| Fullname | Luís Rafael Soares Alves[1] |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 9 May 1995 (age 31)[1] |
| Birth place | Marco de Canaveses, Portugal |
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] |
| Position | Left-back |
| Currentclub | Famalicão |
| Clubnumber | 5 |
| Youthyears 1 | 2003–2005 |
| Youthclubs 1 | Alpendorada |
| Youthyears 2 | 2005–2014 |
| Youthclubs 2 | Porto |
| Years 1 | 2013–2018 |
| Clubs 1 | Porto B |
| Caps 1 | 61 |
| Goals 1 | 8 |
| Years 2 | 2016 |
| Clubs 2 | → Académica (loan) |
| Caps 2 | 15 |
| Goals 2 | 1 |
| Years 3 | 2016–2017 |
| Clubs 3 | → Rio Ave (loan) |
| Caps 3 | 32 |
| Goals 3 | 3 |
| Years 4 | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs 4 | → Fulham (loan) |
| Caps 4 | 3 |
| Goals 4 | 0 |
| Years 5 | 2018 |
| Clubs 5 | Portimonense |
| Caps 5 | 11 |
| Goals 5 | 0 |
| Years 6 | 2018–2022 |
| Clubs 6 | Vitória Guimarães |
| Caps 6 | 67 |
| Goals 6 | 1 |
| Years 7 | 2020–2021 |
| Clubs 7 | → Eibar (loan) |
| Caps 7 | 25 |
| Goals 7 | 0 |
| Years 8 | 2022–2024 |
| Clubs 8 | PAOK |
| Caps 8 | 40 |
| Goals 8 | 2 |
| Years 9 | 2024– |
| Clubs 9 | Famalicão |
| Caps 9 | 50 |
| Goals 9 | 1 |
| Nationalyears 1 | 2010–2011 |
| Nationalteam 1 | Portugal U16 |
| Nationalcaps 1 | 11 |
| Nationalgoals 1 | 0 |
| Nationalyears 2 | 2011–2012 |
| Nationalteam 2 | Portugal U17 |
| Nationalcaps 2 | 12 |
| Nationalgoals 2 | 1 |
| Nationalyears 3 | 2012 |
| Nationalteam 3 | Portugal U18 |
| Nationalcaps 3 | 3 |
| Nationalgoals 3 | 0 |
| Nationalyears 4 | 2012–2014 |
| Nationalteam 4 | Portugal U19 |
| Nationalcaps 4 | 30 |
| Nationalgoals 4 | 2 |
| Nationalyears 5 | 2014 |
| Nationalteam 5 | Portugal U20 |
| Nationalcaps 5 | 7 |
| Nationalgoals 5 | 0 |
| Nationalyears 6 | 2014–2016 |
| Nationalteam 6 | Portugal U21 |
| Nationalcaps 6 | 9 |
| Nationalgoals 6 | 0 |
| Club-update | 18:59, 28 May 2026 (UTC) |
Luís Rafael "Rafa" Soares Alves (born 9 May 1995) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Primeira Liga club Famalicão.
Club career
Porto
Born in Marco de Canaveses, Porto District, Soares joined FC Porto's youth system in 2005 from local F.C. Alpendorada.[2] On 21 August 2013, while still a junior, he made his professional debut with the former's reserves, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute in a 1–0 away win against Portimonense S.C. in the Segunda Liga.[3]
From January 2016 to June 2017, Soares was on loan to Académica de Coimbra and Rio Ave FC, with both clubs in the Primeira Liga.[4][5] He played his first game in the competition on 22 January 2016 while at service of the former in a 2–1 away loss to Vitória de Setúbal,[6] and scored his first goal the following matchday but in a 3–2 defeat at Sporting CP.[7]
On 22 August 2017, deemed surplus to requirements by new Porto manager Sérgio Conceição, Soares was loaned to EFL Championship side Fulham in a season-long deal.[8] He made his debut on 31 October, coming from the bench in a 0–2 home loss to Bristol City.[9]
Soares' deal was mutually terminated by on 31 January 2018, after they had loaned Matt Targett earlier that month.[10] The same day, he signed a permanent contract with Portimonense in his country's top flight.[11]
Vitória Guimarães
On 6 July 2018, Soares agreed to a contract at Vitória de Guimarães.[12] On 31 January 2020, he joined SD Eibar of Spain's La Liga on an 18-month loan with the option to buy.[13]
After returning from the relegated Basque team, Soares scored his first Vitória goal on 21 November 2021, as a substitute in a 3–2 defeat at neighbours Moreirense F.C. in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal.[14]
PAOK
In June 2022, Soares signed a three-year deal with Super League Greece club PAOK FC.[15] He totalled 33 games in his first season, finishing runner-up in the domestic cup.[16]
Soares scored his first league goal on 25 November 2023, closing the 5–0 home win over Panserraikos FC.[17] He added another in a 3–0 victory against PAS Lamia 1964,[18] claiming the national championship alongside his compatriots André Ricardo and Vieirinha.[19]
Later career
On 2 September 2024, Soares agreed to a two-year contract at F.C. Famalicão.[20] He made 28 appearances in his debut campaign, but subsequently lost his place to Angolan international Pedro Bondo.[21]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Porto B | 2013–14 | Segunda Liga | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | |||
| 2014–15 | 30 | 2 | — | — | — | 30 | 2 | |||||
| 2015–16 | 20 | 5 | — | — | — | 20 | 5 | |||||
| Total | 61 | 8 | — | — | — | 61 | 8 | |||||
| Académica (loan) | 2015–16 | Primeira Liga | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | 15 | 1 | |||
| Rio Ave (loan) | 2016–17 | Primeira Liga | 32 | 3 | — | 3 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 37 | 3 | |
| Fulham (loan) | 2017–18 | Championship | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Portimonense | 2017–18 | Primeira Liga | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | |||
