it was announced that he would join D.C. United as a young designated player on a one-year loan[1] with a pre-negotiated option to make the move permanent.[2] He scored his first goal for the team in his debut game on 23 March, a 2–1 home defeat to the Columbus Crew.[3] After making four more appearances with United, Rafael suffered a concussion during training.

Rafael Gladiador and DC agreed to part ways in June 2013.[4]

In July 2015, Rafael Gladiador transferred to China League One side Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard.[5]

On 5 July 2019, Rafael Gladiador signed with Paços de Ferreira after a stint in Brazil with Cabofriense.[6] However, he didn't play any games for the club, before he returned to Brazil, signing with Patrocinense in December 2019. In August 2020, he moved to Sociedade Esportiva Juventude.[7]

Rafael joined Palmas ahead of the 2021 Campeonato Tocantinense.[8]

International career

Rafael has represented Brazil at the under-20 level 3 times.

References
  1. "DC United ink Brazilian striker Rafael on loan as young DP". MLS. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  2. Cammarota, Nick. "DC not after another No. 9 after signing young DP Rafael". MLS. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  3. "MLS Match Recap: DC United 1, Columbus Crew 2". MLS. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  4. "D.C. United, Rafael mutually agree to part ways". D.C. United. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  5. 新疆队巴西外援将到位 at xjdsb.com 2015-07-03 Retrieved 2015-07-03(in Chinese)
  6. "Ex-Cabofriense, Rafael Gladiador acerta com o Paços de Ferreira, de Portugal". Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 5 July 2019.
  7. Sampaio, Matheus (14 August 2020). "Juventude anuncia a contratação do atacante Rafael Gladiador, ex-Patrocinense". Globo Esporte (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  8. "Gladiador vibra com momento no Palmas e ressalta qualidade do grupo". Globo Esporte (in Brazilian Portuguese). 5 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.


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