Chadi Cheikh Merai (; born 20 January 1976), also known as Chadi, is a Syrian footballer who plays for and manages Pietrasanta Marina in the regional Eccellenza football division for clubs in Tuscany, Italy.
He played for Massese and Lucchese in the third highest football league in Italy. He has an Italian passport, too.
Club career
Cheick Merai was born in Latakia, Syria and started his career at local club Teshrin.
He went to Italy in 1999 and he started his Italian senior career on Serie D, the top level of the Italian non-professional football association. In the season 2001–2002 he played his first match on Serie C2, the fourth highest football league in Italy, the first with a professional status. Chadi so is the first Syrian footballer playing in an Italian professional team. In the season 2002–2003 Chadi scored two goals against Fiorentina. In the season 2005–2006 he reached Serie C1, the third highest Italian football league. As a player for Carrarese he played the last professional championship in the season 2011–2012.
International career
Chadi was part of the Syria national team between 1996 and 1998. He holds 7 caps.
Coaching career
In August 2012 Pietrasanta Marina announced on their official website that Chadi signed a deal with the club.