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 is currently a free agent.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: 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
2001–2003 Juventus-SP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2005 Chiasso 61 (30)
2005–2007 FC Zürich 77 (39)
2008–2012 Hertha BSC 140 (33)
2012–2013 Dynamo Kyiv 9 (1)
2013 → Schalke 04 (loan) 16 (2)
2013–2020 Borussia Mönchengladbach 164 (57)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:43, 27 June 2020 (UTC)

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.[3] On 25 June 2020, the sports director of Borussia Mönchengladbach Max Eberl confirmed that the contract of Raffael will not be renewed.[4]

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.[5]

Career statistics

Club
As of 27 June 2020[6][7]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Zürich 2005–06 311455—434022
2006–07 311353—203816
2007–08 151242—812715
Total 773914100014410553
Hertha BSC 2007–08 15400——154
2008–09 33620—82438
2009–10 31722—714010
2010–11 301010——3110
2011–12 3161021—347
Total 14033622115316339
Dynamo Kyiv 2012–13 9110—30131
Schalke 04 (loan) 2012–13 16200—00162
Borussia Mönchengladbach 2013–14 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 Berlin

References
  1. "Spielerkader - Borussia Mönchengladbach". www.borussia.de (in German). Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  2. "Raffael". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  3. "Duncan flattered by Sunderland interest; Tiene joins Montpellier". soccernews.com. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  4. "Raffael: Ein Großer geht - mit Abschiedsspiel?". kicker.de (in German). 25 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  5. "Darum feiere ich seit 15 Jahren keinen Geburtstag". Bild.de (in German). Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  6. "Raffael Caetano de Araujo "Raffael"". Die Spiele des FC Zürich. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  7. "Raffael". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
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