Rajesh_S.
Rajesh S.
Indian footballer
Rajesh S is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a striker.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rajesh Soosainayagam | ||
| Date of birth | (1992-05-30) 30 May 1992 (age 31) | ||
| Place of birth | Pozhiyoor, Kerala, India | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward / Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| SMRC Pozhiyoor | |||
| United Kerala | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011-2013 | BEML | 6 | (3) |
| 2016–2017 | FC Thrissur Kerala | 7 | (6) |
| 2017-2018 | Viva Chennai | 7 | (6) |
| 2018-2020 | Gokulam Kerala | 15 | (2) |
| 2020–2021 | Chennai City | 12 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2018– | Indian Railways | 6 | (6) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:00 , 30 May 2021 (UTC) | |||
Rajesh S was born in Pozhiyoor, a fishing hamlet at the southernmost tip of Kerala. His father and three brothers are fishermen.[1] As a child, he was spotted by a local football coach who asked him to join the SMRC Pozhiyoor academy.[2]
Early career
Rajesh started his career at SMRC and played for SMRC and United Kerala in the Thiruvananthapuram Super Division.[1] He later joined BEML, a club in Bangalore. He has represented Karnataka and Railways in the Santosh Trophy and has scored 28 goals in total in the tournament. He scored 8 goals in 2018 Santosh Trophy for Karnataka and was adjudged as the best footballer in the tournament.[2]
Gokulam Kerala
Rajesh made his professional debut on 27 October 2018 against Mohun Bagan after coming on as a substitute in the second half. He played a part in his team's equalising goal and later forced a fingertip save from the keeper.[3] He scored his first I-League goal against Shillong Lajong on 11 November, registering a 3-1 win for his club.[4] In the next game he scored the solitary goal in a 1-0 win over defending champions Minerva Punjab.[5]
- "I-League 2018-19: From the family of Kerala's superheroes to Gokulam comes Rajesh | Goal.com". Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- "Rajesh aims to net more goals - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
- "I-League 2018-19: Poor second half from Mohun Bagan allows Gokulam Kerala to stage comeback | Goal.com". Retrieved 28 October 2018.
- "I-League 2018: Gokulam Kerala beat Shillong Lajong 3-1". Hindustan Times. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
- "Rajesh's strike hand Gokulam Kerala 1-0 win over Minerva Punjab". Hindustan Times. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- S Rajesh at Soccerway