Michael Soosairaj

Last updated

Michael Soosairaj
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-12-25) 25 December 1994 (age 29)
Place of birth Eraviputhenthurai, Tamil Nadu
Height1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Winger / Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Odisha
Number 23
Youth career
2011–2016 Arrows Football Club
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2016–2018 Chennai City 29 (5)
2018–2019 Jamshedpur 14 (4)
2019–2020 ATK 20 (3)
2020–2022 ATK Mohun Bagan 6 (0)
2022– Odisha 1 (0)
International career
2019 India 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:48, 3 March 2022 (UTC)

Michael Soosairaj (born 25 December 1994) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indian Super League club Odisha.

Contents

Career

Early career and Chennai City

Born in Eraviputhenthurai, Tamil Nadu, Soosairaj first moved to Chennai when he attended Madras Christian College. [1] At the age of 10, he started training with his local football club/academy St. Catherine, one of the oldest football clubs in the state. He represented the college in Inter-University tournaments before joining Arrows Football Club of the CFA Senior Division. [1] After spending time with Arrows, Soosairaj joined another CFA Senior Division side, Chennai City. [1] He also played for Tamil Nadu in the Santosh Trophy. [2]

In December 2016, Chennai City FC were announced as a direct-entry side into the I-League, India's top-tier football league. [3] [4] [5] He made his professional debut for the club on 4 December 2017 in Chennai City's second match of the 2017–18 season against Gokulam Kerala. Pandiyan started and played the whole match as Chennai City drew 1–1. [6] On 17 January 2017, Soosairaj made his professional debut in the I-League for Chennai City against DSK Shivajians. He came on as a 61st-minute substitute for Malsawmfela despite Chennai City losing 2–0. [7]

On 8 April 2018, Soosairaj scored his first professional goal in the league against Minerva Punjab. His 41st-minute goal was the first in a 2–0 victory. [8] He then scored his second goal of the season a few weeks later on 22 April against Churchill Brothers. This time, Soosairaj scored Chennai City's only goal in the 54th minute as they lost 5–1. [9] The next season, Soosairaj scored his first brace, scoring twice against Churchill Brothers on 17 February 2018. His two goals contributed to a 3–1 victory for Chennai City. [10] He then scored his third goal of the season a couple weeks later on 2 March against Minerva Punjab. His 5th-minute goal was the first in a 2–1 victory for Chennai City. [11]

After the 2017–18 season, Soosairaj was named the league's best midfielder by the All India Football Federation. [12]

Jamshedpur

On 9 March 2018, it was announced that Soosairaj had signed for Jamshedpur of the Indian Super League. [13] He scored 4 goals in 14 matches during the 2018–19 season. He was brilliant throughout the season playing as a left or right winger . He earned a lot of admiration for his performance. He was one of the standout Indian players of the season, and his performances led to him gaining his first international call-up.

ATK

Before the start of the 2019–20 season, Indian Super League side ATK activated the release clause of Michael Soosairaj as ₹90 lakh (equivalent to ₹1.1 croreor€140,000 in 2023) [14] Soosairaj scored against Mumbai City FC this season, assisting ATK in a 2–0 win. [15]

ATK Mohun Bagan

After the merger of ATK and Mohun Bagan, Soosairaj joined ATK Mohun Bagan, and was included in twenty-two men squad by manager Antonio Lopez Habas for the team's 2021 AFC Cup inter-zonal semifinal match against Uzbek side Nasaf. [16]

Odisha

On 28 May 2022, the Juggernauts secured the signature of Soosairaj, on a two-year deal. [17] [18]

Personal life

His elder brother Michael Regin is also a professional footballer. [19]

Career statistics

Club

As of 10 September 2022 [20]
ClubSeasonLeagueCup AFC Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chennai City 2016–17 I-League 1122 [lower-alpha 1] 0—132
2017–18 1831 [lower-alpha 1] 0—193
Chennai City total2953000325
Jamshedpur 2018–19 Indian Super League 14400—144
ATK 2019–20 20300—203
ATK Mohun Bagan 2020–21 1000—10
2021–22 50001 [lower-alpha 2] 060
ATK Mohun Bagan total60001070
Odisha 2022–23 Indian Super League003 [lower-alpha 3] 0—30
Career total691260107612
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in Super Cup
  2. ↑ Appearance(s) in AFC Cup
  3. ↑ Appearance(s) in Durand Cup

International

As of matches played till 5 June 2019 [21]
National teamYearAppsGoals
India 201910
Total10

Honours

India

Individual

Related Research Articles

Lenny Rodrigues is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Indian Super League club Odisha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shilton Paul</span> Indian footballer (born 1988)

Shilton Paul is an Indian professional footballer who last played as a goalkeeper for I-League club Churchill Brothers.

