 Raffael withMönchengladbach in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Raffael Caetano de Araújo | ||
| Date of birth | (1985-03-28)28 March 1985 (age 40) | ||
| Place of birth | Fortaleza, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| 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 as of 26 October 2023 | |||
Raffael Caetano de Araújo (born 28 March 1985), known as simplyRaffael, is a Brazilian professionalfootballer who plays as aforward[1] orattacking midfielder.[2] He last played forPohronie of theFortuna Liga.[3]
.jpg)
Born inFortaleza,Ceará, Raffael moved still in his teens to Switzerland, first representing lowlyFC Chiasso. At age 20, he moved toFC Zürich, being instrumental in the club's2005–06 and2006–07league conquests; during both seasons, he led the competition inassists, while also adding 40 goals during his two-and-a-half-year spell.
In mid-January 2008, Raffael signed with German outfitHertha BSC, being reunited with former Zürich teammatesLucien Favre andSteve von Bergen (respectively manager and player). His first game in the Bundesliga was on 2 February, in a 0–3 home defeat againstEintracht Frankfurt; the following matchday, atVfB 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 forDynamo Kyiv.
On 20 June 2013, he leftDynamo Kyiv to sign forBorussia Mönchengladbach.[4] On 25 June 2020, the sports director of Borussia MönchengladbachMax Eberl confirmed that the contract of Raffael would not be renewed.[5]
On 19 October 2021, after over a year without club affiliation, Raffael signed withPohronie of theFortuna Liga, with the club last in the league rankings at the time of his arrival. Following his arrival in theŽiar 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]
Raffael's younger brother,Ronny, is also a professional footballer. Amidfielder, he represented most notablyHertha 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 ofJehova's Witnesses.[8] In March 2020, Raffael and his family acquired German citizenship.[9] He do lives inJüchen,North Rhine-Westphalia.[10]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Other | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| FC Zürich | 2005–06 | Swiss Super League | 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 | Bundesliga | 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 | 2. Bundesliga | 30 | 10 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 10 | |||
| 2011–12 | Bundesliga | 31 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 34 | 7 | ||
| Total | 140 | 33 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 163 | 39 | ||
| Dynamo Kyiv | 2012–13 | Ukrainian Premier League | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 13 | 1 | |
| Schalke 04 (loan) | 2012–13 | Bundesliga | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | |
| Borussia Mönchengladbach | 2013–14 | Bundesliga | 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 | ||
FC Zürich
Hertha BSC
