External links
- Rafael Schmitz at Soccerbase
- Rafael Schmitz at L'Équipe Football (in French)
  | This biographical article related to a Brazilian association football defender born in the 1980s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rafael Schmitz [1] | ||
| Date of birth | December 17, 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Blumenau, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) [2] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1990–1993 | BEC | ||
| 1994 | Atlético-PR | ||
| 1995–1997 | Tupi-SC | ||
| 1997–1999 | Santos [3] | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2001 | Malutrom | ||
| 2001–2008 | Lille | 99 | (2) |
| 2004 | → Krylya Sovetov Samara (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | → Birmingham City (loan) | 15 | (0) |
| 2008–2012 | Valenciennes | 46 | (2) |
| 2012–2013 | Atlético Paranaense | 2 | (0) |
| 2018 | Metropolitano | 0 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 January 2019 | |||
Rafael Schmitz (born 17 December 1980) is a Brazilian retired footballer. He was a commanding central defender who was good in the air but also very agile and had good passing ability.
Schmitz started his professional career at Malutrom, winning the 2000 Brazilian 3rd division. In 2001, he joined Lille OSC, where he spent six seasons and for whom he played 99 Ligue 1 games and appeared in the Champions League and UEFA Cup. [2] He joined Birmingham City on loan for the 2007–08 season on July 6, 2007. [4] He made his Birmingham debut as a very late substitute on September 15, 2007 against Bolton Wanderers, and his first start on October 20, 2007 against Manchester City in place of the injured Johan Djourou. [5] [6] He returned to Lille following Birmingham's relegation at the end of the season. [7]
On June 23, 2008, Schmitz signed a three-year contract with Valenciennes, where he played for four years before returning to Brazil and signing for Atlético Paranaense. [8] After being overlooked at the club, he was about to sign for ABC on September, only for his club to decide against the deal in the last minute after Atlético needed defensive cover due to an injury suffered by Naldo. However, he only played two matches for Atlético Paranaense and left the club in 2013. [9]
In 2018, Schmitz decided to return to professional football and trained with Metropolitano, a club based in his hometown. [10] On 11 May 2018, he signed for the club to play the 2018 Campeonato Catarinense Série B. [11] After achieving promotion to 2019 Campeonato Catarinense, he left the club. [12]
Schmitz holds both Brazilian and French nationalities. [13] [14]
Lille
| | This biographical article related to a Brazilian association football defender born in the 1980s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Dorival Guidoni Júnior, known simply as Doriva is a Brazilian football coach and retired footballer who played as a central midfielder.
Selmir dos Santos Bezerra is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Atlético Tubarão. He plays as a forward. Selmir is 182 cm tall and weighs 86 kg.
Túlio Vinícius Fróes de Melo is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Ilan Araújo Dall'Igna, commonly known as Ilan, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He also holds an Italian passport.
Willian Gomes de Siqueira, simply known as Willian, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for Santos, on loan from Fluminense.
Luciano da Silva or simply Triguinho, is a Brazilian former football left back.
Marco Antonio de Mattos Filho, commonly known as Marquinho, is a Brazilian footballer. Mainly an attacking midfielder who plays for Figueirense, he can also play as a left wingback.
Mariano Ferreira Filho, simply known as Mariano, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Atlético Mineiro as a right-back.
Rafael Martiniano de Miranda Moura, or simply Rafael Moura, is a former Brazilian footballer who played as a striker.
Paulo César Baier, known as Paulo Baier, is a Brazilian football manager and former player who played as an attacking midfielder.
Sueliton Pereira de Aguiar or simply Sueliton , is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Paraná Clube as a right back.
Gilberto dos Santos Souza Júnior known as Gilberto, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Atlético de Alagoinhas.
Renato Escobar Baruffi, commonly known as Bady, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.
Cláudio Aparecido Tencati is a Brazilian football coach, currently the head coach of Criciúma.
Marcos do Nascimento Teixeira, commonly known as Marcão, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for La Liga club Sevilla.
Bruno Rafael Rodrigues do Nascimento, known as Bruno Rodrigues, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward for Série A club Palmeiras.
Bruno Guimarães Rodriguez Moura is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Newcastle United and the Brazil national team.
Renan Augusto Lodi dos Santos, known as Renan Lodi, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal and the Brazil national team.
Moisés Vieira da Veiga, simply known as Moisés, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Fortaleza.
Lucas Sena Silva, known as Lucas Sena, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Maltese Premier League side St. Lucia. Mainly a left back, he can also play as a forward.