Sosha Makani (Persian: سوشا مكانى; born 18 November 1986) is an Iranian former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Makani also played for the Iran national football team.

Sosha Makani
Personal information
Full name Sosha Makani
Date of birth (1986-11-18) November 18, 1986 (age 37)
Place of birth Bandar-e Anzali, Iran
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 3+12 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
KFUM Oslo
Number 1
Youth career
2004–2006 Fajr Sepasi
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Fajr Sepasi 42 (1)
2008–2010 Pas Hamedan 44 (0)
2010–2011 Steel Azin 10 (0)
2011–2013 Naft Tehran 57 (0)
2013–2014 Foolad 15 (0)
2014–2016 Persepolis 38 (0)
2016–2019 Mjøndalen 39 (0)
2017Strømsgodset (loan) 1 (0)
2018Sanat Naft (loan) 7 (0)
2019–2020 Naft MIS 11 (0)
2020–2023 Mjøndalen 90 (0)
2023 KFUM Oslo 0 (0)
International career
2007 Iran U23 6 (0)
2012–2018 Iran 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 July 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 November 2016

Club career

edit

Fajr Sepasi

edit

Makani started his career with Fajr Sepasi and stayed at the club for two seasons. He played 42 matches for the club and also scored a goal.

Pas Hamedan

edit

He joined Pas Hamedan in the summer of 2008 and signed a two-year contract keeping him at the club until the end of the 2009–10 season. He ended up playing 44 games for the club.

Steel Azin

edit

He joined Steel Azin in the summer of 2010 and signed a one-year contract keeping him at the club until the end of the 2010–11 season. He only featured in 10 games for the club.

Naft Tehran

edit

He joined Naft Tehran in the summer of 2011 signing a three-year contract with the club keeping him there until the end of the 2013–14 season. He played 56 games for the club.

Foolad

edit

Makani joined Foolad during the winter transfer window of the 2013–14 season. Makani helped Foolad win the 2013–14 Iran Pro League title, and also reach the knockout stages of the 2014 AFC Champions League.[1]

Persepolis

edit

After becoming the Pro League's champions with Foolad and also recording 13 clean sheets in 2013–14 Iran Pro League the fourth best in the league. Makani decided to join Persepolis in the summer of 2014 and signed a two-year contract keeping him at the club until the end of 2015–16 season.[2] Makani became the starter for the club in the middle of the 2014–15 season after then-manager Hamid Derakhshan decided to sell Perspolis' first choice goalkeeper Nilson Correa Junior.

Mjøndalen

edit

On 21 June 2016, Makani joined Mjøndalen for a one-week trial.[3] After a successful trial Makani on 30 June 2016 signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the club.[4] Makani made his debut for Mjøndalen on 7 August 2016, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw at home against Ullensaker/Kisa.

Strømsgodset

edit

On 25 January 2017, Makani signed for Strømsgodset on loan until 14 August 2017.[5]

International career

edit

Under-23

edit

Makani has played 6 games for the Iran national under-23 football team.

Senior

edit

In 2012 Makani was invited to the Iranian national team by Carlos Queiroz to play in the 2012 WAFF Championship.

Makani was suspended for the opening game against Nigeria in the 2014 FIFA World Cup after the World Cup qualifying post-match altercation[6] against South Korea on 18 June 2013.[7][8] He was selected in Iran's 30-man provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup by Queiroz.[9] However, he was not included in the final list.

Controversy

edit

On 4 January 2016, Makani was arrested for posting pictures on social media that displayed two unveiled women. The photos were deemed to be anti-Islamic, and the arrest came following an alleged complaint by private plaintiffs. The official charge against Makani was, "publishing pictures that lead to the spread of corruption and prostitution in society". However, Makani's lawyer contested that his social media accounts had been hacked and that the information was posted by two other individuals. Makani was sent to Evin Prison but was released shortly later and returned to Persepolis training in early 2016. On 8 June 2016, Makani was suspended for six months from playing football by the Disciplinary Committee.[10][11][12]

Club career statistics

edit
As of 21 August 2021
Club Division Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fajr Sepasi Pro League 2006–07 18 0 0 0 18 0
2007–08 24 1 0 0 24 1
Fajr Sepasi total 42 1 0 0 42 1
Pas Hamedan Pro League 2008–09 15 0 4 0 19 0
2009–10 29 0 0 0 29 0
Pas Hamedan total 44 0 4 0 48 0
Steel Azin Pro League 2010–11 10 0 0 0 10 0
Naft Tehran 2011–12 32 0 0 0 32 0
2012–13 18 0 0 0 18 0
2013–14 7 0 2 0 9 0
Naft Tehran total 57 0 2 0 59 0
Foolad Pro League 2013–14 15 0 2 0 7 0 24 0
Persepolis 2014–15 20 0 4 0 8 0 32 0
2015–16 18 0 2 0 20 0
Persepolis total 38 0 6 0 8 0 52 0
Mjøndalen OBOS-ligaen 2016 12 0 0 0 1 0 13 0
Strømsgodset (loan) Eliteserien 2017 1 0 0 0 1 0
Mjøndalen OBOS-ligaen 2017 12 0 2 0 2 0 16 0
Sanat Naft (loan) Pro League 2017-18 6 0 1 0 7 0
Mjøndalen OBOS-ligaen 2018 10 0 0 0 10 0
Eliteserien 2019 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mjøndalen total 34 0 2 0 3 0 39 0
Naft Masjed Soleyman Pro League 2019–20 11 0 0 0 11 0
Naft Masjed total 11 0 0 0 11 0
Mjøndalen Eliteserien 2020 30 0 0 0 30 0
2021 30 0 0 0 30 0
Mjøndalen total 60 0 0 0 43 0
Career total 308 1 17 0 15 0 3 0 343 1

Honours

edit
Foolad

References

edit
  1. ^ Play in Aia/
  2. ^ Makani joined Persepolis
  3. ^ Mjøndalen IF tests Iranian national team goalkeeper; Drammens Tidende. 21 June 2016 (in Norwegian)
  4. ^ Johnsen, Roy; Høibakk Bergquist, Mathias (30 June 2016). "Makani signerte for Mjøndalen" [Makani signed with Mjøndalen]. dt.no (in Norwegian). Drammen Tidende. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Ny keeper til Godset". godset.no (in Norwegian). Strømsgodset. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  6. ^ Video on YouTube
  7. ^ "Match suspensions to be served at the final competition of the FIFA World Cup". FIFA. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Discussion Board". PersianFootball.com. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Team Melli final 30 given to FIFA". Persian Football. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Iranian footballer suspended for wearing SpongeBob trousers". The Guardian. 2016-06-08.
  11. ^ "Iranian Soccer Player Jailed Over Photos With Unveiled Women". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty.
  12. ^ Haisley, Billy. "Iranian Goalkeeper Arrested For Posting "Indecent" Photos Of Himself With Women".
edit