Rafael Wihby Bracali (born 5 May 1981) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He also held Italian citizenship.
Club career Born in Santos, São Paulo, Bracali started playing professionally for local Paulista Futebol Clube. In 2006, he moved to Portugal and signed with C.D. Nacional in Madeira. After backing up Diego Benaglio in his first season and appearing in 14 Primeira Liga games in the second, he became first choice after the Swiss transferred to VfL Wolfsburg.
Bracali did not miss one single league match from 2008 to 2011. He was set to sign for fellow top-division side S.C. Braga in June 2011, but the deal eventually fell through.
In August 2011, Bracali replaced the departed Beto as understudy at FC Porto, behind his compatriot Helton. He made his only league appearance for the Dragons on 12 May 2012 in the last game of a victorious campaign, a 5–2 win at Rio Ave F.C. in which he was substituted late on for fellow debutant Kadú. He was then loaned to S.C. Olhanense where he played more frequently, and the team avoided relegation by one point.
On 13 July 2015, after two years in the Super League Greece with Panetolikos FC, Bracali agreed a two-year deal with F.C. Arouca. A year after the club's relegation, on 29 June 2018 he returned to the top flight and the city of Porto by signing for Boavista F.C. on a two-year contract.
Bracali agreed to an extension at the Estádio do Bessa until 30 June 2021 in August 2019, aged 38. He played second-fiddle to Léo Jardim in 2020–21, but was again a starter afterwards.
In May 2023, Bracali announced his retirement from professional football. In July, he replaced Fary Faye as his last club's sporting director.
Personal life Bracali's father, Armando, was also a footballer and a goalkeeper. After notably representing Clube Atlético Juventus in the 1970s, he worked mainly as a goalkeeping coach at Paulista.
Career statistics +Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueState leagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPaulista2004Série B002Appearances in Campeonato Paulista0———202005Série B20040120——3602006Série B10020——6Appearances in Copa Libertadores0180Total30080120—60560Juventude (loan)2005Série A——————Nacional2006–07Primeira Liga00—30—00302007–08Primeira Liga140—2010—1702008–09Primeira Liga300—5050—4002009–10Primeira Liga300—30308Appearances in UEFA Europa League04402010–11Primeira Liga300—1040—350Total1040—140130801390Porto2011–12Primeira Liga10—20400070Olhanense (loan)2012–13Primeira Liga250—1000—260Panetolikos2013–14Super League Greece320—00——3202014–15Super League Greece250—00——250Total570—00——570Arouca2015–16Primeira Liga330—4000—3702016–17Primeira Liga190—0000402302017–18LigaPro370—3020—420Total890—7020401020Boavista2018–19Primeira Liga120—1000—1302019–20Primeira Liga130—0010—1402020–21Primeira Liga00—10——102021–22Primeira Liga270—1040—3202022–23Primeira Liga280—0010—290Total800—3060—890Career total3860803902501804760
Honours Paulista Copa do Brasil: 2005
Porto Primeira Liga: 2011–12 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2011
References
External links