Pronay Halder is an Indian footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Indian Super League club Jamshedpur.

Rakshit Dagar is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Jamshedpur in the Indian Super League.

Vishal Kaith is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan SG.

The 2016–17 season was Mumbai F.C.'s eighth season in the I-League since its establishment in 2007. Mumbai were relegated to I-League 2nd division at the end of the season.

Lalthathanga Khawlhring, commonly known as Puitea, is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Indian Super League club Odisha.

Michael Regin is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Kickstart in the I-League 3.

Arshdeep Singh Saini is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Goa.

The 2016–17 season is the 33rd season in the history of Aizawl Football Club and their second in the I-League, India's top flight professional football league. The season began on 1 August 2016 and will conclude in May 2017. The club ended the I-League campaign as the champions after they were reinstated into the league after they were relegated the previous season. The club will also participate in the Federation Cup while they also made it to the semi-finals of the Mizoram Premier League and the Durand Cup.

The 2017–18 I-League was the 11th season of the I-League. Aizawl were the defending champions. NEROCA entered as the promoted team from the 2016–17 I-League 2nd Division. The season began on 25 November 2017.

Manvir Singh is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan SG and the India national team.

The 2017–18 season is East Bengal FC's 98th season in existence. The club has won the Calcutta Football League this season for the record consecutive 8th time. The Red and Gold Brigade finished 4th in the much-awaited 2017-18 I League campaign, coming ever so close once again. East Bengal reached the final of the inaugural Indian Super Cup being held at Bhubaneshwar but lost to Bengaluru FC by 4–1.

Naorem Nongdamba Singh is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indian Super League club Jamshedpur FC. He also represented India in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017.

The 2017–18 Mohun Bagan FC season was the club's 11th season in I-League and 128th season since its establishment in 1889. They finished 3rd in the I-League and runners-up in the Calcutta Football League. Mohun Bagan reached the semifinals of the Super Cup where they were defeated by Bengaluru.

The 2017–18 Minerva Punjab F.C. season was the 2nd season in the I-League. They finished the season as I-League Champions becoming the first team from North India to win the I-League since its inception.

The 2018–19 I-League was the 12th season of the I-League, the top Indian professional football league, since its establishment in 2007. The season started on 26 October 2018 and is scheduled to conclude in March 2019. Unlike the Indian Super League, the I-League did not take a mid-season break during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

The 2019–20 season was the Bengaluru FC's seventh season as club since its establishment in 2013.

The 2019–20 I-League was the 13th season of the I-League, one of the top Indian professional football leagues, since its establishment in 2007. A total of 11 teams competed in the league.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Prasad, Vishnu (21 March 2018). "Michael learns to rock". New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "TN squad for Santosh Trophy named". The Hindu. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Chennai City FC, Minerva Punjab FC Get Direct Entry Into I-League". News18. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  4. ↑ "Chennai City FC signs three players for ISL 2017-'18". Business Standard. 24 July 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Sudharshan, M (3 March 2023). "Chennai City FC owners transfer sporting license". khelnow.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  6. ↑ "Gokulam Kerala 1-1 Chennai City". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "Shivajians 2-0 Chennai City". Soccerway.
  8. ↑ "Minerva Punjab 0-2 Chennai City". Soccerway.
  9. ↑ "Churchill Brothers 5-1 Chennai City". Soccerway.
  10. ↑ "Chennai City 3-1 Churchill Brothers". Soccerway.
  11. ↑ "Chennai City 2-1 Minerva Punjab". Soccerway.
  12. ↑ "Minerva Punjab presented with winners' trophy; NEROCA's Gift Raikhan named season's best coach". FirstPost. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "Michael Soosairaj signs for Jamshedpur". Jamshedpur FC (Twitter).
  14. ↑ "ATK activates Rs. 90 Lakh release clause for Jamshedpur FC's Michael Soosairaj" . Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  15. ↑ Marar, Nandakumar. "ISL: Michael Soosairaj shines again". Sportstar.
  16. ↑ Kauko included in ATK Mohun Bagan squad The Hindu. Retrieved 18 September 2021
  17. ↑ "Juggernauts secure Soosai Raj's signature". odishafc.com. 28 May 2022.
  18. ↑ "Odisha FC set to sign Michael Soosairaj on two-year deal". khelnow.com. 28 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "Football blossoms in the land of Michael Soosairaj". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  20. ↑ Michael Soosairaj at Soccerway
  21. ↑ "Michael Soosairaj". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  22. ↑ "I-League 2017–18: Minerva Punjab presented with winners' trophy; NEROCA's Gift Raikhan named season's best coach". firstpost.com. Chandigarh: The FirstPost News. Press Trust of India. 22 March 2018. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.