Rafael Sóbis
Encyclopedia
Rafael Augusto Sóbis do Nascimento (born 17 June 1985 in Erechim
, Rio Grande do Sul
), commonly known as Rafael Sóbis, is a Brazil
ian footballer of Ukrainian descent, who plays for Fluminense.
, known only as Rafael. Inter's president at the time, Fernando Carvalho
, suggested the change to only Sobis, the surname of his Ukrainian origins, because it could be more attractive for the European leagues, where the boy could get dual citizenship.
He went to the main team in 2004 and quickly won a place in it, being known by his name along the surname (with acute accent
), Rafael Sóbis. Sóbis scored 19 goals in 35 matches in the 2005 season at the age of 19. In the following year, he was one of the main players in the Internacional
squad that finished the Brazilian League
in second place, and was selected by the CBF
to play in the all star team at the end of the season. The 2006 season started slowly for him, as he fought against a series of injuries. He eventually recovered his place in the first team and helped Internacional
secure the Libertadores title; scoring twice in the first-leg of the final match against São Paulo
.
and Racing de Santander
, Rafael Sóbis signed for Real Betis
in August 2006 for €9 million, putting pen to paper on a 8 year contract, a length reminiscent to that of fellow Brazil
ian international Denílson
. He was officially unveiled to the press on 8 September 2006 and made his Real Betis
and La Liga
debut against Athletic Bilbao
two days later on 10 September at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera
stadium, a game that Betis
won 3–0.
Sóbis scored his first goals against city rivals Sevilla
on 17 September, a match that Betis
eventually lost 3–2. Sóbis also managed to score important goals against Celta de Vigo
, a debut game for then newly appointed coach Luis Fernández
. Ligament damage sustained in a game against RCD Mallorca
meant Sóbis missed a month of La Liga
action. Sóbis major contribution to the 2006–2007 season was his dramatic late equaliser against Barcelona
at the Camp Nou
, assisted by fellow Brazil
ian Marcos Assunção
.
Sóbis began his second season with Betis strongly, scoring three goals in his first six games, including goals against La Liga
giants Valencia CF
, RCD Mallorca
and 2007 UEFA Cup
finalists RCD Espanyol
but once again the Brazilian's form dipped. Betis received an offer of €10.0 million from English Premier League club Newcastle United
for Sobis in July 2008.
confirmed that Sobis had joined UAE
side Al-Jazira for €10M.
final with Sóbis scoring Internacional's first goal in their 3–2 win. He hurt his arm while scoring the goal by falling over it, and had to be replaced later on by Leandro Damião
, who also ended up scoring a goal during the match. After the loan ended Internacional doesn't use the buy option, because of his injuries and high price, and he returned to the United Arab Emirates
.
on 3 September 2006 against Argentina
in London. Brazil won the match 3–0 with Sóbis making his appearance as a late substitute. He scored his first Brazil's goal in an unofficial friendly match against Kuwait
i club Al Kuwait on 7 October 2006.
In 2008, he was included in Brazil U-23 team
for the 2008 Summer Olympics
, which Brazil went on to finish third and achieve bronze medal.
Erechim
Erechim is a Brazilian city located in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. A regional center in the northern portion of the state, it is the second most populous city in the region with 97,916 inhabitants, second only to the city of Passo Fundo...
, Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
), commonly known as Rafael Sóbis, is a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian footballer of Ukrainian descent, who plays for Fluminense.
Internacional
He started in the youth categories of InternacionalSport Club Internacional
Sport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and...
, known only as Rafael. Inter's president at the time, Fernando Carvalho
Fernando Carvalho
Alberto Fernando Carvalho Oliveira was one of Portugal's leading cyclists in the late 1980s and early 1990s, racing with the Lousa-Trinaranjus-Akai team and then Ruquita-Philips-Feirense team....
, suggested the change to only Sobis, the surname of his Ukrainian origins, because it could be more attractive for the European leagues, where the boy could get dual citizenship.
He went to the main team in 2004 and quickly won a place in it, being known by his name along the surname (with acute accent
Acute accent
The acute accent is a diacritic used in many modern written languages with alphabets based on the Latin, Cyrillic, and Greek scripts.-Apex:An early precursor of the acute accent was the apex, used in Latin inscriptions to mark long vowels.-Greek:...
