Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ramak Niakan Safi | ||
Date of birth | February 7, 1984 | ||
Place of birth | Urmia, Iran | ||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
Playing position | Defender | ||
Youth career | |||
2005 | Thomas Night Hawks | ||
2006–2008 | Jacksonville Dolphins | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2010 | Carolina RailHawks | 0 | (0) |
2010 | → Real Maryland Monarchs (loan) | 1 | (0) |
2010 | → Charlotte Eagles (loan) | 7 | (0) |
2015 | Jacksonville Armada FC | 1 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 22, 2010. |
Ramak Safi (born February 7, 1984 in Urmia) is an Iranian footballer.
Safi, who was born in Iran, came to the United States in 2001 as a religious refugee (he and his family are part of the Bahá'í Faith, whose members are often persecuted in that country). Safi and his parents, Aliakbar and Afshan, eventually settled in Jacksonville, Florida area.
Safi played both soccer and American football at Englewood High School, and was his high school team's placekicker in his senior year.
Having unsuccessfully applied for a football scholarship at the University of Florida, Safi instead played one year of college soccer at Thomas University in Thomasville, Georgia in 2005, before transferring to Jacksonville University as a sophomore. As a senior in 2008 he led the his Jacksonville team in scoring with 10 goals in 21 appearances, and finished his collegiate career with 15 goals and five assists in 57 matches.
After an unsuccessful trial with New England Revolution in the summer of 2009, Safi attended open tryouts held by the Carolina RailHawks in early 2010. After impressing head coach Martin Rennie, Safi was signed to his first professional contract by the RailHawks in March, 2010.
He was sent on loan to USL Second Division side Charlotte Eagles in July 2010, and made his professional debut for them on July 2, in a game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.