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Bekim Balaj
Bekim Balaj (ALB2016).jpg
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-01-11) 11 January 1991 (age 34)
Place of birth Shkodër, PSR Albania
Height 1.88 m
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club 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)
National team
2008–2010 Albania U19 6 (3)
2010–2012 Albania U21 8 (3)
2012–2022 Albania 48 (9)
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 November 2024.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 31 March 2024

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.

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

Bekim Balaj - Albania U-21 (1)
Balaj with Albania U21 in 2009

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

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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

Appearances and goals by national team and year
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.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
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.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
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.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bekim Balaj para niños

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