Enis Gavazaj

Enis Gavazaj (born 21 March 1995) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Kukësi.

Enis Gavazaj
Gavazaj with Yenisey in 2018
Personal information
Full name Enis Gavazaj
Date of birth (1995-03-21) 21 March 1995
Place of birth Prizren, FR Yugoslavia
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Left winger
Club information
Current team
 Kukësi
Number 11
Youth career
2003–2008 Getoari
2008–2011 Liria Prizren
2011–2013 Prishtina
2013 Gent
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Gent 7 (0)
2015–2016 → Roeselare (loan) 5 (0)
2016–2019 Skënderbeu Korçë 53 (3)
2018 → Yenisey Krasnoyarsk (loan) 7 (0)
2019 → Dinamo Minsk (loan) 5 (0)
2019– Kukësi 26 (1)
National team‡
2012–2013 Albania U19 6 (1)
2013 Albania U20 5 (0)
2013–2016 Albania U21 11 (1)
2018– Albania 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 June 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 31 December 2018

Club career

Early career

He started his youth career at the age of 8 at Liria Prizren school academy Getoari, from where he moved to the youth teams of the club in 2008 where he stayed for 3 years until 2011, before moving to the most successful football club in Kosovo, FC Prishtina, at the age of 16.[1][2] While at Prishtina, Gavazaj along with his teammates Liridon Latifi and Lorik Aliu went on trial with German giants Borussia Dortmund which initially lasted a week, but was then extended so they players could feature in the Blue Stars FIFA Youth Cup and the RUHR-Cup International youth tournament. Three players were not offered contracts at the end of their trials and subsequently returned to FC Prishtina.[3] Standing for two years at FC Prishtina, on 8 August 2013 he signed for Belgium side K.A.A. Gent in the Belgian Pro League.[4]

Gent

Gavazaj was called up for the first time in the first squad for the league match against Anderlecht on 15 December 2013, which finished in a 1–2 loss with Gavazaj on bench.[5] His competitive debut occurred later on 26 January of the following year at the age of 18, entering in the last moments at a 2–1 win over Genk.[6] Gavazaj played for the first time as starter on 1 March in the matchday 28 against Sporting Charleroi.[7]

His first score-sheet contributions came seven days later against Cercle Brugge, coming on the second half and assisting the Mahamadou Habibou goal in an eventual 1–4 away win.[8] His performances was praised as he was included in the best XI of Belgian Pro League.[9] He finished his first season in Belgium by making 7 league appearances, only one as starter, collecting 175 minutes on the field as Gent finished 7th in the standing, remaining out of title playoff.

Gavazaj did not play for 4 months since the start of the 2014–15 season and this due to several injuries that have followed him, including and at one call-up with Albania under-21 squad. But anyway in February 2015, Gavazaj announced that he was fully fit and got returning in training.[10]

On 6 July 2015, Gavazaj was loaned to Belgian Second Division side Roeselare to gain more experience by enjoying more playing options.[11] He made his competitive debut for the team on 7 August by featuring in the second half of the 0–2 home loss to Seraing.[12] However, during the first half of the 2015–16 season Gavazaj featured in just 5 matches playing in all as a second-half substitute.[13]

Skënderbeu Korçë

On 26 June 2016, Gavazaj completed a transfer to Skënderbeu Korçë by penning a contract until June 2019.[14] He was given squad number 7, and made his debut for the team on 24 August in the 2016 Albanian Supercup against Kukësi which finished in a 3–1 loss at Selman Stërmasi Stadium.[15] Gavazaj made his first Albanian Superliga appearance in the opening matchday against Flamurtari Vlorë on 7 September, entering in the last 15 minutes of a 2–1 home win.[16] He scored his maiden Skënderbeu goal via a penalty kick later on 5 October in the 8–0 hammering of Butrinti Sarandë in the second leg of 2016–17 Albanian Cup first round, as the team progressed to the next round 9–1 on aggregate.[17] On 20 May 2017, during the decisive match against Kukësi for the championship, Gavazaj along with other teammates were included in a massive brawl with referee Enea Jorgji.[18] Everything started in the 59th minute when the referee didn't give a clear penalty to Skënderbeu after a foul inside the zone on Liridon Latifi, instead booking him for diving.[18] He played for 75 minutes before being replaced by Nazmi Gripshi, as 9-men Skënderbeu eventually were defeated 2–0 at Zeqir Ymeri Stadium, meaning that they have failed to win the championship for the first time in six years.[19] Gavazaj finished his first season in Korçë by making 31 appearances, including 24 in league, scoring 2 goals, both in Albanian Cup, as Skënderbeu finished 3rd in championship and lost the cup final to Tirana.[20]

