| Intro | Footballer |
| Is |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
| From | Brazil |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 25 July 1990, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Age: | 30 years |
| Star sign | Leo |
Raphael Rossi Branco (born 25 July 1990), sometimes known as Raphael or Rapha Branco, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a defender for English club Swindon Town.
Club 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.
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.
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. 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. 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. 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. He was given his first league start on 14 January 2014, playing the full 90 minutes of a 0–2 loss away to Stevenage. 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. 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. In December, having previously been told that he had played his last game, he signed a further contract. 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. He scored the only goal on 14 March to win away at Port Vale, heading in Harry Toffolo’s corner in the eighth minute. 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.
Playing style
In addition to central defence, Branco can play at right-back and midfield. His favourite player is compatriot defender David Luiz.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Porto Alegre | 2010 | 10 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2011–12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Whitehawk | 2012–13 | 29 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 3 | |
| Swindon Town | 2013–14 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| 2014–15 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 3 | |
| 2015–16 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 1 | |
| 2016–17 | 34 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 3 | |
| Total | 114 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 130 | 7 | |
| Career total | 153 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 169 | 12 | |
Personal life
He is the younger brother of Igor Rossi Branco, also a defender, who plays for Heart of Midlothian in Scotland.