Michael Soosairaj | |
Birth Date: | 25 December 1994 |
Birth Place: | Eraviputhenthurai, Tamil Nadu |
Currentclub: | Gokulam Kerala |
Position: | Winger / Midfielder |
Youthyears1: | 2011–2016 |
Youthclubs1: | Arrows Football Club |
Years1: | 2016–2018 |
Clubs1: | Chennai City |
Caps1: | 29 |
Goals1: | 5 |
Years2: | 2018–2019 |
Clubs2: | Jamshedpur |
Caps2: | 14 |
Goals2: | 4 |
Years3: | 2019–2020 |
Clubs3: | ATK |
Caps3: | 20 |
Goals3: | 3 |
Years4: | 2020–2022 |
Clubs4: | ATK Mohun Bagan |
Caps4: | 6 |
Goals4: | 0 |
Years5: | 2022–2024 |
Clubs5: | Odisha |
Caps5: | 2 |
Goals5: | 0 |
Years6: | 2024– |
Clubs6: | Gokulam Kerala |
Caps6: | 0 |
Goals6: | 0 |
Nationalyears1: | 2019 |
Nationalteam1: | India |
Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
Club-Update: | 23:48, 27 October 2023 (UTC) |
Michael Soosairaj (born 25 December 1994) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for I-League club Gokulam Kerala.
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]
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.
Before the start of the 2019–20 season, Indian Super League side ATK activated the release clause of Michael Soosairaj as [14] Soosairaj scored against Mumbai City FC this season, assisting ATK in a 2–0 win.[15]
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]
On 28 May 2022, the Juggernauts secured the signature of Soosairaj, on a two-year deal.[17] [18]
His elder brother Michael Regin is also a professional footballer.[19]
Club | Season | League | Cup | AFC | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
Chennai City | 2016–17 | I-League | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 13 | 2 | ||
2017–18 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 19 | 3 | ||||
Total | 29 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 5 | |||
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 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |||
Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||
Odisha | 2022–23 | Indian Super League | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
2023–24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
Total | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||
Gokulam Kerala | 2024–25 | I-League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
Career total | 71 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 80 | 12 |
India
Individual