Michael Soosairaj: Difference between revisions

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| fullname =  
| fullname =  
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|12|25|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|12|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Eraviputhenthurai]], India
| birth_place = [[Eraviputhenthurai]], Tamil Nadu
| height = {{height|m=1.74}}
| height = {{height|m=1.74}}
| currentclub = [[ATK Mohun Bagan]]
| currentclub = [[Odisha FC|Odisha]]
| clubnumber = 23
| clubnumber =  
| position = [[Midfielder (association football)|Midfielder]]/[[Defender (association football)|Wing back]]
| position = [[Midfielder#Winger|Winger]] / [[Midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 2011–2016
| youthyears1 = 2011–2016
| youthclubs1 = Arrows Football Club
| youthclubs1 = Arrows Football Club
| years1 = 2016–2018
| years1 = 2016–2018
| clubs1 = [[Chennai City F.C.|Chennai City]]
| clubs1 = [[Chennai City FC|Chennai City]]
| caps1 = 29
| caps1 = 29
| goals1 = 5
| goals1 = 5
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| caps3 = 20
| caps3 = 20
| goals3 = 3
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2020—
| years4 = 2020–2022
| clubs4 = [[ATK Mohun Bagan]]
| clubs4 = [[ATK Mohun Bagan FC|ATK Mohun Bagan]]
| caps4 = 1
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2022–
| clubs5 = [[Odisha FC|Odisha]]
| caps5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2019–
| nationalyears1 = 2019–
| nationalteam1 = [[India national football team|India]]
| nationalteam1 = [[India national football team|India]]
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 03:48, 21 November 2020 (UTC)
| club-update = 23:48, 3 March 2022 (UTC)
| ntupdate =  
| 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]].
'''Michael Soosairaj''' (born 25 December 1994), is an Indian professional [[association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]] for [[Indian Super League]] club [[Odisha FC|Odisha]] and the [[India national football team|India national team]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://odishafc.com/news/details/juggernauts-secure-soosai-raj-s-signature?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=smm&utm_campaign=twitter_smm_OFCxSoosaiRaj|title=Juggernauts secure Soosai Raj's signature|website=odishafc.com|date=28 May 2022}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
===Early career and Chennai City FC===
===Early career and Chennai City===
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>
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>


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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>
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===
===Jamshedpur===
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.
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.


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===ATK Mohun Bagan===
===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>
After the merger of [[ATK (football club)|ATK]] and [[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan]], Soosairaj joined [[ATK Mohun Bagan FC|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 [[FC Nasaf|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>
 
