Raffaele Cretaro
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 October 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Tubbercurry, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Ballina Town | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1990–2000 | Real Tubber | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2005 | Sligo Rovers | 145 | (13) |
| 2006 | Galway United | 24 | (3) |
| 2007–2009 | Sligo Rovers | 92 | (22) |
| 2010 | Bohemians | 25 | (5) |
| 2011–2018 | Sligo Rovers | ||
| 2019–2020 | Finn Harps | 40~ | (3~) |
| 2023–2024 | Ballina Town | ||
| 2025- | Conn Rangers | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Raffaele Cretaro (born 15 October 1981) is an Irish footballer who plays as a striker for Conn Rangers F.C. He holds the all-time record for appearances at Sligo Rovers.[1]
Early life
Cretaro is a native of Tubbercurry, Ireland.[2] He is of Italian descent.[3] He joined local side Real Tubber as a youth player at Under-10 level.[4] After making the Sligo/Leitrim squads at Under-16 and Under-18 level, Cretaro was recommended to Sligo Rovers.[5]
Career
Cretaro started his career in 2000 with Irish side Sligo Rovers.[6] He made his goal-scoring debut for Sligo in a 3–0 win over Monaghan United at Gortakeegan on 3 September 2000.[7] Cretaro became a regular in the first team under Don O'Riordan and established himself as an attacking full-back who could be called upon to play in multiple positions.[5] In 2005, due to injuries in the squad, Cretaro played the season at right-back as Sligo Rovers secured the First Division title under manager Sean Connor.[5]
Despite being part of the Sligo team that won promotion to the Premier Division in 2005, Cretaro failed to agree terms on a full-time contract.[8][5] Instead he signed a part-time deal with First Division team Galway United in February 2006.[9][5][10] He started for Galway in an FAI Cup match against Athlone Town on 26 May 2006, winning a penalty for his side.[11] He scored at home against Athlone Town on 3 September 2006.[12] Cretaro made 24 league appearances for the Tribesmen and scored three times in all competitions.[6]
Cretaro returned to Sligo Rovers in 2007 after new manager, Rob McDonald, expressed an interest in signing him.[5][13] However, McDonald was sacked during pre-season and replaced as manager by Paul Cook.[13][14] Cretaro credits Cook for instilling a belief in the side and, in 2008, the team finished fourth in the league and qualified for the 2009–10 Europa League.[13] In 2009, Cretaro had one of his most successful seasons, scoring 21 goals in all competitions as well as playing in the FAI Cup final, which Sligo lost 1–2 to Sporting Fingal.[6]
In 2010, he signed for defending champions Bohemians.[6][15] On 13 July 2010, Cretaro appeared for Bohs in the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League.[16] On 18 August 2010, he scored twice at home to Bray Wanderers.[17] He scored five league goals in total before leaving the club at the end of the season as Bohs entered a period of financial turmoil.[6]
Cretaro returned to Sligo Rovers in January 2011 for his third stint at the club.[6][18] In his first season back he scored six times in 33 league appearances as Sligo finished runners-up to Shamrock Rovers in the Premier Division. Cretaro also won his first FAI Cup medal as Sligo defeated Shelbourne on penalties in the 2011 final, with Cretaro scoring the winning penalty.[6][19] The following year, he helped them win the league.[20]
Altogether, he spent seventeen years with Sligo Rovers and, on 20 August 2018,[21] Cretaro surpassed Tony Fagan as the club’s record all-time league appearance holder.[1][22] He joined Finn Harps in 2019.[6] In 2021, he retired from League of Ireland football.[23][24]
Style of play
Cretaro made his breakthrough as a utility player and has deputised in every position bar goalkeeper.[5] He has mainly played as a striker but can also operate as a midfielder or a full-back.[25][6]
Personal life
Cretaro is the brother of Irish hurler Fabio Cretaro.[26][27]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | FAI Cup | League Cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sligo Rovers | 2000–01 | LOI First Division | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 1 | ||
| 2001–02 | LOI First Division | 28 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 4 | |||
| 2002–03 | LOI First Division | 18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5[b] | 0 | 25 | 3 | ||
| 2003 | LOI First Division | 25 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 31 | 3 | |||
| 2004 | LOI First Division | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 4 | |||
| 2005 | LOI First Division | 31 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 1 | |||
| Total | 145 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 2 | — | 5 | 0 | 173 | 16 | |||
| Galway United | 2006 | LOI First Division | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 3 | ||
| Sligo Rovers | 2007 | LOI Premier Division | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 1 | ||
| 2008 | LOI Premier Division | 31 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 6 | |||
| 2009 | LOI Premier Division | 31 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2[c] | 1 | — | 43 | 21 | ||
| Total | 92 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 108 | 28 | |||
| Bohemians | 2010 | LOI Premier Division | 25* | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 2[e] | 1 | 31 | 7 |
*extratime cites 24 appearances, finalwhistle cites 25 appearances
Honours
Sligo Rovers
Notes
- ^ Includes League of Ireland Cup
- ^ Appearances in LOI First Division Cup
- ^ Appearances in 2009–10 UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearances in 2010–11 UEFA Champions League
- ^ Appearances in Setanta Sports Cup[32]
References
- ^ a b Fennessy, Paul (15 March 2019). "'I'm 37. I'm still hungry. I go out onto the training pitch wanting to be the best player'". the42.ie. TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ "Tubbercurry Tornado Raffaele off the chips". independent.ie.