Gavazaj made 7 appearances in 2017–18 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds as Skënderbeu become the first Albanian club to pass four rounds, eventually reaching the group stage for the second time in history after defeating Dinamo Zagreb.[21] On 28 September, in the matchday 2 of Group B against Young Boys, Gavazaj suffered a face injury and was replaced in 20th minute as Skënderbeu took the first point of campaign.[22] Following the examinations, it was confirmed that the surgery was necessary. He undergo surgery on 2 October in the cheekbone and the recovery time was more than a month.[23] He returned in action on 28 October by making a substitute appearance against Luftëtari Gjirokastër, scoring with a left-footed shoot inside the box to make the score 2–0.[24] It was his first Albanian Superliga goal.

Yenisey Krasnoyarsk

On 16 July 2018, he signed with the Russian Premier League club FC Yenisey Krasnoyarsk.[25] On 22 February 2019, his Yenisey contract was dissolved by mutual consent.[26]

International career

Gavazaj was member of the Kosovo national youth football teams for 2 years before moving to the Albania national youth football teams principally at the Albania national under-19 football team.[1]

Youth

Albania U19

He was included in Foto Strakosha's U19 squad for their 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification.[27] In the first match of the tournament on 12 October 2012 against Italy U19, Gavazaj made it his debut by playing as a starter and got substituted off in the 79th minute for Lorenc Shehaj in a match finished as a 3–0 loss.[28] In the next match against Belgium U19 he included in the starting line-up and after 26 minutes of play, he scored a long-range goal away from 33 meters.[29] The match finished in the 3–1 victory.[30]

After his good performances with under-19 side Gavazaj was called up at Albania national under-21 football team by coach Skënder Gega and participated in three 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 4 matches in months August, September and October 2013 before returning again to Albania U19 to participate in another qualification campaign for Under-19s, the 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying round.[31] He played all 3 matches as full 90 minutes against Greece U19 on 12 November 2013 in the 1–0 loss and two 1–1 draws days later against Slovakia U19 & Bulgaria U19. Albania U19 finished in the last place in the ranking table.[13][32]

Albania U20

Gavazaj was called up at Albania national under-20 football team by coach Skënder Gega to participate in the 2013 Mediterranean Games football tournament which began on 19 June 2013 in Mersin, Turkey.[33][34] Gavazaj played in all 5 Albania U20s matches in which 2 of them were full 90-minutes, 1 as starter until second half and 2 others as a substitute. Albania U20 was ranked in the last place out of 8 teams.[35][36][37][38][39]

Albania U21

Following his good performances with Albania U19, Gavazaj received his first call-up at Albania national under-21 football team by coach Skënder Gega for the match against Austria, valid for the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 4. He made his debut against Austria on 14 August 2013, by coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute in place of Herolind Shala and the match finished in the loss 0–1.[40] He made it another two appearances in the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 4, playing against Spain on 9 September 2013, finished in the loss 4–0 and against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 15 October 2013, finished in the loss 0–1.[41][42]

Gavazaj called up again in Albania U21 for the closing match of the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 4 on 5 March 2014, against Austria, which previously he were called up for the first time and had made it his debut for Albania U21.[43] He played against Austria U21 as a starter and scored the match opening goal in the 19th minute, where the match finished in away 1–3 victory with other goals scored by Vasil Shkurti and Herolind Shala.[44]

