2405:205:150A:D014:0:0:1CA4:40A0: robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)

2022-05-28T15:09:14Z

robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)

->Kline: Changing short description from "Indian football player" to "Indian footballer" (Shortdesc helper)

2021-12-17T01:51:52Z

Changing short description from "Indian football player" to "Indian footballer" (Shortdesc helper)

New page

{{Short description|Indian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Michael Soosairaj
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|12|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Eraviputhenthurai]], India
| height = {{height|m=1.74}}
| currentclub = [[ATK Mohun Bagan]]
| clubnumber = 23
| position = [[Midfielder (association football)|Midfielder]]/[[Defender (association football)|Wing back]]
| youthyears1 = 2011–2016
| youthclubs1 = Arrows Football Club
| years1 = 2016–2018
| clubs1 = [[Chennai City F.C.|Chennai City]]
| caps1 = 29
| goals1 = 5
| years2 = 2018–2019
| clubs2 = [[Jamshedpur FC|Jamshedpur]]
| caps2 = 14
| goals2 = 4
| years3 = 2019–2020
| clubs3 = [[ATK (football club)|ATK]]
| caps3 = 20
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2020—
| clubs4 = [[ATK Mohun Bagan]]
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2019–
| nationalteam1 = [[India national football team|India]]
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 03:48, 21 November 2020 (UTC)
| ntupdate =
}}

'''Michael Soosairaj''' (born 25 December 1994 at [[Eraviputhenthurai]], [[Kaniyakumari]], [[Tamil Nadu]]) is an Indian professional [[association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[midfielder]] for the club [[ATK Mohun Bagan FC|ATK Mohun Bagan]] and the [[India national football team|Indian National Team]].

==Career==
===Early career and Chennai City FC===
Born in [[Eraviputhenthurai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], Soosairaj first moved to [[Chennai]] when he attended [[Madras Christian College]].<ref name="MLR">{{cite news|last1=Prasad|first1=Vishnu|title=Michael learns to rock|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2018/mar/21/michael-learns-to-rock-1790116.html|accessdate=13 April 2018|work=New Indian Express|date=21 March 2018}}</ref> At the age of 10 he started training with his local football club/academy St. Catherine FC 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.<ref name="MLR"/> After spending time with Arrows, Soosairaj joined another CFA Senior Division side, [[Chennai City F.C.|Chennai City]].<ref name="MLR"/> He also played for [[Tamil Nadu football team|Tamil Nadu]] in the [[Santosh Trophy]].<ref>{{cite news|title=TN squad for Santosh Trophy named|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/tn-squad-for-santosh-trophy-named/article8281249.ece|accessdate=17 January 2017|work=The Hindu|date=25 February 2016}}</ref>

In December 2016, Chennai City FC were announced as a direct-entry side into the [[I-League]], India's top-tier football league.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chennai City FC, Minerva Punjab FC Get Direct Entry Into I-League|url=https://www.news18.com/news/sports/chennai-city-fc-minerva-punjab-fc-get-direct-entry-into-i-league-1321768.html|accessdate=13 April 2018|work=News18|date=11 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chennai City FC signs three players for ISL 2017-'18 |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/chennai-city-fc-signs-three-players-for-isl-2017-18-117072400782_1.html |accessdate=6 April 2018 |work=Business Standard |date=24 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408010239/http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/chennai-city-fc-signs-three-players-for-isl-2017-18-117072400782_1.html |archive-date=8 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> He made his professional debut for the club on 4 December 2017 in Chennai City's second match of the [[2017–18 I-League|2017–18 season]] against [[Gokulam Kerala F.C.|Gokulam Kerala]]. Pandiyan started and played the whole match as Chennai City drew 1–1.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gokulam Kerala 1-1 Chennai City |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2017/12/04/india/i-league/gokulam/chennai-city/2683970/ |website=Soccerway |access-date=7 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619064858/https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2017/12/04/india/i-league/gokulam/chennai-city/2683970/ |archive-date=19 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 17 January 2017, Soosairaj made his professional debut in the [[I-League]] for Chennai City against [[DSK Shivajians F.C.|DSK Shivajians]]. He came on as a 61st-minute substitute for [[Malsawmfela]] despite Chennai City losing 2–0.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shivajians 2-0 Chennai City|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2017/01/17/india/i-league/dsk-shivajians/chennai-city/2383747/|website=Soccerway}}</ref>

