Rafa (footballer, born 1985)

Not to be confused with Rafa (footballer, born 1970).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is López and the second or maternal family name is Gómez.

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)
Position(s) 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

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.

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
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Valladolid

References

  1. ^ a b Velasco B., Ángel (13 July 2016). "¿Quién es, realmente, Rafael López Gómez?" [Who is, really, Rafael López Gómez?] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  2. ^ "Espanyol y una victoria que le da aire" [Espanyol and win that provides air] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Eibar incorpora a López (Valladolid) y Domínguez (Real Sociedad)" [Eibar add López (Valladolid) and Domínguez (Real Sociedad)]. La Nación (in Spanish). 23 January 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  4. ^ Tornadijo, José Ignacio; Vasco, M. Á. (3 April 2008). "Rafa se irá al Getafe" [Rafa will go to Getafe]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Getafe get hold of Rafa". UEFA. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  6. ^ De la Rosa, José Antonio (22 August 2008). "Rafa: "Me está costando jugar como lateral"" [Rafa: "I am having a hard time playing as full-back"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  7. ^ "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 (in Spanish). 15 April 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  8. ^ "El Getafe vapulea a un endeble Racing con un 'hat-trick' de Soldado (1–4)" [Getafe obliterate feeble Racing with Soldado hat-trick (1–4)]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 30 August 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  9. ^ "El Getafe mira a Europa, el Xerez a Segunda (0–1)" [Getafe look to Europe, Xerez to Segunda (0–1)]. La Verdad (in Spanish). 11 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Getafe secure Europa League spot". ESPN Soccernet. 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Paderborn verstärkt sich mit Rafa Lopez" [Paderborn strengthen with Rafa Lopez] (in German). Bundesliga. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Saglik beglückt SCP mit einem gefühlten Sieg" [Saglik leaves SCP feeling they have won] (in German). Kicker. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Rafa, más blanquivioleta que nunca" [Rafa, more violet-and-white than ever] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  14. ^ "Rafa y el Pucela separan sus caminos" [Rafa and Pucela part their ways] (in Spanish). Real Valladolid. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  15. ^ Noronha, Anselm (23 August 2017). "ISL 2017: FC Pune City sign former Getafe defender Rafael Lopez Gomez". Goal. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  16. ^ "El experimentado Rafa López firma por una temporada con el CF Rayo Majadahonda" [Experienced Rafa López signs for one season with Rayo Majadahonda] (in Spanish). CF Rayo Majadahonda. 7 July 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Rafa at BDFutbol
  18. ^ a b c d Rafa at Soccerway
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