Labinot Harbuzi
Encyclopedia
Labinot Harbuzi is a Swedish
footballer of Kosovar
-Albania
n descent who currently plays for Gençlerbirliği.
with his family because of the Kosovo war
. His father, Ismet, was a famous table tennis
player in Kosovo.
-suburb Rosengård
, he began his career with Malmö BI
, the same club where Zlatan Ibrahimović
began his career. Being a very hot prospect in his young years, he was spotted by Swedish Malmö FF
.
where he played 9 league games.
and made his Allsvenskan
debut that same year. In 2009 he made history when he became the first goalscorer in the then newly built Swedbank Stadion
.
club Gençlerbirliği S.K. His contract with the side started in January 2010, when his contract with Malmö FF
expired. He has since scored 5 goals, gaining 11 assists, a promising returning for a Bosman signing. He has received great praise from Gençlerbirliği fans and head coach, Fuat Çapa
Recent form has circulated rumours that newly risen English Premier League side Queens Park Rangers Football Club are interested in acquiring his services, given the imminent sale of Champions Division star Adel Taarabt
. Harbuzi's dribbling skills, eagerness to run at opponents and finishing in the final third has seen him become a realistic prospect for the club, who will look to stay up next season. Neil Warnock
stated "We must retain our attacking style and add to the squad." Other clubs in Europe are also rumored to be on the look out for Harbuzi's services.
, making his debut against Republic of Ireland on 28 February 2006. He also played in the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
footballer of Kosovar
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
-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 descent who currently plays for Gençlerbirliği.
Early life
Harbuzi migrated to SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
with his family because of the Kosovo war
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
. His father, Ismet, was a famous table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
player in Kosovo.
Early career
Growing up in the MalmöMalmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
-suburb Rosengård
Rosengård
Rosengård, literally "Rose court", is a city district in Malmö, Sweden. As of 1 January 2007, the population was 21,955, of which 60 percent were born outside of Sweden. In 2008 a total 86% of the population in the city district was of foreign background...
, he began his career with Malmö BI
FC Rosengård
FC Rosengård is a Swedish professional football club located in the area Rosengård of Malmö. The club was founded in 1917 as Malmö Boll & Idrottsförening but has since been merged once and renamed twice...
, the same club where Zlatan Ibrahimović
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimović is a Swedish footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Milan and the Swedish national team for which he is captain....
began his career. Being a very hot prospect in his young years, he was spotted by Swedish Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
.
Feyenoord
At 15 years old he was signed by Dutch club Feyenoord where he started playing professional football in the club's reserve team and youth team. In 2005 he was loaned to their satellite club ExcelsiorExcelsior Rotterdam
SBV Excelsior is a professional football club from the Kralingen-Crooswijk district of Rotterdam, Netherlands. It was founded on July 23, 1902 and was formerly known as 'Rotterdamse Voetbal en Atletiek Vereniging Excelsior'...
where he played 9 league games.
Malmö FF
In the spring of 2006 he returned to Malmö FFMalmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
and made his Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
debut that same year. In 2009 he made history when he became the first goalscorer in the then newly built Swedbank Stadion
Swedbank Stadion
Swedbank Stadion, often known simply as Stadion, is a football stadium in Malmö, Sweden and the home of Allsvenskan club Malmö FF. In UEFA competitions the stadium is known as Malmö New Stadium due to sponsorship reasons...
.
Gençlerbirliği
On 11 July 2009, Harbuzi signed with the TurkishTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
club Gençlerbirliği S.K. His contract with the side started in January 2010, when his contract with Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
expired. He has since scored 5 goals, gaining 11 assists, a promising returning for a Bosman signing. He has received great praise from Gençlerbirliği fans and head coach, Fuat Çapa
Fuat Capa
Fuat Çapa is a Belgian-Turkish football manager.Çapa coached in Belgium before moving on to Turkey. His career in Belgium spanned four years as he held positions with K.V. Turnhout, K. Patro Maasmechelen, K. Beringen-Heusden-Zolder, Verbroedering Geel, and most recently VW Hamme...
Recent form has circulated rumours that newly risen English Premier League side Queens Park Rangers Football Club are interested in acquiring his services, given the imminent sale of Champions Division star Adel Taarabt
Adel Taarabt
Adel Taarabt is a Moroccan footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as an Attacking midfielder and can also be used as a winger....
. Harbuzi's dribbling skills, eagerness to run at opponents and finishing in the final third has seen him become a realistic prospect for the club, who will look to stay up next season. Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
stated "We must retain our attacking style and add to the squad." Other clubs in Europe are also rumored to be on the look out for Harbuzi's services.
International career
He was a Swedish under-21 internationalSweden national under-21 football team
The Swedish U-21 national football team is the football team representing Sweden in competitions for under-21 year old players. Sweden U21's current captain is Jiloan Hamad with Jakob Johansson as vice captain.-UEFA European U-21 Championship Record:...
, making his debut against Republic of Ireland on 28 February 2006. He also played in the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship began on 15 June 2009, and was the 17th UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. This was the first tournament after the competition reverted to a two-year format, following the single-year 2006-07 competition, which allowed the change to...
.