On 8 April 2018, Soosairaj scored his first professional goal in the league against [[Minerva Punjab F.C.|Minerva Punjab]]. His 41st-minute goal was the first in a 2–0 victory.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minerva Punjab 0-2 Chennai City|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2017/04/08/india/i-league/india-minerva-fc/chennai-city/2391606/|website=Soccerway}}</ref> He then scored his second goal of the season a few weeks later on 22 April against [[Churchill Brothers S.C.|Churchill Brothers]]. This time, Soosairaj scored Chennai City's only goal in the 54th minute as they lost 5–1.<ref>{{cite web|title=Churchill Brothers 5-1 Chennai City|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2017/04/22/india/i-league/churchill-brothers-sc/chennai-city/2433182/|website=Soccerway}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chennai City 3-1 Churchill Brothers|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/02/17/india/i-league/chennai-city/churchill-brothers-sc/2684036/|website=Soccerway}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chennai City 2-1 Minerva Punjab|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/03/02/india/i-league/chennai-city/india-minerva-fc/2684046/|website=Soccerway}}</ref>

After the [[2017–18 I-League|2017–18 season]], Soosairaj was named the league's best midfielder by the [[All India Football Federation]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Minerva Punjab presented with winners' trophy; NEROCA's Gift Raikhan named season's best coach|url=https://www.firstpost.com/sports/i-league-2017-18-minerva-punjab-presented-with-winners-trophy-nerocas-gift-raikhan-named-seasons-best-coach-4401551.html|accessdate=13 April 2018|work=FirstPost|date=22 March 2018}}</ref>

===Jamshedpur FC===
On 9 March 2018, it was announced that Soosairaj had signed for [[Jamshedpur FC|Jamshedpur]] of the [[Indian Super League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Soosairaj signs for Jamshedpur|url=https://twitter.com/JamshedpurFC/status/972066089466146817|website=Jamshedpur FC (Twitter)}}</ref> 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 (football club)|ATK]] activated the release clause of Michael Soosairaj as {{INRConvert|90 |l|to=EUR|year=2019}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/atk-activates-90-lakh-release-clause-for-jamshedpur-fc-attacker-michael-soosairaj-isl-transfer-news/article26946405.ece|title=ATK activates Rs. 90 Lakh release clause for Jamshedpur FC's Michael Soosairaj|access-date=2020-01-11}}</ref> Soosairaj scored against Mumbai City FC this season, assisting ATK in a 2–0 win.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/isl/isl-mumbai-city-vs-atk-michael-soosairaj-cartwheel-celebration-antonio-habas-amrinder-singh-indian-football/article30485805.ece|title=ISL: Michael Soosairaj shines again|first=Nandakumar|last=Marar|website=Sportstar}}</ref>

===ATK Mohun Bagan===
After the merger of ATK and Mohun Bagan AC, Soosairaj joined [[ATK Mohun Bagan FC]], 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 [[FC Nasaf]].<ref>[https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/kauko-included-in-atk-mb-squad-for-afc-cup/article36525247.ece/amp/ Kauko included in ATK Mohun Bagan squad] ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 18 September 2021</ref>

==Personal life==
His elder brother [[Michael Regin]] is also a professional footballer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Football blossoms in the land of Michael Soosairaj|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/michael-soosairaj-eraviputhenthurai-village-indian-football-talent-hunt-lijo-shyjin/article26037764.ece |publisher=sportstar.thehindu.com |accessdate=25 April 2019}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{{updated|14 March 2020}}<ref>{{soccerway|michael-soosairaj/471413}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Super Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Chennai City F.C.|Chennai City]]
|[[2016–17 I-League|2016–17]]
|rowspan="2"|[[I-League]]||11||2||—||—||—||—||11||2
|-
|[[2017–18 I-League|2017–18]]
||18||3||1||0||—||—||19||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!29!!5!!1!!0!!0!!0!!30!!5
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Jamshedpur FC|Jamshedpur]]
|[[2018–19 Indian Super League season|2018–19]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Indian Super League]]||14||4||1||0||0||0||15||4
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[ATK (football club)|ATK]]
|[[2019–20 Indian Super League season|2019–20]]
||20||3||0||0||0||0||20||3
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!63!!12!!2!!0!!0!!0!!65!!12
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[India national football team|India]]
|2019
|1
|0
|-
! colspan="2" |Total!!1!!0
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{ATK Mohun Bagan FC squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soosairaj, Michael}}
[[Category:1994 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Chennai City FC players]]
[[Category:Jamshedpur FC players]]
[[Category:Association football midfielders]]
[[Category:I-League players]]
[[Category:ATK (football club) players]]
[[Category:Indian Super League players]]
[[Category:India international footballers]]
[[Category:ATK Mohun Bagan FC players]]

Michael Soosairaj - Revision history

2405:205:150A:D014:0:0:1CA4:40A0: robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)

->Kline: Changing short description from "Indian football player" to "Indian footballer" (Shortdesc helper)