Răzvan Raț

Răzvan Dincă Raț (Romanian pronunciation: [rəzˈvan rat͡s]; born 26 May 1981) is a Romanian former professional footballer who usually played as a left back.

Răzvan Raț
Răzvan Raț in 2014
Personal information
Full name Răzvan Dincă Raț
Date of birth (1981-05-26) 26 May 1981
Place of birth Piatra-Olt,[1] Romania
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Left back
Youth career
1988–1994 Rapid Piatra-Olt
1994 FC U Craiova
1995 Constructorul Craiova
1996 Sporting Pitești
1996 Cetatea Târgu Neamț
1996–1998 Sporting Pitești
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2003 Rapid București 82 (4)
2000–2001 → FCM Bacău (loan) 39 (2)
2003–2013 Shakhtar Donetsk 174 (6)
2013–2014 West Ham United 15 (0)
2014 Rayo Vallecano 10 (0)
2014–2015 PAOK 30 (3)
2015–2018 Rayo Vallecano 26 (0)
2018 Poli Timișoara 10 (0)
Total 386 (15)
National team
1999–2002 Romania U-21 16 (0)
2002–2016[2] Romania 113 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Raț's honours include eight league titles (two with Rapid București and six with Shakhtar Donetsk), one Romanian Cup, four Ukrainian Cups, one UEFA Cup, one Romanian Super Cup and three Ukrainian Super Cups. In 2009, Raț came second in voting for the Romanian Footballer of the Year.

Raț is also the captain of the Romania national team. He made his international debut in 2002 and has represented Romania at UEFA Euro 2008. Raț first captained his country in 2005, in a friendly match against Nigeria, in the absence of regular captain Cristian Chivu, and was appointed captain on 2 September 2011. He is the fourth-most capped Romanian international of all time, earning his 100th cap on 14 October 2014.

Club career

Early career

Born in Piatra-Olt,[1] Raț began his football career when he joined the local team Rapid Piatra-Olt aged seven in a team trained by his father.[3] In the summer of 1994, Raț went on a trial with Universitatea Craiova. He impressed coach Anghel Mităchescu and joined the club's youth system at age 13.[4] When Mităchescu found out that he was going to be released from his duties by club president Rodion Cămătaru, he transferred the entire junior squad at the Divizia B side Constructorul Craiova. Raț's career for Constructorul, however, ended shortly after due to the club's financial problems, in 1995.[4] In the winter of that year, Raț was noticed by Tudorel Stoica, who attended a futsall tournament held in Balș. Stoica wanted Raț to join Steaua București's youth system. Despite both Stoica and youth coach Bujor Hălmăgean being impressed by the young player, Raț never joined Steaua because according to his father, the club refused to pay the youth, Raț being forced to support himself in Bucharest.[4] Taking advice from his former coach Mităchescu, Raț joined Sporting Pitești, the team trained by former international player Nicolae Dobrin. In his first match, Raț was substituted for the last 10–15 minutes of the game after he had scored five or six goals.[4]

On 2 September 1996, after being noticed by Silviu Stănescu, Raț joined Divizia B side Cetatea Târgu Neamț. Despite being only 15 years old, Raț trained with the senior squad. On 19 November, the arrest of Cetatea's main sponsor led to the dissolution of Cetatea Târgu Neamț. Raț getting the chance to play only two matches for the juniors of Cetatea.[4] He later rejoined Sporting Pitești.[5]

Raţ with the FC Shakhtar Donetsk in 2011

In May or June 1998, Mircea Lucescu noticed Raț, and he signed his first professional contract with Rapid București on 26 June.[4] Raț started his professional career with Romanian Premier League side Rapid București in 1998. In 2003, he was signed by Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, where he became a key player. He played the whole game as Donetsk won the 2009 UEFA Cup Final.[6]

West Ham United

On 21 May 2013, Raț signed for English Premier League club West Ham United on a free transfer on a one-year contract, with the option to extend it.[7] His West Ham debut came on 27 August 2013 in a League Cup game against Cheltenham Town in which West Ham won the game 2–1.[8]

On 31 January 2014, Raț was released from his contract with West Ham by mutual consent.[9] He had played 20 games in all competitions without scoring.[10]

Late career

On 13 February 2014, Raț joined Spanish La Liga side Rayo Vallecano until the end of the 2013–14 season.[11] On 15 June 2014, PAOK announced they had made a verbal agreement with Raț, who signed a two-year contract at the Superleague Greece club.[12]

On 20 August 2015, Raț returned to Rayo Vallecano after agreeing to a two-year deal.[13] On 31 January 2018, after making no appearances during the campaign, he cut ties with the club.[14]

On 22 March 2018, Raț returned to Romania with ACS Poli Timișoara.[15]

International career
Răzvan Raț during a friendly game against Austria on 5 June 2012.

On 8 February 2002, Raț was called up to the Romanian national team for the first time.[16] Five days later, he made the starting lineup in his full debut in a Friendly against reigning world and European champions France.[17] Raț played his first official match on 12 October, in a Euro 2004 qualifier match against Norway, playing as a left midfielder.[18] Following the rise of Cristian Chivu in becoming first-choice in central defence, Raț became the first-choice left back for Romania. On 28 April 2004, Raț scored his first goal for the national squad in a 5–1 win against Germany in the worst away defeat for Germany in the past 65 years.[19] On 31 May 2014, Raț scored only his second goal for Romania, but it was the winning goal in a 1–0 victory against Albania in a match played in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland.[20]

In 2008, Raț made the squad for the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament. He helped Romania to a 0–0 draw against previous FIFA World Cup finalists France and a 1–1 draw against world champions Italy in the so-called "group of death". Romania, however, were eliminated after a 2–0 loss to the Netherlands.

