RAZVAN RAT
Born: 26 May 1981, Piatra-Olt, Romania
Former clubs: Rapid Piatra-Olt, Sporting Pite?ti, Cetatea Târgu Neam?, Rapid Bucure?ti, Shakhtar Donetsk.
Experienced Romania international Razvan Rat joined West Ham United on an initial one-year deal on 1 July 2013, following the expiry of his contract at Shakhtar Donetsk. On his arrival, he was quickly nicknamed 'Roland' by his team-mates in honour of the 1980s TV character Roland Rat.
Having racked up more than 85 appearances for his country and 300 appearances for former club Shakhtar Donestk, the left-back arrived with a mightily impressive CV.
During his time with Shakhtar, Rat won seven Ukrainian Premier League titles, four Ukranian Cups and lifted the UEFA Cup in 2009, as well as totting up 57 outings in the UEFA Champions League. In the 2013/14 season, the Piara-Olt-born defender played eight times in Shahktar's UEFA Champions League campaign, helping his side to defeat Chelsea on their way to the last-16.
2013/14
Makes his West Ham United debut in the 3-2 Capital One Cup win over Cheltenham Town at the Boleyn Ground on 27 August 2013...Made his Barclays Premier League debut as a second half substitute in the 0-0 draw at Southampton on 15 September 2013...Starts his first Premier League match in a 3-2 defeat at home to Everton on 21 September 2013.
International Career
Capped as an U21 before making his senior debut against France, in Paris, in Februrary 2002...Has become a virtual ever-present for Romania, earning more than 85 caps to date...His solitary international goal came in a 5-1 win over Germany in April 2004, Germany's largest away defeat in some 65 years...In 2008, he started all three group stage matches at the UEFA European Championship finals in Switzerland...Appointed national team captain in September 2011.
Before West Ham
A 5'9 full-back who started his career with hometown club Rapid Piatra-Olt before playing schoolboy and youth-team football for Universitatea Craiova, Constuctorul Craiova, Sporting Pitesti and Cetatea Targu Neamt...In 1998, the 17-year-old joined Rapid Bucharest, quickly establishing himself at the Romanian Premier League outfit under manager Mircea Lucescu...Made his European debut for Rapid Bucharest in a UEFA Cup qualifying round defeat at Armenian club Mika in August 2000...After a six-month loan spell with smaller Romanian club FCM Bacau during the 2000/01 season, returned to Bucharest, winning the Romanian Cup in 2002 and the Romanian Premier League title the following year....Moved to Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in summer 2003...Enjoyed an illustrious spell of success with Shakhtar Donetsk, lifting a total of 15 trophies - the vast majority of them under the guidance of former mentor and compatriot Lucescu, who took charge at the club in 2004.