Damon Mirani

Damon Mirani
Mirani with Volendam in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-05-13) 13 May 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Monnickendam, Netherlands
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Heracles Almelo
Number 4
Youth career
VV Monnickendam
Volendam
2012–2016 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Jong Ajax 24 (0)
2016–2021 Almere City 163 (14)
2021–2024 Volendam 103 (10)
2024– Heracles Almelo 0 (0)
International career
2013 Netherlands U17 6 (2)
2013 Netherlands U18 2 (0)
2014–2015 Netherlands U19 6 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 May 2024

Damon Mirani (born 13 May 1996) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Eredivisie club Heracles Almelo.

Club career

Ajax

Mirani began his football career in the under-8 of VV Monnickendam before moving to Volendam. At the end of the 2011–12 season, he was admitted to the Ajax academy. On 15 March 2013, he signed his first professional contract with the club, binding him to the club until 30 June 2016. At the end of the 2012–13 season, Mirani was crowned Talent van De Toekomst (Talent of the Future) while playing for Ajax B1, the under-17 team.[1][2]

Mirani began the 2013–14 season playing for Ajax A1, the under-19 team. With the unavailability of several players, he made his professional debut for Jong Ajax against Achilles '29 in an Eerste Divisie match on 8 September 2013, coming on for Tom Noordhoff as a half-time substitute.[3] On 28 June 2014, Mirani made his unofficial debut for the Ajax first team in a friendly against SDC Putten which was won 13–1. Mirani replaced Kenny Tete after the break and scored the 7–0 from a corner-kick in the 50th minute.[4]

In March 2016, it was announced that Mirani's expiring contract would not be extended, which meant that he could start looking for a new club. Mirani made a total of 24 appearances for Jong Ajax in three seasons, and failed to make his official first-team debut.[5]

Almere City

On 31 May 2016, Mirani signed a two-year contract with Eerste Divisie club Almere City.[6] He made his official debut for Almere City on 5 August in an away match against Volendam. The match ended in a 1–1 draw.[7] Mirani quickly grew into a starter at centre-back for Almere. On 7 April 2017, he scored his first professional goal in a 3–2 league loss to VVV-Venlo.[8] He missed the end of the regular season and the playoffs due to an injury.[9]

Mirani remained a starter for the next three seasons, leading Almere City to the promotion playoffs three times without success. In 2018, they came closest but lost the final to De Graafschap.[10] Over five seasons, Mirani played 180 matches for Almere City, scoring 16 goals.[11]

Volendam

On 15 June 2021, Mirani moved to Volendam on a two-year contract, a club where he already worked part-time as a youth coach.[12] Mirani thus returned to the club he had left at sixteen for an opportunity at Ajax. At Volendam, he reunited with coach Wim Jonk, his former coach in the Ajax youth team. Mirani was appointed captain upon arrival and made an immediate impact by scoring the opening goal in his debut on August 6, 2021, against FC Eindhoven. The match ended in a 2–2 draw.[13] In his first season, Mirani was a starter and played every minute of every match.[11] On April 22, 2022, he helped Volendam secure promotion to the Eredivisie with a 2–1 victory over Den Bosch.[14]

In the 2022–23 season, Mirani continued to play every match in full until the winter break.[11] During the break, coach Wim Jonk named Carel Eiting as the new captain, replacing Mirani.[15] On January 14, 2023, in a match against RKC Waalwijk, Mirani was substituted for the first time in over sixty matches.[16] On April 21, he scored both goals in a 2–0 win against Cambuur.[17] Despite a loss to Go Ahead Eagles a month later, FC Volendam secured their Eredivisie status.[18]

In March 2024, Volendam announced that Mirani's contract was expiring and that he would decide on his future at the end of the season.[19] In May 2024, Volendam were relegated from the Eredivisie following a defeat against Ajax.[20]

