Naj Razi
{{short description|Irish association football player}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Naj Razi
|fullname = Najemedine Razi
|birth_place = Tallaght, Ireland
|height = 1.75 m
|image =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|10|28|df=y}}
|position = Midfielder
|currentclub = Como
|clubnumber = 44
|youthyears1 = 2011–2023
|youthclubs1 = Shamrock Rovers
|years1 = 2023–2024
|clubs1 = Shamrock Rovers
|caps1 = 3
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2024–
|clubs2 = Como
|caps2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2022–2023
|nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U17
|nationalcaps1 = 10
|nationalgoals1 = 3
|nationalyears2 = 2023–
|nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U19
|nationalcaps2 = 16
|nationalgoals2 = 2
|club-update = 14:24, 1 February 2024 (UTC)
|ntupdate = 16:34, 25 March 2025 (UTC)
}}
Najemedine Razi ({{langx|ar|نجم الدين الرازي}}, born 28 October 2006) is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Como. He is a Republic of Ireland youth international. His previous club was Shamrock Rovers.
Early life
Born and raised in Tallaght, County Dublin, Ireland,{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/ireland-and-comos-naj-razi-tallaght-street-football-prepping-ac-milan/|title=Naj Razi on life at Como, preparing for AC Milan, Cesc and Ronaldo's influence|website=www.fai.ie}} Razi is of Algerian descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.teamtalk.com/news/who-is-naj-razi-irish-teenager-wanted-by-liverpool-chelsea-man-city-arsenal|title=Who is Naj Razi? The Irish teenager wanted by the Premier League's biggest clubs|first=James|last=Pennington|date=November 3, 2023|website=TEAMtalk}} He studied for his Leaving Cert at Ashfield College.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/1101/1414093-razi-an-exciting-prospect-amid-euro-giants-interest/|website=RTE|accessdate=2 November 2023|title= Naj Razi an 'exciting prospect' amid Euro giants' interest|date=1 November 2023}}
Career
=Shamrock Rovers=
Razi made his Shamrock Rovers first team debut on 23 July 2023 against Dundalk in the FAI Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/31382/fai-cup-report-dundalk-fc-1---0-shamrock-rovers/|website=Extra Time|accessdate=29 October 2023|title= FAI Cup Report: Dundalk FC 1 - 0 Shamrock Rovers|date=July 23, 2023}} In the following fixture he made his debut in the UEFA Conference League appearing as a substitute against Hungarian side Ferencvaros on 27 July.{{cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/31498/few-positives-for-bradley-after-hoops-suffer-hungary-hammering/|website=Extra Time|accessdate=29 October 2023|title= Few positives for Bradley after Hoops suffer Hungary hammering|first=Macdara|last=Ferris|date=July 29, 2023}} On 22 September 2023, he made his League of Ireland debut against UCD.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/ucds-relegation-confirmed-as-shamrock-rovers-miss-chance-to-extend-lead-at-the-top/a1356077339.html|website=Independent.ie|accessdate=29 October 2023|title= UCD’s relegation confirmed as Shamrock Rovers miss chance to extend lead at the top|date=22 October 2023}} The following month Rovers were confirmed as league champions.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2023/10/27/how-shamrock-rovers-won-their-fourth-consecutive-league-title/|website=Irish Times|accessdate=29 October 2023|title= How Shamrock Rovers won their fourth consecutive league title|first=Gavin|last=Cummiskey|date=27 October 2023}} On 30 October 2023, he made his first league start for Rovers against Cork City.{{cite web|website=Independent.ie|title=Stephen Bradley fears over Rory Gaffney’s future as he hails in-demand Naj Razi |date=30 October 2023|accessdate=31 October 2023|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/stephen-bradley-fears-over-rory-gaffneys-future-as-he-hails-in-demand-naj-razi/a358126303.html|first=Daniel|last=McDonnell}}
=Como=
