Raffaele Cretaro Explained

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.

Early life

Cretaro is a native of Tubbercurry, Ireland.^[1] He is of Italian descent.^[2] He joined local side Real Tubber as a youth player at Under-10 level.^[3] After making the Sligo/Leitrim squads at Under-16 and Under-18 level, Cretaro was recommended to Sligo Rovers.

Career

Cretaro started his career in 2000 with Irish side Sligo Rovers.^[4] He made his goal-scoring debut for Sligo in a 3–0 win over Monaghan United at Gortakeegan on 3 September 2000.^{[5] [6]} 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. 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.

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.^{[7] [8]} Instead he signed a part-time deal with First Division team Galway United in February 2006.^{[9] [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.

Cretaro returned to Sligo Rovers in 2007 after new manager, Rob McDonald, expressed an interest in signing him.^[13] However, McDonald was sacked during pre-season and replaced as manager by Paul Cook.^[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. 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.

In 2010, he signed for defending champions Bohemians.^[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.

Cretaro returned to Sligo Rovers in January 2011 for his third stint at the club.^[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.^[19] The following year, he helped them win the league.^[20] In 2013, Cretaro started the FAI Cup final as Sligo beat Drogheda United 3–2 at the Aviva Stadium.

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.^{[22] [23]} He joined Finn Harps in 2019. In 2021, he retired from League of Ireland football.^{[24] [25]}

In June 2023, Cretaro was announced as the under-15s coach with Mayo F.C.^[26]

Style of play

Cretaro made his breakthrough as a utility player and has deputised in every position bar goalkeeper. He has mainly played as a striker but can also operate as a midfielder or a full-back.^[27]

Personal life

Cretaro is the brother of Irish hurler Fabio Cretaro.^{[28] [29]}

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^{[30] [31] [32] [33]}

Club	Season	League			FAI Cup		League Cup		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	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	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	0	2	1	31	7
Sligo Rovers	2011	LOI Premier Division	33	6	6	1	3	1	2	0	3	1	47	9
	2012	LOI Premier Division	28	6	1	0	3	2	1	0	3	0	36	8
	2013	LOI Premier Division	21	4	5	1	2	0	1	0	3	1	32	6
	2014	LOI Premier Division	13	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	18	0
	2015	LOI Premier Division	27	0	3	1	2	1	—		—		32	2
	2016	LOI Premier Division	25	10	2	1	1	0	—		—		28	11
	2017	LOI Premier Division	28	2	1[34]	0	1	0	—		1	0	31	2
	2018	LOI Premier Division	25	3	1[35]	0	3	0	—		1	0	30	3
	Total		200	31	20	4	15	4	6	0	13	2	254	41

