Raí

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Raí
Rai em 2009 cropped.jpg
Raí in 2009.
Personal information
Full name Raí Souza Vieira de Oliveira
Date of birth (1965-05-15) 15 May 1965 (age 58)
Place of birth Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1985 Botafogo de Ribeirão Preto
1986 Ponte Preta 10 (1)
1987–1993 São Paulo 110 (25)
1993–1998 Paris Saint-Germain 145 (51)
1998–1999 São Paulo 19 (1)
Total 284 (77)
International career
1987–1998 Brazil 49 (17)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Raí Souza Vieira de Oliveira (born 15 May 1965), simply Raí (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁaˈi]), is a Brazilian retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

He spent the better part of his 15-year career with São Paulo[1] and Paris Saint-Germain, winning 15 major titles with the two teams combined, and nearing the 100-goal mark. He is the younger brother of more famous Brazilian footballer Sócrates.

Raí played with Brazil for more than one decade, helping the country win the 1994 World Cup.

Club career

Early years / São Paulo

Born in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Raí started his career with local Botafogo Futebol Clube (SP), signing in 1986 with Associação Atlética Ponte Preta, with which he made his Série A debuts.

Raí joined São Paulo FC for the 1987 season, only making his league debut on 18 October due to injury. He only scored once in his first year but, following the arrival of Telê Santana as coach, blossomed into a prolific scorer, scoring 28 overall in the 1991 campaign (20 in the São Paulo State Championship); he was also instrumental in the defeat of FC Barcelona in the 1992 Intercontinental Cup, netting both goals in a 2–1 win in Tokyo.

Paris Saint-Germain

In June 1993, Raí was acquired by Paris Saint-Germain F.C. of France for US$4.6 million,[2] remaining with São Paulo until the end of the year. He still managed to contribute with six goals in 28 Ligue 1 games as his new club won the national championship for the second time in its history; he helped PSG to the following season's French Cup, and was on target in the League Cup final against SC Bastia (2–0).

Raí once again proved essential as the capital outfit won the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, scoring twice in a 3–1 home win against Parma AC, after a 0–1 away loss. He also appeared in the final against SK Rapid Wien, and went on to score three seasons in double digits during his five-season spell.

Return to São Paulo

At the age of 33, Raí returned to São Paulo. He retired at the end of the 1999 season, after having appeared in only 15 games.

International career

Raí gained the first of his 49 caps for Brazil in 1987, whilst at São Paulo, being selected to that year's Copa América in Argentina, playing twice – including in the 0–4 group stage loss against Chile – in an eventual group stage exit.[3] His debut occurred on 19 May at the Rous Cup, playing 15 minutes in a 1–1 draw against England.

Raí was picked by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira for his 1994 FIFA World Cup squad, as captain. He scored through a penalty in the first match, a 2–0 win against Russia, after Romário was brought down in the box: a starter in the first three games, he was used as a substitute against the Netherlands (quarterfinals, ten minutes) and Sweden (semifinal, 45 minutes)[4] as the national team went on to win the tournament.

Statistics

Club

Season Club Division League Cup League Cup French Supercup Europe Uefa Supercup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1993–94 Paris SG Ligue 1 28 6 4 2 4 0 36 8
1994–95 28 12 5 0 4 2 7 2 44 16
1995–96 27 14 3 1 1 0 1 0 6 2 38 17
1996–97 35 9 3 1 1 0 10 3 2 2 51 15
1997–98 29 10 6 3 5 1 8 4 48 18
Total 147 51 21 7 11 3 1 0 35 11 2 2 217 74

International

Brazil national team
Year Apps Goals
1987 11 3
1988 0 0
1989 0 0
1990 0 0
1991 5 3
1992 7 6
1993 16 2
1994 9 3
1995 0 0
1996 0 0
1997 0 0
1998 1 0
Total 49 17

Honours

Club

São Paulo
Paris SG

Country

Brazil

Individual

Personal

Raí's older brother, Sócrates, was also a footballer and an attacking midfielder. He too represented Botafogo de São Paulo in his career, and was also a longtime Brazilian international.[6][7]

After retiring, Raí became a social activist and justice campaigner, being involved in two separate philanthropic organisations.[7]

References

External links

Preceded by Intercontinental Cup
Man of the Match

1992
Succeeded by
Toninho Cerezo
Preceded by South American Footballer of the Year
1992
Succeeded by
Carlos Valderrama