| Vitória Guimarães | 2018–19 | Primeira Liga | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 30 | 0 | |
| 2019–20 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[c] | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 34 | 2 | |||
| Total | 67 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 81 | 2 | ||
| Eibar (loan) | 2019–20 | La Liga | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 0 | ||||
| PAOK | 2022–23 | Super League Greece | 26 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 5[d] | 0 | 21 | 2 | |||
| Total | 38 | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | 54 | 2 | |||
| Career Total | 252 | 15 | 37 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 310 | 16 | ||
- ^ Includes Taça de Portugal, Copa del Rey, Greek Football Cup
- ^ Includes Taça da Liga
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
Honours
Porto B
PAOK
References
- ^ "Rafa Soares" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "Rafa Soares: "Tudo começou no FC Alpendorada"" [Rafa Soares: "It all started at FC Alpendorada"] (in Portuguese). A Verdade. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ "Portimonense-FC Porto B, 0–1: O "miúdo" deu 3 pontos" [Portimonense-FC Porto B, 0–1: The "kid" gave 3 points] (in Portuguese). Record. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
- ^ "Oficial: Académica anuncia Rafa por empréstimo do FC Porto" [Official: Académica announce Rafa on loan from FC Porto] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ "Dragões emprestam Rafa ao Rio Ave" [Dragons loan Rafa to Rio Ave] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ "V. Setúbal-Académica, 2–1 (resultado final)" [V. Setúbal-Académica, 2–1 (final score)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Sporting 3–2 Académica: jogo pleno de emoções, muitos golos e incerteza até perto do fim" [Sporting 3–2 Académica: game full of excitement, many goals and uncertainty until the last minutes] (in Portuguese). Vavel. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ "Rafa Soares: Fulham complete loan signing of Porto left-back". BBC Sport. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ "Fulham 0–2 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- ^ "Soares loan terminated". Fulham F.C. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ "Rafa Soares assina pelo Portimonense a título definitivo" [Rafa Soares signs permanently with Portimonense] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ^ "Rafa Soares ruma ao Vitória de Guimarães" [Rafa Soares heading to Vitória de Guimarães] (in Portuguese). Jornal de Notícias. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ Mendia, Iker (31 January 2020). "El Eibar ficha al lateral izquierdo Rafa Soares procedente del Vitoria Guimaraes" [Eibar sign left-back Rafa Soares from Vitória Guimarães] (in Spanish). El Diario Vasco. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- ^ "Moreirense elimina V. Guimarães da Taça" [Moreirense eliminate V. Guimarães from the Cup] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Έρχεται ο Σοάρες, από… κοντά και ο Ρέντε για ΠΑΟΚ" [Soares coming, Rende expected at PAOK] (in Greek). Sport FM. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- ^ Tsouvaras, Thomas (24 May 2023). "ΑΕΚ – ΠΑΟΚ 2–0: Ασύγκριτη! Η Ένωση κατέκτησε ένα ιστορικό νταμπλ, σάρωσε τους Θεσσαλονικείς με 10 παίκτες από το 6'" [AEK – PAOK 2–0: Unmatched! Union conquered historic double, Thessaloniki swept with 10 players at 6'] (in Greek). Sport 24. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ Soudoulidis, Stavros (25 November 2023). "ΠΑΟΚ – Πανσερραϊκός 5–0: Καταιγίδα!" [PAOK – Panserraikos 5–0: Storm!] (in Greek). Gazzetta. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Grécia: Rafa Soares marca e PAOK engata a quinta" [Greece: Rafa Soares scores and PAOK go for fifth] (in Portuguese). CNN Portugal. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Fernando Gomes felicita Vieirinha, André Ricardo e Rafa Soares" [Fernando Gomes congratulates Vieirinha, André Ricardo and Rafa Soares] (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Famalicão: Rafa Soares assina por duas temporadas" [Famalicão: Rafa Soares signs for two seasons] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ Devesas, Lino (11 December 2025). "Pedro Bondo afirma-se na defesa do Famalicão e vai embora" [Pedro Bondo establishes himself in Famalicão's defence and leaves] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^
- ^ Monteiro, André (12 May 2016). "Equipa B entrega troféu da 2.ª Liga a Pinto da Costa" [B team give 2nd League trophy to Pinto da Costa] (in Portuguese). Record. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ^ Seretis, Yannis (19 May 2024). "ΠΑΟΚ 4Χ4 και... 1,2, 4 ως αουτσάιντερ: από 75–68 το έκανε 78–80!" [PAOK 4X4 and... 1,2, 4 as outsiders: they went from 75–68 to 78–80!] (in Greek). Gazzetta. Retrieved 19 May 2024.