), Rafael Sóbis. Sóbis scored 19 goals in 35 matches in the 2005 season at the age of 19. In the following year, he was one of the main players in the Internacional
Sport Club Internacional
Sport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and...
squad that finished the Brazilian League
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
in second place, and was selected by the CBF
Brazilian Football Confederation
The Brazilian Football Confederation is the governing body of football in Brazil. It was founded on June 8, 1914, as Confederação Brasileira de Desportos , meaning Brazilian Sports Confederation. Its first president was Álvaro Zamith. It organizes the Brazilian national competitions, like...
to play in the all star team at the end of the season. The 2006 season started slowly for him, as he fought against a series of injuries. He eventually recovered his place in the first team and helped Internacional
Sport Club Internacional
Sport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and...
secure the Libertadores title; scoring twice in the first-leg of the final match against São Paulo
São Paulo Futebol Clube
São Paulo Futebol Clube , commonly known as São Paulo, is a professional football club based in São Paulo, Brazil. They play in the Campeonato Paulista, São Paulo's state league, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão, Brazil's national league, and are one of the only five clubs to...
.
Real Betis
Following interest from AC MilanA.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
and Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
, Rafael Sóbis signed for Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
in August 2006 for €9 million, putting pen to paper on a 8 year contract, a length reminiscent to that of fellow Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian international Denílson
Denílson de Oliveira Araújo
Denílson de Oliveira Araújo , commonly known as Denílson, is a Brazilian former footballer, who played mostly as a left winger...
. He was officially unveiled to the press on 8 September 2006 and made his Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
and La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
debut against Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
two days later on 10 September at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera
Manuel Ruiz de Lopera
Manuel Ruiz de Lopera Ávalos is the former owner and chairman of the Spanish football club Real Betis.-References:...
stadium, a game that Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
won 3–0.
Sóbis scored his first goals against city rivals Sevilla
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
on 17 September, a match that Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
eventually lost 3–2. Sóbis also managed to score important goals against Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
, a debut game for then newly appointed coach Luis Fernández
Luis Fernández
Luis Fernández is a Spanish-French footballer who played as a defender / midfielder. He retired as a player in 1993 to become a manager....
. Ligament damage sustained in a game against RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
meant Sóbis missed a month of La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
action. Sóbis major contribution to the 2006–2007 season was his dramatic late equaliser against Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
at the Camp Nou
Camp Nou
Camp Nou , sometimes called "the Nou Camp" in English, is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium, located in the west of the city, has been the home of FC Barcelona since its construction in 1957....
, assisted by fellow Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Marcos Assunção
Marcos Assunção
Marcos dos Santos Assunção is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Palmeiras.A Central Midfielder, he is renowned as a world-class free kick specialist, and is best known for his spell at Real Betis, having represented teams in four different countries.-Club career:Assunção began his career at Rio...
.
Sóbis began his second season with Betis strongly, scoring three goals in his first six games, including goals against La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
giants Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
, RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
and 2007 UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
finalists RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
but once again the Brazilian's form dipped. Betis received an offer of €10.0 million from English Premier League club Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
for Sobis in July 2008.
Al-Jazira
On 2 September 2008 Real BetisReal Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
confirmed that Sobis had joined UAE
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
side Al-Jazira for €10M.
Return to Internacional
On July, 2010 Rafael Sóbis returned to Internacional on loan for one year to play the Copa Libertadores. On 18 August 2010, Internacional defeated Chivas Guadalajara in the 2010 Copa Libertadores2010 Copa Libertadores
The 2010 Copa Libertadores de América was the 51st edition of the Copa Libertadores, CONMEBOL's premier international club tournament. The tournament began on January 26 and ended on August 18...
final with Sóbis scoring Internacional's first goal in their 3–2 win. He hurt his arm while scoring the goal by falling over it, and had to be replaced later on by Leandro Damião
Leandro Damião
Leandro Damião da Silva dos Santos , commonly known as Leandro Damião, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a striker for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Internacional. He has been capped at international level by Brazil....
, who also ended up scoring a goal during the match. After the loan ended Internacional doesn't use the buy option, because of his injuries and high price, and he returned to the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
.
International career
Sóbis made his debut for BrazilBrazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
on 3 September 2006 against Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
in London. Brazil won the match 3–0 with Sóbis making his appearance as a late substitute. He scored his first Brazil's goal in an unofficial friendly match against Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
i club Al Kuwait on 7 October 2006.
In 2008, he was included in Brazil U-23 team
Brazil Olympic football team
Brazil Olympic football team represents Brazil in international football competitions in Olympic Games. The selection is limited to players under the age of 23, except three overage players. The team is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation...
for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, which Brazil went on to finish third and achieve bronze medal.