Rafael Caroca

Football player infobox
playername = "Rafael Caroca"


fullname = Rafael Antonio Caroca Cordero
nickname = Rafita, Huaso
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1989|07|19
cityofbirth = Curicó
countryofbirth = Chile
height = height|m=1.70
currentclub = Colo-Colo
clubnumber = 32
position = Defender
youthyears = 2004-2007
youthclubs = Colo-Colo
years = 2008-
2008-
clubs = Colo-Colo
→ O'Higgins "(loan)"
caps(goals) = 3 (0)
4 (0)
nationalyears = 2008-
nationalteam = Chile
nationalcaps(goals) = 1 (0)
pcupdate = 4 June 2008
ntupdate = 4 June 2008

Rafael Antonio Caroca Cordero (born July 19, 1989 in Curicó, Chile) is a Chilean footballer, who currently plays defender for Colo-Colo. Colo-Colo's youth coach Jaime Vera compared Caroca to former Colo-Colo defender Arturo Vidal.

Caroca arrived at Colo-Colo when he was fifteen. He was discovered by former Colo-Colo player Marcelo Espina at a local Nike sponsored tournament. In the apertura season of 2008, Caroca played in three games for the adult side.

In January 2008, Marcelo Bielsa called up Caroca to the Chilean national team which were played in Asia for friendlies against Japan and South Korea. Suprisingly, Caroca was not only the youngest player in the next call-up, but also the only player there named by Bielsa who played in the national league. This was the friendly against Israel in Jerusalem. Even though Caroca has been named several times to the adult side he has yet to make his debut.

In May 2008, Caroca was once again selected by Bielsa. This time it was to the u-23 2008 Toulon Tournament. Caroca started the last three games Chile played in the tournament. Caroca was one of the youngest players to see significant playing time during the tournament. Caroca was named the best young player of the tournament.