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Lorik Cana
Personal information
Cana with Nantes in 2015
Full name	Lorik Agim Cana
Date of birth	(1983-07-27) 27 July 1983 (age 42)
Place of birth	Pristina, Kosovo, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	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)
International career
2003–2016	Albania	93	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Lorik Agim Cana (born on 27 July 1983) is a former professional footballer from Albania. He played as a strong defender or midfielder. After retiring from playing, he became an ambassador for children's football in Albania. The Albanian Football Association gave him this role in October 2017.

Cana played for big clubs in France, England, Italy, and Turkey. These clubs included Paris Saint-Germain, Sunderland, Galatasaray, Lazio, FC Nantes, and Olympique de Marseille. He also played for the Albania national team. He holds the record for the most games played for Albania, with 93 appearances. He played for his country from 2003 until he retired in 2016.

He usually played as a defensive midfielder or central midfielder. Later in his career, he often played as a centre-back. Lorik Cana was part of the first major international tournament for Albania, the UEFA Euro 2016 in France.

When he was 16, Cana was invited to try out for Arsenal. However, he could not go because he did not get a British visa. He started his professional club career with Paris Saint-Germain. In 2004, he moved to their rivals, Olympique de Marseille, where he later became the team's captain.

In 2009, Cana joined Sunderland, becoming the first Albanian player in the Premier League. He then played for Galatasaray, a very successful Turkish club. Two years later, he signed with the Italian club Lazio, where he stayed for four years. In 2015, Cana returned to France, joining Nantes.

Cana could have played for Albania, Switzerland, or France because he had passports from all three countries. He chose to play for Albania. He made his international debut in June 2003 when he was 19. He became Albania's captain in 2011. After UEFA Euro 2016, Cana announced he was retiring from football.

Early Life and Family

Lorik Cana was born in Pristina, Kosovo. His parents were originally from Gjakova. His father, Agim Cana, was also a famous football player for FC Prishtina. Lorik loved watching his father's team play from a young age. He says his father's football career inspired him to play the sport. In 1992, his family moved to Switzerland because of the Yugoslav Wars.

Club Football Journey

Starting Out in Football

In 1997, Cana joined a local team called FC Dardania Lausanne. This was an amateur club started by the Albanian community in Lausanne. His father was the coach there. He played for Dardania until 2000. That's when the French club Paris Saint-Germain noticed him and signed him.

Cana had a chance to try out for Arsenal in 2000. He was 16 at the time. But he couldn't go because he was denied a British visa. Paris Saint-Germain then invited him for a trial, and he signed a contract with them. He spent three years playing for their youth and reserve teams.

Playing for Paris Saint-Germain

Cana worked his way up through the ranks at Paris Saint-Germain. In 2003, the first team coach, Luis Fernández, invited him to train with the main squad. On 19 April, Cana made his senior team debut against Nantes. He played the whole 90 minutes and even helped set up a goal. He was named the Man of the Match in his first game.

During the 2003–04 season, he became a regular starter. He played in 32 games and scored one goal. The team won the Coupe de France and finished second in the Ligue 1. This was one of the most successful seasons of his career. He played another 32 games the next season, scoring one more goal.

Moving to Olympique de Marseille

Cana playing for Marseille in 2008

At the start of the 2005–06 season, Cana moved to Marseille. He quickly became a key player there. He even scored the winning goal in his first match against his old club, PSG. Cana played 43 matches in his first season with Marseille. The team finished 5th in the league and reached the 2006 Coupe de France Final, but lost to PSG.

He continued to be a starter in the 2006–07 season. Marseille finished as runners-up in the league. Cana was made captain for the 2006–07 Coupe de France matches. He led his team to the final, where they lost in a penalty shootout. Cana scored his penalty in that game.

Becoming Captain at Marseille

Cana became the official team captain in the summer of 2007. He led his team in 34 league matches, helping them finish 3rd in Ligue 1. This meant they qualified for the UEFA Champions League. Marseille made history by becoming the first French team to win at Anfield against Liverpool.

