Erjon Bogdani
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 April 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Tirana, Albania | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Albania (assistant manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1987–1994 | Partizani | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1994–1997 | Partizani | 62 | (21) |
| 1997–1998 | Gençlerbirliği | 11 | (1) |
| 1998–2000 | NK Zagreb | 25 | (8) |
| 2000–2004 | Reggina | 67 | (11) |
| 2003–2004 | → Salernitana (loan) | 38 | (8) |
| 2004–2005 | Verona | 38 | (17) |
| 2005–2007 | Siena | 49 | (13) |
| 2007–2010 | Chievo | 61 | (8) |
| 2007–2008 | → Livorno (loan) | 17 | (2) |
| 2010–2012 | Cesena | 49 | (8) |
| 2012–2013 | Siena | 29 | (6) |
| Total | 466 | (103) | |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1996–1998 | Albania U-21 | 7 | (1) |
| 1996–2013 | Albania | 74 | (18) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2015– | Albania (Assistant) | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 October 2013. | |||
Erjon Bogdani (born 14 April 1977 in Tirana) is an Albanian Retired footballer who played as a striker for Partizani Tirana in Albania, Gençlerbirliği in Turkey, NK Zagreb in Croatia and in Italy for Reggina, Salernitana, Verona, Siena, Chievo, Livorno, Cesena. In the international level he represented as well the Albania national football team. He currently works as the Albania national team assistant manager. He is nicknamed "Bogu".[1]
Club career
Early years
Bogdani was discovered by local side Partizani Tirana at the age of just 10 in a school team competition held in Tirana, where he scored 11 goals in just four games. The young Bogdani then joined Partizani Tirana's academy, where he played through the different age groups and eventually signing his first professional contract with the club in 1994.
Partizani Tirana
Bogdani made his professional debut with Partizani Tirana in the Albanian Superliga in the 1993–94 season, where he played 7 games in the second half of the season. The following season he scored his first goal in a campaign which saw him play 13 games and score 2 goals. The 1997–98 campaign would prove to be his most successful in Albanian football as he scored 13 goals in just 15 games before the winter break.
This attracted the attention of several foreign clubs, but Bogdani decided to move to Turkey with Gençlerbirliği in the Süper Lig where he played for the second half of the 1997–98 season.
NK Zagreb
Bogdani later moved to Zagreb with Josip Kuže's help[2] and played there for 1. HNL club NK Zagreb scoring 15 goals in 26 matches.[3] In his first season 1998–99 with NK Zagreb he played only 14 games scoring 9 goals. In season 1999–2000 he scored 6 goals in 12 games.
→ Italy
With the first half of Croatian First League season over, Bogdani was transferred to Italy at the winter break.
In January 2000, Bogdani joined Reggina and made his Serie A debut on 6 February against Bologna. In Reggio Calabria, except for the 2001–02 season in the Serie B, he played 37 Serie A games, and scored 4 goals. In 2003–04 season, he was loaned at Salernitana in the Serie B.
Hellas Verona
In 2004–05 season, Bogdani was signed by Verona and was the team top-scorer of Verona in the Serie B with 17 goals, 3 goals behind top-scorer Gionatha Spinesi, 2 goals behind Diego Milito of Genoa and Francesco Tavano. The 2004–05 season was his personal best, he has never scored more goals in one season, than in the 2004–05 season.
Siena
In summer 2005, Bogdani made his return to Italy's top-flight, but now for A.C. Siena. He made it his debut on 28 August 2005 against Cagliari playing a full 90-minutes match, which finished in the 2–1 victory.[4] Bogdani scored his first goal on 21 September 2005 against Ascoli, in a match finished in the 1–1 draw where his goal was the first of the match, scored in the 45th minute.[5] On 28 January 2006 Bogdani scored a hat trick of 3 goals against Palermo where the match finished in the 1–3 away victory.[6] In the 2005–06 season he registered in total 34 league appearances where he scored in total 11 goals.
He started another season with Siena as he played in the first match against Chievo on 10 September 2006, where the match finished in the victory 1–2.[7] He played until the end of the 2006–07 season's first-half, where he made 15 appearances and scored 2 goals.
Chievo Verona
He joined Chievo in January 2007. In Chievo, he made his debut on 14 January 2007 against Catania. He scored twice on 24 February 2007 against Torino, in the match finished in the 3–0 victory.[8] He scored 5 goals in 19 games, but failed to avoid relegation.
