Raphael Rossi Branco

Raphael Rossi Branco (born 25 July 1990), sometimes known as Raphael or Rapha Branco, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a defender for Swiss Super League club FC Sion.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Rossi and the second or paternal family name is Branco.
Raphael Branco
Branco with Swindon Town in 2015
Personal information
Full name Raphael Rossi Branco
Date of birth (1990-07-25) 25 July 1990
Place of birth Campinas, Brazil
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 FC Sion
Youth career
2000–2005 Guarani
2006 Paulínia
2007–2008 Corinthians
2008 Cruzeiro
2009 Vitória
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Porto Alegre 10 (2)
2011–2012 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 (0)
2012–2013 Whitehawk 29 (3)
2013–2017 Swindon Town 115 (6)
2017–2018 Boavista 30 (3)
2018– FC Sion 10 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 June 2018

He began his career with Porto Alegre and moved to Europe in 2011 to join Brighton & Hove Albion, and then nearby Whitehawk, where he won the 2012–13 Isthmian League. He then signed for Swindon Town, playing 131 official matches and scoring seven goals for the League One club before joining Boavista in 2017 and Sion a year later.

Club career

Early career

Born in Campinas, São Paulo, Branco debuted professionally for Porto Alegre and was spotted by an agent who was friend of Gus Poyet, then Brighton & Hove Albion manager. He went on a trial for the English club and an offer to sign for the team was stalled until the player could get an Italian passport. After that, Brighton demanded a statement from Branco's former youth clubs in which they would not receive future compensation, otherwise the club would have to pay £200,000 to register him, which meant he would be released.[1]

After unsuccessful trials in Europe and Brazil, he went to play again in England for Brighton-based club Whitehawk. Since he was signing for a non-professional club, he did not need any agreement with his former clubs and could move to other clubs for free. With Whitehawk, Branco won the 2012–13 Isthmian League.[1]

Swindon Town

On 2 August 2013, he joined Swindon Town on a one year-deal after impressing on a pre-season trip to Portugal after being invited by a former Brighton & Hove Albion assistant.[2] He was first called up for a matchday squad on 31 August, remaining unused as Swindon won 5–0 at the County Ground in a League One game against Crewe Alexandra.[3] He made his debut on 8 October in the second round of the Football League Trophy, playing the entirety of a 2–1 victory over League Two team Plymouth Argyle.[4] On 29 December he made his first league appearance, replacing the injured Grant Hall in the 53rd minute of a 1–1 draw away to Bradford City.[5] He was given his first league start on 14 January 2014, playing the full 90 minutes of a 0–2 loss away to Stevenage.[6] In total he played 18 matches over his first season, 15 of which were in the league.

He signed a new one-year contract on 30 June 2014.[7] On 30 August, he scored the first goal of his professional career, heading from Nathan Byrne's cross to equalise in a 1–1 home league draw against Coventry City.[8] In December, having previously been told that he had played his last game, he signed a further contract.[9] Branco scored again on 7 February 2015, opening the scoring from John Swift's pass in a 2–0 home win over Barnsley which put Swindon into second place in League One.[10] He scored the only goal on 14 March to win away at Port Vale, heading in Harry Toffolo's corner in the eighth minute.[11] Branco was an unused substitute on 24 May as Swindon lost 0–4 to Preston North End in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium.[12]

Swindon were relegated in Branco's final season, 2016–17. On 8 October 2016, he was sent off for elbowing Lawrie Wilson in a 1–0 home loss to Bolton Wanderers.[13]

Boavista

On 16 June 2017, Branco signed a two-year deal with Primeira Liga club Boavista.[14] He made his debut on 20 August in a 1–0 loss at Marítimo, and scored his first goal for them a week later, the game's only in a home victory against Aves.[15]

FC Sion

In June 2018, Branco signed a three-year deal with Swiss club FC Sion.[16]

Playing style

In addition to central defence, Branco can play at right-back and midfield. His favourite player is compatriot defender David Luiz.[2]

Personal life

His older brother Igor, also a defender, plays for Al-Faisaly in the Saudi Professional League.[17]

Career statistics

Club
As of 9 April 2018[18]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Other[19] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Porto Alegre 2010 102————102
Total 10200000000102
Brighton & Hove Albion 2011–12 000000000000
Total 000000000000
Whitehawk 2012–13 293————293
Total 29300000000293
Swindon Town 2013–14 15000003000180
2014–15 30310200010343
2015–16 36110102000401
2016–17 34220003100393
Total 1156403081101317
Boavista 2017–18 30310———313
Total 30310000000313
FC Sion 2018–19 10110———111
Career total 212156030811019716
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References
  1. Andrade, Bruno (18 December 2015). "De imigrante ilegal a capitão na Inglaterra: conheça o único brasileiro na 3ª divisão do país" [From illegal immigrant to captain in England: meet the only Brazilian in the country's 3rd division] (in Portuguese). UOL. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  2. Warren, Andy (6 August 2013). "SWINDON TOWN: Branco happy to play student role". Swindon Advertiser. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  3. "Swindon 5-0 Crewe". BBC Sport. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  4. "Bartham sees Robins through". Sky Sports. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  5. "Bradford 1-1 Swindon". BBC Sport. 29 December 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  6. "Stevenage 2-0 Swindon". BBC Sport. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  7. "Branco pens new Town deal". Swindon Advertiser.
  8. "Branco earns Swindon a point". Sky Sports. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  9. Bassam, Tom (22 December 2014). "Cooper: Branco has signed new deal". Gazette & Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  10. "Swindon back up to second". Sky Sports. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  11. "Swindon down Port Vale". Sky Sports. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  12. Middleton, Nathan (24 May 2015). "Preston 4-0 Swindon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  13. "Swindon Town 0–1 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. Press Association. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  14. "Raphael Rossi assina pelo Boavista" [Raphael Rossi signs for Boavista] (in Portuguese). Boavista F.C. 16 June 2017.
  15. Castro, Ricardo Jorge (27 August 2017). "Boavista-Desp. Aves, 1-0 (crónica)" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  16. "FC Sion: arrivée du défenseur brésilien en provenance de Boavista" [FC Sion: arrival of Brazilian defender from Boavista] (in French). Rhône FM. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  17. Temple, Alan (4 December 2016). "Hearts defender Igor Rossi talks family ties, love of Edinburgh & prospect of a new deal". Deadline News. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  18. "RAPHAEL BRANCO". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  19. Includes other competitive competitions such as the Football League Play-Offs
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