Attia started his career with Al Ittihad in 1952, he moved for Zamalek in 1957, he played for Zamalek for 10 years, and for the rest of his career. He won with Zamalek three Egyptian League titles in (1959–60, 1963–64, and 1964–65) and the Egypt Cup for four times (1958, 1959, 1960, and 1962).
After his retirement from football, he worked as a manager for a brief period. Attia worked in Saudi Arabia and managed the Saudi Arabian League football club Al-Wehda in the 1976–77 season.[6]
Raafat Attia died relatively young, at the age of 44 in a car accident, in 1978.[7]