| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 December 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Eraviputhenthurai, India | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder/Wing back | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | ATK Mohun Bagan | ||
| Number | 23 | ||
| 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— | ATK Mohun Bagan | 1 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2019– | India | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 03:48, 21 November 2020 (UTC) | |||
Michael Soosairaj (born 25 December 1994 at Eraviputhenthurai, Kaniyakumari, Tamil Nadu) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the club ATK Mohun Bagan and the 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.[1] 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.[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] 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.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]
After the 2017–18 season, Soosairaj was named the league's best midfielder by the All India Football Federation.[11]
Jamshedpur FC
On 9 March 2018, it was announced that Soosairaj had signed for Jamshedpur of the Indian Super League.[12] 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 (Template:INRConvert/EUR)[13] Soosairaj scored against Mumbai City FC this season, assisting ATK in a 2–0 win.[14]
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.[15]
Personal life
His elder brother Michael Regin is also a professional footballer.[16]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 14 March 2020[17]
| Club | Season | League | Super Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Chennai City | 2016–17 | I-League | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 2 |
| 2017–18 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 3 | ||
| Total | 29 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 5 | ||
| Jamshedpur | 2018–19 | Indian Super League | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 |
| ATK | 2019–20 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | |
| Career total | 63 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 12 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Prasad, Vishnu (21 March 2018). "Michael learns to rock". New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ↑ "TN squad for Santosh Trophy named". The Hindu. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
- ↑ "Chennai City FC, Minerva Punjab FC Get Direct Entry Into I-League". News18. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Gokulam Kerala 1-1 Chennai City". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ↑ "Shivajians 2-0 Chennai City". Soccerway.
- ↑ "Minerva Punjab 0-2 Chennai City". Soccerway.
- ↑ "Churchill Brothers 5-1 Chennai City". Soccerway.
- ↑ "Chennai City 3-1 Churchill Brothers". Soccerway.
- ↑ "Chennai City 2-1 Minerva Punjab". Soccerway.
- ↑ "Minerva Punjab presented with winners' trophy; NEROCA's Gift Raikhan named season's best coach". FirstPost. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ↑ "Michael Soosairaj signs for Jamshedpur". Jamshedpur FC (Twitter).
- ↑ "ATK activates Rs. 90 Lakh release clause for Jamshedpur FC's Michael Soosairaj". Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ↑ Marar, Nandakumar. "ISL: Michael Soosairaj shines again". Sportstar.
- ↑ Kauko included in ATK Mohun Bagan squad The Hindu. Retrieved 18 September 2021
- ↑ "Football blossoms in the land of Michael Soosairaj". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- ↑ Michael Soosairaj at Soccerway