Wikipedia

Samir Ujkani

Samir Ujkani (born 5 July 1988) is a former Kosovan professional footballer who is the current sports director of the Kosovo national team.

Samir Ujkani
Ujkani with Novara in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-07-05) 5 July 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Vučitrn, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Kosovo (sports director)
Youth career
2001–2006 Ingelmunster
2006–2007 Anderlecht
2007–2008 Palermo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2015 Palermo 34 (0)
2009–2012 → Novara (loan) 86 (0)
2013 → Chievo (loan) 0 (0)
2015–2017 Genoa 0 (0)
2016 → Latina (loan) 21 (0)
2016–2017 → Pisa (loan) 35 (0)
2017–2018 Cremonese 37 (0)
2018–2019 Çaykur Rizespor 1 (0)
2019–2021 Torino 2 (0)
2021–2023 Empoli 1 (0)
Total 217 (0)
International career
2007–2009 Albania U21 6 (0)
2008–2014 Albania 20 (0)
2014–2022 Kosovo 36 (0)
Managerial career
2023– Kosovo (sports director)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

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Ujkani was born in Resnik, a village near Vushtrri, SAP Kosovo, SR Serbia, at the time part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. His family then moved to Belgium six years after his birth.[2]

Club career

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Youth clubs

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At the age of thirteen, Ujkani enrolled into Ingelmunster, spending six years there before moving to Anderlecht. The Anderlecht football academy has a reputation of producing talented goalkeepers such as Jacky Munaron.[3] Ujkani played until June 2007 for the Anderlecht Under-19s, and made also ten appearances with their reserves team. In June 2007, he agreed to sign a five-year contract with Palermo of Italy's Serie A.[2]

Palermo

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Since then, Ujkani served as unused substitute in two UEFA Cup matches for Palermo, and several Serie A matches as well. He was confirmed as third-choice goalkeeper for the Rosanero's 2008–09 season, and later promoted as second goalkeeper after the club chose to transfer-list veteran goalkeeper Alberto Fontana.

On 26 April 2009, Ujkani made his professional debut with Palermo, replacing injured Marco Amelia during a Serie A match against Milan at the San Siro.[4] His performance was congratulated from Kaká at the end of the match.[5] In July 2009, he was loaned out to Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Novara in exchange with Giacomo Brichetto, also in order to gain first team experience.[6]

On 14 June 2012, Palermo owner Maurizio Zamparini confirmed that Ujkani will be playing on Palermo for the 2012–13 season.[7][8] On 22 June 2012, Palermo announced from their website to have re-acquired the full transfer rights of Ujkani and fellow Novara player Michel Morganella.[9]

For Palermo's 2013–14 season, spent in Serie B after its previous season's relegation, he was used as a second-choice goalkeeper – receiving playing time – and being praised for his development relative to his previous stint with Palermo. During December and January 2014, he became temporary first-choice to cover for the injured Stefano Sorrentino. His contract with Palermo expired 30 June 2015.

Loan at Novara

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He was loaned to Novara, and the loan was extended in 2010.[10]

On 31 January 2011, Palermo announced it had part of Ujkani's transfer rights to Novara as part of a bid involving striker Pablo González[11] (€5 million).[12]

Loan at Chievo

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After the arrival of goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino at Palermo, Ujkani moved on loan to Chievo on 29 January 2013.[13] In his short stint there, he did not play a single game, serving as back-up to Christian Puggioni, and was not acquired by the Verona-based club, thus making his return to Palermo by the end of season.

Genoa

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On 19 July 2015, Genoa announced the signing of Ujkani on a free transfer,[14][15] he did not play a single game.

Loan at Latina

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On 8 January 2016, Ujkani joined Serie B side Latina on loan.[16] On 16 January 2016, he made his debut in a 1–0 home defeat against former club Novara after being named in the starting line-up.

Loan at Pisa

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On 11 July 2016, Ujkani joined Serie B side Pisa on loan. On 7 August 2016, he made his debut with Pisa in the second round of 2016–17 Coppa Italia against Brescia after being named in the starting line-up.

Cremonese

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On 14 July 2017. Ujkani signed with the newly promoted team of Serie B side Cremonese.[17] On 6 August 2017, he made his debut with Cremonese in the second round of 2017–18 Coppa Italia against Virtus Entella after being named in the starting line-up.

Çaykur Rizespor

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On 18 July 2018. Ujkani signed with the newly promoted team of Süper Lig side Çaykur Rizespor, on a three-year contract.[18] On 26 September 2018, he made his debut for Çaykur Rizespor in the third round of the 2018–19 Turkish Cup against Tarsus Idman Yurdu after being named in the starting line-up.[19]

From the beginning of 2019, Ujkani was excluded from the first team squad alongside 4 other foreign players and moved down to the U21 squad.[20][21]

Retirement

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On 1 November 2023 he announced his retirements from playing after 4 months being unattached since contract expiration with Empoli.[22]

International career

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Albania

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Ujkani received an Albanian passport in May 2007,[23] and started playing for the Albania U21. He made his debut on 1 June in a European qualification match against Italy U21. On 6 October 2008, he received his first senior call-up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification qualifying matches with Hungary and Portugal.[24] He made his full senior debut on 10 June 2009 in a 1–1 draw with Georgia in Albania.[25] Ujkani lost his starting place to Etrit Berisha during the 2014 World Cup qualification.

