Chadi Cheikh Merai

Chadi
Personal information
Full name Chadi Cheick Merai
Date of birth (1976-01-20) 20 January 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth Latakia, Syria
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Pietrasanta Marina
Youth career
1991–1995 Teshrin
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1999 Teshrin
1999–2000 San Gimignano 25 (4)
2000–2002 U.S. Poggibonsi 43 (8)
2002–2003 Grosseto 9 (3)
Jan. 2003 Montevarchi 13 (2)
2003–2006 Massese 90 (7)
2006–2008 SPAL 41 (3)
2008–2011 Lucchese 62 (2)
2011 Carrarese 5 (0)
2011– Pietrasanta Marina
International career‡
1995–1997 Syria U-19
1996–1998 Syria 7 (0)
Managerial career
2012– Pietrasanta Marina
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 June 2011
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 April 2010

Chadi Cheikh Merai (Arabic: شادي مرعي; born 20 January 1976), also known as Chadi, is a Syrian footballer who plays for and manages Pietrasanta Marina in the regional Eccellenza football division for clubs in Tuscany, Italy.[1]

He played for Massese and Lucchese in the third highest football league in Italy.[2] He has an Italian passport, too.

Club career

Cheick Merai was born in Latakia, Syria and started his career at local club Teshrin.

  • He went to Italy in 1999[3] and he started his Italian senior career on Serie D, the top level of the Italian non-professional football association.
  • In the season 2001–2002 he played his first match on Serie C2, the fourth highest football league in Italy, the first with a professional status. Chadi so is the first Syrian footballer[4] playing in an Italian professional team.
  • In the season 2002–2003 Chadi scored two goals[5] against Fiorentina.[6]
  • In the season 2005–2006 he reached Serie C1, the third highest Italian football league.
  • As a player for Carrarese[7] he played the last professional championship in the season 2011–2012.

International career

Chadi was part of the Syria national team between 1996 and 1998. He holds 7 caps.

Coaching career

In August 2012 Pietrasanta Marina announced on their official website that Chadi signed a deal with the club.[8]

Honours

Player

Syria

References

  1. ^ Radio Bruno Toscana. "Chadi allenatore-giocatore e Fabrizio Giovannini ds: ecco il nuovo Pietrasanta!" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  2. ^ Smart Betting. "Lucchese vs Bassano Virtus". Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  3. ^ Il Tirreno. "Voglio vincere anche con la Carrarese" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  4. ^ Il Tirreno. "Pera, Chadi e Mariotti: prendi tre cedi due" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 10 July 2012.
  5. ^ Fiorentina.it. "Grosseto-Fiorentina 2–0" (in Italian). Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  6. ^ Biancorossi.it. "La Storia del Grosseto" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  7. ^ Calciotoscano.it. "Carrarese, Nelso Ricci: "Con Pera, Chadi e Mariotti abbiamo fatto un notevole passo in avanti"" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  8. ^ PietrasantaMarina.it. "1° Agosto 2012, partiti!" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.
  9. ^ l'Unità. "E' a Massa il pallone dei record" (in Italian). Retrieved 21 March 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ Il Tirreno. "Chadi, il leader del centrocampo specialista in doppie promozioni" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  11. ^ Rai Sport. "Carrarese – Prato 2–0" (in Italian). Retrieved 16 June 2011.