Toró


Rafael Ferreira Francisco, usually known by the nickname Toró, is a Brazilian defensive midfielder, currently playing for Helsinki IFK.

Career

Fluminense

Revealed by Fluminense youth team, Toró was expected to be next Pelé of the team. His nickname "Toró" was created during his indoor soccer times when he used to "storm the goalkeepers with goals after goals."
However, when he made his debut in the pro team, in 2004, he did not repeat the same performances from his youth years.

Flamengo

In 2006 the Flamengo decided to bet on the player's potential and was hired by Toró Dearest Brazil and future status of ace. Still, the youngster showed his no good football and was barred, only gaining a new opportunity in the role of playing second wheel in the final of the Copa do Brasil that year, and the opportunity was seized as well as Toró helped Flamengo win the title and climbed into the concept of the fans and the coach Ney Franco.
With Ney's departure and arrival of Joel Santana, Toró finally live its peak in Topsail. Dubbed by "Torózinho" coach, the player finally found himself as the wheel and started to gain more credibility, so that by year's end, the player was first summoned to the Brazil squad and played a match against Championship Selection Brasileiro 2007 in Engenhão: Brazil 0 x 3.
In 2008, when he finally won the undisputed title, Toró, by then headed by Caio Junior became one of the biggest ball stealers of the 2008 Brazilian Série A and central to the regular performance of Fla that year. However, some bruising just chasing the player so much that year, as next year, so that Toró was not continued and ended up participating as "reinforcing luxury" of the sixth national title in the club.
In 2010, after much negotiation on the contract renewal, without agreement, Toró left Flamengo.

Atlético Mineiro

After leaving Flamengo signed with Minas Gerais club Atlético Mineiro. The deal was closed in December 2010.

Club statistics

according to combined sources on the Flamengo official website and Flaestatística.

Honours

;Flamengo