Damon Mirani
{{short description|Dutch footballer (born 1996)}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Damon Mirani
| image = Go Ahead Eagles - FC Volendam - 52914932069 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Mirani with Volendam in 2023
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1996|5|13}}
| birth_place = Monnickendam, Netherlands
| height = 1.83 m
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Heracles Almelo
| clubnumber = 4
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = VV Monnickendam
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Volendam
| youthyears3 = 2012–2016
| youthclubs3 = Ajax
| years1 = 2013–2016
| clubs1 = Jong Ajax
| caps1 = 24
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2016–2021
| clubs2 = Almere City
| caps2 = 163
| goals2 = 14
| years3 = 2021–2024
| clubs3 = Volendam
| caps3 = 103
| goals3 = 10
| years4 = 2024–
| clubs4 = Heracles Almelo
| caps4 = 19
| goals4 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2013
| nationalteam1 = Netherlands U17
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2013
| nationalteam2 = Netherlands U18
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2014–2015
| nationalteam3 = Netherlands U19
| nationalcaps3 = 6
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| club-update = 09:16, 20 January 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Damon Mirani (born 13 May 1996) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for {{Dutch football updater|HeraclesA}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Raalte |first1=Sam van |title=Mirani uitgeroepen tot Talent van het Jaar |url=https://www.ajaxshowtime.com/hoofdnieuws/mirani-uitgeroepen-tot-talent-van-het-jaar.html |website=Ajax Showtime |language=nl |date=11 June 2013}}{{cite news |last1=Bruijn |first1=Thijs de |title=Waar zijn ze nu? De Ajacieden die verkozen werden tot Talent van de toekomst |url=https://www.elfvoetbal.nl/binnenland/279146/waar-zijn-ze-nu-de-ajacieden-die-verkozen-werden-tot-talent-van-de-toekomst |work=Elfvoetbal.nl |date=24 March 2020 |language=nl}}
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.{{cite web|title=Uitgekleed Jong Ajax over de knie bij Groesbeekse ex-amateurs|url=http://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=196053|language=Dutch|date=8 September 2013}} 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.{{cite web |title=Hattrick El Ghazi bij ruime zege Ajax:1-13 |url=https://www.ajaxshowtime.com/hoofdnieuws/live-14-30-sdc-putten-ajax-0-0-.html |website=Ajax Showtime |language=nl |date=28 June 2014}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Jager |first1=Jelmer |title=Mirani vertrekt na vier jaar bij Ajax |url=https://www.ajax1.nl/mirani-vertrekt-vier-jaar-ajax/ |website=Ajax1.nl |language=nl-NL |date=9 March 2016}}
=Almere City=
On 31 May 2016, Mirani signed a two-year contract with Eerste Divisie club Almere City.{{cite news |title=Toekomst Almere City boegbeeld Mirani nog ongewis |url=https://www.omroepflevoland.nl/sport/232311/toekomst-almere-city-boegbeeld-mirani-nog-ongewis |work=Omroep Flevoland |date=30 April 2021 |language=nl}} 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.{{cite web |title=Volendam vs. Almere City - 5 August 2016 - Soccerway |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/08/05/netherlands/eerste-divisie/fc-volendam/fc-omniworld/2240571/ |website=int.soccerway.com |access-date=11 September 2021}} 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.{{cite web |title=VVV-Venlo – Almere City FC 3:2 (Eerste Divisie 2016/2017, 33. Round) |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/eerste-divisie-2016-2017-vvv-venlo-almere-city-fc/ |website=WorldFootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |access-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715153623/https://www.worldfootball.net/report/eerste-divisie-2016-2017-vvv-venlo-almere-city-fc/ |archive-date=15 July 2024}} He missed the end of the regular season and the playoffs due to an injury.{{cite news |title=Volle ziekenboeg bij City FC tijdens belangrijk paasweekeinde |url=https://www.omroepflevoland.nl/sport/146191/almere-volle-ziekenboeg-bij-city-fc-tijdens-belangrijk-paasweekeinde |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=Omroep Flevoland |date=13 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211062059/https://www.omroepflevoland.nl/sport/146191/almere-volle-ziekenboeg-bij-city-fc-tijdens-belangrijk-paasweekeinde |archive-date=11 December 2017 |language=nl}}
