Rafael Scapini de Almeida (born 29 June 1982), commonly known as Rafinha (), is a Brazilian football coach and a former professional footballer. He is currently working as an assistant coach of Veikkausliiga club AC Oulu. Besides Brazil, he has played in Finland and Belgium.Ykkösen tähdet tutuiksi: Rafinha palloliitto.fi During his career, Rafinha was deployed on different positions on the field, having started as a winger, moving on to midfield and ending his career as a centre back.
Rafinha is considered a club legend of AC Oulu, the club he has represented in multiple seasons.Legenda palkitaan lauantaina - Rafinhalle AC Oulun kultakortti, veikkausliiga.com, 30 June 2023
Career Rafinha started playing football in his native Brazil. He worked as a storage worker and played in lower amateur divisions in Campinas.Rafinha oli amatöörisarjoissa pelaava varastomies, kun hän sai mahdollisuuden lähteä testiin Ouluun: nyt hän on elättänyt itsensä jalkapallolla 15 vuotta, Lapin Kansa, 16 June 2020
In March 2005, he moved to Finland and after a successful trial, he signed with AC Oulu in second-tier Ykkönen.Brassisykettä AC Oulun hyökkäyspeliin, Kaleva, 1 March 2005 He was named the Ykkönen Player of the Year in 2006. In the 2007 season, Rafinha debuted in Finnish top-tier Veikkausliiga, after AC Oulu had won a promotion in 2006. During 2008–2009, he played in Veikkausliiga for Tampere United, and in 2010 and 2011, he won two Finnish championship titles with HJK, and additionally the Finnish Cup in 2011.
He was acquired by Belgian club Gent in 2011 for an undisclosed fee.Legenda palkitaan lauantaina - Rafinhalle AC Oulun kultakortti, Veikkausliiga, 30 June 2023 In 2016, after five seasons, one Belgian championship title and six UEFA Champions League group stage appearances with Gent, Rafinha returned to Finland and signed with HJK. He went on winning two more championship titles with HJK, in 2017 and 2018, and Finnish Cup in 2017. He also captained the HJK team.
In 2020, Rafinha returned to AC Oulu, his first club in Finland.Rafinha toteutti lupauksensa: Mestarien liigassakin pelannut brassi palaa AC Ouluun, Kaleva, 30 January 2020 Three years later, after having helped the club to establish themselves in Veikkausliiga, he announced the ending of his professional career, at the age of 40.Veikkausliigakonkari Rafinha lopettaa uransa 40-vuotiaana, suomifutis.com, 2 November 2022 However, next 2023 season he played for Oulun Luistinseura (OLS), the reserve team of AC Oulu in third-tier Kakkonen, and worked as an assistant coach on a player-coach contract.RAFINHA LIITTYY RESERVIJOUKKUEEN VALMENNUSTIIMIIN, AC Oulu, 13 December 2022
Coaching career On 26 November 2023, Rafinha was appointed as a full-time assistant coach of the reserve team OLS.Malttaako Rafinha jättää pelaamisen? - AC Oulun reservijoukkueen valmennuskuviot selvillä, Veikkausliiga, 26 November 2023
Since 2024, he is working as an assistant coach of AC Oulu.AC OULUN VALMENNUSTIIMI ON VALITTU – MIKKO ISOKANGAS PÄÄVALMENTAJAKSI, acoulu.fi, 10 November 2024
Personal life Rafinha is married with a Finnish woman with whom he has two children.Uran viimeinen haave, Helsingin Sanomat, 17 October 2020
Career statistics
+Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAC Oulu2005Ykkönen22600———2262006Ykkönen22600———2262007Veikkausliiga22100———221Total6613000000006613Tampere United2008Veikkausliiga22100—4Appearance in the UEFA Champions League0—2612009Veikkausliiga25700——257Total47800004000518HJK2010Veikkausliiga24140716Four Appearances in the UEFA Champions League, Two Appearances in the UEFA Europa League0—4122011Veikkausliiga20220705Three Appearances in the UEFA Champions League, Two Appearances in the UEFA Europa League1—343Total4436014111100755Gent2011–12Belgian Pro League20130——2312012–13Belgian Pro League24040—1Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa League0—2902013–14Belgian Pro League21040——2502014–15Belgian Pro League19140——2312015–16Belgian Pro League17030—7Six Appearances in the UEFA Champions League01One appearance in the Belgian Super Cup0270Total10121800070101272HJK2016Veikkausliiga13110———1412017Veikkausliiga31271—40—4232018Veikkausliiga24161—60—3622019Veikkausliiga27150—60—381Total95519200160001307AC Oulu2020Ykkönen21131———2422021Veikkausliiga26030———2902022Veikkausliiga2503020——300Total72191200000832OLS2023Kakkonen20010———2102024Ykkönen10120———121Total30130000000331Career totals455335531613911056637
Honours HJK Veikkausliiga (4): 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018 Finnish Cup (2): 2011, 2017 K.A.A. Gent Belgian Pro League (1): 2014–15 Belgian Supercup (1): 2015 Tampere United Finnish League Cup: 2009Obrigado Capitão!, hjk.fi, 31 january 2020 AC Oulu Ykkönen (1): 2020 Individual Ykkönen Player of the Year 2006Rafinha siirtyy Tampere Unitediin, mtvuutiset.fi, 3 November 2007
References
External links Guardian Football