Xheyahir Sukaj
Encyclopedia
Xhevahir Sukaj is an Albania
n football striker who currently plays for Vllaznia Shkodër in the Albanian Superliga. The striker
has played for six different clubs throughout his career so far in four countries and has also been capped at both U-21 and senior international levels.
in the 2nd round of the cup. Vllaznia reached the semi finals that season but were eventually knocked out by KF Tirana after a 3-2 aggregate loss.
He was then loaned out to KF Elbasani for the 2005-06 season in order to gain some more first team experience, but Sukaj found it difficult to compete with the more experienced strikers at the club and only managed to feature in 4 league games without scoring, but he did win the Albanian Superliga that season with Elbasani. He reached the Albanian Cup semi finals again but did not score in any game during his loan.
Sukaj returned to Vllaznia in 2006 and immediately established himself in the first team and was instrumental in helping Vllaznia finish 3rd in the league with 8 goals in 31 games. He also scored 3 goals in the cup where Vllaznia were narrowly knocked out in the quarter finals through the away goal rule against Partizani Tirana. Overall he scored 11 goals in the 2006-07 season.
During the 2007-08 season Vllaznia played in the Intertoto Cup where Sukaj made his first European appearance in the return leg of the 1st round against NK Zagreb
, but after wasting chances he was substituted by the coach Mirel Josa
for Vioresin Sinani
in the 69th minute. Vllaznia were then drawn against Turkish
club Trabzonspor
in the next round where Vllaznia were beaten 10-0 on aggregate, with Sukaj only playing the first leg, as he was dropped to the bench by Josa for the return leg. In the league Vllaznia had a difficult season finishing only 7th, despite Sukaj scoring 10 goals in 28 games. His side did however manage to win the Albanian Cup with the help of 3 goals by Sukaj, including the winning goal in the final against KF Tirana. His goal tally reached 13 for the 2007-08 season and he won his first trophy with Vllaznia.
In the Europa League 2008-09 qualification Sukaj scored 2 away goals against Slovenia
n side NK Koper in the first half of the 2-1 win. His goals put Vllaznia through to the second round as the 2nd leg finished goal less and his side were draw against Italian
giants Napoli. Sukaj's double in Slovenia earned his team their first win the competition in their 7 games played and Sukaj gained the record of becming the first ever Vllaznia player to score more than one goal in a European game. He played his last game for the club before moving abroad in the first leg of the next round against Napoli, where Vllaznia were outclassed and beaten 3-0 at home.
Vllaznia
On his first match back he was able to get a hat trick in the match against KS Besa, FK Vllaznia won the match 4-1, in 14 other matches that season he scored another 7 goals.
Orduspor
After a uneventful spell in Turkish top flight, Orduspor bought him. Again after a bad spell he was loaned to Egyptian club Al Ismaily.
on 15 July 2010, after it was widely believed that he would join Vllaznia once again. He only made five league appearances and scored one goal before termingating his contract in January.
On the opening day of the 2011-12 Albanian Superliga Sukaj scored a hatrick against KF Laçi
to secure a win for his side, despite Vllaznia trailing the game after 43 minutes. Sukaj's goals came in the 73rd, 80th and 92nd minute of the game.
Sukaj has recently been called up the senior team. He was included in Arie Haan's 20 man list for a friendly against Azerbaijan
in Baku
1
He is now a regular in the 23 man team for most matches and hopes to make a name for himself, with the new National team manager, Josip Kuze
.
Vllaznia Shkodër
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 football striker who currently plays for Vllaznia Shkodër in the Albanian Superliga. The striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
has played for six different clubs throughout his career so far in four countries and has also been capped at both U-21 and senior international levels.
Early career
Sukaj is a product of the Vllaznia academy and in 2004 he was promoted to the first team at the age of just 16. The 2004-05 season was his first in professional football and he made 15 league appearances scoring 1 goal along the way helping Vllaznia finish 4th in the table. In the Albanian Cup Sukaj managed to grab 2 goals in the 8-0 thrashing of Tërbuni PukëKS Tërbuni Pukë
White and Red Klubi Sportiv Tërbuni Pukë is an Albanian football club based in Pukë District.The club currently playing in the Albanian First Division....
in the 2nd round of the cup. Vllaznia reached the semi finals that season but were eventually knocked out by KF Tirana after a 3-2 aggregate loss.
He was then loaned out to KF Elbasani for the 2005-06 season in order to gain some more first team experience, but Sukaj found it difficult to compete with the more experienced strikers at the club and only managed to feature in 4 league games without scoring, but he did win the Albanian Superliga that season with Elbasani. He reached the Albanian Cup semi finals again but did not score in any game during his loan.