In the second half of the season, Cana started playing as a centre-back. He continued as captain in the 2008–09 season. He played 48 matches and scored a career-high 3 goals. Cana was known as a very strong and aggressive defender during his time at Marseille. He often said that Marseille was his favorite team.

Playing in England with Sunderland

Cana joined Sunderland in England in July 2009. He signed a four-year contract. The manager, Steve Bruce, soon made him the team's captain. On 15 August, Cana made his league debut for Sunderland. He played very well in a 1–0 win against Bolton Wanderers. This made him the first Albanian player to play in the Premier League. He led his team in 35 games during the 2009–10 season.

Time in Turkey with Galatasaray

Cana moved to Galatasaray in Turkey in July 2010. He signed a four-year contract. His time there was affected by a back injury. Even though the team had a tough season, fans liked Cana because of his strong play.

Playing in Italy with Lazio

On 3 July 2011, Cana transferred to the Italian club Lazio. He signed a contract until June 2016. He made his debut on 21 September. His first goal for Lazio came on 10 December against Lecce. He scored just one minute after coming into the game.

Cana had some injuries in his first months at Lazio. But he found his form and earned a regular spot in the starting lineup. He scored another goal on 6 May 2012 against Atalanta. This helped Lazio keep their hopes alive for the UEFA Champions League. He played 15 league games in his first season.

In the 2012–13 season, Cana started playing more as a centre-back. This change was praised by Italian media. He played 38 games in all competitions that season. He also played in the 2013 Coppa Italia Final, where Lazio beat their city rivals Roma to win the trophy. This was his first trophy with Lazio.

Cana was a regular starter in the first part of the 2013–14 campaign. He scored his first goal of the season on 24 November 2013, a last-minute goal that saved a 1–1 draw. He scored again on 2 March 2014 with a bicycle kick. Cana played 32 matches that season. He was ranked as one of the best defenders in Serie A for recovering the ball.

In the 2014–15 season, Cana played less due to new defenders joining the team. He made his 100th appearance for Lazio on 7 December. He spent most of his fourth season on the bench, playing only 20 games. He left the club after this season.

Returning to France with Nantes

After four years in Italy, Cana returned to the French Ligue 1 on 31 August 2015. He signed a two-year contract with Nantes. On 21 November 2015, he played his 200th Ligue 1 match. He left Nantes in the summer of 2016.

International Career for Albania

Early Years (2003–2009)

Lorik Cana could have played for Albania, Switzerland, or France. He chose Albania and joined the team in early 2003. He made his international debut on 11 June 2003, at age 19. This was a Euro 2004 qualifying match against Switzerland.

In the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, Cana played as a centre-back. He was a regular starter. He scored his first international goal in his 16th game, helping Albania win 2–1 against Azerbaijan.

During the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying, Cana received his first red card for Albania. This happened on 12 September 2007 against the Netherlands. He was suspended for two matches after this.

Becoming Captain (2008–2011)

Cana continued to be a regular starter in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification. He often played as a defensive midfielder or centre-back.

Cana first captained Albania in a friendly game against Montenegro in May 2010. His first competitive match as captain was on 8 October 2010 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He reached 50 appearances for Albania in June 2011. After the Euro 2012 qualification ended, Cana became the regular captain of Albania.

Rising with Coach De Biasi (2012–2013)

Albania became a stronger team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification under coach Gianni De Biasi. With Cana as captain, Albania achieved some impressive results. They won 1–0 at home against Slovenia for the first time ever. They also had a historic 1–0 win against Norway.

Cana was even included in a special "best XI" team of players who missed out on the 2014 FIFA World Cup because their national teams didn't qualify.

Record-Breaking Caps and Euro 2016 (2014–2016)

Cana started the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign by playing in a historic 1–0 away victory against Portugal. This was Albania's first win ever against Portugal.

During a match against Serbia in October 2014, Cana showed great bravery. He protected national symbols during a difficult situation. For his actions, he was named an honorary citizen by the mayor of Mitrovica, Kosovo. He received a similar award in northern Albania.