Gavazaj was called up for the next tournament even of Albania U21, the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification opening match against Liechtenstein on 28 March 2015.[45] Under the same coach Skënder Gega he retained his starting place against Liechtenstein where in the 31st minute he managed to take a personal action from the left side and to provide an assist for Liridon Latifi, who inside the area scores the opening goal. Then in the second-half Rey Manaj which came in as a substitute, scored the second goal to give Albania U21 the 2–0 victory.[46]

Gavazaj was called up by a new appointed coach at the Albania U21, Redi Jupi, for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Israel & Portugal on 3 & 8 September 2015.[47] For the match against Israel, he was named as the national side Captain playing the full 90-minutes match finished in the 1–1 draw.[48]

Senior

Personal life

His brother Zenel Gavazaj is also a professional footballer who plays for Skënderbeu in the Albanian Superliga.[49]

Career statistics

Club
As of 14 September 2017 [13]
Club Season League Cup Europe[lower-alpha 1] Other[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Gent2013–14Belgian Pro League 7000——70
2014–15 —————
Total 7000000070
Roeselare2015–16Belgian Second Division 50———50
Total 5000000050
Skënderbeu Korçë2016–17Albanian Superliga 24072—10322
2017–18 10—8[lower-alpha 3]0—90
Total 250728010412
Career total 370728010532
  1. Including continental competitions, such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
  2. Including other competitions, such as Albanian Supercup
  3. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League

International goals
As of 12 October 2012. Albania U19 score listed first, score column indicates score after each Gavazaj's goal.[13]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 October 2012 Flamurtari Stadium, Vlorë, Albania 2  Belgium 1–0 3–1 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification
As of 5 March 2014. Albania U21 score listed first, score column indicates score after each Gavazaj's goal.[13]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 5 March 2014 UPC-Arena, Graz, Austria 4  Austria 1–0 3–1 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
gollark: Well, it's *easy*, and stuff is on there.
gollark: I'm looking at self-hosting some sort of XMPP server.
gollark: You *can* use other messaging platforms. Unfortunately they don't have the same communities on them.
gollark: When the communist revolution inevitably* happens, will we have a communist Meme Economy?
gollark: #thecommunistrevolutionisinevitable