On 1 February 2024, Razi joined Serie B club Como on a contract until the summer of 2026, for an initial fee believed to be in the region of €450,000.{{Cite web|url=https://comofootball.com/en/como-1907-secures-irish-rising-star-and-u17-youth-international-naj-razi/|title=Como 1907 Secures Irish Rising Star and U17 Youth International: Naj Razi|date=February 1, 2024|website=Como 1907}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41322445.html|title=Teenage starlet Naj Razi completes Como move from Shamrock Rovers|first=John|last=Fallon|date=February 1, 2024|website=Irish Examiner}} Razi had offers to train with both Arsenal and Chelsea before Como completed the deal before the Italian transfer window closed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/young-shamrock-rovers-star-naj-razi-makes-move-to-italian-outfit-como/a1153559791.html|title=Young Shamrock Rovers star Naj Razi makes move to Italian outfit Como|date=February 1, 2024|website=Independent.ie}}
Style of play
A forward, he is said to be able to operate from either wing.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/real-madrid-naj-razi-6210180-Oct2023/|website=the42.ie|accessdate=29 October 2023|title= Real Madrid show interest in Shamrock Rovers star|first=David|last=Snyed|date=28 October 2023}} He has also played as a number 10.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/0522/1385053-ireland-u17s-all-of-them-have-had-different-journeys/|website=RTE|accessdate=29 October 2023|first=Raf|last=Diallo|title=Ireland U17s: 'All of them have had different journeys'|date=22 May 2023}}
International career
Razi scored his first goal for the Republic of Ireland U17 side against Armenia U17 in October 2022.{{cite web|url= https://www.irishpost.com/sport/report-ireland-mu17-4-0-armenia-mu17-241924|website=Irish Post|accessdate=29 October 2023|title= Ireland MU17 4-0 Armenia MU17|first=Conor|last=O'Donoghue|date=October 21, 2022}} In February 2023, he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Hungary U17.{{cite web|url=https://www.strikeronline.ie/irish-grassroots-football/fai-schools-boys-interpros-m5mp6-xxae6-awrnj-gppcc-s6tys-rcrns|website=Strikeronline.ie|title= Razi strike fires MU17s to victory over Hungary|date=9 February 2023}}
He played for the Irish U17 team at the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.{{cite web|url=https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/madrid-giants-real-and-atletico-eyeing-up-move-for-shamrock-rovers-teen-naj-razi/a1391394614.html?|website=Independent.ie|accessdate=29 October 2023|title= Madrid giants Real and Atletico eyeing up move for Shamrock Rovers teen Naj Razi|first=Daniel|last=McDonnell|date=28 October 2023}} He scored as Ireland beat Wales U17 and helped the Irish side reach the quarter-finals.{{cite web|url= https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/we-are-going-into-the-last-game-with-the-opportunity-of-getting-out-of-the-group-colin-obrien-hails-irish-u17s-after-welsh-rout/a130025570.html|website=Independent.ie|accessdate=29 October 2023|title= ‘We are going into the last game with the opportunity of getting out of the group’ – Colin O’Brien hails Irish U17s after Welsh rout|first=Aidan|last=Fotzmaurice|date=21 May 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/0523/1385279-ruthless-ireland-u17s-book-euro-quarter-final-spot/|website=RTE|accessdate=29 October 2023|title= Ruthless Ireland U17s beat Hungary book Euro quarter-final spot|date=23 May 2023}} Razi was named the FAI’s U-17 player of the year in June 2023 at the FAI International Football Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/collins-and-ferguson-win-fai-mens-player-of-the-year-awards-1491942.html|website=Breakingnews.ie|accessdate=29 October 2023|title=Collins and Ferguson win FAI men's player of the year awards|first=James|last=Cox|date=20 June 2023}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 22 October 2023}}
| 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"|National Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Shamrock Rovers
|2023{{cite web |title=N.Razi |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/najemedine-razi/868522/ |accessdate=29 October 2023 |website=Soccerway}} |3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa Conference League|name=statsUECL}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3"|Como
|0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2024–25
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career Total
!3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{Como 1907 squad}}
{{FAI Under 17 International Player of the Year}}
{{FAI Under 16 International Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Razi, Naj}}
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:Irish people of Algerian descent
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:League of Ireland players