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.

Raffael

Raffael with Mönchengladbach in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Raffael Caetano de Araújo
Date of birth	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
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
FC Zürich	2005–06	31	14	5	5	—		4	3	40	22
	2006–07	31	13	5	3	—		2	0	38	16
	2007–08	15	12	4	2	—		8	1	27	15
	Total	77	39	14	10	0	0	14	4	105	53
Hertha BSC	2007–08	15	4	0	0	—		—		15	4
	2008–09	33	6	2	0	—		8	2	43	8
	2009–10	31	7	2	2	—		7	1	40	10
	2010–11	30	10	1	0	—		—		31	10
	2011–12	31	6	1	0	2	1	—		34	7
	Total	140	33	6	2	2	1	15	3	163	39
Dynamo Kyiv	2012–13	9	1	1	0	—		3	0	13	1
Schalke 04 (loan)	2012–13	16	2	0	0	—		0	0	16	2
Borussia Mönchengladbach	2013–14	34	14	1	0	—		—		35	14
	2014–15	31	12	2	0	—		9	2	42	14
	2015–16	31	13	2	0	—		6	2	39	15
	2016–17	20	7	2	1	—		9	5	31	13
	2017–18	27	9	2	1	—		—		29	10
	2018–19	13	2	1	3	—		—		14	5
	2019–20	8	0	0	0	—		3	0	11	0
	Total	164	57	10	5	0	0	27	9	201	71
Career total		405	132	31	17	2	1	59	16	497	166

Honours

FC Zürich

• Swiss Super League: 2005–06, 2006–07

Hertha Berlin

• 2. Bundesliga: 2010–11

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.

External links

• Raffael Caetano de Araújo at fussballdaten.de (in German)