main sponsor led to the dissolution of Cetatea Târgu Neamț. Raț getting the chance to play only two matches for the juniors of Cetatea. He later rejoined Sporting Pitești. In June 1998, Mircea Lucescu noticed Raț, and he signed his first professional contract with Rapid București on 26 June. Raț started his professional career with Romanian Premier League side Rapid București in 1998. Shakhtar Donetsk In 2003, Raț was signed by Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, where he became a key player. He played the whole game as Donetsk won the 2009 UEFA Cup Final. West Ham United On 21 May 2013, Raț signed for English Premier League club West Ham United on a free transfer on a one-year contract, with the option to extend it. His West Ham debut came on 27 August 2013 in a League Cup game against Cheltenham Town in which West Ham won the game 2–1. On 31 January 2014, Raț was released from his contract with West Ham by mutual consent. He had played 20 games in all competitions without scoring. Late career On 13 February 2014, Raț joined Spanish La Liga side Rayo Vallecano until the end of the 2013–14 season. On 15 June 2014, PAOK announced they had made a verbal agreement with Raț, who signed a two-year contract at the Superleague Greece club. On 20 August 2015, Raț returned to Rayo Vallecano after agreeing to a two-year deal. On 31 January 2018, after making no appearances during the campaign, he cut ties with the club. On 22 March 2018, Raț returned to Romania with ACS Poli Timișoara, totalling ten games before retiring. International career On 8 February 2002, Raț was called up to the Romania national team for the first time. Five days later, he made the starting lineup in his full debut in a Friendly against reigning world and European champions France. Raț played his first official match on 12 October, in a Euro 2004 qualifier match against Norway, playing as a left midfielder. Following the rise of Cristian Chivu in becoming first-choice in central defence, Raț became the first-choice left back for Romania. On 28 April 2004, Raț scored his first goal for the national squad in a 5–1 win against Germany in the worst away defeat for Germany in the past 65 years. On 31 May 2014, Raț scored only his second goal for Romania, but it was the