Raffaele Cretaro
Raffaele Cretaro 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. He is of Italian descent. He joined local side Real Tubber as a youth player at Under-10 level. 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. He made his goal-scoring debut for Sligo in a 3–0 win over Monaghan United at Gortakeegan on 3 September 2000. 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 2005 [League of Ireland First Division|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. Instead he signed a part-time deal with First Division team Galway United in February 2006. He started for Galway in an FAI Cup match against Athlone Town on 26 May 2006, winning a penalty for his side. He scored at home against Athlone Town on 3 September 2006. 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. However, McDonald was sacked during pre-season and replaced as manager by Paul Cook. 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 2009 [FAI Cup final|FAI Cup final], which Sligo lost 1–2 to Sporting Fingal.
In 2010, he signed for defending champions Bohemians. On 13 July 2010, Cretaro appeared for Bohs in the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League. On 18 August 2010, he scored twice at home to Bray Wanderers. 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. 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 [2011 FAI Cup final|the 2011 final], with Cretaro scoring the winning penalty. The following year, he helped them win the league.
Altogether, he spent seventeen years with Sligo Rovers and, on 20 August 2018, Cretaro surpassed Tony Fagan as the club's record all-time league appearance holder. He joined Finn Harps in 2019. In 2021, he retired from League of Ireland football.
In June 2023, Cretaro was announced as the under-15s coach with Mayo F.C.