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.{{cite news |title=De Graafschap terug in eredivisie na winst op Almere City |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2232794-de-graafschap-terug-in-eredivisie-na-winst-op-almere-city |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=NOS |date=20 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320192830/https://nos.nl/artikel/2232794-de-graafschap-terug-in-eredivisie-na-winst-op-almere-city |archive-date=20 March 2023 |language=nl}} Over five seasons, Mirani played 180 matches for Almere City, scoring 16 goals.{{Soccerway|damon-mirani/289811}}
=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.{{cite web |title=Ook Damon Mirani vindt weg terug naar huis en versterkt FC Volendam |url=https://fcvolendam.nl/nieuws/ook-damon-mirani-vindt-weg-terug-naar-huis-en-versterkt-fc-volendam/ |website=FC Volendam |access-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820170007/https://fcvolendam.nl/nieuws/ook-damon-mirani-vindt-weg-terug-naar-huis-en-versterkt-fc-volendam/ |archive-date=20 August 2023 |language=nl |date=15 June 2021}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Swagers |first1=Stef |title=Tegentreffer in blessuretijd zorgt voor kater bij seizoenstart FC Volendam |url=https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/289993/tegentreffer-in-blessuretijd-zorgt-voor-kater-bij-seizoenstart-fc-volendam |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=NH Nieuws |date=6 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914061123/https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/289993/tegentreffer-in-blessuretijd-zorgt-voor-kater-bij-seizoenstart-fc-volendam |archive-date=14 September 2021 |language=nl}} In his first season, Mirani was a starter and played every minute of every match. On April 22, 2022, he helped Volendam secure promotion to the Eredivisie with a 2–1 victory over Den Bosch.{{cite news |title=FC Volendam keert na 13 jaar terug in eredivisie na benauwde zege in Den Bosch |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2426149-fc-volendam-keert-na-13-jaar-terug-in-eredivisie-na-benauwde-zege-in-den-bosch |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=NOS |date=22 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210140021/https://nos.nl/artikel/2426149-fc-volendam-keert-na-13-jaar-terug-in-eredivisie-na-benauwde-zege-in-den-bosch |archive-date=10 December 2023 |language=nl}}
In the 2022–23 season, Mirani continued to play every match in full until the winter break. During the break, coach Wim Jonk named Carel Eiting as the new captain, replacing Mirani.{{cite news |title=Carel Eiting nieuwe eerste aanvoerder FC Volendam |url=https://www.espn.nl/voetbal/artikel/_/id/11439638/carel-eiting-nieuwe-eerste-aanvoerder-fc-volendam |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=ESPN.nl |date=6 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406183351/https://www.espn.nl/voetbal/artikel/_/id/11439638/carel-eiting-nieuwe-eerste-aanvoerder-fc-volendam |archive-date=6 April 2023 |language=nl}} On January 14, 2023, in a match against RKC Waalwijk, Mirani was substituted for the first time in over sixty matches.{{cite news |last1=Smit |first1=Gideon |title=Primeur voor Damon Mirani bij FC Volendam: hij wordt gewisseld. Dat had hij al ruim zestig wedstrijden niet meegemaakt |url=https://www.noordhollandsdagblad.nl/sport/fc-volendam/primeur-voor-damon-mirani-bij-fc-volendam-hij-wordt-gewisseld.-dat-had-hij-al-ruim-zestig-wedstrijden-niet-meegemaakt/11492578.html |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=Noordhollands Dagblad |date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715155424/https://www.noordhollandsdagblad.nl/sport/fc-volendam/primeur-voor-damon-mirani-bij-fc-volendam-hij-wordt-gewisseld.-dat-had-hij-al-ruim-zestig-wedstrijden-niet-meegemaakt/11492578.html |archive-date=15 July 2024 |language=nl}} On April 21, he scored both goals in a 2–0 win against Cambuur.{{cite news |last1=Pus |first1=Milton |title=Kopballen Mirani maken het verschil voor FC Volendam tegen Cambuur |url=https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/317942/kopballen-mirani-maken-het-verschil-voor-fc-volendam-tegen-cambuur |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=NH Nieuws |date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428205206/https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/317942/kopballen-mirani-maken-het-verschil-voor-fc-volendam-tegen-cambuur |archive-date=28 April 2023 |language=nl}} Despite a loss to Go Ahead Eagles a month later, FC Volendam secured their Eredivisie status.{{cite news |title=FC Volendam blijft actief op hoogste niveau ondanks ruime nederlaag bij Go Ahead Eagles |url=https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetbal/fc-volendam-blijft-actief-op-hoogste-niveau-ondanks-ruime-nederlaag-bij-go-ahead-eagles~a8e58b94/ |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=Algemeen Dagblad |date=21 May 2023 |language=nl}}
