Rafael Czichos (born 14 May 1990) is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.
![]() Czichos with 1. FC Köln in 2018 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Date of birth | (1990-05-14) 14 May 1990 (age 32)[1] | ||
Place of birth | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | ||
Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Chicago Fire | ||
Number | 5 | ||
Youth career | |||
FSV Verden 04 | |||
0000–2008 | TSV Ottersberg | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2008–2010 | TSV Ottersberg | 62 | (15) |
2010–2012 | VfL Wolfsburg II | 23 | (1) |
2012–2015 | Rot-Weiss Erfurt | 99 | (9) |
2015–2018 | Holstein Kiel | 99 | (12) |
2018–2022 | 1. FC Köln | 103 | (4) |
2022– | Chicago Fire | 26 | (3) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:54, 10 October 2022 (UTC) |
Born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia while his father worked there,[2] Czichos began his career at TSV Ottersberg and joined VfL Wolfsburg II in 2010. In 2012, he signed with then 3. Liga side Rot-Weiss Erfurt. After signing with Holstein Kiel, Czichos first played in the 2. Bundesliga when the team won promotion in 2017.[3]
However, Kiel failed to win promotion after the 2017–18 season and he was sold to newly relegated side 1. FC Köln for a fee of €1.8 million.[4] He made his debut, including his first goal, for the club in a 2–0 victory against VfL Bochum on 4 August 2018.[5] Having been an undisputed starter in the first half of the 2021–22 season, he left 1. FC Köln in January 2022, with half a year left on his contract. kicker described the move as "surprising".[6]
On 2 January 2022, Czichos transferred to Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire on a three-year contract.[7][8]
In a July 2018 interview Czichos revealed he was a life-long fan of Werder Bremen.[9]
Chicago Fire FC – current squad | |
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