Alban Hoxha

Alban Hoxha
Personal information
Full name Alban Bekim Hoxha
Date of birth (1987-11-23) 23 November 1987
Place of birth Cërrik, Albania
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Partizani Tirana
Number 12
Youth career
2000–2004 Turbina Cërrik
2004–2005 Dinamo Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2011 Dinamo Tirana 45 (0)
2005–2006 → Turbina Cërrik (loan) ? (?)
2009 → Apolonia Fier (loan) 8 (0)
2010 → Kosova Vushtrri (loan) ? (?)
2011–2012 Kastrioti Krujë 6 (0)
2012–2013 Besa Kavajë 23 (0)
2013– Partizani Tirana 103 (0)
National team‡
2005 Albania U19 3 (0)
2014– Albania 2 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 November 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 November 2016

Alban Bekim Hoxha (Albanian pronunciation: [alban hɔdʒa]; born 23 November 1987) is an Albanian footballer who plays as a Goalkeeper for Albanian club Partizani Tirana and the Albania national team.

Club career

Dinamo Tirana

He was raised through the ranks at his hometown team Turbina Cërrik before joining the youth team of Dinamo Tirana in 2004. He was loaned back out to Turbina Cërrik for the 2005–06 campaign, where he played in the Albanian First Division.[1] He returned the following season and joined the first team at Dinamo as Ilion Lika understudy. He made his top flight debut with Dinamo on 10 March 2007 in a home game against KF Elbasani.[2] He featured in 11 league games between March and the end of the season due to first choice keeper Lika being sidelined with injury.

The following season he became second choice to Elvis Kotorri following the departure of Ilion Lika, and he made 2 league appearances as Dinamo were crowned Albanian Superliga champions for the first time since 2002. During the first half of the 2008–09 season he only made one league and one cup appearance before being loaned out to fellow Superliga side Apolonia Fier in January for the remainder of the season. He made 8 appearances while on loan at Apolonia Fier and kept 3 clean sheets, helping the team avoid the relegation play off places by a single point.

He returned to his parent club Dinamo ahead of the 2009–10 season and made 6 league appearances as he won his second Superliga title with Dinamo. The following season he competed with Albanian international Isli Hidi for the first choice spot in the team, and following Hidi's departure to Olympiakos Nicosia in January 2011 he became Dinamo's first choice keeper for the first time and eventually featured in 24 league games as Dinamo narrowly avoided relegation after beating Besëlidhja Lezhë in the relegation play off.[3]

At the time with Dinamo, he had a short spell with Kosova Vushtrri in the Kosovo Superleague.[4]

Kastrioti Krujë

Hoxha left Dinamo Tirana in the summer transfer window of 2011 and joined another Superliga side Kastrioti Krujë, where he competed with Argjent Halili for the starting lineup, ultimately losing out as he only made 6 league appearances, and was used mainly in the Albanian Cup, where he featured 10 times. He left the club at the end of the season along with Halili, and was in talks with FK Kukësi regarding a possible transfer, but a move never materialised as an agreement could not be reached.[5]

Besa Kavajë

He joined Besa Kavajë ahead of the 2012–13 campaign and was immediately made the first choice goalkeeper ahead of Ibrahim Bejte. Throughout the season Hoxha made 23 league and 2 cup appearances, helping Besa to a 9th-place finish, avoiding the relegation play off places.

Partizani Tirana

He joined newly promoted Partizani Tirana in the summer of 2013 and was given the number 1 shirt as well being named captain for the 2013–14 season.[6]

Hoxha went 1,084 minutes without conceding a goal during 2014–15 Albanian Superliga season and got the all-time Albanian Superliga record as he broke the 30-year-old record set by the goalkeeper of KS Labinoti Elbasan (modern day called KF Elbasani), Bujar Gogunja, who kept intact net goal for 1037 minutes.[7] He was chosen as the Footballer of the Year for 2014 by the Albanian Football Association.[8]

At the end of 2014, Hoxha was named Albanian Player of the Year for his performances throughout the season.[9]

On 1 November 2015, during the league match against Teuta Durrës, Hoxha suffered a jaw-injury after a clash with his team-mate Gëzim Krasniqi in the 76th minute of the match, being taken off the field by an ambulance.[10]

On 20 July 2016, in the returning leg of Champions League second qualifying round at Groupama Arena, Hoxha was the main protagonist of the game.[11] After the regular and extra time had finished in a 1–1 draw, then the game was decided in a penalty shootout where Hoxha saved three penalties after himself having scored a 'Panenka'.[12] It was the first time that Partizani Tirana successfully progress to the Champions League third qualifying round.[13]

Hoxha made his 100th Albanian Superliga appearance for Partizani Tirana on 17 October 2016 in the 4–0 win over Flamurtari Vlorë at Elbasan Arena.[14]

International career

Youth team

Hoxha played three matches for the youth's Albania national under-19 football team in the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification - Group 9 between 23–27 October 2005.[15][16][17]

Senior team

After the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, the second choice goalkeeper Samir Ujkani left the team to play for the Kosovo.[18] Albania were looking forward for a third choice behind Etrit Berisha, which was a starter choice and Orges Shehi, which became second choice after leaving of Ujkani.[19]

For the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying second round matches against Denmark and Serbia in October 2014, Hoxha received his first senior team call-up by the Albania coach Gianni De Biasi as a third choice goalkeeper.[20] He remained as an unused substitute with for both matches. For the friendly matches against France and Italy in November 2014, Hoxha had some issue family problems and he replaced as a third choice with the fellow Albanian Superliga goalkeeper of Tirana, Stivi Frashëri.[21]

