Rafael_Ramos_(footballer)

Rafael Ramos (footballer)

Rafael Ramos (footballer)

Portuguese footballer

Rafael António Figueiredo Ramos (born 9 January 1995) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Brazilian club Ceará, on loan from Corinthians.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Figueiredo and the second or paternal family name is Ramos.
Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...

Formed at Sporting and Benfica, he spent his early professional career in the United States with Orlando City and Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer. After winning the Dutch Eerste Divisie with Twente in 2019, he spent three years in the Primeira Liga with Santa Clara before joining Ceará SC

Club career

Early years

Born in Santa Marinha, Seia, Guarda District, Ramos started out his career with Sporting CP before being released in 2012. He then joined Real S.C. for one year before moving to S.L. Benfica's youth system in 2013, where he joined the under-19 squad. He was part of the squad that competed in the 2013–14 UEFA Youth League. On 5 May 2014, Ramos signed a contract to stay with Benfica until 2020.[1]

Orlando City

Ramos playing for Orlando City in 2014

On 8 July 2014, Ramos and Benfica teammate Estrela were transferred to Orlando City SC of the USL Pro, the third level of the United States soccer league system, on 31⁄2-year professional contracts as part of an affiliation between the two clubs. The contracts would include the remainder of the 2014 USL Pro season before the team joined Major League Soccer in 2015.[2] The pair made their professional debuts on 23 August against Richmond Kickers, in which Ramos scored a 70th-minute winner in a 3–2 away victory. Head coach Adrian Heath said of them after the game, "I thought that the two new players (Estrela and Ramos) were outstanding, considering that they haven't played for two or three weeks. Their contribution was massive..."[3]

Ramos played in Orlando's first MLS game on 8 March 2015, a 1–1 home draw with fellow expansion team New York City FC.[4] He was sent off twice over the season, for a foul on Waylon Francis in a 3–0 loss at Columbus Crew on 19 April,[5] and a 36th-minute challenge on Justin Morrow in a 5–0 loss at Toronto FC on 22 August.[6] He totalled 39 MLS appearances for Orlando and assisted five goals.[7] On 4 June 2017, making his first start of the season and only his third in the past 12 months due to hamstring injuries, he lasted 26 minutes before another red card in a goalless draw with Chicago Fire SC at the Citrus Bowl.[8]

Chicago Fire

On 18 January 2018, Ramos was traded to Chicago Fire in exchange for the rights to Cameron Lindley and $100,000 of Targeted Allocation Money.[7] He made his debut on 17 March in a 2–1 loss at Minnesota United FC,[9] one of only five games during his time in Illinois, three in the league and two in the U.S. Open Cup.[10]

Twente

On 6 August 2018, Chicago and Ramos mutually agreed to part ways.[10] Later that day, Dutch team FC Twente signed him on a one-year contract with the option of a second.[11] He helped the team win the 2018–19 Eerste Divisie title and promotion back to the Eredivisie.[12]

Santa Clara

On 2 July 2019, Ramos returned to his native Portugal to sign with C.D. Santa Clara of the Primeira Liga.[13]

Corinthians

On 12 April 2022, Ramos went to Brazil to sign a two-year deal with Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, under compatriot manager Vítor Pereira.[14] He made his debut in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A four days later, starting in a 3–0 home win over Avaí FC and being praised by the coach.[15]

Personal life

Ramos holds a U.S. green card which qualified him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[7]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 July 2023[16]
More information Club, Season ...
  1. Includes U.S. Open Cup, KNVB Cup, Taça de Portugal, Copa do Brasil
  2. Includes Taça da Liga
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  4. Appearance in Copa Libertadores
  5. Appearances in Campeonato Paulista
  6. One appearance in Copa Libertadores, two appearances in Copa Sudamericana

Honours

Benfica
FC Twente
Ceará

References

  1. [1]
    "Benfica: dois jovens nos Estados Unidos para jogar com Kaká" [Benfica: two youngsters in the United States to play with Kaká] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  2. [2]
    "Valdomiro Lameira and Rafael Ramos head to Orlando City". S.L. Benfica. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  3. [3]
    "Molino breaks USL Pro goal scoring record in thrilling 3–2 victory". Orlando City SC. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  4. [4]
    Parker, Graham (8 March 2015). "Orlando City SC 1-1 New York City FC – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  5. [5]
    Veness, Simon (19 April 2015). "Orlando City head coach Adrian Heath critical of Rafael Ramos after costly red card leads to loss in Columbus". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  6. [6]
    Siddiqui, Arslan (23 August 2015). "Toronto FC dominate Orlando City in crucial match-up". Last Word on Sports. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  7. [7]
    "Chicago Fire Acquire Defender Rafael Ramos and Targeted Allocation Money from Orlando City SC". Chicago Fire. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  8. [8]
    Boehm, Charles (5 June 2017). "Orlando City SC 0, Chicago Fire 0 2017 MLS Match Recap". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  9. [9]
    "Chicago Fire Fall 2-1 To Minnesota United FC". Chicago Fire. 17 March 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  10. [10]
    "Chicago Fire Soccer Club and Defender Rafael Ramos Mutually Terminate Contract". Chicago Fire.
  11. [11]
    "FC Twente haalt multifunctionele Ramos binnen" [FC Twente bring in versatile Ramos] (in Dutch). FC Update. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  12. [12]
    ten Voorde, Leon (22 April 2019). "FC Twente heeft de titel binnen na remise" [FC Twente have the title after a draw] (in Dutch). FC Tubantia. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  13. [13]
    "Santa Clara contrata defesa Rafael Ramos ao Twente" [Santa Clara sign defender Rafael Ramos from Twente]. Record (in Portuguese). 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  14. [14]
    "Corinthians anuncia a contratação do lateral-direito português Rafael Ramos" [Corinthians announce signing of Portuguese right-back Rafael Ramos]. Gazeta Esportiva (in Portuguese).
  15. [15]
    Cassucci, Bruno (17 April 2022). "Rafael Ramos festeja estreia e ganha elogios de Vítor Pereira: "Tem o espírito do Corinthians"" [Rafael Ramos celebrates debut and earns praise from Vítor Pereira: "He has the Corinthians spirit"] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  16. [16]
    Rafael Ramos at Soccerway
  17. [17]
    "'Proud' Benfica hold heads high after final defeat". UEFA. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
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