Heracles

On 5 June 2024, Mirani signed a three-year contract with Heracles Almelo.[21]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jong Ajax 2013–14 Eerste Divisie 1 0 — — 1 0
2014–15 Eerste Divisie 4 0 — — 4 0
2015–16 Eerste Divisie 19 0 — — 19 0
Total 24 0 — — 24 0
Almere City 2016–17 Eerste Divisie 33 1 2 0 — 35 1
2017–18 Eerste Divisie 31 3 2 0 6[a] 3 39 6
2018–19 Eerste Divisie 32 4 2 0 2[a] 0 36 4
2019–20 Eerste Divisie 29 0 1 0 — 30 0
2020–21 Eerste Divisie 38 5 1 0 1[a] 0 40 5
Total 163 13 8 0 9 0 180 13
Volendam 2021–22 Eerste Divisie 38 4 1 0 — 39 4
2022–23 Eredivisie 31 3 2 0 — 33 3
2023–24 Eredivisie 34 3 1 0 — 35 3
Total 103 10 4 0 — 107 10
Heracles Almelo 2024–25 Eredivisie 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Career total 290 23 12 0 9 0 311 23
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in the Eerste Divisie promotion play-offs

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ Raalte, Sam van (11 June 2013). "Mirani uitgeroepen tot Talent van het Jaar". Ajax Showtime (in Dutch).
  2. ^ Bruijn, Thijs de (24 March 2020). "Waar zijn ze nu? De Ajacieden die verkozen werden tot Talent van de toekomst". Elfvoetbal.nl (in Dutch).
  3. ^ "Uitgekleed Jong Ajax over de knie bij Groesbeekse ex-amateurs" (in Dutch). 8 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Hattrick El Ghazi bij ruime zege Ajax:1-13". Ajax Showtime (in Dutch). 28 June 2014.
  5. ^ Jager, Jelmer (9 March 2016). "Mirani vertrekt na vier jaar bij Ajax". Ajax1.nl (in Dutch).
  6. ^ "Toekomst Almere City boegbeeld Mirani nog ongewis". Omroep Flevoland (in Dutch). 30 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Volendam vs. Almere City - 5 August 2016 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  8. ^ "VVV-Venlo – Almere City FC 3:2 (Eerste Divisie 2016/2017, 33. Round)". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Volle ziekenboeg bij City FC tijdens belangrijk paasweekeinde". Omroep Flevoland (in Dutch). 13 April 2017. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  10. ^ "De Graafschap terug in eredivisie na winst op Almere City". NOS (in Dutch). 20 May 2018. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  11. ^ a b c Damon Mirani at Soccerway
  12. ^ "Ook Damon Mirani vindt weg terug naar huis en versterkt FC Volendam". FC Volendam (in Dutch). 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  13. ^ Swagers, Stef (6 August 2021). "Tegentreffer in blessuretijd zorgt voor kater bij seizoenstart FC Volendam". NH Nieuws (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  14. ^ "FC Volendam keert na 13 jaar terug in eredivisie na benauwde zege in Den Bosch". NOS (in Dutch). 22 April 2022. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Carel Eiting nieuwe eerste aanvoerder FC Volendam". ESPN.nl (in Dutch). 6 January 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  16. ^ Smit, Gideon (15 January 2023). "Primeur voor Damon Mirani bij FC Volendam: hij wordt gewisseld. Dat had hij al ruim zestig wedstrijden niet meegemaakt". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  17. ^ Pus, Milton (21 April 2023). "Kopballen Mirani maken het verschil voor FC Volendam tegen Cambuur". NH Nieuws (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  18. ^ "FC Volendam blijft actief op hoogste niveau ondanks ruime nederlaag bij Go Ahead Eagles". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 21 May 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  19. ^ "FC Volendam licht optie Benamar; negen spelers vertrekken". FC Volendam (in Dutch). 29 March 2024. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  20. ^ "FC Volendam degradeert voor tiende keer uit eredivisie na verlies tegen Ajax". NOS (in Dutch). 5 May 2024. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  21. ^ "DAMON MIRANI TEKENT TOT MEDIO 2027 BIJ HERACLES ALMELO" [DAMON MIRANI SIGNS WITH HERACLES ALMELO UNTIL MID-2027] (in Dutch). Heracles Almelo. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Eight clubs represent the Eredivisie Team of the Month for April". Eredivisie. 5 May 2023. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.