Rafael Rocha (footballer)

Carlos Rafael Rocha Ferreira, sometimes known as Rafael Rocha or Rato (born 14 March 1989 in Ribeirão Preto) is a Brazilian professional football player who plays as a left midfielder for União de Rondonópolis.[1][2]

Rato
Personal information
Full name Carlos Rafael Rocha Ferreira
Date of birth (1989-04-03) 3 April 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Left midfielder
Team information
Current team
União de Rondonópolis
Youth career
2000–2007 Desportivo Brasil
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Desportivo Brasil 15 (0)
2009São Bento (loan) 13 (3)
2010 Botafogo 5 (0)
2010–2012 Politehnica Timişoara 19 (1)
2012 Concordia Chiajna 3 (0)
2016 Rio Branco 0 (0)
2016 Oeste 3 (0)
2017 Capivariano 0 (0)
2019– União de Rondonópolis 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 June 2020

Club career edit

Early career edit

Rocha began his youth career at Desportivo Brasil.[3] He later played at São Bento and Botafogo.[3][4]

Politehnica Timișoara edit

In October 2010 Rafael Rocha signed with Politehnica Timişoara, being recommended there by Poli's defender, the Brazilian Hélder Maurílio.[5][6] Rocha was presented together with Jiří Krejčí and he was handed the number 30.[7][8] At the presentation, he said: "It's a unique opportunity for me. It's a great team and I want to meet the demands of that are here. Romanian football is very aggressive. I'll probably adjust harder, I hope the people here will have patience with me".[7] He made his debut for Poli on the Dan Păltinişanu stadium on 26 February 2011 against Gaz Metan Mediaş, replacing Ianis Zicu in the 88th minute of the game.[9][10]

Honours edit

Politehnica Timișoara

References edit

  1. ^ Rafael Rocha at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ Rafael Rocha at Soccerway
  3. ^ a b c Rafael Rocha at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  4. ^ "Rocha, dublură pentru Zicu" [Rocha, Zicu's twin] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Frați de cruce! Povestea incredibilă a celor doi brazilieni de la Poli" [Brothers of the Cross! The incredible story of the two Brazilians from Poli] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Noul jucător al lui Poli și-a făcut temele: "Toate contracandidatele noastre sunt bune, dar cred că Vasluiul este deasupra multora"" [Poli's new player did his homework: "All our opponents are good, but I think Vaslui is above many"] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Krejci și Rafael au fost prezentați oficial" [Krejci and Rafael were officially introduced] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 21 October 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Cehul Jiri Krejci a semnat un contract de 5 ani cu Timişoara, Rafael Rocha e următorul pe listă" [Czech Jiri Krejci signed a 5-year contract with Timisoara, Rafael Rocha is next on the list] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  9. ^ "POLITEHNICA TIMIȘOARA VS. GAZ METAN MEDIAȘ 3 - 1". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Rocha se teme de ninsoarea din Timişoara: "Nu am prins asemenea temperaturi în Brazilia"" [Rocha fears snow in Timisoara: "I did not catch such temperatures in Brazil"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2020.