Soroush Rafiei (Persian: سروش رفیعی) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays for Persian Gulf Pro League club Persepolis and the Iran national team.

Soroush Rafiei
Personal information
Full name Soroush Rafiei Telgary
Date of birth (1990-03-24) 24 March 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Tal-e Gar, Shiraz, Iran
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Persepolis
Number 7
Youth career
2005–2009 Fajr Sepasi
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Fajr Sepasi 40 (10)
2011–2017 Foolad 92 (38)
2015–2017Tractor (loan) 51 (5)
2017 Persepolis 34 (12)
2017–2018 Al-Khor 19 (5)
2018–2019 Persepolis 12 (0)
2018Foolad (loan) 14 (1)
2019–2020 Shahr Khodro 15 (3)
2020–2022 Sepahan 60 (8)
2022– Persepolis 59 (23)
International career
2014–2018 Iran 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 January 2015

Club career

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Fajr Sepasi

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He started his career with Fajr Sepasi and helped them to promote to the 2011–12 Persian Gulf Cup.

Foolad

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Rafiei, 28, was a member of Foolad football team from 2011 to 2017 and helped the Ahvaz-based football team win Iran Professional League (IPL) title in 2014.

Tractor

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In the summer of 2015 Rafiei signed a two–year contract with Tractor to spend his conscription period at the club.[1] In 2016, Rafiei has been linked with a move to Greek professional football club, AEK Athens in the next transfer window. Also, Persian giants Persepolis and Esteghlal Tehran showed interest in him.[2]

Persepolis

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Rafiei with Persepolis in Tehran derby in 2017

On 9 January 2017, Rafiei signed a 6-month contract with Persian Gulf Pro League club Persepolis.[3][4] He was given the number 7, which had previously been retired in honor of club legend Ali Parvin.[5] He scored a goal against Esteghlal in 84th Tehran Derby.[6] Rafiee returned to Persepolis for 2018–19 but due to fifa ban, he loaned to Foolad till winter.

Al-Khor

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Before June 2017, news and rumours linked Rafiei with a move to Al Sadd.[7][8] But before start of 2017–18 season, Rafiee joined the Qatari Al-Khor football team for one year, and wore number 7 in the team.[9] At the end of the season, Al-Khor picked up an alternate player for Rafiei and did not renew his contract with the club.[10] He considered playing in Iran's football league more difficult than playing in Qatar.[11]

Return to Persepolis

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On 8 July 2018, Rafiei joined Persepolis on a new 18-month deal.[12]

Return to Foolad

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On 24 July 2018, Rafiei joined Foolad on a new 6-month deal.[13][14]

Shahr Khodro

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In August 2019, Rafiei joined Shahr Khodro on a two-year deal.[15][16]

Sepahan

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Rafiei playing for Sepahan against Esteghlal in August 2020

On 13 January 2020, Rafiei joined Sepahan S.C. on a 18-month deal.[17][18] In Sepahan, he played a key role in the middle of the field. He had a high number of assists for Sepahan.[19]

Return to Persepolis

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On 15 June 2022, Rafiei joined Persian Gulf Pro League side Persepolis on a new two-year deal. This was his third contract with Persepolis.[20][21]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 30 October 2024
Club Division Season League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fajr Sepasi Pro League 2009–10 20 5 0 0 20 5
Azadegan League 2010–11 20 5 0 0 20 5
Total 40 10 0 0 _ 40 10
Foolad Pro League 2011–12 19 1 1 1 20 2
2012–13 16 1 0 0 16 1
2013–14 29 3 2 1 8 0 39 4
2014–15 15 7 1 0 1 0 17 7
Total 79 12 4 2 9 0 92 14
Tractor (loan) Pro League 2015–16 25 4 2 0 7 0 34 4
2016–17 14 1 3 0 17 1
Total 39 5 5 0 7 0 51 5
Persepolis Pro League 2016–17 14 3 0 0 7 1 21 4
Total 14 3 0 0 7 1 21 4
Al-Khor QSL 2017–18 19 5 1 0 20 5
Total 19 5 1 0 20 5
Persepolis Pro League 2018–19 12 1 3 0 5 0 20 1
Total 12 1 3 0 5 0 20 1
Foolad (loan) Pro League 2018–19 6 0 0 0 6 0
Total 6 0 0 0 6 0
Shahr Khodro Pro League 2019 10 0 1 0 0 0 11 0
Total 10 0 1 0 0 0 11 0
Sepahan Pro League 2020 11 2 1 0 6 1 18 3
2020–21 26 2 0 0 26 2
2021–22 23 2 2 0 6 1 31 3
Total 60 6 3 0 12 2 75 8
Persepolis Pro League 2022–23 25 1 5 0 30 1
2023–24 27 0 1 0 6 0 34 0
2024–25 7 0 0 0 3 0 10 0
Total 59 1 6 0 9 0 74 1
Career total 338 43 23 2 49 3 410 48

