Michael Soosairaj

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Michael Soosairaj
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-12-25) 25 December 1994 (age 27)
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 (equivalent to ₹95 lakh or €110,000 in 2020)[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. ^ a b c 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. ^ "Gokulam Kerala 1-1 Chennai City". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Shivajians 2-0 Chennai City". Soccerway.
  7. ^ "Minerva Punjab 0-2 Chennai City". Soccerway.
  8. ^ "Churchill Brothers 5-1 Chennai City". Soccerway.
  9. ^ "Chennai City 3-1 Churchill Brothers". Soccerway.
  10. ^ "Chennai City 2-1 Minerva Punjab". Soccerway.
  11. ^ "Minerva Punjab presented with winners' trophy; NEROCA's Gift Raikhan named season's best coach". FirstPost. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Michael Soosairaj signs for Jamshedpur". Jamshedpur FC (Twitter).
  13. ^ "ATK activates Rs. 90 Lakh release clause for Jamshedpur FC's Michael Soosairaj". Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  14. ^ Marar, Nandakumar. "ISL: Michael Soosairaj shines again". Sportstar.
  15. ^ Kauko included in ATK Mohun Bagan squad The Hindu. Retrieved 18 September 2021
  16. ^ "Football blossoms in the land of Michael Soosairaj". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  17. ^ Michael Soosairaj at Soccerway
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