Raț earned his 100th cap for Romania on 14 October 2014 in a 2–0 victory away to Finland in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.[21][22]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total Ref.
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rapid București 1998–99 Divizia A –
1999–2000 –
2000–01 –
2002–03 –
Total –
FCM Bacău (loan) 2001–02 Divizia A –
Shakhtar Donetsk 2003–04 Ukrainian Premier League 27160–60––391
2004–05 20250–10010362
2005–06 18020–10010310
2006–07 14030–9010270
2007–08 20241–10010343
2008–09 17021–13010331
2009–10 18120–110––311
2010–11 17010–9111282
2011–12 8030–40––150
2012–13 16010–8010260
Total 1746292009017130010 –
West Ham United 2013–14 Premier League 150005000––200 [23]
Rayo Vallecano 2013–14 La Liga 10000–00––100 [24]
PAOK 2014–15 Super League Greece 30320–90––413 [25]
Rayo Vallecano 2015–16 La Liga 10000–00––100 [24]
2016–17 Segunda División 16000–00––160 [24]
2017–18 0000–00––00 [24]
Total 26000000000260 –
Poli Timișoara 2017–18 Liga I 10000–00––100 [25]
Career total 2659312509917140713 –

International goals
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.28 April 2004Stadionul Giulești-Valentin Stănescu, Bucharest, Romania Germany2–05–1Friendly
2.31 May 2014Stade Municipal (Yverdon), Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland Albania1–01–0Friendly

Honours

Clubs

Rapid București

Shakhtar Donetsk

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References
  1. "Hammers seal Rat Signing". www.whufc.com. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  2. "Razvan Rat - Players page". Romanian Soccer.ro.
  3. "Drumul lui Răzvan Raț de la Piatra Olt la Donetk", Adevărul (22 May 2009)
  4. ""Ţăranul" a crescut mare" (in Romanian). ProSport. 22 May 2009.
  5. "Raț profile" (in Romanian). Sporting Pitești.
  6. "Shaktar 2-1 Bremen". UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  7. "West Ham sign Rat on one-year deal". Reuters. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  8. "West Ham United 2-1 Cheltenham Town". www.whufc.com. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  9. "Duo depart". West Ham United FC. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014.
  10. "Welcome to the Wonderful World of West Ham United Statistics - Razvan Rat". www.westhamstas.info. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  11. "Razvan Rat nuevo jugador del Rayo Vallecano". Rayo Vallecano (in Spanish). 13 February 2014.
  12. ΠΑΟΚ: Ανακοίνωσε συμφωνία με τον Ρατ! (in Greek). 15 June 2014. Archived from the original on 18 June 2014.
  13. "Razvan Rat nuevo jugador del Rayo" [Razvan Rat new player of Rayo] (in Spanish). Rayo's official website. 20 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  14. "Razvan Rat deja de ser jugador del Rayo Vallecano" [Razvan Rat leaves Rayo Vallecano] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  15. "Raţ, prezentat oficial la ACS Poli! "Dinamo? Să zicem că nu am ajuns la un numitor comun!"" [Raț, officially presented at ACS Poli! "Dinamo? Let's say we have not reached an agreement!"] (in Romanian). ProSport. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  16. "S-a stabilit lotul pentru Franta" (in Romanian). Apropo. 8 February 2002.
  17. "Experimentul Chivu" (in Romanian). Apropo. 14 February 2002.
  18. "Romania 0–1 Norvegia" (in Romanian). Apropo. 13 October 2002.
  19. "Romania hands Germany 5–1 thrashing". The Age. 30 April 2004.
  20. "Finland beat Estonia in Ventspils - UEFA EURO - News". UEFA.com. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  21. Editorial, Reuters. "Focused Rat set to earn 100th Romania cap in Helsinki". U.K. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  22. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/qualifiers/news/newsid=2164663.html
  23. "Games played by Răzvan Raț in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  24. Răzvan Raț at BDFutbol
  25. Răzvan Raț at Soccerway
  26. "Romanian_Cup_2001_2002 - statistics". Romaniansoccer.ro. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  27. "Gazeta de SUD, 2002-08-12 - Rapid a cistigat Supercupa Romaniei". Gds.ro. 12 August 2002. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  28. "Архів змагань". Ffu.org.ua. 30 May 2004. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  29. "Футбольний клуб "Динамо" (Київ). Офіційний сайт : Новини". Web.archive.org. 11 May 2008. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2014.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  30. "Протоколи матчів". Fpl.ua. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  31. "Протоколи матчів". Fpl.ua. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  32. "Протоколи матчів". Fpl.ua. 22 May 2013. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  33. "Архів змагань". Ffu.org.ua. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  34. "Shakhtar 1 - 1 Dynamo (5-3 pens). Line ups and events - FC Dynamo Kyiv. Official club website". Fcdynamo.kiev.ua. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  35. "Протоколи матчів". Fpl.ua. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  36. "UEFA Europa League 2008/09 - History - Shakhtar Donetsk-Bremen –". Uefa.com. 20 May 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
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