Rafael Sosa

Rafael Sosa
Personal information
Full name	Alfredo Rafael Sosa
Date of birth	7 May 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth	Catamarca, Argentina
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
2000–2007	Estudiantes
Senior career*
Years	Team
2007–2009	Estudiantes
2009–2010	Dinamo Tirana
2010–2011	Skënderbeu Korçë
2011–2012	Sheriff Tiraspol
2012–2013	Flamurtari Vlorë
2013–2014	Villa Cubas
2014	Atlético Policial
2015	Laçi
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 October 2010

Alfredo Rafael Sosa (Albanian : Rafael Soza; born 7 May 1988) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward.^[1]

Club career

Malacarne started his career with Argentine giants Estudiantes de La Plata as a teenager. He played mainly for the reserve and youth teams during his time in Argentina. After negotiations with Albanian club Dinamo Tirana, Estudiantes decided to offer the Albanians Rafael Sosa and Nicolas Delmonte on loan until the end of the Albanian Superliga 2009–10 season.

Dinamo Tirana

He completed his move to Dinamo Tirana on 26 June 2009. He arrived late from Argentina and completed all the formalities at the 'Dinamo Complex' before training with the rest of the squad for the first time. He became Dinamo's first Argentine signing of the 2009–10 season.^[2]

He made his competitive debut for the club in the Europa League 2009-10 1st leg tie against FC Lahti. He performed well on his debut which in the end didn't help the club much as they lost 4–1 to the Finnish side. Rafael Sosa came on as a substitute for Serbian striker Mladen Brkic. Along with the 2nd leg in which Rafael Sosa didn't manage feature in, the aggregate score was 4–3 which sent the Albania side crashing out of the Competition.

The Argentine made his league debut on the opening day of the season on 23 August 2009 in an away match against newly promoted KS Kastrioti Kruje. Rafael Sosa started the game in midfield and helped his side to a 3–1 win. The most important goal scored by the Argentinian newcomer to the 'blues'of Tirana was that one, and the only one scored in the away match Besa-Dinamo 0–1. This goal let Dinamo stand to the top of classification. The same player scored against the only goal of the home match this time Dinamo-Tirana, so that Dinamo went 15 points ahead Besa, since the 15th fixture.^[3]

During his first press conference in Albania Rafael Sosa explained how he was happy with his move to Albania and that although he found it difficult to settle in at a new club which is his first away from Argentina, he would give his 100% for the club. He also stated that he doesn't expect to score many goals, he just wants to play good football for Dinamo for as long as he is there.^[4]

Skënderbeu Korçë

On 19 August he signed for Skënderbeu Korçë. He made 29 appearances and scored 13 goals. He was Skenderbeu's top scorer.

Laçi

Sosa returned in Albania in January 2015 to join top flight side Laçi on a contract until the end of the season.^[5] He signed the contract on 14th and was given squad number 17. He made his return debut 11 days later in the championship matchday 19 against Partizani Tirana which finished in a 1–1 home draw, with Sosa appearing in the last 15 minutes.^[6] Sosa made 10 league appearances until the end of the season, in addition 2 cup matches, as Laçi 5th in championship but won the Albanian Cup.^[7] Sosa left the club on 6 June 2015 following the end of the season by terminating the contract by mutual consent.^[8]

Honours

Dinamo Tirana^[1]

Albanian Superliga: 2009–10

Skënderbeu Korçë^[1]

Albanian Superliga: 2010–11

Laçi^[1]

Albanian Cup: 2014–15

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Rafael Sosa at Soccerway
^ Sosa completes Dinamo move^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Kastrioti 1–3 Dinamo
^ First Albanian press conference^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Firmos Sosa: Presidenti Laska më dha një mundësi, do bind!" [Sosa signs: President Laska gave me a chance, I'll convince!] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
^ "Superliga/Partizani e nis me barazim 2015tën, në transfertën kunder Laçit" [Superliga/ Partizani starts 2015 with a draw in the away match against Laçi] (in Albanian). Gazeta Tema. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
^ "Laçi fiton Kupën e Shqipërisë, mund 2-1 Kukësin në finale. Veliaj dhe Xhejms bënë diferencën" [Superliga/ Partizani starts 2015 with a draw in the away match against Laçi] (in Albanian). Panorama.com.al. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
^ "Argjentinasi Sosa largohet nga Laçi" [Argentine Sosa leaves Laçi] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.

[Soccerway-1] Rafael Sosa at Soccerway

[2] Sosa completes Dinamo move^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[3] Kastrioti 1–3 Dinamo

[4] First Albanian press conference^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[Sport_Ekspres-5] "Firmos Sosa: Presidenti Laska më dha një mundësi, do bind!" [Sosa signs: President Laska gave me a chance, I'll convince!] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2017.

[6] "Superliga/Partizani e nis me barazim 2015tën, në transfertën kunder Laçit" [Superliga/ Partizani starts 2015 with a draw in the away match against Laçi] (in Albanian). Gazeta Tema. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2017.

[7] "Laçi fiton Kupën e Shqipërisë, mund 2-1 Kukësin në finale. Veliaj dhe Xhejms bënë diferencën" [Superliga/ Partizani starts 2015 with a draw in the away match against Laçi] (in Albanian). Panorama.com.al. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2017.

[8] "Argjentinasi Sosa largohet nga Laçi" [Argentine Sosa leaves Laçi] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.

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