*extratime cites 24 appearances, finalwhistle cites 25 appearances

Honours

Sligo Rovers

• FAI Cup: 2011
• League of Ireland First Division: 2005

Notes and References

1. Web site: Tubbercurry Tornado Raffaele off the chips. independent.ie.
2. Web site: Crowe . Marie . 26 July 2018 . Living life the right way gives Cretaro a dream career . rte.ie . RTÉ Sport.
3. Web site: Dreams come true in Tubber for local hero. independent.ie.
4. Web site: Raffaele Cretaro History Career Details Images extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football . 2025-12-05 . www.extratime.com.
5. Web site: Cretaro moves into all-time top 20 League of Ireland appearance list . 2025-12-05 . www.leagueofireland.ie . en.
6. Web site: Ireland 2000/01 . 2026-01-06 . www.rsssf.org.
7. Web site: Moran . Michael . 2006-03-01 . Move to Galway 'had nothing to do with money' says Cretaro . 2025-12-06 . Irish Independent . en.
8. Web site: Goulden . David . Farry . Jessica . 23 July 2018 . Raffaele Cretaro interview – Part One – Sligo Rovers . 2025-12-05 . en-IE. www.sligorovers.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20240720000657/https://www.sligorovers.com/raffaele-cretaro-interview-part-one/. 2024-07-20. live.
9. News: 2006-02-22 . Cretaro moves to Galway United from Sligo . 2025-12-05 . RTÉ Sport . en.
10. Web site: 2011-08-27 . Rafael Cretaro Interview . 2025-12-05 . The Bit O'Red Blog . en.
11. News: 2006-05-26 . Athlone dump Galway out of Cup . en.
12. News: 2006-09-03 . Lavine grabs a late equaliser for Athlone . 2025-12-10 . RTÉ Sport . en.
13. Web site: Goulden . David . Farry . Jessica . 2018-07-25 . Raffaele Cretaro interview – Part Two – Sligo Rovers . 2025-12-07 . en-GB.
14. Web site: Wallace . Keith . 30 January 2009 . Cook Resigns From Sligo Rovers . 2025-12-08 . extratime.com . en.
15. Web site: No question of divided loyalty for Bohs' Cretaro. independent.ie.
16. Web site: UEFA.com . 2010-07-13 . Brennan bucks up Bohemians UEFA Champions League 2010/11 . 2025-12-08 . UEFA.com . en.
17. Web site: Ahern . Neil . 2010-08-18 . Cretaro gets Bohs back on track . 2025-12-06 . Irish Independent . en.
18. Web site: Blake . Ben . 2018-12-13 . 'It was a fairytale' - Club legend Cretaro leaving Sligo after 17 seasons . 2025-12-09 . The 42 . en.
19. Web site: RTÉ Sport: As It Happened: Shelbourne 1-1 Sligo (pens: 1-4) . https://web.archive.org/web/20120121043930/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/1106/sligorovers_shelbourne.html . 2012-01-21 . 2025-12-09 . www.rte.ie.
20. Web site: 'I was thinking 'Why did I leave?' because underneath it all I'm a Sligo man'. the42.ie.
21. Web site: 20 August 2018 . 70min. Cretaro overtakes Fagan as all time league appearances holder . 2025-12-05 . Twitter.
22. Web site: 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' . 2025-12-05 . the42.ie . TheJournal.ie.
23. Web site: Cretaro leaves fond memories. independent.ie.
24. Web site: CRETARO BRINGS THE CURTAIN DOWN ON A FAIRYTALE CAREER. westernpeople.ie.
25. Web site: 2021-01-09 . Thanks for the memories: Cretaro hangs up boots after a 21-year career . 2025-12-05 . Irish Independent . en.
26. Web site: McGovern . Oisin . 2023-06-26 . Mayo FC officially launched on 'momentous day' for soccer . 2026-01-10 . www.mayonews.ie . en.
27. Web site: 2 November 2011 . 'Tubbercurry Tornado' is ready to roar again . 2025-12-05 . independent.ie . Irish Independent.
28. Web site: 2004-04-20 . Oh brother! Cretaro boys aim for success in soccer and hurling . 2025-12-05 . Irish Independent . en.
29. Web site: The Career of Raff Cretaro. thebigkickoff.com.
30. Web site: Rafael Cretaro » Statistics: Club Matches . 2025-12-05 . www.worldfootball.net . en.
31. Web site: Raffaele Cretaro Stats History Career Details extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football . 2025-12-05 . www.extratime.com.
32. Web site: Raffaele Cretaro – Soccer . 2025-12-05 . www.finalwhistle.ie.
33. Web site: Monaghan United 1 - 1 Bohemians (4-3 on penos) . 2025-12-08 . extratime.com . en.
34. Web site: O'Flaherty . Deniese . 2017-08-12 . Longford Town score a famous win over Sligo Rovers after extra-time in the FAI Cup . 2026-01-23 . www.longfordleader.ie . en.
35. News: Goulden . David . 2018-08-11 . Longford get the better of Sligo to progress in FAI Cup . en. 2026-01-21. RTÉ Sport.