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.{{cite web |title=FC Volendam licht optie Benamar; negen spelers vertrekken |url=https://fcvolendam.nl/nieuws/fc-volendam-licht-optie-benamar-negen-spelers-vertrekken/ |website=FC Volendam |access-date=15 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712015831/https://fcvolendam.nl/nieuws/fc-volendam-licht-optie-benamar-negen-spelers-vertrekken/ |archive-date=12 July 2024 |language=nl |date=29 March 2024}} In May 2024, Volendam were relegated from the Eredivisie following a defeat against Ajax.{{cite news |title=FC Volendam degradeert voor tiende keer uit eredivisie na verlies tegen Ajax |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2519361-fc-volendam-degradeert-voor-tiende-keer-uit-eredivisie-na-verlies-tegen-ajax |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=NOS |date=5 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604162504/https://nos.nl/artikel/2519361-fc-volendam-degradeert-voor-tiende-keer-uit-eredivisie-na-verlies-tegen-ajax |archive-date=4 June 2024 |language=nl}}
=Heracles=
On 5 June 2024, Mirani signed a three-year contract with Heracles Almelo.{{cite web|publisher=Heracles Almelo|url=https://www.heracles.nl/2024/06/05/damon-mirani-tekent-tot-medio-2027-bij-heracles-almelo/|title=DAMON MIRANI TEKENT TOT MEDIO 2027 BIJ HERACLES ALMELO|trans-title=DAMON MIRANI SIGNS WITH HERACLES ALMELO UNTIL MID-2027|date=5 June 2024|access-date=15 July 2024|language=nl}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 19 January 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Jong Ajax
|1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15
|Eerste Divisie |4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16
|Eerste Divisie |19 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!24 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 0 | |||
| rowspan="6"|Almere City
|Eerste Divisie |33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18
|Eerste Divisie |31 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6{{efn|Appearances in the Eerste Divisie promotion play-offs|name=EDPP}} | 3 | 39 | 6 | |
| 2018–19
|Eerste Divisie |32 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EDPP}} | 0 | 36 | 4 | |
| 2019–20
|Eerste Divisie |29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21
|Eerste Divisie |38 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EDPP}} | 0 | 40 | 5 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!163 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 180 | 13 | |
| rowspan="4"|Volendam
|Eerste Divisie |38 | 4 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 4 | ||
| 2022–23
|31 | 3 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 3 | ||
| 2023–24
|Eredivisie |34 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 3 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!103 | 10 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 107 | 10 | ||
| rowspan="1"|Heracles Almelo
|Eredivisie |19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 1 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!309 | 24 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 331 | 24 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Individual
- Ajax Talent of the Future: 2012–13
- Eredivisie Team of the Month: April 2023{{cite web |title=Eight clubs represent the Eredivisie Team of the Month for April |url=https://eredivisie.eu/news/eight-clubs-represent-the-eredivisie-team-of-the-month-for-april/ |website=Eredivisie |access-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601204520/https://eredivisie.eu/news/eight-clubs-represent-the-eredivisie-team-of-the-month-for-april/ |archive-date=1 June 2023 |date=5 May 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140416175839/http://www.onsoranje.nl/category/team/mannen/onder-17?page=8 Netherlands stats] at OnsOranje
- {{Soccerway|damon-mirani/289811}}
- {{WorldFootball.net|damon-mirani}}
{{Heracles Almelo squad}}
{{Navboxes colour
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|title= Awards
|list1=
{{AFC Ajax Talent of the Future}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mirani, Damon}}
Category:People from Monnickendam
Category:Dutch men's footballers
Category:Footballers from North Holland
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Netherlands men's youth international footballers
Category:Eerste Divisie players
Category:VV Monnickendam players
Category:Almere City FC players