Loan to Livorno
He was loaned out to Livorno at the start of the 2007–08 Serie A season. He made his debut with Livorno on 2 September 2007 against Palermo in a match finished in the 2–4 loss, where he came in as a substitute in the 36th minute in place of Francesco Tavano.[9] Bogdani scored two goals during the second-half season, first against Juventus on 27 January 2008 in a 1–3 loss[10] and against Reggina on 19 March 2008 in the match finished in the 1–1 draw.[11] At the end of the season Livorno relegated to Seria B as they ranked in the last place of the table. Bogdani registered 28 appearances and only two goals for the entire season.
He returned to Chievo for the 2008–09 season playing in 21 matches, where 12 as a starter, where he scored only 1 goal for the entire season against Lazio on 15 March 2009 in a match finished in the 0–3 victory, where Bogdani came in as a substitute in place of Stephen Makinwa in the 20th minute and scored the opening goal in the 27th minute.[12]
For another season he has been part of Chievo, the 2009–10 Serie A, where he scored 2 goals in 21 games.
Cesena
In the 2010–11 season, Bogdani joined A.C. Cesena and made his debut on 28 August 2010 against A.S. Roma in a 0–0 draw. He scored his first goal for Cesena against Milan, he also assisted the second goal made by Giaccherini in a 2–0 win. Bogdani was voted as the Man of the match against A.C. Milan and U.S. Lecce and has been selected in the Serie A, Team of the week . Bogdani scored eight goals for A.C. Cesena in 49 appearances. He scored his first goal of 2011 on 19 January a game played in Milano against Internazionale but still lost 3–2. He scored the equalizer in a 1–1 match between Lecce in the 90+2' on 30 January.
Siena
Bogdani re-signed for AC Siena on the final day of the winter transfer window, on a two-year contract. He made his debut with the Tuscans 22 February 2012, in the home defeat against Liverpool (0–1 for the Etna). Scored his first goal in the league 26 February 2012 in the win against Palermo (4–1). Is repeated in the next two weeks against Cagliari and Cesena, his former team. Concluded the season with 11 appearances and 4 goals.
The following season begins from the first minute in Siena-Vicenza (4–2), valid for the third round of the Italian Cup, going out to 33 'of recovery instead of Paolucci. He made his debut in the league on 26 August against Torino (0–0). Scored his first goal of the season on 31 Oct in Cagliari Siena (4–2). Bogdani scored second goal against Sampdoria on 20 January 2013.[13]
Career statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | ||||
| 1993–94 | Partizani | Albanian Superliga | 7 | 0 |
| 1994–95 | 13 | 2 | ||
| 1995–96 | 20 | 2 | ||
| 1996–97 | 14 | 4 | ||
| 1997–98 | 15 | 13 | ||
 Turkey | ||||
| 1997–98 | Genclerbirligi | Süper Lig | 11 | 1 |
 Croatia | ||||
| 1998–99 | Zagreb | Prva HNL | 14 | 6 |
| 1999–00 | 12 | 2 | ||
 Italy | ||||
| 1999–00 | Reggina | Serie A | 10 | 2 |
| 2000–01 | 17 | 1 | ||
| 2001–02 | Serie B | 31 | 7 | |
| 2002–03 | Serie A | 10 | 1 | |
| 2003–04 | Salernitana | Serie B | 38 | 8 |
| 2004–05 | Verona | 38 | 17 | |
| 2005–06 | Siena | Serie A | 34 | 11 |
| 2006–07 | 15 | 2 | ||
| Chievo | 19 | 5 | ||
| 2007–08 | Livorno | 28 | 2 | |
| 2008–09 | Chievo | 21 | 1 | |
| 2009–10 | 21 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11 | Cesena | 35 | 8 | |
| 2011–12 | 14 | 0 | ||
| Siena | 11 | 4 | ||
| 2012–13 | 18 | 2 | ||
| Total | 466 | 103 | ||
International career
Albania under-21
It was not until Bogdani had made his senior international debut that he became part of the Albania U-21 team, where he scored on his official debut in a 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualifier against Portugal U-21 on 9 October 1996. Following his goal however, he was sent off after receiving the first red card of his career just 4 minutes after scoring his first international goal, Albania went on to lose the game 4–2.[16] In total he made 7 official appearances for the U-21 national team, scoring one goal and losing all 7 games that he featured in.
- Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first.
| U-21 international goals | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 9 October 1996 | Selman Stermasi Stadium, Tirana, Albania |  Portugal | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification |
Albania senior team
Bogdani received his first senior international call up from Neptun Bajko in 1996 for a friendly in Zenica against Bosnia & Herzegovina. He made his international debut at the age of 19 years and 10 days old on 24 April 1996 in a goalless draw, coming on as an 86th-minute substitute for Ardian Behari who was also making his debut.[17]
For the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, new coach Gianni De Biasi had introduced young forwards into the senior national team to create more competition for places in the first team. Young players forwards such as Edgar Çani, Armando Sadiku and Bekim Balaj provided competition for the established and mature internationals which were Bogdani and Hamdi Salihi. In opening group game of the qualifiers, Albania took on Cyprus at the Qemal Stafa Stadium in Tirana, and with De Biasi opting to start with Sadiku and Salihi upfront Bogdani started the game on the substitutes bench. With the scores at 1–1 Bogdani came on in the 72nd minute to replace Emiljano Vila and join the two forwards upfront. Edgar Çani also came off the bench to put Albania ahead in the 84th minute. Bodgani then fired a 30-yard strike into the net in the 87th minute to secure a 3–1 win, a goal which many considered to be the best international goal of his career.[18][19]
Managerial career
Principally Bogdani started working as youth talents Scouter at Albania national football team, where he was named on 12 August 2014 by FSHF.[20]
On 29 August 2015 He was named as the Albania national team assistant manager by the national head coach Gianni De Biasi for replacing the departured Altin Lala.[21]
International caps + goals
| Albania national team[22] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 7 | 1 |
| 2000 | 3 | 2 |
| 2001 | 3 | 0 |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 9 | 4 |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 |
| 2007 | 10 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 | 1 |
| 2009 | 5 | 3 |
| 2010 | 6 | 0 |
| 2011 | 8 | 3 |
| 2012 | 5 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 74 | 18 |
Bogdani is the all-time top goalscorer in the history of Albania with 18 goals. He has been part of the team for 13 years, making his debut in 1996, and scoring the first goal three years later. In 2011, after his goal during the 2–1 away loss against Luxembourg, Bogdani broke the record of Alban Bushi to become the all-time top goalscorer of Albania.[23]
Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first.[24]
Honours and awards
- Partizani
- Albanian Cup (1): 1996–97
- Reggina
- Serie A Promotion (1): 2001–02
- Individual
- Serie A Man of the Match with Cesena (6)
- Serie A Team of the Week with Cesena (4): 2010
- Albanian Footballer of the Year (1): 2005
- Albanian Fan's Footballer of the Year (3): 2002, 2005, 2007
References
- ↑ “Receta” e Bogdanit: Ja si mund ta mundim Danimarkën Panorama Sport
- ↑ Halilaj, Jetmir. "Një vit pa futboll - Rrëfimi unik i Bogdanit". Panorama-Sport.com (in Albanian).
Josip Kuzhe. Ishte një trajner i zoti, por edhe që më kishte ndihmuar shumë. Më ndihmoi të shkoja nga Gençlebirligi te Dinamo e Zagrebit, madje pagoi edhe lekë nga xhepi që unë të shkoja atje. “Ik, se aty ke të ardhme të sigurt”, më tha dhe pati të drejtë. (Jospi Kuze was a great coach,he also helped me a lot moving from Gençlebirligi to Dinamo Zagreb,he even pay for me to realize my transfer)
- ↑ Pochini, Danilo. "Bologna And QPR After Bogdani". Goal.com.
The 31-year-old has been playing in Serie A since 1999, when he left Dinamo Zagreb for Reggina.
- ↑ Siena vs. Cagliari - 28 August 2005 - Soccerway
- ↑ Ascoli Picchio vs. Siena - 21 September 2005 - Soccerway
- ↑ Palermo vs. Siena - 28 January 2006 - Soccerway
- ↑ Chievo vs. Siena - 10 September 2006 - Soccerway
- ↑ Chievo vs. Torino - 24 February 2007 - Soccerway
- ↑ Livorno vs. Palermo - 2 September 2007 - Soccerway
- ↑ Livorno vs. Juventus - 27 January 2008 - Soccerway
- ↑ Livorno vs. Reggina - 19 March 2008 - Soccerway
- ↑ Lazio vs. Chievo - 15 March 2009 - Soccerway
- ↑ "Serie A – Inter sell Motta to PSG as window closes". Eurosport. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- ↑ Siena vs. Milan - 19 May 2013 - Soccerway
- ↑ Erjon Bogdani at National-Football-Teams.com
- ↑ Albania U-21 2–4 Portugal U-21
- ↑ Bosnia & Herzegovina 0–0 Albania
- ↑ Albania leave it late against Cyprus
- ↑ WCQ Group E round-up
- ↑ FSHF emëron Bogdanin gjurmues të lojtarëve për ekipet Kombëtare aSport.al
- ↑ De Biazi shton edhe Memushajn, Bogdani ndihmës i tij TeleSport
- ↑ Erjon Bogdani at EU-Football.info
- ↑ "Luxembourg beat Albania for first win". UEFA.com. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ↑ "Erjon Bogdani". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
External links
- (Italian) Profile at La Gazzetta
- Profile at ESPN
- Erjon Bogdani at Footballdatabase.eu