ROAR star Thomas Broich has helped an Iranian refugee realise his dream of settling into a new home — and playing football again.

When a fan told Broich about the plight of Behzad Ariayee, a top goalkeeper in the Persian Gulf Pro League until he fled his homeland with wife Maryam under the threat of religious persecution, the 35-year-old midfielder stepped in to “give hope” to the family.

More than two years in detention, including stops at Christmas Island and Nauru before being moved to Darwin for the birth of his son, Edwin, left Ariayee questioning whether he would take the field again.

Behzad Ariayee has settled into Albany Creek Excelsior Football Club. Picture: Richard Walker Source: News Corp Australia

Broich visited the family at Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation several times to encourage Ariayee to find a home in football.

The 31-year-old and his family gained refugee status in January and he is now a first-choice goalkeeper in the Brisbane Premier League.

“I’m so happy now. Soccer is my blood, running through my body,” Ariayee said.

Broich said witnessing the family’s painful situation was a sobering experience.

“It’s a really tough place to go and to see a young family like that. It feels suffocating and I guess that is what people need to realise,” he said.

“Here is this guy who had a career as a footballer, had to flee his country because he wasn’t able to live freely and then it just hits him even harder he ends up in a prison-like facility where he can’t leave, where he’s told what to do, what not to do and is forced to raise a child in there.

Thomas Broich with new Albany Creek Excelsior goalkeeper Behzad Ariayee. Picture: Richard Walker Source: News Corp Australia

“People really need to feel their lives matter to others and that’s what we were trying to do here.”

Broich made sure Ariayee had tickets to the final home games of the Roar season and enlisted the help of goalkeeper Jamie Young, an ambassador for the Create Welcome refugee welcoming movement.

“When I found out about that it clicked immediately for me. Youngy’s a keeper, Behzad is a keeper and so I got Youngy to talk to him after a game and give him some gloves,” Broich said.

Ariayee coincidentally plays at Young’s junior club, Albany Creek Excelsior, north of Brisbane, where he is training the next generation of shot-stoppers.

He said the support of the Roar players had been invaluable to his family feeling accepted in their new home.

“Everyone has come together to help me. Really I appreciate it,” Ariayee said.

“Australia has looked after me and my family and I have to say thanks to all of Australia.”