Lirim Kastrati (footballer, born February 1999)

Lirim Kastrati (born 2 February 1999) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Hungarian club Újpest and the Kosovo national team.

Lirim Kastrati
Personal information
Full name Lirim Kastrati
Date of birth (1999-02-02) 2 February 1999
Place of birth Mališevo, FR Yugoslavia
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Újpest
Number 62
Youth career
0000–2013 San Paolo Padova
2013–2018 Roma
2018–2020 Bologna
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Újpest 0 (0)
National team‡
2015 Albania U17 3 (1)
2018 Kosovo U19 1 (0)
2019– Kosovo U21 4 (0)
2017– Kosovo 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 July 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 January 2020

Club career

Youth career

Bologna

On 23 July 2018, Kastrati joined Campionato Primavera 2 side Bologna, on a three-year contract.[1][2] On 15 September 2018, he made his debut in a 1–1 home draw against SPAL after being named in the starting line-up.[3]

Újpest

On 22 July 2020, Kastrati signed his first professional contract with Nemzeti Bajnokság I side Újpest after agreeing to a four-year deal and receiving squad number 62.[4] On 15 August 2020, he was named as a Újpest substitute for the first time in a Nemzeti Bajnokság I match against Paksi.[5]

International career

Albania

Under-17

On 16 October 2015, Kastrati was named as part of the Albania U17 squad for 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification.[6] On 22 October 2015, he made his debut with Albania U17 in a match against Switzerland U17 after being named in the starting line-up.[7]

Kosovo

First call-up

On 21 March 2017, Kastrati received first call-up from Kosovo U21 for a 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Republic of Ireland U21,[8] he was an unused substitute in that match.

Promotion to the senior team

On 5 June 2017, Kastrati received a call-up from Kosovo for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Turkey.[9] On 9 October 2017, he made his debut with Kosovo in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Iceland after coming on as a substitute at 78th minute in place of Besar Halimi.[10]

Return to youth teams
Under-19

On 17 March 2018, Kastrati was named as part of the Kosovo U19 squad for 2018 UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite qualifications.[11] On 21 March 2018, he made his debut with Kosovo U19 in a match against Portugal U19 after being named in the starting line-up.[12]

Under-21

On 27 May 2019, Kastrati returns to Kosovo U21, where call-up for 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Andorra U21 and Turkey U21.[13] On 6 June 2019, he made his debut with Kosovo U21 in a match against Andorra U21 after being named in the starting line-up.[14]

gollark: That doesn't seem particularly sensical, which I suppose you might expect for anything randomly pulled out of a long video.
gollark: You *really* like saying "boomer papers", don't you.
gollark: It's "not real" in the sense that numbers and differential equations and perfectly accurate triangles and such do not exist in reality, but do allow you to make really good models of it.
gollark: Spirit-grade insults aren't trivial either.
gollark: Becoming spirit is hard. You need lots of training/experience in engineering, physics, insults and criticism.

References
  1. "ESCLUSIVA TMW - Bologna, fatta per Kastrati. Accordo triennale" [TMW EXCLUSIVE - Bologna, made for Kastrati. Three-year agreement]. TUTTOmercatoWEB.com (in Italian). 23 July 2018.
  2. "Preso il kosovaro Kastrati: per il difensore contratto triennale" [Taken the Kosovar Kastrati: three-year contract for the defender]. TUTTOmercatoWEB.com (in Italian). 23 July 2018.
  3. "Campionato Primavera 2, Bologna – Spal 1–1". ZONACALCIOFAIDATE.it (in Italian). 15 September 2018. Bologna: Fantoni, Kastrati, Visconti (69' Farinelli), Mazza, Busi, Padovan, Portanova (62' Mantovani), Cassandro, Rabbi (84' Uhunamure), Cossalter (69′ Koutsoupias), Krastev
  4. "Koszovói válogatott hátvéd az új igazolásunk" [Kosovo national team defender our new player] (in Hungarian). Újpest FC. 22 July 2020.
  5. "Paksi SE vs. Újpest 1–2". Soccerway. 15 August 2020.
  6. "Kombëtarja U-17, vazhdon përgatitjet" [The U-17 national team continues preparations] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 16 October 2015.
  7. "Shqipëria U17 mposhtet nga...shqiptarët" [Albania U17 defeated by...Albanians] (in Albanian). Top Channel. 22 October 2015.
  8. "Lista e futbollistëve të Përfaqësueses U21" [List of footballers of national U21 team] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 21 March 2017.
  9. "Bunjaku publikoi listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjen me Turqinë" [Bunjaku published the list of footballers for the match with Turkey] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 5 June 2017.
  10. "Islanda e mund Kosovën dhe kualifikohet në Botëror" [Iceland defeat Kosovo and qualify in the World Cup] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 9 October 2017. Në 15 minutat e fundit të ndeshjes u inkuadrua edhe futbollisti i ri i Romës, Lirim Kastrati, i cili kësisoj bëri debutimin në Kombëtaren A
  11. "Kombëtarja U19 udhëtoi për Portugali" [National U19 team traveled to Portugal] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 17 March 2018.
  12. "Në ndeshjen e parë Kombëtarja U-19 humbi nga Portugalia me përvojë" [In the first match national U19 team defeat from experienced Portugal] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 21 March 2018.
  13. "Prekazi publikon listën, beson te lojtarët e rinj" [Prekazi publishes the list, believes in new players] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 27 May 2019.
  14. "Kosova U21 shkëlqen kundër Andorrës, fiton 4:0" [Kosovo U21 shines against Andorra, wins 4:0] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 6 June 2019.
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