Elis Bakaj
Encyclopedia
Elis Bakaj is an Albania
n footballer who plays for Dinamo Bucureşti in the Liga I
.
For the next six months Elis was trained personally by former Albanian
international and Dinamo Tirana player Andrea Marko. In June 1997 he joined Partizani Tirana under the guidance of coach Gazmend Kraja, where he worked his way up the ranks of the club, where he amazed the club, including it's president Albert Xhani, who in January 2002 sent Bakaj into the club's senior side.
a season. His official Partizani debut came in the 2003 Intertoto Cup against Israel
i side Maccabi Netanya
, where coach Perlat Musta
played Bakaj in the final seven minutes of the game.
In September 2003 Partizani's new coach Ilir Spahiu sendt Bakaj on loan to FC Nacionali, a Partizani feeder team playing in the Albanian Second Division
. The Nacionali coach Genci Tomorri gave Bakaj the opportunity of regular first team football, allowing the youngster to show his talent and score goals. In January 2004 his loan was ended and he returned to Partizani where the previous coach Spahiu had left and Sulejman Mema
had now took charge.
Bakaj's first senior Partizani goal came on 24 March 2004 in the Albanian Cup quarter finals against KF Elbasani, where he scored the winning goal in the 74th minute to send his side through to the semi finals in a season where Partizani eventually won the Albanian Cup.
n team. The Albanian squad accepted the offer of €200.000 because he entered the final six months of his contract. He was recommended to Dinamo Bucureşti by their former glory, the Albania
n star Sulejman Demollari
, who played for the Bucharest team between 1991 and 1995 and scored 36 goals in 100 games.
He made his debut for Dinamo on 26 February 2011, when he played for 16 minutes in a Liga I
game against Sportul Studenţesc
.
His first goal for Dinamo was scored on 12 April 2011, in a game against Unirea Urziceni.
after making his full debut on 21 November 2007 against Romania
in a Euro 2008 Qualifier. Bakaj came on as a substitute on the 83rd minute for Erjon Bogdani
.
Dinamo Tirana
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n footballer who plays for Dinamo Bucureşti in the Liga I
Liga I
Liga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"...
.
Early career
Elis joined his first club KF Kristali in May 1996 at the age of just eight, where he would only remain until October. Despite only playing for the club less than six months he still managed to be named the player of the year in the youth league.For the next six months Elis was trained personally by former Albanian
Albania national football team
The Albania national association football team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
international and Dinamo Tirana player Andrea Marko. In June 1997 he joined Partizani Tirana under the guidance of coach Gazmend Kraja, where he worked his way up the ranks of the club, where he amazed the club, including it's president Albert Xhani, who in January 2002 sent Bakaj into the club's senior side.
Partizani Tirana
He joined Partizani's first team at the age of just 15 in January 2002 on a seven year contract with a minimal wage of just 150,000 LekëLeke
Leke is a town in Diksmuide, a part of Belgium in the province of West Flanders....
a season. His official Partizani debut came in the 2003 Intertoto Cup against Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i side Maccabi Netanya
Maccabi Netanya
Maccabi Netanya F.C. is an Israeli football club based in Netanya. Established in 1934, the club were founding members of the Israeli League in 1949. After winning their first championship in 1970, the club's golden period lasted until the late 1980s, including four more league titles and a double...
, where coach Perlat Musta
Perlat Musta
Perlat Musta is an Albanian former football player. He is currently the manager of KF Kamza.- Club career :...
played Bakaj in the final seven minutes of the game.
In September 2003 Partizani's new coach Ilir Spahiu sendt Bakaj on loan to FC Nacionali, a Partizani feeder team playing in the Albanian Second Division
Albanian Second Division
Kategoria e Dytë is the third level of football in Albania. Kategoria e Dytë has two groups, A and B that are divided geographically. Each group has 12 teams.-Group A:*KF Fieri*KF Erzeni Shijak*KF Luzi 2008*KF Naftëtari*KF Olimpik Tirana...
. The Nacionali coach Genci Tomorri gave Bakaj the opportunity of regular first team football, allowing the youngster to show his talent and score goals. In January 2004 his loan was ended and he returned to Partizani where the previous coach Spahiu had left and Sulejman Mema
Sulejman Mema
Sulejman Mema is a former player and manager of SK Tirana. He has also been head of refereeing at the Football Association of Albania.Currently Mema is the principal of the Sports mastery school Loro Boriçi in Tirana.-References:...
had now took charge.
