Rafa Navarro (footballer, born 1994) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rafa Navarro

Navarro in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Rafael Jesús Navarro Mazuecos
Date of birth	(1994-02-24) 24 February 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth	Salteras, Spain
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Right-back
Club information
Current club	Ugento
Number	23
Youth career
2004–2010	Sevilla
2010–2012	Coria
2012–2013	Betis
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2012–2013	Betis B	1	(0)
2013–2014	Gerena	32	(2)
2014–2016	Betis B	69	(2)
2016–2018	Betis	21	(2)
2018–2022	Alavés	0	(0)
2018–2019	→ Sochaux (loan)	23	(1)
2020–2022	→ Istra 1961 (loan)	30	(1)
2022–2023	SS Reyes	24	(0)
2024–	Ugento	5	(0)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 November 2024. † Appearances (Goals).

Rafael Jesús Navarro Mazuecos, known as Rafa Navarro, is a Spanish professional footballer. He was born on February 24, 1994. Rafa plays as a right-back, which is a defensive position on the right side of the field. Currently, he plays for an Italian club called Ugento in Serie D.

Rafa Navarro's Football Journey

Starting Out in Youth Teams

Rafa Navarro was born in Salteras, a town in Seville, Andalusia, Spain. He started playing football at a young age. As a youth player, he joined some well-known clubs. He played for Sevilla FC, Coria CF, and Real Betis. These are all important teams in Spanish football.

Making His Senior Debut

Rafa's first time playing in a senior team was with Real Betis's B-team. This happened on December 2, 2012. He started the game, but his team lost 2–3 at home. This match was part of the Segunda División B league.

Playing for CD Gerena

On August 2, 2013, Rafa signed with CD Gerena. This club played in the Tercera División, another Spanish football league. He was a very important player for Gerena during the 2013–14 season. He played in almost every game.

Returning to Real Betis

After playing well for Gerena, Rafa returned to Real Betis and its reserve team on July 4, 2014. He continued to play regularly for Betis B in the next few seasons. His good performance led him to sign a new contract with the club until 2020.

Joining the Main Squad

On August 24, 2016, Rafa Navarro was officially moved up to the main Real Betis team. He was given the number 2 shirt. This was a big step in his career, as it meant he would play in the top Spanish league.

Playing in La Liga

Rafa made his first professional appearance in La Liga on September 23, 2016. He played the entire game, helping his team win 1–0 against Málaga CF. His first goal in La Liga came on March 18, 2017. He scored the last goal in a 2–0 home win against CA Osasuna.

Moving to Other Clubs

On July 2, 2018, Rafa signed a three-year contract with Deportivo Alavés, another top-tier club in Spain. However, he was immediately loaned out to FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, a club in France's Ligue 2, for one year.

After returning from France, he didn't play any games for Alavés during the 2019–20 season. Then, on October 5, 2020, he was loaned again to NK Istra 1961, a team in Croatia that was connected to Alavés. Later, he also played for UD San Sebastián de los Reyes in Spain before joining Ugento in Italy in 2024.

Career Statistics Overview

This table shows how many games Rafa Navarro has played and how many goals he has scored for different clubs and in various competitions.

See also

In Spanish: Rafael Navarro Mazuecos para niños