This is a list of Albania international footballers who were born outside Albania. Players born in countries outside Albania including those born in diaspora may qualify for the Albania team through Albanian parents or grandparents, or through residency in Albania and subsequent naturalisation as Albanian citizens.
In the Treaty of London (1913) the newly Independent Albania left territories in boundering countries with substantial Albanian minorities. As mentioned above, the Republic of Albania and the Albanian Football Association opened their ways to footballers of Albanian descent even born outside the territories. In fact the first footballer born outside Albania to represent the national side was Italian ethnic goalkeeper Giacomo Poselli which was born in Greece and debuted in the 1946 Balkan Cup a competition which Albania won. Instead the first Albanian origin footballer was fellow goalkeeper Arjan Beqaj born in Prizren of Kosovo, which at the time was playing for Albanian Superliga competers Partizani Tirana and managed his debut in 1998. It was succeeded by fellow Kosovan born Besnik Hasi two years later and by another Kosovan origin Lorik Cana after another two years, as both midfielders became captains subsequently during their last years and Cana himself holds the record for most appearances with a tally of 93. All 4 upcomers were managed by German coach Hans-Peter Briegel in his arrival in 2003, which himself managed another upcomings especially from his country's championship Bundesliga bringing 3 components Mehmet Dragusha in 2003 and Bekim Kastrati & Besart Berisha in 2006, but also the duo of Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava defenders Armend Dallku and Debatik Curri.
List of players
edit- Players with flags in front of their name are players who represented Albania, but now represent another national team.
- A light red background indicates the most recent match.
* | Current internationals |
Caps | Appearances |
Pos | Positions |
---|---|
GK | Goalkeeper |
DF | Defender |
MF | Midfielder |
FW | Forward |
Capped players
edit- As of 19 November 2024
By country of birth
editCountry | Total |
---|---|
Kosovo[b] | 33 |
Switzerland | 12 |
Greece | 6 |
Italy | 5 |
North Macedonia | 4 |
Germany | 3 |
Belgium | 2 |
England | 2 |
Croatia | 1 |
Denmark | 1 |
Norway | 1 |
Serbia[c] | 1 |
Spain | 1 |
Sweden | 1 |
Notes and references
editNotes
edit- ^ Ethnic Italian who was naturalised as an Albanian citizen during his time with Flamurtari Vlorë.
- ^ Kosovo as part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro at the time the players were born.
- ^ Serbia as part of Serbia and Montenegro at the time the player was born and excluding the part when Kosovo was part of Serbia before 2006.
References
edit- ^ Lorik Cana at EU-Football.info
- ^ Etrit Berisha at EU-Football.info
- ^ Armend Dallku at EU-Football.info
- ^ Berat Djimsiti at EU-Football.info
- ^ Amir Abrashi at EU-Football.info
- ^ Mërgim Mavraj at EU-Football.info
- ^ Ermir Lenjani at EU-Football.info
- ^ Frédéric Veseli at EU-Football.info
- ^ Debatik Curri at EU-Football.info
- ^ Ardian Ismajli at EU-Football.info
- ^ Ylber Ramadani at EU-Football.info
- ^ Arjan Beqaj at EU-Football.info
- ^ Besnik Hasi at EU-Football.info
- ^ Thomas Strakosha at EU-Football.info
- ^ Migjen Basha at EU-Football.info
- ^ Arlind Ajeti at EU-Football.info
- ^ "Nedim Bajrami". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ Taulant Xhaka at EU-Football.info
- ^ Burim Kukeli at EU-Football.info
- ^ Taulant Seferi at EU-Football.info
- ^ Armando Broja at EU-Football.info
- ^ Mario Mitaj at EU-Football.info
- ^ Marash Kumbulla at EU-Football.info
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Jasir Asani (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ^ Samir Ujkani at EU-Football.info
- ^ Enea Mihaj at EU-Football.info
- ^ Iván Balliu at EU-Football.info
- ^ Besart Berisha at EU-Football.info
- ^ Shkëlzen Gashi at EU-Football.info
- ^ Valdet Rama at EU-Football.info
- ^ Naser Aliji at EU-Football.info
- ^ Eros Grezda at EU-Football.info
- ^ Kastriot Dermaku at EU-Football.info
- ^ Mehmet Dragusha at EU-Football.info
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Arbër Hoxha (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Mirlind Daku (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Ahmed Januzi at EU-Football.info
- ^ Giacomo Poselli at EU-Football.info
- ^ Alban Meha at EU-Football.info
- ^ Herolind Shala at EU-Football.info
- ^ Azdren Llullaku at EU-Football.info
- ^ Emanuele Ndoj at EU-Football.info
- ^ Giacomo Vrioni at EU-Football.info
- ^ "Arbnor Muçolli". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ Liridon Latifi at EU-Football.info
- ^ Egzon Binaku at EU-Football.info
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Arbnor Muja (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ Kamer Qaka at EU-Football.info
- ^ Lindon Selahi at EU-Football.info
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Marvin Çuni (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2023-11-23.
- ^ Blerim Rrustemi at EU-Football.info
- ^ Agon Mehmeti at EU-Football.info
- ^ Enis Gavazaj at EU-Football.info
- ^ "Adrian Bajrami". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Anis Mehmeti (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Medon Berisha (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ Bekim Kastrati at EU-Football.info
- ^ Fidan Aliti at EU-Football.info
- ^ Amir Rrahmani at EU-Football.info
- ^ Milot Rashica at EU-Football.info
- ^ Valon Ahmedi at EU-Football.info
- ^ Bujar Lika at EU-Football.info
- ^ Herdi Prenga at EU-Football.info
- ^ "Stivian Janku". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ Agonit Sallaj at EU-Football.info
- ^ Mërgim Brahimi at EU-Football.info
- ^ Vullnet Basha at EU-Football.info
- ^ Arbnor Fejzullahu at EU-Football.info
- ^ Astrit Hajdari at EU-Football.info
- ^ Ramën Çepele at EU-Football.info
- ^ "Esat Mala". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ "Ardit Toli". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Sebastjan Spahiu (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
External links
edit- Albania international footballers of all-time at EU-Football.info - National football teams of Europe
- Albania national football team at National-Football-Teams.com
- FSHF.org
- Albania national team at Soccerway