Bakaj's first senior Partizani goal came on 24 March 2004 in the Albanian Cup quarter finals against KF Elbasani, where he scored the winning goal in the 74th minute to send his side through to the semi finals in a season where Partizani eventually won the Albanian Cup.
Dinamo Bucureşti
In January 2011, in the last hours just before the expiration of the winter mercato, Bakaj was transferred to Dinamo Bucureşti. He signed a contract for five years with the RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n team. The Albanian squad accepted the offer of €200.000 because he entered the final six months of his contract. He was recommended to Dinamo Bucureşti by their former glory, the Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n star Sulejman Demollari
Sulejman Demollari
Sulejman Demollari also known as Sul Demollari is a former football player and later on the coach for the Albania national football team. He made 45 appearances for Albania, the eleventh highest in the teams history. From 1983 to 1995 he made played 45 matches and scored one goal for Albania...
, who played for the Bucharest team between 1991 and 1995 and scored 36 goals in 100 games.
He made his debut for Dinamo on 26 February 2011, when he played for 16 minutes in a Liga I
Liga I
Liga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"...
game against Sportul Studenţesc
Sportul Studentesc
Sportul Studenţesc is a Romanian football club that was established in 1916 . The Bucharest club has won the Balkans Cup once and its best result in the Romanian league is a 2nd place in 1986...
.
His first goal for Dinamo was scored on 12 April 2011, in a game against Unirea Urziceni.
International career
He is also playing for the Albania national football teamAlbania national football team
The Albania national association football team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
after making his full debut on 21 November 2007 against Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
in a Euro 2008 Qualifier. Bakaj came on as a substitute on the 83rd minute for Erjon Bogdani
Erjon Bogdani
Erjon Bogdani , is an Albanian football striker. Bogdani plays for A.C. Cesena, in Italian Serie A and the Albanian national team.-Early Years:...
.
Career stats
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Supercup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Partizani Tirana KF Partizani Tirana Futboll Klub or Klubi Sportiv Partizani is an Albanian football club, playing in the capital, Tirana, and founded in 1946. Their first participation in the Albanian National Championship was in 1947.... |
2003–04 | 8 | 0 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2004–05 | 32 | 1 | ? | ? | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
| 2005–06 | 26 | 3 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 | |
| 2006–07 | 29 | 5 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 6 | |
| 2007–08 | 29 | 12 | ? | ? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 12 | |
| 2008–09 Albanian Superliga 2008-09 The Albanian Superliga 2008–09 was the sixty-eighth season of top-tier football in Albania and the eleventh season under the name Kategoria superiore. The season began on 24 August 2008 and ended on 23 May 2009... |
12 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 3 | |
| Total | 136 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 145 | 25 | |
| Dinamo Tirana KS Dinamo Tirana Klubi Sportiv Dinamo Tirana is an Albanian football team, playing in the Albanian capital of Tirana, founded in 1950. They play at the Stadiumi Qemal Stafa which has a capacity of 25,000. Their main rivals are fellow Tirana team KF Tirana.- History :... |
2008–09 Albanian Superliga 2008-09 The Albanian Superliga 2008–09 was the sixty-eighth season of top-tier football in Albania and the eleventh season under the name Kategoria superiore. The season began on 24 August 2008 and ended on 23 May 2009... |
13 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 4 |
| 2009–10 | 27 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 13 | |
| 2010–11 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 16 | |
| Total | 56 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 65 | 33 | |
| Dinamo Bucureşti | 2010–11 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 4 |
| 2011–12 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |
| Total | 27 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 5 | |
| Career total | 219 | 56 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 243 | 63 | |
Club
Partizani Tirana- Albanian Cup (1): 2003-04
- Albanian SupercupAlbanian SupercupThe Albanian Supercup of football has been played since 1989. It is a single match at the beginning of the season between the winners of the Albanian First Division and Albanian Cup. Every match has been played in the National Stadium of Tirana....
(1): 2004
Dinamo Tirana
- Albanian Superliga (1): 2009-10
Individual
- Albanian Footballer of the Year (2): 2009, 2010
- Dinamo Tirana Player of the Season (1): 2009-10
- Dinamo Tirana Goal of the Season (2): 2009-10, 2010–11