Soroush Rafiei
Iranian footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Soroush Rafiei (Persian: سروش رفیعی) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays for Persian Gulf Pro League club Persepolis and the Iran national team.
|
Rafiei with Persepolis at the 2017 AFC Champions League | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Soroush Rafiei Telgary | ||
| Date of birth | 24 March 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Tal-e Gar, Shiraz, Iran | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | 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 | 3 | (2) |
| 2011–2017 | Foolad | 84 | (12) |
| 2015–2017 | → Tractor (loan) | 39 | (5) |
| 2017– | Persepolis | 126 | (10) |
| 2017–2018 | Al-Khor | 19 | (5) |
| 2019–2020 | Shahr Khodro | 14 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | Sepahan | 61 | (6) |
| International career | |||
| 2014–2018 | Iran | 4 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 February 2026 | |||
Club career
Fajr Sepasi
He started his career with Fajr Sepasi and helped them to promote to the 2011–12 Persian Gulf Cup.
Foolad
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
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
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
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
On 8 July 2018, Rafiei joined Persepolis on a new 18-month deal.[12]
Return to Foolad
On 24 July 2018, Rafiei joined Foolad on a new 6-month deal.[13][14]
Shahr Khodro
In August 2019, Rafiei joined Shahr Khodro on a two-year deal.[15][16]
Sepahan
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
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
Club
- As of 20 February 2026
| Club | Division | Season | League | Hazfi Cup | Asia | Super Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Fajr Sepasi | Pro League | 2009–10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 5 | ||
| Azadegan League | 2010–11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 5 | |||
| Total | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 2 | ||||
| Foolad | Pro League | 2011–12 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 20 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 1 | ||||
| 2013–14 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 37 | 3 | |||
| 2014–15 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 17 | 7 | |||
| 2018–19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 84 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | 95 | 12 | |||
| 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 | |
| 2018–19 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 20 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23 | 25 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 1 | ||||
| 2023–24 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 2 | ||
| 2025–26 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 126 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 163 | 11 | ||
| Al-Khor | QSL | 2017–18 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 5 | ||
| Total | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 5 | ||||
| Shahr Khodro | Pro League | 2019 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |
| Total | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | |||
| Sepahan | Pro League | 2020 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 18 | 3 | |
| 2020–21 | 27 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 | ||||
| 2021–22 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 31 | 3 | |||
| Total | 61 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 2 | — | 79 | 8 | |||
| Career total | 346 | 40 | 27 | 0 | 53 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 427 | 43 | ||
International career
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]
International
- As of match played 19 January 2015
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | |||
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 0 | |
Style of play
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
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]
On 3 February 2026, Rafiei responded to a comedic sketch on IRIB Ofogh mocking dead demonstrators of the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, saying: "I wish some IRIB presenters would become mute and not rub salt in people's wounds in this situation."[31] On 9 February he publicly objected to being included on a list of supporters of the 1979 Islamic Revolution by the Ministry of Sport and Youth, ahead of the Revolution's anniversary.[32]
Honours
- Foolad
- Persepolis
- Persian Gulf Pro League (4): 2016–17, 2018–19, 2022–23, 2023–24
- Hazfi Cup (2): 2018–19, 2022–23
- Iranian Super Cup (2): 2019, 2023
Individual
- Persian Gulf Pro League Team of the Year (3) : 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016-17
