_by_Sandro_Halank%25E2%2580%2593007.jpg) Czichos with1. FC Köln in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1990-05-14)14 May 1990 (age 35)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Phoenix Rising | ||
| Youth career | |||
| FSV Verden 04 | |||
| –2008 | TSV Ottersberg | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2010 | TSV Ottersberg | 62 | (15) |
| 2010–2012 | VfL Wolfsburg II | 23 | (1) |
| 2012–2015 | Rot-Weiss Erfurt | 99 | (9) |
| 2015–2018 | Holstein Kiel | 99 | (12) |
| 2018–2022 | 1. FC Köln | 103 | (4) |
| 2022–2024 | Chicago Fire | 86 | (6) |
| 2025– | Phoenix Rising | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 28 August 2025 | |||
Rafael Czichos (born 14 May 1990) is a Saudi-German professionalfootballer who plays as acentre-back forUSL Championship clubPhoenix Rising.
Born inJeddah,Saudi Arabia while his father worked there,[2] Czichos began his career at TSV Ottersberg and joinedVfL Wolfsburg II in 2010. In 2012, he signed with then3. Liga sideRot-Weiss Erfurt. After signing withHolstein Kiel, Czichos first played in the2. Bundesliga when the team won promotion in 2017.[3]
However, Kiel failed to win promotion after the2017–18 season and he was sold to newly relegated side1. FC Köln for a fee of €1.8 million.[4] He made his debut, including his first goal, for the club in a 2–0 victory againstVfL Bochum on 4 August 2018.[5] Having been an undisputed starter in the first half of the 2021–22 season, he left 1. FC Köln in January 2022, with half a year left on his contract.kicker described the move as "surprising".[6]
On 2 January 2022, Czichos transferred toMajor League Soccer clubChicago Fire on a three-year contract.[7][8] Czichos was released by Chicago following their 2024 season.[9]
On 28 August 2025, Czichos signed withUSL Championship sidePhoenix Rising on a contract that would keep him at the club through 2026.[10]
In a July 2018 interview Czichos revealed he was a life-long fan ofWerder Bremen.[11]
  | This biographical article related to association football in Germany, about a defender born in the 1990s, is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |