Bekim Balaj facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 January 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Shkodër, PSR Albania | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Vllaznia Shkodër | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2009 | Vllaznia Shkodër | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2010 | Vllaznia Shkodër | 38 | (9) |
| 2010–2011 | Gençlerbirliği | 1 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Tirana | 37 | (15) |
| 2012–2014 | Sparta Prague | 12 | (3) |
| 2013–2014 | → Jagiellonia Białystok (loan) | 31 | (7) |
| 2014–2015 | Slavia Prague | 13 | (3) |
| 2015–2016 | Rijeka | 46 | (18) |
| 2016–2019 | Akhmat Grozny | 61 | (12) |
| 2019–2021 | Sturm Graz | 57 | (9) |
| 2021 | Nizhny Novgorod | 15 | (0) |
| 2022 | Boluspor | 14 | (4) |
| 2022–2023 | Ankara Keçiörengücü | 14 | (1) |
| 2023– | Vllaznia Shkodër | 76 | (34) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2008–2010 | Albania U19 | 6 | (3) |
| 2010–2012 | Albania U21 | 8 | (3) |
| 2012–2022 | Albania | 48 | (9) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 March 2024 |
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Bekim Balaj (born January 11, 1991) is a professional football player from Albania. He plays as a striker, which means he's usually at the front of the team, trying to score goals. Bekim currently plays for Vllaznia Shkodër, a club in Albania, and also for the Albania national team.
Bekim started his football journey with his hometown club, Vllaznia, when he was just 11 years old. He made his first professional appearance at 17. After playing for Vllaznia, he moved to Turkey to join Gençlerbirliği. Later, he returned to Albania to play for Tirana, where he scored many goals. He then played for clubs in the Czech Republic, Poland, Croatia, Russia, and Austria before coming back to Vllaznia.
He has also played for Albania's national youth teams, including the under-19 and under-21 squads. Bekim made his debut for the senior national team in 2012. He became famous for scoring a winning goal against Portugal during the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying games. He was also part of the Albanian team that played in the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament.
Contents
- Bekim Balaj's Club Career
- Bekim Balaj's International Career
- Bekim Balaj's Personal Life
- Career Statistics
- Honours and Achievements
- Images for kids
- See also
Bekim Balaj's Club Career
Bekim Balaj has played for many different football clubs throughout his career. Let's look at some of his most important stops.
Starting at Vllaznia
Bekim joined his local club, Vllaznia, when he was 11 years old. His father first suggested he try out as a goalkeeper because he was tall. But his coach quickly saw that Bekim was great with his feet and decided he should play as a forward instead.
He made his first team debut on May 17, 2008, when he was 17. He came on as a substitute in a game against Besëlidhja. The next season, he became a regular player. He scored his first goal in an Albanian Cup match. Vllaznia finished second in the league that year.
For the 2009–10 season, Bekim became one of Vllaznia's main strikers. He also played in his first European club match against Sligo Rovers.
Playing for Gençlerbirliği
In June 2010, Bekim moved to Turkey and signed a four-year contract with Gençlerbirliği S.K.. This was a big step for the young player, moving to a top Turkish club. He played one season there before returning to Albania.
Return to Albania with KF Tirana
In January 2011, Bekim decided to come back to Albania and joined Tirana. He quickly became an important player for the team.
He scored his first goal for Tirana in the Albanian Cup semi-final. He helped his team win the trophy that year. The next season, he scored the winning goal in the 2011 Albanian Supercup against Skënderbeu. He also scored three goals in one game (a hat-trick) in the Albanian Cup. Bekim scored 15 league goals in 37 games for Tirana.
Moving to Sparta Prague
In July 2012, Bekim went on trial with Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic. He impressed the coach by scoring a goal in a friendly match.
On October 4, 2012, Bekim scored a memorable goal for Sparta Prague in the UEFA Europa League against Athletic Bilbao. His goal helped Sparta Prague win the game 3–1.
Loan to Jagiellonia
In July 2013, Bekim was loaned to Jagiellonia Białystok, a Polish team, for a year. He scored several important goals for them, including two goals in a big 6–0 win against Ruch Chorzów. He scored 7 goals in 31 league games during his loan.
Back in Prague with Slavia
After his loan, Bekim returned to Prague but signed with Sparta's city rivals, Slavia Prague, in July 2014. He scored on his debut for Slavia Prague, helping them win 2–1. He continued to score important goals for the team during his time there.
Time in Croatia with HNK Rijeka
On January 7, 2015, Bekim signed a contract with HNK Rijeka, a top club in Croatia. He quickly made an impact, scoring in his first competitive game for the club in the Croatian Cup.
He also scored in his first league game and in a big derby match against Hajduk Split. Bekim scored 9 goals in 15 games that season, helping Rijeka finish second in the league. The next season, he scored 9 more league goals, making him one of the top scorers in the league.
Playing in Russia for Akhmat Grozny
In June 2016, Bekim moved to Russia to play for Terek Grozny (later renamed Akhmat Grozny). He signed a three-year contract. He made his debut in July and scored his first goal in August.
He had a great start, scoring two goals in two different games against Ural and Zenit Saint Petersburg. His strong performances earned him the "Player of the Month" award for October. He played for Akhmat Grozny until May 2019.
Moving to Austria with Sturm Graz
In July 2019, Bekim signed a two-year contract with Sturm Graz, an Austrian club. He continued to be a key player, scoring goals and helping his team.
Short Stays in Russia and Turkey
In July 2021, Bekim returned to Russia to play for Nizhny Novgorod. His contract ended in January 2022. He then moved back to Turkey, signing with Boluspor in January 2022.
Return to Vllaznia
On January 18, 2023, Bekim Balaj made a big return to his first club, Vllaznia, after thirteen years away. He signed a three-year contract. His return was exciting for fans, and he quickly became one of the highest-paid players in the Albanian league.
Bekim Balaj's International Career
Bekim Balaj has proudly represented Albania at different levels of international football.
Youth National Teams
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Bekim played for the Albania U-19 squad in 2008. He scored his first goal for the U-19 team against Northern Ireland.
He also played for the under-21 team from 2011 to 2013. He scored four goals in 13 matches for the U-21 squad.
Senior National Team
Bekim made his official debut for the Albania national football team on November 14, 2012, in a friendly match against Cameroon.
He played his first competitive international game for Albania on October 15, 2013, in a World Cup qualifier against Cyprus.
UEFA Euro 2016 Campaign
Bekim scored his first important goal for Albania on September 7, 2014. It was against Portugal in the very first game of the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers. Albania won that match 1–0, which was a huge victory! Bekim said it was a "striker" goal, meaning he used his forward skills perfectly.
He was chosen to be part of Albania's team for UEFA Euro 2016. He played as a substitute in the final group match against Romania. Albania won that game 1–0, which was a historic win for the country.
2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification
In the first game of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia in September 2016, Bekim came on as a substitute. The game was stopped due to bad weather. When it continued the next day, Bekim scored a goal in the last few minutes, giving Albania a 2–1 victory. He also scored against Liechtenstein in the same qualifiers.
Bekim Balaj's Personal Life
Bekim Balaj is not married. He focuses on his football career.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Vllaznia | 2007–08 | Kategoria Superiore | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 12 | 1 | ||||
| 2009–10 | 30 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | 40 | 12 | |||
| Total | 38 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | 53 | 13 | |||
| Gençlerbirliği | 2010–11 | Süper Lig | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Tirana | 2010–11 | Kategoria Superiore | 13 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 17 | 3 | ||
| 2011–12 | 24 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | 40 | 21 | |||
| 2012–13 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 37 | 15 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 60 | 25 | ||
| Sparta Prague | 2012–13 | Czech First League | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 20 | 4 | |
| Jagiellonia | 2013–14 | Ekstraklasa | 31 | 7 | 6 | 2 | — | — | 37 | 9 | ||
| Slavia Prague | 2014–15 | Czech First League | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 3 | ||
| Rijeka | 2014–15 | Croatian First Football League | 15 | 9 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 18 | 10 | ||
| 2015–16 | 31 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 37 | 10 | |||
| Total | 46 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 55 | 20 | |||
| Akhmat Grozny | 2016–17 | Russian Premier League | 26 | 9 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 9 | ||
| 2017–18 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 24 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 61 | 12 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 64 | 13 | ||||
| Sturm Graz | 2019–20 | Austrian Bundesliga | 28 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 31 | 7 | ||
| 2020–21 | 29 | 3 | 4 | 4 | — | — | 33 | 7 | ||||
| Total | 57 | 9 | 7 | 5 | — | — | 64 | 14 | ||||
| Nizhny Novgorod | 2021–22 | Russian Premier League | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 311 | 76 | 56 | 23 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 383 | 101 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 5 | 1 | |
| Total | 35 | 6 | |
International Goals
- . Albania U19 score listed first, score column indicates score after each Balaj's goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 October 2008 | The Oval, Belfast, Northern Ireland | 3 |  Northern Ireland |
1–2 | 1–2 | 2009 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification |
| 2 | 18 November 2009 | Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marino | 6 |  San Marino |
2–0 | 4–1 | 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification |
| 3 | 3–0 |
- . Albania U21 score listed first, score column indicates score after each Balaj's goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 September 2010 | Tofik Bakhramov Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan | 4 |  Azerbaijan |
2–3 | 2–3 | 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification |
| 2 | 11 October 2011 | Bronisław Malinowski Central Stadium, Grudziądz, Poland | 5 |  Poland |
2–3 | 3–4 | 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification |
| 3 | 6 June 2012 | Estádio Municipal da Marinha Grande, Marinha Grande, Portugal | 7 |  Portugal |
1–2 | 1–3 | 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification |
- . Albania score listed first, score column indicates score after each Balaj's goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 September 2014 | Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal | 5 | Portugal |
1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA 2016 qualification |
| 2 | 5 September 2016 | Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër, Albania | 17 |  Macedonia |
2–1 | 2–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 6 October 2016 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein | 18 |  Liechtenstein |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 28 March 2017 | Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania | 21 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
1–2 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 5 | 20 November 2018 | Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania | 30 |  Wales |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 25 March 2019 | Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra | 31 |  Andorra |
2–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| 7 | 14 November 2019 | Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania | 36 | Andorra |
1–0 | 2–2 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| 8 | 11 November 2020 | Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania | 39 |  Kosovo |
1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 9 | 26 October 2022 | Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | 45 |  Saudi Arabia |
1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
Honours and Achievements
Club Trophies
Vllaznia
- Albanian Cup: 2007–08; runner-up: 2009–10
Tirana
- Albanian Cup: 2010–11, 2011–12
- Albanian Supercup: 2011
Individual Awards
- Kategoria Superiore Talent of the Season: 2011–12
- Kategoria Superiore Top Scorer: 2023–24
Images for kids
-
Bekim Balaj playing for Albania in 2016.
See also
In Spanish: Bekim Balaj para niños
