Argjend Malaj

Argjend Malaj

Personal information
Full name	Argjend Malaj
Date of birth	16 October 1994
Place of birth	Vushtrri, FR Yugoslavia
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Central midfielder
Club information
Current team	KF Tirana
Number	23
Youth career
2004–2012	KF KEK
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2012–2014	FC Prishtina	15	(1)
2014–	Tirana	38	(0)
National team
2013–2014	Kosovo U21[1]	1	(0)
2015–	Kosovo	0	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 October 2014. † Appearances (goals)

Argjend Malaj (born 16 October 1994 in Vushtrri) is a Kosovar-Albanian footballer who plays for KF Tirana in the Albanian Superliga.

Club career

FC Prishtina

Malaj joined FC Prishtina in the summer transfer window of 2013 from KF KEK at the age of 18 and he joined the first team at the club. In April he went on a short trial with German giants Borussia Dortmund^[2][3] before returning to FC Prishtina to finish off the season with 15 league appearances and one goal.

KF Tirana

He signed a one-year contract with Albanian Superliga club Tirana on 3 July 2014, with the option of another year at the end of the season. He moved on a free transfer and his reported salary would be in the region of €24,000 and €30,000 a year.^[4] He made his debut with the club on the opening day of the 2014–15 Albanian Superliga campaign in a home tie against newly promoted side Apolonia Fier. Malaj came on as a 67th-minute substitute for forward Mario Morina in a game that ended in a 3–0 win.^[5][6] He made his first start for the club on 11 September against Vllaznia Shkodër, in a 1–1 draw which was infamously marred by crowd trouble which saw 13 people arrested and both clubs' fans receiving lengthly stadium bans.^[7][8][9]

Malaj scored his first goal with Tirana on 24 January 2016, a match-winner against Flamurtari Vlorë in the first leg of the 2015–16 Albanian Cup's quarter-final.^[10]

International career

Malaj has expressed his desire to represent Albania internationally, but has insisted that should Kosovo gain UEFA and FIFA recongition then he could choose them.^[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of 24 January 2016^[12][13]

Club	Season	League			Cup[lower-alpha 1]		Continental[lower-alpha 2]		Other[lower-alpha 3]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Tirana	2014–15	Albanian Superliga	24	0	6	0	—		—		30	0
	2015–16		14	0	3	1	—		—		17	1
	Total		38	0	9	1	—		—		47	1
Career total			38	0	9	1	0	0	0	0	47	1

1. Including cup competitions, such as Albanian Cup
2. Including continental competitions, such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
3. Including other competitions, such as Albanian Supercup

References

1. "Football, Kosovo debuted internationally". Lajme Online. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
2. "Argjend Malaj në Gjermani" (in Albanian). Prishtina Magazine. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
3. "Dortmund proven Argjend Malajn" (in Albanian). Borozani.com. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
4. "Zyrtare, Argjend Malaj firmos për Tiranën" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
5. "Tirana vs. Apolonia Fier 3 – 0". Soccerway. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
6. Merko, Adela (25 August 2014). ""Fluturon" Tirana, gola dhe spektakël ndaj Apolonisë. Magani: S’duhet të shpërdoronim" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
7. "Vllaznia Shkodër vs. Tirana 1 – 1". Soccerway. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
8. "Dhunë në Vllaznia-Tirana, 4 policë e 6 tifozë të plagosur, goditet në kokë Refik Halili" (in Albanian). Gazeta Shqip. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
9. "Vllaznia-Tirana, ndeshja përfundon në dhunë, goditet edhe presidenti Refik Halili" (in Albanian). Ora News. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
10. "VIDEO/ Tirana fiton në Vlorë me Flamurtarin, vendos goli i Malajt" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
11. "Argjendi synon ligat e mëdha evropiane" (in Albanian). Kosova Alive 360. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
12. "Kosovo - A. Malaj - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
13. "Football : Argjend Malaj". Football DataBase. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.

External links

• Profile at Soccerway