Full name Ramak Niakan Safi 2006–2008 Jacksonville Dolphins 2005 Thomas Night Hawks Height 1.83 m | Playing position Role Footballer Place of birth Urmia, Iran Name Ramak Safi Position Defender | |
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Date of birth (1984-02-07) February 7, 1984 (age 31) | ||
Education Jacksonville University | ||
Rapid fire ramak safi
Ramak Safi (born February 7, 1984 in Urmia) is an Iranian footballer.
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Early life
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.
Youth and College
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.
Professional
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.
On September 5, 2010, he scored his first professional goal in a friendly against Mexican side Pumas Morelos.
Safi was not listed on the 2011 roster for Carolina released on April 4, 2011.
He signed with Jacksonville Armada FC of the North American Soccer League on February 10, 2015 Safi was released by Jacksonville in November 2015.