In the final qualifying match against Armenia, Albania needed to win to qualify directly for UEFA Euro 2016. Cana captained Albania to a historic 3–0 win. This secured their spot in the tournament, which was Albania's first ever appearance at a major men's football event.

Cana was part of Albania's squad for UEFA Euro 2016. He captained Albania in their first match against Switzerland. He received a red card in that game, becoming the first player sent off in the tournament. He returned to play as a substitute in Albania's historic 1–0 win against Romania.

Retirement from International Football

Cana announced his retirement from international football on 23 June 2016.

Lorik Cana is Albania's all-time most capped player, with 92 appearances. He also holds records for the most appearances in FIFA World Cup qualification (28 games) and UEFA European Championship matches (29 games). He was captain in 41 matches, more than any other Albanian player. He also has the most yellow cards (26) and red cards (2) for an Albanian international player.

Life After Football

On 26 October 2017, the Albanian Football Association named Lorik Cana as the grassroots ambassador for football in Albania. This means he helps promote football for children.

Personal Life

Lorik Cana is the son of former footballer Agim Cana. His family moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, because of war in Kosovo. He is an ambassador for the UNO against poverty. Cana has a strong interest in archeology. He plans to study history and work in the field of Albanology after his football career.

He married Monica Ercoli, who is Italian, on 8 June 2014. They have a son named Boiken. They live in Tirana, Albania. On 15 January 2015, Cana was named an Honorary Ambassador of Kosovo.

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Europe		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Paris Saint-Germain B	2000–01	CFA	4	0	—		—		—		—		4	0
	2001–02		12	1	—		—		—		—		12	1
	2002–03		23	1	—		—		—		—		23	1
	Total		39	2	—		—		—		—		39	2
Paris Saint-Germain	2002–03	Ligue 1	3	0	—		—		—		—		3	0
	2003–04		32	1	2	0	2	0	—		—		36	1
	2004–05		32	1	1	0	1	0	6	0	—		40	1
	2005–06		2	0	—		—		—		—		2	0
	Total		69	2	3	0	3	0	6	0	—		81	2
Marseille	2005–06	Ligue 1	28	1	6	0	1	0	8	0	—		43	1
	2006–07		33	2	6	0	1	0	5	0	—		45	2
	2007–08		34	2	3	1	2	0	9	0	—		48	3
	2008–09		27	1	—		—		12	1	—		39	2
	Total		122	6	15	1	4	0	34	1	—		175	8
Sunderland	2009–10	Premier League	31	0	2	0	2	0	—		—		35	0
Galatasaray	2010–11	Süper Lig	24	1	4	0	—		3	0	—		31	1
Lazio	2011–12	Serie A	15	2	—		—		6	0	—		21	2
	2012–13		24	0	5	0	—		9	0	—		38	0
	2013–14		26	2	0	0	—		6	0	0	0	32	2
	2014–15		17	0	3	0	—		—		—		20	0
	Total		82	4	8	0	—		21	0	0	0	111	4
Nantes	2015–16	Ligue 1	21	0	3	0	0	0	—		—		24	0
Career total			388	15	35	1	9	0	64	1	0	0	496	17

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Albania	2003	6	0
	2004	5	0
	2005	8	1
	2006	4	0
	2007	6	0
	2008	6	0
	2009	6	0
	2010	6	0
	2011	9	0
	2012	8	0
	2013	9	0
	2014	8	0
	2015	6	0
	2016	5	0
Total		92	1

Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cana goal.

List of international goals scored by Lorik Cana
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

Paris Saint-Germain

Coupe de France: 2003–04; runner-up: 2002–03
Trophée des Champions runner-up: 2004

Marseille

Coupe de France runner-up: 2005–06, 2006–07

Lazio

Coppa Italia: 2012–13; runner-up: 2014–15
Supercoppa Italiana runner-up: 2013, 2015

Individual

Albanian Footballer of the Year: 2003
Albanian Fan's Footballer of the Year: 2009
Albanian Sports Ambassador: 2018