Rafa (footballer, born 1985)
Spanish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rafael López Gómez (Spanish pronunciation: [rafaˈel ˈlopeθ ˈɣomeθ]; born 9 April 1985), known as Rafa, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played mainly as a central defender.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rafael López Gómez | ||
| Date of birth | 9 April 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Peñafiel, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Valladolid | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2006 | Valladolid B | ||
| 2004–2008 | Valladolid | 40 | (0) |
| 2006 | → Eibar (loan) | 19 | (0) |
| 2008–2014 | Getafe | 122 | (3) |
| 2014–2016 | Paderborn | 17 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Valladolid | 19 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Pune City | 20 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Rayo Majadahonda | 20 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Hyderabad | 6 | (0) |
| Total | 263 | (3) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Rafa was born in Peñafiel, Province of Valladolid, Castile and León.[1] A product of Real Valladolid's youth system, he made his debut with the first team on 8 February 2004 in a 2–0 away defeat against RCD Espanyol,[2][1] but only managed six appearances with the main squad over his first two professional seasons.
After a five-month loan at SD Eibar in the Segunda División,[3] Rafa returned to help Valladolid to regain their La Liga status in 2007. He played 21 league matches the following campaign.[4]
Rafa agreed to join Getafe CF on a Bosman transfer in early July 2008.[5] He would spend most of his first year as left-back, replacing out-of-form Lucas Licht who was sold shortly after.[6][7]
In 2009–10, benefitting from consecutive injuries to Mario, Rafa was mostly first-choice. With 27 games and two goals from the player,[8][9] the Madrid team finished sixth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League for the second time in their history.[10]
On 1 September 2014, the last open day of the transfer window, Rafa transferred to newly-promoted SC Paderborn 07, signing a two-year contract.[11] He made his Bundesliga debut on 22 November, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–2 home draw against Borussia Dortmund.[12]
Rafa returned to his first club Valladolid on 13 July 2016, after agreeing to a three-year deal.[13] In June 2017, however, he left.[14]
On 23 August 2017, the 32-year-old Rafa signed for Indian Super League franchise FC Pune City.[15] He returned to Spain and its second division the following 7 July, joining CF Rayo Majadahonda on a one-year contract.[16]
Career statistics
- As of match played on 11 March 2018
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Valladolid | 2003–04[17] | La Liga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |
| 2004–05[17] | Segunda División | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06[17] | Segunda División | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07[17] | Segunda División | 13 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08[17] | La Liga | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | ||
| Total | 40 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — | 51 | 0 | |||
| Eibar (loan) | 2005–06[17] | Segunda División | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | |
| Getafe | 2008–09[17] | La Liga | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |
| 2009–10[17] | La Liga | 27 | 2 | 7 | 1 | — | 34 | 3 | ||
| 2010–11[17] | La Liga | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| 2011–12[17] | La Liga | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13[17] | La Liga | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2013–14[17] | La Liga | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 32 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15[17] | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 122 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 142 | 4 | ||
| Paderborn | 2014–15[18] | Bundesliga | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |
| 2015–16[18] | 2. Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | |||
| Valladolid | 2016–17[17] | Segunda División | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 20 | 0 | |
| Pune City | 2017–18[18] | Indian Super League | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 20 | 0 | |
| Career total | 237 | 3 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 269 | 4 | ||
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
Honours
Valladolid