Rafael Schmitz

Football player infobox
playername = Rafael Schmitz


fullname =
height = height|m=1.82
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|12|17
cityofbirth = Blumenau
countryofbirth = Brazil
currentclub = Valenciennes FC
clubnumber = 5
position = Defender
youthyears = 2000–2001
youthclubs = Malutrom
years = 2001–2008
2004
2007–2008 2008–
clubs = Lille
→ Krylya Sovetov Samara (loan)
→ Birmingham City (loan)
Valenciennes
caps(goals) = 99 (2)
09 (0)
15 (0)
6 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 13:49, 26 June 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Rafael Schmitz (born December 17, 1980) is a Brazilian footballer who is currently playing for Valenciennes FC. Schmitz, born in Blumenau, is a commanding central defender who is good in the air but also very agile and has good passing ability.

Schmitz spent six seasons with Lille OSC, for whom he played 99 Ligue 1 games and appeared in the Champions League and UEFA Cup. [cite web
url=http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur20000000000000000000019495.html |title=Rafael Schmitz |publisher=L'Équipe |accessdate=2008-06-26] He joined Birmingham City on loan for the 2007–08 season on July 6, 2007.cite news
title = Birmingham seal Schmitz loan deal
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/6276384.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-07-06
accessdate = 2007-07-06] 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. He returned to Lille following Birmingham's relegation at the end of the season.

On June 23, 2008, Schmitz signed a three-year contract with Valenciennes FC. [cite web
url=http://www.va-fc.com/saison/article.aspx?lng=fr&id=1731 |title=Rafael : "Grandir avec Valenciennes" |publisher=Valenciennes FC |date=2008-06-23 |accessdate=2008-06-26 fr icon]

Notes

External links

*soccerbase|id=26429|name=Rafael Schmitz
* [http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur20000000000000000000019495.html Rafael Schmitz profile - L'Equipe.fr]

Persondata
NAME = Schmitz, Rafael
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Professional footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 1980-12-17
PLACE OF BIRTH = Blumenau, Brazil
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =