Raffael (footballer)

Raffael Caetano de Araújo (born 28 March 1985), known as simply Raffael, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward[1] or attacking midfielder.[2] He last played for Pohronie of the Fortuna Liga.[3]

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Caetano and the second or paternal family name is Araújo.
Raffael
Raffael with Mönchengladbach in 2015
Personal information
Full name Raffael Caetano de Araújo
Date of birth (1985-03-28) 28 March 1985
Place of birth Fortaleza, Brazil
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Forward, attacking midfielder
Youth career
Vitória
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2003 Juventus
2003–2005 Chiasso 64 (30)
2005–2007 Zürich 105 (53)
2008–2012 Hertha 163 (39)
2012–2013 Dynamo Kyiv 13 (1)
2013 → Schalke 04 (loan) 16 (2)
2013–2020 Borussia Mönchengladbach 199 (71)
2021–2022 Pohronie 3 (0)
2023– Ay-Yildizspor
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 October 2023

Career

Early career in Switzerland
Raffael playing for Hertha BSC in 2009

Born in Fortaleza, Ceará, Raffael moved still in his teens to Switzerland, first representing lowly FC Chiasso. At age 20, he moved to FC Zürich, being instrumental in the club's 2005–06 and 2006–07 league conquests; during both seasons, he led the competition in assists, while also adding 40 goals during his two-and-a-half-year spell.

Hertha BSC

In mid-January 2008, Raffael signed with German outfit Hertha BSC, being reunited with former Zürich teammates Lucien Favre and Steve von Bergen (respectively manager and player). His first game in the Bundesliga was on 2 February, in a 0–3 home defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt; the following matchday, at VfB Stuttgart, he netted his first goal, as Hertha won it 3–1.

Making 140 appearances over four and a half years, Raffael experienced both the high and low points of the Berlin-based club's recent history, including a fourth-place finish 2008–09 season, in which Hertha lead the table for some time, and relegations in 2009–10 and 2011–12. On 27 July 2012, Raffael left the club to sign for Dynamo Kyiv.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

On 20 June 2013, he left Dynamo Kyiv to sign for Borussia Mönchengladbach.[4] On 25 June 2020, the sports director of Borussia Mönchengladbach Max Eberl confirmed that the contract of Raffael would not be renewed.[5]

FK Pohronie

On 19 October 2021, after over a year without club affiliation, Raffael signed with Pohronie of the Fortuna Liga, with the club last in the league rankings at the time of his arrival. Following his arrival in the Žiar nad Hronom-based club, Raffael had highlighted his desire to continue enjoying football and entertaining the fans, as well as aiding the struggling club. In return, Favre highlighted Raffael as a great asset to the team and the entire league.[6] Raffael was however released after just three games during the winter break.[7]

Personal life

Raffael's younger brother, Ronny, is also a professional footballer. A midfielder, he represented most notably Hertha BSC, for whom he has played more than 100 games. From 2010 to 2012, the brothers played together for Hertha.

As of 2015, Raffael was studying to be a member of Jehova's Witnesses.[8]

Career statistics

Club
As of 27 June 2020[9][10]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Other Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Zürich 2005–06 Swiss Super League 311455—434022
2006–07 311353—203816
2007–08 151242—812715
Total 773914100014410553
Hertha BSC 2007–08 Bundesliga 15400——154
2008–09 33620—82438
2009–10 31722—714010
2010–11 2. Bundesliga 301010——3110
2011–12 Bundesliga 3161021—347
Total 14033622115316339
Dynamo Kyiv 2012–13 Ukrainian Premier League 9110—30131
Schalke 04 (loan) 2012–13 Bundesliga 16200—00162
Borussia Mönchengladbach 2013–14 Bundesliga 341410——3514
2014–15 311220—924214
2015–16 311320—623915
2016–17 20721—953113
2017–18 27921——2910
2018–19 13213——145
2019–20 8000—30110
Total 164571050027920171
Career total 4051323117215916497166

Honours

FC Zürich

Hertha BSC

References
  1. "Spielerkader - Borussia Mönchengladbach". www.borussia.de (in German). Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  2. "Raffael". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  3. "Do Pohronia mieri kanonier Mönchengladbachu. Gól dal v každom treťom zápase". sportnet.sme.sk (in Slovak). 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  4. "Duncan flattered by Sunderland interest; Tiene joins Montpellier". soccernews.com. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  5. "Raffael: Ein Großer geht - mit Abschiedsspiel?". kicker.de (in German). 25 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  6. GIBOX,s.r.o (www.gibox.cc), Generované pomocou YGScms spoločnosti. "Do Pohronia prichádza kanonier z Bundesligy". www.fkpohronie.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  7. GIBOX,s.r.o (www.gibox.cc), Generované pomocou YGScms spoločnosti. "Príprava sa oficiálne začne 10. januára pod vedením dvojice nových trénerov". www.fkpohronie.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  8. "Darum feiere ich seit 15 Jahren keinen Geburtstag". Bild.de (in German). Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  9. "Raffael Caetano de Araujo "Raffael"". Die Spiele des FC Zürich. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  10. "Raffael". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
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