Lorik Cana facts for kids
Cana with Nantes in 2015
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lorik Agim Cana | ||
| Date of birth | 27 July 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Pristina, Kosovo, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.86 m | ||
| Playing position | Centre-back, defensive midfielder, central midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–2000 | FC Dardania Lausanne | ||
| 2000–2001 | Paris Saint-Germain | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2000–2003 | Paris Saint-Germain B | 39 | (2) |
| 2002–2005 | Paris Saint-Germain | 69 | (2) |
| 2005–2009 | Marseille | 122 | (6) |
| 2009–2010 | Sunderland | 31 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Galatasaray | 24 | (1) |
| 2011–2015 | Lazio | 82 | (4) |
| 2015–2016 | Nantes | 21 | (0) |
| Total | 388 | (15) | |
| National team | |||
| 2003–2016 | Albania | 93 | (1) |
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Lorik Agim Cana (born on 27 July 1983) is a famous Albanian former professional footballer. He played in top football leagues in France, England, Italy, and Turkey. Lorik Cana is known for being a strong and determined player. He often played as a defensive midfielder or centre-back.
Cana also led the Albanian national team as captain. He holds the record for the most games played for Albania, with 93 appearances. He was part of the first Albanian team to play in a major international tournament, the UEFA Euro 2016. After retiring from playing, he became an ambassador for children's football in Albania.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Lorik Cana was born in Pristina, Kosovo. His parents were originally from Gjakova. His father, Agim Cana, was also a professional football player for FC Prishtina. Lorik loved watching his father's team play from a young age. His father's passion for football inspired him to start playing the sport.
In 1992, when Lorik was nine years old, his family moved to Switzerland. This move was due to the Yugoslav Wars happening in their home region.
Club Career Highlights
Starting Out in France
In 1997, Cana joined a local team in Switzerland called FC Dardania Lausanne. This club was started by the Albanian community in Lausanne. His own father was the coach of this team. He played there until 2000.
At age 16, Cana was invited to try out for Arsenal in England. However, he could not go because he was not given a British visa. Instead, French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) invited him for a trial. The coach was impressed, and Cana signed a contract with PSG. He spent three years playing for their youth and reserve teams.
In 2003, Cana made his first team debut for Paris Saint-Germain. He played a full 90-minute match against Nantes and even helped set up a goal. He quickly became a regular player for PSG. In the 2003–04 season, he played 32 games and helped his team win the Coupe de France. They also finished second in the French league, which was a great achievement.
Becoming a Captain at Marseille
In 2005, Cana moved to Marseille, a big rival of PSG. He quickly became a key player there. In his first game against his old club, PSG, he scored the winning goal! He played 43 matches in his first season with Marseille.
He became the team's captain in 2007. This was a big responsibility, and he led his team in many games. He helped Marseille finish third in the league, which meant they qualified for the UEFA Champions League. During his time at Marseille, he was known for being a very strong and determined defender. He has often said that Marseille was his favorite team to play for.
Playing in England, Turkey, and Italy
In 2009, Cana moved to England to play for Sunderland in the Premier League. He was the first Albanian player to play in this famous league. He was also made captain of Sunderland for the 2009–10 season.
After one season in England, Cana joined Galatasaray, a very successful club in Turkey. His time there was affected by a back injury.
In 2011, Cana moved to Italy to play for Lazio in Serie A. He spent four years with Lazio. He helped them win the Coppa Italia in 2013. This was his first major trophy with a club. He often played as a centre-back for Lazio and was praised for his strong performances.
Return to France and Retirement
In 2015, Cana returned to France, joining Nantes. He played his 200th French league match while at Nantes. He left the club in the summer of 2016, marking the end of his club career.
International Career for Albania
Early Years and First Goal
Lorik Cana had the choice to play for Albania, Switzerland, or France because he held passports from all three countries. He chose to play for Albania. He made his international debut in June 2003 at just 19 years old. This was in a Euro 2004 qualifying match against Switzerland.
He scored his first goal for Albania in 2005 against Azerbaijan. He became a regular starter for the national team.
Becoming Albania's Captain
Cana first captained Albania in a friendly game in 2010. He officially became the regular captain of Albania in 2011. Under his leadership, Albania became a much stronger team. They achieved some impressive results, including their first-ever win against Slovenia and a historic win against Norway.
UEFA Euro 2016 Qualification
Cana led Albania through the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. In a crucial match against Portugal, Albania won 1–0, which was their first-ever victory against Portugal.
During a match against Serbia in 2014, there was a difficult incident on the field. Cana showed great courage in protecting his teammates and national symbols during this event. For his bravery, he received honorary citizenship from cities in Kosovo and Albania.
In the final qualifying match against Armenia, Albania needed to win to qualify directly for the UEFA Euro 2016. Cana captained the team to a historic 3–0 victory. This win secured Albania's first-ever spot in a major men's football tournament!
At Euro 2016, Cana captained Albania in their first group match against Switzerland. He was unfortunately sent off in that game. However, he returned to play in Albania's historic 1–0 win against Romania. This was Albania's first win in a major tournament.
Retirement and Records
Lorik Cana announced his retirement from international football on 23 June 2016, after the Euro 2016 tournament. He is Albania's all-time most capped player, having played 92 matches for his country. He also holds records for the most appearances in World Cup and European Championship qualifying matches for Albania. He was captain in 41 of his international games.
Life After Football
On 26 October 2017, Lorik Cana was named the grassroots ambassador for football in Albania by the Albanian Football Association. This means he helps promote football for children and young people.
Personal Life
Lorik Cana is the son of former footballer Agim Cana. His family moved to Switzerland because of war in Kosovo. He is an ambassador for the UNO against poverty.
Cana has a keen interest in archeology. He has said that he plans to study history and work in the field of Albanology (the study of Albania) after his football career. He married Monica Ercoli, an Italian, in 2014. They have a son named Boiken and live in Tirana, Albania. In 2015, Cana was named an Honorary Ambassador of Kosovo.
Career Statistics Summary
Lorik Cana played a total of 388 league games for his clubs, scoring 15 goals. For the Albanian national team, he played 92 matches and scored 1 goal.
International Goals
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 August 2005 | Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania | 16 |  Azerbaijan |
2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
Honours and Achievements
Paris Saint-Germain
- Coupe de France: 2003–04
Lazio
- Coppa Italia: 2012–13
Individual Awards
- Albanian Footballer of the Year: 2003
- Albanian Fan's Footballer of the Year: 2009
- Albanian Sports Ambassador: 2018
Images for kids
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Cana with Nantes in 2015
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Cana playing for Marseille in 2008
See also
In Spanish: Lorik Cana para niños