- ^ Crowe, Marie (26 July 2018). "Living life the right way gives Cretaro a dream career". rte.ie. RTÉ Sport.
- ^ "Dreams come true in Tubber for local hero". independent.ie.
- ^ a b c d e f g Goulden, David; Farry, Jessica (2018-07-23). "Raffaele Cretaro interview – Part One – Sligo Rovers". Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Raffaele Cretaro | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football". www.extratime.com. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ "Cretaro moves into all-time top 20 League of Ireland appearance list". www.leagueofireland.ie. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ Moran, Michael (2006-03-01). "Move to Galway 'had nothing to do with money' says Cretaro". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ^ "Cretaro moves to Galway United from Sligo". RTÉ Sport. 2006-02-22. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ "Rafael Cretaro Interview". The Bit O'Red Blog. 2011-08-27. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ a b "Athlone dump Galway out of Cup". 2006-05-26.
- ^ "Lavine grabs a late equaliser for Athlone". RTÉ Sport. 2006-09-03. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
- ^ a b c Goulden, David; Farry, Jessica (2018-07-25). "Raffaele Cretaro interview – Part Two – Sligo Rovers". Retrieved 2025-12-07.
- ^ Wallace, Keith (30 January 2009). "Cook Resigns From Sligo Rovers". extratime.com. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
- ^ "No question of divided loyalty for Bohs' Cretaro". independent.ie.
- ^ UEFA.com (2010-07-13). "Brennan bucks up Bohemians | UEFA Champions League 2010/11". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
- ^ Ahern, Neil (2010-08-18). "Cretaro gets Bohs back on track". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ^ Blake, Ben (2018-12-13). "'It was a fairytale' - Club legend Cretaro leaving Sligo after 17 seasons". The 42. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ "RTÉ Sport: As It Happened: Shelbourne 1-1 Sligo (pens: 1-4)". www.rte.ie. Archived from the original on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2025-12-09.
- ^ "'I was thinking 'Why did I leave?' because underneath it all I'm a Sligo man'". the42.ie.
- ^ "70min. Cretaro overtakes Fagan as all time league appearances holder". Twitter. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ "Cretaro leaves fond memories". independent.ie.
- ^ "CRETARO BRINGS THE CURTAIN DOWN ON A FAIRYTALE CAREER". westernpeople.ie.
- ^ "Thanks for the memories: Cretaro hangs up boots after a 21-year career". Irish Independent. 2021-01-09. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ "'Tubbercurry Tornado' is ready to roar again". independent.ie. Irish Independent. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ "Oh brother! Cretaro boys aim for success in soccer and hurling". Irish Independent. 2004-04-20. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ "The Career of Raff Cretaro". thebigkickoff.com.
- ^ "Rafael Cretaro » Statistics: Club Matches". www.worldfootball.net. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ "Raffaele Cretaro | Stats | History | Career Details | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football". www.extratime.com. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ "Raffaele Cretaro – Soccer". www.finalwhistle.ie. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
- ^ "Monaghan United 1 - 1 Bohemians (4-3 on penos)". extratime.com. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
- ^ For Setanta Sports cup matches:
"Bohemians 2-1 Linfield". rte.ie. 3 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
"Linfield 0-1 Bohemians (Agg 1-3)". rte.ie. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
"Bohemians 0–1 Sligo Rovers". rte.ie. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 5 December 2025.