Place of birth Sao Paulo, Brazil Number 1 Name Rafael Andrade Height 1.87 m Date joined 2007 | Playing position 1995 Nacional (SP) Role Footballer Weight 80 kg | |
Full name Rafael de Andrade Bittencourt Pinheiro Date of birth (1982-03-03) 3 March 1982 (age 33) Current team Hellas Verona F.C. (#1 / Goalkeeper) Similar People Pierluigi Gollini, Rafael Cabral, Andrea Mandorlini | ||
Rafael de andrade bittencourt pinheiro portiere hellas verona 2009 2010
Rafael de Andrade Bittencourt Pinheiro (born 3 March 1982) simply known as Rafael, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Cagliari. He also holds an Italian passport.
Contents
Biography
He arrived in Italy after playing 17 (of 19) matches in 2007 Campeonato Paulista, ahead of Maurício. He was an understudy of Júlio Sérgio, Fábio Costa and Doni at Santos FC. In Verona, after missing only three games (of a possible 136) in four seasons of Lega Pro, the third highest football league in Italy, Rafael played a crucial role in helping his team reach the 2010-2011 Lega Pro Division One playoffs and win them, to return to Serie B after a four year absence. Two seasons later, the Brazilian goalkeeper and his teammates of Verona reach the second place and were promoted to Serie A, with Rafael that impose itself as the best goalkeeper in the junior category (only 29 goals conceded in 40 games).
Rafael was successively confirmed as first choice keeper for the club's Serie A comeback season in 2013, despite the signing of Bulgarian international Nikolay Mihaylov, playing 37 games out of 38 during the full championship.
Statistics
As of 15 July 2015.
1European competitions include the UEFA Champions League.
2Other tournaments include the Supercoppa Italiana and Serie B relegation play–offs.