Elvis Sina

Elvis Sina

Personal information
Full name	Elvis Sina
Date of birth	14 November 1978
Place of birth	Tirana, Albania
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 5 ^1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Sweeper/Centre-back
Club information
Current team	Retired
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1996–2006	Tirana	261	(8)
2006–2007	Elbasani	25	(1)
2007–2008	Tirana	24	(0)
2008–2009	Dinamo Tirana	29	(0)
2009–2014	Tirana	90	(0)
Total		429	(9)
National team^‡
2002–2003	Albania[1]	5	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 June 2012. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20 May 2010

Elvis Sina (born 14 November 1978 in Tirana) is a former Albanian footballer. He has successfully played for Tirana in the Albanian Superliga, and for the Albanian national team. His main position was centre back but he could also play as a sweeper.

Sina is the most-capped player in the history of Tirana with more than 500 appearances in all competitions.^[2]

Club career

Sina began his professional career with Tirana in 1996 and by the age of just 19 he became a key first team player, helping his side win the Albanian Superliga 6 times, Albanian Cup 4 times and Albanian Supercup 5 times before his departure in 2006 to head to Elbasani. He only spent one season in Elbasan before heading back to KF Tirana for the 2007–08 season.

On 9 June 2008, Sina moved to Tirana's fierce local rivals Dinamo Tirana in the summer of 2008 where he won the Albanian Supercup in his only season at the club before once again returning to Tirana for his third stint in 2009.^[3] He returned to Tirana in the summer of 2009 and since than he won the Albanian Cup and Supercup, both in 2011.^[4]

On 8 April 2014, Sina announced that he will retired at the end of 2013–14 season at the age of 35.^[5] In the last match of the season against Besa Kavajë, Sina was set to play the last match of his career, but this did not happen because Besa Kavajë didn't appear to play, forcing FSHF to award Tirana with a 3–0 victory.^[6] However, for Sina, a farewell ceremony was held to celebrate his career, which was organised by Tirana.^[7]

In his last season, Sina played 15 matches as his side assured mathematically survival on 3 May 2014, during the 2–2 away draw against Flamurtari Vlorë, where Sina was an unused substitute.^[8][9]

International career

Sina made his debut for the national team in a 1–1 draw against Switzerland on 12 October 2002 whilst playing for KF Tirana. He came on as a late substitute for Ervin Fakaj in the 89th minute of the game.^[10] His next international game was only 4 days away against Russia in Volgograd. Sina once again came on as a substitute but this time it was on the 60th minute mark, he replaced Fatmir Vata when the score was 4–1 to the Russians, Sina's presence on the field was shown as Russia did not manage to score again after he had entered the field.^[11]

The defender earned his next cap in a friendly against Poland on 29 May 2005. It was his first game under the guidance of new coach Hans-Peter Briegel. He came on replacing midfielder Klodian Duro in the 78th minute of the game.^[12] Sina's next appearance was a 2006 World Cup qualifier against Denmark on 8 June 2005. Just like his first cap this one was earned through a cameo appearance as he came on in the 92nd minute for midfielder Redi Jupi.^[13]

Sina's last national team cap to date was a friendly in Tirana against Azerbaijan on 17 August 2005. Besides being his last cap, it was also his first start for the national team and the first time he had ever won an international game. He started the match in midfield and came off after an impressive game in the 90th minute for Kosovan born Armend Dallku.^[14]

Director career

On 9 September 2015, Sina was named the new director of Tirana's academy following the departure of Ardian Mema, another club legend.^[15]

Honours

KF Tirana

• Albanian Superliga (6): 1996-97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05
• Albanian Cup (6): 1998-99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2011–12
• Albanian Supercup (7): 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012

Dinamo Tirana

• Albanian Supercup (1): 2008

References

1. International caps
2. "Elvis Sina" (in Albanian). KF Tirana Facebook. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
3. "Elvis Sina firmos për Dinamon" (in Albanian). Arkiva Lajmeve. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
4. "Sina: I lumtur që u ktheva në shtëpi" (in Albanian). Lajme. 25 August 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
5. Leonard Karaj (9 April 2014). "“Blindohet” Gilberto, do rinovojë për 10 mijë dollarë. Sina do të tërhiqet në fund të sezonit" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
6. "Mbrojtësi i Tiranës, Elvis Sina do të varë sot “këpucët në goxhdë”" (in Albanian). Ora News. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
7. "Sina, ceremoni lamtumire para ndeshjes me Besën" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
8. Kora, Sotir (4 May 2014). "Tirona siguron mbijetesën" (in Albanian). Super Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
9. Ermal Sika (4 May 2014). "Barazim në Vlorë, mbijeton Tirana. Magani: Tani që ia dolëm, jam i gatshëm që të rinovoj" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
10. Albania 1-1 Switzerland
11. Russia 4-1 Albania
12. Poland 1-0 Albania
13. Denmark 3-1 Albania
14. Albania 2-1 Azerbaijan
15. "Elvis Sina, drejtor akademie te Tirana" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2016.

External links

• Elvis Sina at National-Football-Teams.com