International career

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Rafiei and Andranik Teymourian in Iran national football team training

He was called up to the Iran national football team in October 2014 by Carlos Queiroz. He made his debut in a match against South Korea on 18 November 2014. He was called into Iran's 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad on 30 December 2014 by Carlos Queiroz.[22] In May 2018 he was named in Iran's preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia[23] but did not make the final 23.[24]

Style of play

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Rafiei playing for Persepolis in the ACL 2017

Rafiei is a technical playmaker.[25] In Iranian sports media, he has been mentioned as "a midfielder who dribbles as cool as ever and his playing is just enough".[26]

Argentinian manager and former player, Gabriel Calderón criticized his style of play due to "lack of speed" in his game plan.[27]

Personal life

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Rafiei was born in Shiraz, Iran and started playing football in his hometown.[28] He has announced that he has been a fan of Persepolis since he was a child.[29][30]

Honours

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Foolad
Persepolis

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "سروش رفیعی به تراکتورسازی پیوست- اخبار ورزشی تسنیم | Tasnim". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Soroush Rafiei linked with AEK Athens". Tehran Times. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  3. ^ "سروش رفیعی به پرسپولیس پیوست". طرفداری (in Persian). 9 January 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  4. ^ "سروش رفیعی به پرسپولیس پیوست + عکس- اخبار ورزشی تسنیم | Tasnim". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  5. ^ ""۷" پرسپولیس بر تن سروش رفیعی". ایسنا (in Persian). 9 January 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  6. ^ "گل سوم سروش رفیعی به استقلال / گلزنی با طعم شماره هفت پرسپولیس (ویدیو)". خبرگزاری ایلنا (in Persian). Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Iran's Soroush Rafiei Linked with Qatar's Al Sadd - Sports news". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  8. ^ "سروش رفیعی در راه قطر؛ بازیکن پرسپولیس هم بازی ژاوی در السد می شود؟". طرفداری (in Persian). 1 June 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Soroush Rafiei Officially Joins Qatar's Al-Khor - PersianLeague.Com (Iran Football League)". www.persianleague.com. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  10. ^ "الخور با جایگزین سروش رفیعی قرارداد امضا کرد". ایسنا (in Persian). 2 July 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Iran Professional League Tougher than Qatar Stars League: Soroush Rafiei - Sports news". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  12. ^ "سروش رفیعی به پرسپولیس پیوست (عکس)". ورزش سه (in Persian). Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  13. ^ "پیوستن سروش رفیعی به تیم فولاد در نیم فصل اول لیگ برتر". خبرگزاری موج (in Persian). Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  14. ^ "بازگشت رفیعی به تمرینات فولاد/ ناراحتی باشگاه از سروش | خبرگزاری فارس". www.farsnews.ir. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  15. ^ "رفیعی به شهرخودرو پیوست". ایسنا (in Persian). 8 August 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  16. ^ "سروش رفیعی به شهرخودرو پیوست + عکس". سازمان لیگ فوتبال ایران (in Persian). Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  17. ^ "رسمی؛ سروش رفیعی به سپاهان پیوست". ورزش سه (in Persian). Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  18. ^ "سروش رفیعی به سپاهان پیوست". ایرنا (in Persian). 13 January 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  19. ^ ایران, سایت خبرگزاری وانا| رسانه مستقل. "آمار فوق العاده دو ستاره پرسپولیس". fa (in Persian). Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Persepolis complete fifth signing". Tehran Times. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  21. ^ "رفیعی: آرزو می‌کنم باز هم شماره هفتِ پرسپولیس را بپوشم". ایرنا (in Persian). 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Queiroz Names Team Melli Squad". afcasiancup.com. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  23. ^ "World Cup 2018: All the confirmed squads for this summer's finals in Russia".
  24. ^ "Carlos Queiroz Names Provisional Iran Squad for FIFA World Cup 2018". IFPNews.com.
  25. ^ "سروش رفیعی در آستانه بازگشت به پرسپولیس". اعتمادآنلاین (in Persian). Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  26. ^ "سبک بازی سروش رفیعی: فانتزی، شیک و مجلسی". فرتاک ورزشی (in Persian). Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  27. ^ "روزنامه خراسان". khorasanrazavi.khorasannews.com. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  28. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Soroush Rafiei (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  29. ^ "سروش رفیعی: از بچگی پرسپولیسی بودم/ می‌خواهم از اینجا لژیونر شوم". ایسنا (in Persian). 9 January 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  30. ^ "رفیعی: از بچگی پرسپولیسی بودم و با دلم انتخاب کردم/ بعد از من نظر همه درباره شماره 7 عوض می شود- اخبار ورزشی تسنیم | Tasnim". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 10 August 2022.
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