On 16 November 2015, Hoxha made his official debut with Albania by replacing Berisha during the friendly match against Georgia which ended in a 2–2 draw at Qemal Stafa Stadium.[22] On 21 May 2016, Hoxha was named in Albania's preliminary 27-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016,[23] and in Albania's final 23-man UEFA Euro squad on 31 May.[24] He remained as an unused substitute during the tournament, as Albania was eliminated in the group stage.[25]

On 12 November 2016, in the matchday 4 of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification against Israel, Hoxha made his competitive debut by coming on as a 57th minute substitute to save a penalty kick from Eran Zahavi with Albania already 0–1 down, however, he conceded two more goals as "Red and Blacks" were defeated 0–3 at Elbasan Arena.[26][27]

Career statistics

Club

As of 14 July 2016[28][29]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other[lower-alpha 1] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dinamo Tirana 2004–05 Albanian Superliga 0000——00
2006–07 11000——110
2007–08 2000——20
2008–09 1010000020
2009–10 603000—90
2010–11 260700000330
Total 4601100000570
Turbina Cërrik 2005–06 Albanian First Division 0000——00
Total 0000——00
Apolonia Fier 2008–09 Albanian Superliga 8000——80
Total 8000——80
Kastrioti Krujë 2011–12 Albanian Superliga 60110——170
Total 60110——170
Besa Kavajë 2012–13 Albanian Superliga 23020——250
Total 23020——250
Partizani Tirana 2013–14 Albanian Superliga 31030——340
2014–15 30010——310
2015–16 320202[lower-alpha 2]0—360
2016–17 00002[lower-alpha 3]0—20
Total 9306030001030
Career total 175030040002100
  1. ↑ Including Albanian Supercup
  2. ↑ All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  3. ↑ One appearance in UEFA Europa League, one appearance in UEFA Champions League

International

As of 17 November 2015[30]
Albania national team
YearAppsGoals
201400
201510
201610
Total20

Honours

Club

Dinamo Tirana

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Andi Matraxhiu (6 June 2011). "Alban Hoxha premton besnikëri: "Dinamon e pres deri në fund"" (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  2. ↑ Dinamo 1-1 Elbasani
  3. ↑ "Besëlidhja Lezhë 1 – 4 Dinamo Tirana". Soccerway. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  4. ↑ Alban Hoxha at albaniasoccer
  5. ↑ Murat Aruçi (6 June 2012). "Kastrioti pa portier, Hoxha dhe Halilaj drejt largimit" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  6. ↑ "Prodani firmos me 3 "dema të kuq"" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Hoxha thyen rekordin: Ia dedikoj gruas dhe djalit, emocion i papërshkrueshëm" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Alban Hoxha, lojtari më i mirë i vitit 2014" (in Albanian). Asport.al. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Alban Hoxha "Lojtari i Vitit 2014". Kapiteni merr më shumë vota nga të gjithë" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 24 December 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  10. ↑ "Alban Hoxha largohet me ambulance nga stadjumi" (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. 1 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  11. ↑ Andi Deçka (21 July 2016). "Alban Hoxha, mrekullia e Budapestit" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  12. ↑ Andi Deçka (21 July 2016). "11 metrat e historisë, Hoxha kualifikon Partizanin" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "Partizani "çmend" Europën, "demat" tërbojnë hungarezët" (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  14. ↑ "Partizani Tirana vs. Flamurtari Vlorë 4 – 0". Soccerway. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  15. ↑ Maqedonia 4–2 Shqipëria - 2005-10-23 - European Under-19 Championship - FSHF.org
  16. ↑ Rumania 2–0 Shqipëria - 2005-10-27 - European Under-19 Championship - FSHF.org
  17. ↑ Shqipëria 0–2 Turqia - 2005-10-25 - European Under-19 Championship - FSHF.org
  18. ↑ "Largimi i parë, Ujkani le Shqipërinë për Kosovën" (in Albanian). Albeu.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  19. ↑ Ermal Kuka (29 September 2014). "Shqipëria kërkon një portier për vendin e lënë bosh nga Ujkani" (in Albanian). Gazeta SHQIP. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  20. ↑ "De Biazi: Me Danimarkën duhet përqëndrim" (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  21. ↑ "Zbardhet lista për miqësoret, Gashi dhe Meha mbeten jashtë" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  22. ↑ "Shqipëria barazon 2-2 me Gjeorgjinë; tifozët protestojnë ndaj FSHF-së". Top Channel (in Albanian). 16 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  23. ↑ Fatjon Pandovski (21 May 2016). "De Biasi leaves out Albanian top scorer Salihi". UEFA. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  24. ↑ "De Biasi shpall listën zyrtare të Euro 2016". FSHF.org. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  25. ↑ "Albania out of Euro 2016 after Portugal draw with Hungary". Fourfourtwo.com. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  26. ↑ "Albania 0–3 Israel". FIFA.com. 12 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  27. ↑ Rinald Bregasi (12 November 2016). "Izraeli dhe Aytekin mposhtin Shqipërinë" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  28. ↑ "Albania - A. Hoxha - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  29. ↑ "Football : Alban Hoxha". Football Database. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  30. ↑ Alban Hoxha at National-Football-Teams.com
  31. ↑ Alban Hoxha eshte shpallur si lojtari i muajit Mars ne Superlige nga shoqata "Sporti na bashkon". Superliga Shqiptare, 3 April 2015

External links

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