Sukaj returned to Vllaznia in 2006 and immediately established himself in the first team and was instrumental in helping Vllaznia finish 3rd in the league with 8 goals in 31 games. He also scored 3 goals in the cup where Vllaznia were narrowly knocked out in the quarter finals through the away goal rule against Partizani Tirana. Overall he scored 11 goals in the 2006-07 season.
During the 2007-08 season Vllaznia played in the Intertoto Cup where Sukaj made his first European appearance in the return leg of the 1st round against NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb is a Croatian football club, from the Croatian capital of Zagreb.NK Zagreb's home is the Stadion Kranjčevićeva with capacity of 8,850. The club's fans are known as the White Angels...
, but after wasting chances he was substituted by the coach Mirel Josa
Mirel Josa
Mirel Josa is an Albanian football coach and former player, who currently works as head coach of KS Vllaznia.-Career:Josa played for Kavala F.C. and Aris Thessaloniki F.C...
for Vioresin Sinani
Vioresin Sinani
Vioresin Sinani is an Albanian professional football striker who currently plays for Vllaznia Shkodër in the Albanian Superliga.- Career :...
in the 69th minute. Vllaznia were then drawn against Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
club Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Formed in 1967 through a merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor won six championships in Turkish Super League. The Club won their first Championship title in 1975 which is also the Club's initiation year...
in the next round where Vllaznia were beaten 10-0 on aggregate, with Sukaj only playing the first leg, as he was dropped to the bench by Josa for the return leg. In the league Vllaznia had a difficult season finishing only 7th, despite Sukaj scoring 10 goals in 28 games. His side did however manage to win the Albanian Cup with the help of 3 goals by Sukaj, including the winning goal in the final against KF Tirana. His goal tally reached 13 for the 2007-08 season and he won his first trophy with Vllaznia.
In the Europa League 2008-09 qualification Sukaj scored 2 away goals against Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n side NK Koper in the first half of the 2-1 win. His goals put Vllaznia through to the second round as the 2nd leg finished goal less and his side were draw against Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
giants Napoli. Sukaj's double in Slovenia earned his team their first win the competition in their 7 games played and Sukaj gained the record of becming the first ever Vllaznia player to score more than one goal in a European game. He played his last game for the club before moving abroad in the first leg of the next round against Napoli, where Vllaznia were outclassed and beaten 3-0 at home.
Turkey
His departure from Vllaznia Shkodër was announced on 4 August 2008. The club who actually secured his signature was Gençlerbirliği S.K., who are the parent club of Hacettepe. He was loaned to Hacettepe, until the end of the season. After being unable to break into the first team he was loaned back to his homeland of Albania. He only started 2 games, but made other appearances off the bench.Vllaznia
On his first match back he was able to get a hat trick in the match against KS Besa, FK Vllaznia won the match 4-1, in 14 other matches that season he scored another 7 goals.
Orduspor
After a uneventful spell in Turkish top flight, Orduspor bought him. Again after a bad spell he was loaned to Egyptian club Al Ismaily.
NK Zagreb
Sukaj signed a three year contract with Croatian side NK ZagrebNK Zagreb
NK Zagreb is a Croatian football club, from the Croatian capital of Zagreb.NK Zagreb's home is the Stadion Kranjčevićeva with capacity of 8,850. The club's fans are known as the White Angels...
on 15 July 2010, after it was widely believed that he would join Vllaznia once again. He only made five league appearances and scored one goal before termingating his contract in January.
Vllaznia
2011-12On the opening day of the 2011-12 Albanian Superliga Sukaj scored a hatrick against KF Laçi
KF Laçi
Klubi Futbollit Laçi is an Albanian football club based in Laç. They play their home games at the recently renovated Laçi Stadium which has a seated capacity of over 5,000 and an overall capacity of 11,000.- History :...
to secure a win for his side, despite Vllaznia trailing the game after 43 minutes. Sukaj's goals came in the 73rd, 80th and 92nd minute of the game.
International career
After enjoying a successful Under-21 career with Albania's U-21 teamAlbania national under-21 football team
The Albania national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
Sukaj has recently been called up the senior team. He was included in Arie Haan's 20 man list for a friendly against Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan national football team
The Azerbaijan national football team is the national football team of Azerbaijan and is controlled by Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan...
in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
1
He is now a regular in the 23 man team for most matches and hopes to make a name for himself, with the new National team manager, Josip Kuze
Josip Kuže
Josip Kuže is a Croatian football coach and former player. He was a player and later coach of Dinamo Zagreb where he played from 1971-1981 making a total of 384 appearances and scoring 14 goals.-Playing career:...
.
Honours
KF Elbasani- Albanian Superliga (1): 2005-06
Vllaznia Shkodër
- Albanian Cup (1): 2007-08