References
  1. Enis Gavazaj - Best Moments YouTube
  2. Enis Gavazaj at FC Prishtina
  3. Avni Durmishi (24 April 2013). "Latifi, Gavazaj e Aliu: afër Borussia Dortmund" [Latifi, Gavazaj and Aliu: near Borussia Dortmund] (in Albanian). FC Prishtina. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  4. "Gavazaj firmos për Gent në Belgjikë" [Gavazaj signs for Gent in Belgium] (in Albanian). aSport.al. 8 August 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  5. "Gent vs. Anderlecht 1 – 2". Soccerway. 15 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  6. "Genk vs. Gent 1 – 2". Soccerway. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  7. "Gent vs. Sporting Charleroi 2 – 1". Soccerway. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  8. "Cercle Brugge vs. Gent 1 – 4". Soccerway. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  9. "Gavazaj në 11-shen e javës në Belgjikë" [Gavazaj in weekly XI in Belgium] (in Albanian). aSport.al. 10 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  10. "Gavazaj: Nuk po luaj sepse..." [Gavazaj: I'm not playing because...] (in Albanian). Gazeta Olle. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  11. "ENIS GAVAZAJ 1 JAAR VERHUURD AAN KSV ROESELARE" [Enis Gavazaj 1 year on loan at KSV Roeselare] (in Dutch). Kaagent.be. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  12. "SV Roeselare vs. RFC Seraing 0 – 2". Soccerway. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  13. Enis Gavazaj at Soccerway
  14. "Enis Gavazaj, firmos me Skënderbeun" [Enis Gavazaj, signs for Skënderbeu] (in Albanian). kfskenderbeu.al. 26 June 2016. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  15. Rinald Bregasi (24 August 2016). "Kukësi fiton Superkupën e Shqipërisë" [Kukësi wins Albanian Supercup] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  16. Erald Kodheli (7 September 2016). "Skënderbeu, start nën shenjën e Salihit" [Skënderbeu, start on Salihi's mark] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  17. "Skënderbeu e tepron, 8 gola Butrintit" [Skënderbeu overdoes, 8 goals to Butrinti] (in Albanian). Sportal.al. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  18. Rinald Bregasi (21 May 2017). "Kur fatin e vendos arbitri" [When the referee decides the fate] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  19. "Kukësi, kampion për herë të parë në histori" [Kukësi, champion for the first time in history] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. 20 May 2017. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  20. "Tirana fiton Kupën e Shqipërisë, sezoni 2016-2017" [Tirana wins Albanian Cup, 2016-2017 season] (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  21. "Skënderbeu shkruan historinë / Kalon 4 ture me rekord dhe rikthehet në Europa League!" [Skënderbeu writes history / Passes 4 round with record and returns to Europa League] (in Albanian). City News. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  22. "Skenderbeu 1 - 1 Young Boys - Match report & highlights". Sky Sport. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  23. Llazi Saro (4 October 2017). "Gavazaj rikthehet në nëntor, pushimi prej kombëtares riaftëson të tjerët" [Gavazaj returns in november, the rest due to national team recovers the others] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  24. "Skënderbeu vazhdon marshimin, mposht 2-0 Luftëtarin" [Skënderbeu continues marching, defeats 2-0 Luftëtari] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 10 November. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  25. ""ЕНИСЕЙ" ПОДПИСАЛ АЛБАНСКОГО ПОЛУЗАЩИТНИКА ГАВАЗАЯ" (in Russian). FC Yenisey Krasnoyarsk. 16 July 2018.
  26. "ГАВАЗАЙ ПОКИНУЛ "ЕНИСЕЙ"" [Gavazaj left Yenisey] (in Russian). FC Yenisey Krasnoyarsk. 22 February 2019.
  27. U-19: Strakosha shpall listën e lojtarëve për EURO 2013 Archived 2016-05-13 at the Wayback Machine aSport.al
  28. Match report – Under-19 2013 – Italy-Albania UEFA.com
  29. Enis Gavazaj - Super Goal 39m YouTube
  30. Belgium U19 vs. Albania U19 – 14 October 2012 Soccerway
  31. Kombëtarja U19 nis eliminatoret, lista e lojtarëve dhe orari i ndeshjeve Archived 2017-08-07 at the Wayback Machine aSport.al
  32. Summary - UEFA U19 Championship - Europe - Results, fixtures, tables and news Soccerway
  33. Lojërat Mesdhetare: Shqipëria merr pjesë me 75 sportistë (Lista e plotë) Archived 2016-05-13 at the Wayback Machine aSport.al
  34. "Lojërat Mesdhetare, Shqipëria debuton me futbollin" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  35. Info Mersin 2013 Wayback Machine
  36. Info Mersin 2013 Wayback Machine
  37. Info Mersin 2013 Wayback Machine
  38. Info Mersin 2013 Wayback Machine
  39. Info Mersin 2013 Wayback Machine
  40. Albania U21 vs. Austria U21 – 14 August 2013 Soccerway
  41. Spain U21 vs. Albania U21 – 9 September 2013 Soccerway
  42. Albania U21 vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina U21 – 15 October 2013 Soccerway
  43. Gega shpall listën për ndeshjen e fundit në eliminatore Archived 2017-01-27 at the Wayback Machine aSport.al
  44. Austria U21 vs. Albania U21 - 5 March 2014 Soccerway
  45. Shpresat nisin kualifikimet kundër Lihtenshtajnit Archived 2016-04-17 at the Wayback Machine aSport.al
  46. U21, Shqipëria thyen 2-0 Lihtenshtejnin, vendosin golat e Latifit dhe Rei Manajt Archived 2015-07-13 at the Wayback Machine Panorama Sport
  47. Grumbullohet kombetarja U-21 Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine FSHF.org
  48. Under-21 2017 - Albania-Israel Commentary UEFA.com
  49. "Liria e Shkëmbit, perfekte në Prizren" [Shkëmbi's Liria, perfect in Prizren] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
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