===Odisha===
On 28 May 2022, the [[Odisha FC|Juggernauts]] secured the signature of Soosairaj, on a two-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://odishafc.com/news/details/juggernauts-secure-soosai-raj-s-signature?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=smm&utm_campaign=twitter_smm_OFCxSoosaiRaj|title=Juggernauts secure Soosai Raj's signature|website=odishafc.com|date=28 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://khelnow.com/football/isl-atk-mohun-bagan-odisha-fc-sign-michael-soosairaj|title=Odisha FC set to sign Michael Soosairaj on two-year deal|website=khelnow.com|date=28 May 2022}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
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==Career statistics==
==Career statistics==
===Club===
===Club===
{{updated|14 March 2020}}<ref>{{soccerway|michael-soosairaj/471413}}</ref>
{{updated|3 March 2022}}<ref>{{soccerway|michael-soosairaj/471413}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
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!rowspan="2"|Season
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Super Cup
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|[[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]
!colspan="2"|Total
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Chennai City F.C.|Chennai City]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Chennai City FC|Chennai City]]
|[[2016–17 I-League|2016–17]]
|[[2016–17 I-League|2016–17]]
|rowspan="2"|[[I-League]]||11||2||—||—||—||—||11||2
| rowspan="2" |[[I-League]]
|11||2||2{{efn|name=SuperCup|Appearance(s) in [[Super Cup (India)|Super Cup]]}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||13||2
|-
|-
|[[2017–18 I-League|2017–18]]
|[[2017–18 I-League|2017–18]]
||18||3||1||0||—||—||19||3
|18||3||1{{efn|name=SuperCup}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||19||3
|-
| rowspan="1" |[[Jamshedpur FC|Jamshedpur]]
|[[2018–19 Jamshedpur FC season|2018–19]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Indian Super League]]
|14||4||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||14||4
|-
| rowspan="1" |[[ATK (football club)|ATK]]
|[[2019–20 ATK season|2019–20]]
|20||3||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||20||3
|-
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
| rowspan="2" |[[ATK Mohun Bagan FC|ATK Mohun Bagan]]
!29!!5!!1!!0!!0!!0!!30!!5
|[[2020–21 ATK Mohun Bagan FC season|2020–21]]
|1||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||1||0
|-
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Jamshedpur FC|Jamshedpur]]
|[[2021–22 ATK Mohun Bagan FC season|2021–22]]
|[[2018–19 Indian Super League season|2018–19]]
|5||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=statsAFCC|Appearance(s) in [[AFC Cup]]}}||0||6||0
|rowspan="2"|[[Indian Super League]]||14||4||1||0||0||0||15||4
|-
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[ATK (football club)|ATK]]
| rowspan="1" |[[Odisha FC|Odisha]]
|[[2019–20 Indian Super League season|2019–20]]
|[[2022–23 Indian Super League season|2022–23]]
||20||3||0||0||0||0||20||3
|0||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||0||0
|-
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
! colspan="3" |Career total
!63!!12!!2!!0!!0!!0!!65!!12
!69!!12!!3!!0!!1!!0!!73!!12
|}
|}
{{notelist}}


===International===
===International===

Latest revision as of 20:39, 28 May 2022

Michael Soosairaj
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-12-25) 25 December 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth Eraviputhenthurai, Tamil Nadu
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Winger / Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Odisha
Youth career
2011–2016 Arrows Football Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (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 0 (0)
National team
2019– India 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and 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 and the India national team.[1]

Career[edit | edit source]

Early career and Chennai City[edit | edit source]

Born in Eraviputhenthurai, Tamil Nadu, Soosairaj first moved to Chennai when he attended Madras Christian College.[2] 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.[2] After spending time with Arrows, Soosairaj joined another CFA Senior Division side, Chennai City.[2] He also played for Tamil Nadu in the Santosh Trophy.[3]

In December 2016, Chennai City FC were announced as a direct-entry side into the I-League, India's top-tier football league.[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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Before the start of the 2019–20 season, Indian Super League side ATK activated the release clause of Michael Soosairaj as ₹90 lakh (Template:INRConvert/EUR)[14] Soosairaj scored against Mumbai City FC this season, assisting ATK in a 2–0 win.[15]

ATK Mohun Bagan[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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

Personal life[edit | edit source]

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

Career statistics[edit | edit source]

Club[edit | edit source]

As of 3 March 2022[20]
Club Season League Cup AFC Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chennai City 2016–17 I-League 11 2 2<

[lower-alpha 1]||0|| colspan="2" |—||13||2

2017–18 18 3 1<

[lower-alpha 1]||0|| colspan="2" |—||19||3

Jamshedpur 2018–19 Indian Super League 14 4 0 0 — 14 4
ATK 2019–20 20 3 0 0 — 20 3
ATK Mohun Bagan 2020–21 1 0 0 0 — 1 0
2021–22 5 0 0 0 1<

[lower-alpha 2]||0||6||0

Odisha 2022–23 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Career total 69 12 3 0 1 0 73 12
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Appearance(s) in Super Cup
  2. ↑ Appearance(s) in AFC Cup

International[edit | edit source]

National team Year Apps Goals
India 2019 1 0
Total 1 0

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Juggernauts secure Soosai Raj's signature". odishafc.com. 28 May 2022.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Prasad, Vishnu (21 March 2018). "Michael learns to rock". New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "TN squad for Santosh Trophy named". The Hindu. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "Chennai City FC, Minerva Punjab FC Get Direct Entry Into I-League". News18. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "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.
  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
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