Kosovo

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On 2 March 2014. Ujkani received a call-up from Kosovo for the first permitted by FIFA match against Haiti[26] and made his debut after being named in the starting line-up.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 22 June 2022[21]
Club Season League Cup Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Palermo 2007–08 Serie A 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2008–09 1 0 0 0 — 1 0
2012–13 19 0 1 0 — 20 0
2013–14 Serie B 11 0 0 0 — 11 0
2014–15 Serie A 3 0 1 0 — 4 0
Total 34 0 2 0 — 36 0
Novara (loan) 2009–10 Lega Pro Prima Divisione 23 0 3 0 1 0 27 0
2010–11 Serie B 39 0 1 0 — 40 0
2011–12 Serie A 24 0 2 0 — 26 0
Total 86 0 6 0 1 0 93 0
Chievo (loan) 2012–13 Serie A 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Genoa 2015–16 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Latina (loan) 2015–16 Serie B 21 0 0 0 — 21 0
Pisa (loan) 2016–17 35 0 3 0 — 38 0
Cremonese 2017–18 Serie B 37 0 1 0 — 38 0
Çaykur Rizespor 2018–19 Süper Lig 1 0 4 0 — 5 0
Torino 2019–20 Serie A 1 0 0 0 — 1 0
2020–21 1 0 0 0 — 1 0
Total 2 0 0 0 — 2 0
Empoli 2021–22 Serie A 0 0 1 0 — 1 0
2022–23 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 1 0 — 1 0
Career total 216 0 17 0 1 0 235 0
  1. ^ Including other competitions, such as Supercoppa di Serie C

International

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As of match played 27 September 2022[27]
National team Year Apps Goals
Albania 2009 4 0
2010 1 0
2011 8 0
2012 5 0
2013 2 0
Total 20 0
Kosovo 2014 2 0
2015 2 0
2016 5 0
2017 7 0
2018 8 0
2019 2 0
2020 2 0
2021 4 0
2022 4 0
Total 36 0

References

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  1. ^ Samir Ujkani at WorldFootball.net  
  2. ^ a b "Migliaccio e Ujkani i primi acquisti del Palermo". US Città di Palermo. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  3. ^ Jean-Paul Bonomi (6 February 2010). "Ujkani: "Novara? Città molto tranquilla, super-organizzata e… la società di calcio è fantastica!"". oknovara.it. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Esordio di Ujkani in Serie A". US Città di Palermo. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  5. ^ http://news.al/lajme/artikull/iden/236101/titulli/Ujkani-Kaka-me-pergezoi Ujkani : Kaka me pergezoi ne fund te ndeshjes
  6. ^ "NEWS: ARRIVA SAMIR UJKANI" (in Italian). Novara Calcio. 24 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  7. ^ "Zamparini e konfirmon: Ujkani portier i ri i Palermos" (in Albanian). asport. 14 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Samir Ujkani happy to be staying with Palermo". tribalfootball. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  9. ^ "MOVIMENTI DI MERCATO" [MARKET MOVEMENTS] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  10. ^ "MOVIMENTI IN USCITA DEL PALERMO" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  11. ^ "Bilancio Palermo 2010/11: utile grazie a Cavani e Kjaer" (in Italian). ju29ro.com. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  12. ^ "ACQUISTATO PABLO ANDRES GONZALEZ" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  13. ^ "UJKANI CEDUTO AL CHIEVO, CETTO SI TRASFERISCE AL SAN LORENZO" [UJKANI SOLD AT CHIEVO, CETTO MOVES IN SAN LORENZO] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  14. ^ "IL GRIFONE PRENDE SAMIR UJKANI" (in Italian). Genoa C.F.C. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  15. ^ "Serie A TIM – Calcio mercato". legaseriea.it. Lega Nazionale Professionisti. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015.
  16. ^ "Ujkani è nerazzurro" (in Italian). U.S. Latina Calcio. January 2016. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Croce e Ujkani nuovi innesti grigiorossi" (in Italian). Cremonese. 14 July 2017.
  18. ^ "Ujkani Çaykur Rizespor'da" [Ujkani in Çaykur Rizespor] (in Turkish). Çaykur Rizespor. 18 July 2017.
  19. ^ "Çaykur Rizespor 2-0 Tarsus İdman Yurdu" (in Turkish). Çaykur Rizespor. 26 September 2018.
  20. ^ Okan Buruk: Emin adımlarla yolumuza devam etmek istiyoruz, fanatik.com.tr, 31 January 2019
  21. ^ a b "Samir Ujkani". Soccerway.
  22. ^ "Ujkani annuncia l'addio al calcio: "Non potevo immaginarmi questo cammino"" [Ujkani announces his retiremetns:"Could not immagine such a path"]. tuttomercatoweb.com (in Italian). 1 November 2023.
  23. ^ "PËR DHËNIE TË SHTETËSISË SHQIPTARE" [FOR GIVING THE ALBANIAN CITIZENSHIP] (in Albanian). Qendra e Botimeve Zyrtare. 23 May 2007.
  24. ^ "Albania: Ujkani convocato nazionale "A"" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  25. ^ "Albania vs. Georgia". soccerway.com. Perform Group. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Kosova shpall listën anti-Haiti". Albeu (in Albanian). 2 March 2014.
  27. ^ "Samir Ujkani". EU-football.info.
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