Rafa (footballer)

Rafa
Personal information
Full name Rafael López Gómez
Date of birth (1985-04-09) 9 April 1985
Place of birth Peñafiel, Spain
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Valladolid
Number 15
Youth career
Valladolid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Valladolid B
2004–2008 Valladolid 40 (0)
2005–2006 → Eibar (loan) 19 (0)
2008–2014 Getafe 122 (3)
2014–2016 SC Paderborn 17 (0)
2016– Valladolid 0 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 August 2015.


This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is López and the second or maternal family name is Gómez.

Rafael López Gómez (Spanish pronunciation: [rafaˈel ˈlopeð ˈɣomeθ]; born 9 April 1985), commonly known as Rafa, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Valladolid mainly as a central defender.

Football career

Rafa was born in Peñafiel, Valladolid, Castile and León. A product of Real Valladolid's youth system, he made his debut with the first team on 8 February 2004 in a 0–2 away defeat against RCD Espanyol, but only managed, however, six appearances with the main squad in his first two professional seasons combined.

After a season-long loan at SD Eibar in the second division, Rafa returned to help Valladolid regain its La Liga status in 2007. He played 21 league matches in the following campaign.

In early July 2008, Rafa agreed to join Getafe CF on a Bosman transfer.[1] He would spend most of his first year as left back, replacing out-of-form Lucas Licht who was sold shortly after.[2][3]

In 2009–10, benefitting from consecutive injuries to Mario, Rafa was mostly first-choice. With 27 games and two goals from the player, the Madrid team finished sixth and qualified to the UEFA Europa League for the second time in their history.[4]

On 1 September 2014, the last open day of the transfer window, Rafa transferred to newly promoted German Bundesliga club SC Paderborn 07, signing a two-year contract.[5] He made his league debut on 22 November, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–2 home draw against Borussia Dortmund.[6]

On 13 July 2016, Rafa returned to his first club Valladolid after agreeing to a three-year deal.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Getafe get hold of Rafa; UEFA.com, 3 July 2008
  2. ↑ Rafa: "Me está costando jugar como lateral" (Rafa: "I am having a hard time playing as fullback"); Diario AS, 22 August 2008 (Spanish)
  3. ↑ Víctor confirma que Rafa será el "anti Messi" y que Stojkovic jugará (Víctor confirms that Rafa will be the "anti Messi" and Stojkovic will play); Diario AS, 15 April 2009 (Spanish)
  4. ↑ "Getafe secure Europa League spot". ESPN Soccernet. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "Paderborn verstärkt sich mit Rafa Lopez" [Paderborn strengthens with Rafa Lopez] (in German). Deutsche Fußball Liga. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Saglik beglückt SCP mit einem gefühlten Sieg" [Saglik leaves SCP feeling they have won] (in German). kicker. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "Rafa, más blanquivioleta que nunca" [Rafa, more violet-and-white than ever] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
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