Njazi Kuqi

Njazi Kuqi (born 25 March 1983) is a Finnish football forward who plays for HIFK in the Veikkausliiga.

Njazi Kuqi
Kuqi with Inter Turku in 2016
Personal information
Full name Njazi Kuqi
Date of birth (1983-03-25) 25 March 1983[1]
Place of birth Vučitrn, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[2]
Playing position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 HIFK
Youth career
1998–1999 FinnPa
1999–2000 MP
2001 Kapa-51
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2005 Lahti 53 (16)
2005–2006 Birmingham City 0 (0)
2006 → Blackpool (loan) 4 (0)
2006 → Peterborough United (loan) 1 (0)
2006 Groningen 0 (0)
2007–2008 Carl Zeiss Jena 1 (0)
2008–2010 TuS Koblenz 52 (11)
2010 Stevenage 1 (0)
2010 Dundee 3 (0)
2011 TPS Turku 21 (8)
2011–2012 Panionios 24 (10)
2012–2013 Atromitos 24 (1)
2014 Pro Vercelli 8 (0)
2014 Olympiacos Volou 8 (3)
2015 SG Sonnenhof 7 (0)
2016 PK-35 Vantaa 12 (8)
2016–2017 Inter Turku 31 (15)
2017–2018 ATK 6 (1)
2019– HIFK 6 (0)
National team‡
2005–2013 Finland 12 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 08:32, 21 May 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 26 March 2013

Kuqi started his career with FC Lahti of the Veikkausliiga in 2002, spending three years with the club and scoring twenty goals in all competitions. In January 2005, Kuqi signed for Birmingham City, but failed to make any first–team appearances during his 18-month spell with the club. During his time at Birmingham, Kuqi was loaned out for a month to Blackpool in January 2006, making four appearances before returning to his parent club. He was loaned out once again in March 2006, joining Peterborough United until the end of the 2005–06 season. However, he only made one appearance for Peterborough, and returned to Birmingham a month earlier than scheduled. At the end of the campaign, Kuqi was released by Birmingham.

Ahead of the 2006–07 season, Kuqi joined Dutch side FC Groningen on a free transfer. However, he was released just two months after signing for the club, having not made a single appearance for the club. Six months later, in January 2007, Kuqi signed for German outfit FC Carl Zeiss Jena, but made just one first–team appearance in twelve months, before signing for TuS Koblenz in January 2008 on a three–year deal. He spent two and a half seasons with Koblenz, scoring eleven times. In August 2010, Kuqi joined League Two side Stevenage, but left after playing just one game. Shortly after, in September 2010, Kuqi joined Dundee on a one-year deal, but was released a month later when the club went into administration. Kuqi has also played internationally for the Finland national team, earning 12 caps and scoring 5 goals for his country.

Club career

FC Lahti

Kuqi was born in Vučitrn, SFR Yugoslavia (present-day Vushtrri, Kosovo). He began his career with FC Lahti in 2002, where he was named Finland's Under-21 Player of the Year in 2004.[3] Kuqi spent three seasons with the club, scoring a total of 20 goals in 57 appearances in all competitions.[4]

Birmingham

In January 2005, Kuqi signed for Birmingham City for a fee of £400,000,[5] but failed to make any first–team appearances for the club during the latter stages of the 2004–05 season,[6] although he was an unused substitute in Birmingham's 2–0 away defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup.[7] Kuqi featured regularly for Birmingham's reserve side,[8] but had a number of more experienced strikers in front of him, including Emile Heskey and Mikael Forssell, which made it difficult for him to break into the starting eleven.[9] During the second half of the 2005–06 season, Kuqi was sent out on loan to Blackpool on a month's loan deal.[10] A day after joining the club, he made his debut in the club's 4–2 win against Doncaster Rovers, coming on as an 81st-minute substitute.[11] Kuqi subsequently started in the club's 3–0 loss away to MK Dons,[12] and played a total of four times for Blackpool before returning to his parent club.[13] In March 2006, Kuqi was loaned out once more, this time to Peterborough United until the end of the season.[5] However, Kuqi played just once for the club, starting in Peterborough's 2–2 draw with Barnet,[14] before returning to Birmingham a month earlier than expected.[15] At the end of the 2006–07 season, Kuqi was released by Birmingham, having not made a single first–team appearance.[15]

Groningen

In June 2006, Kuqi signed for FC Groningen on a free transfer, where he was to compete for a place in the team with players such as the former Manchester United striker Erik Nevland. After a range of conflicts, Kuqi was released by Groningen in August 2006, having made no first-team appearances for the club, with the season just two weeks old.[16]

Carl Zeiss Jena

Six months later, he signed an 18-month contract with FC Carl Zeiss Jena after failing to win a contract during a trial at his brother's former club, Ipswich Town.[17] However, Kuqi struggled to make first-team appearances for the club,[18] and was subsequently featuring regularly in the reserve side, FC Carl Zeis Jena II, in the German NOFV-Oberliga.[18]

TuS Koblenz

In January 2008, he joined TuS Koblenz on a three-year contract.[18] During the second half of the club's 2007–08 campaign, Kuqi scored four goals in nine appearances, scoring his first goal for Koblenz in a 1–1 draw away to FC St. Pauli.[19] He also scored in the club's 3–2 away win against Kaiserslautern ten days later.[18][20] He subsequently started the following season as the club's point of attack, and played a total of 29 games during the season, scoring five times as Koblenz narrowly avoided relegation.[18] Kuqi remained at the club ahead of the 2009–10 season, although his season was disrupted by persistent injuries,[1] only managing to play in 14 games, scoring twice in losses against FC St. Pauli and Karlsruher SC respectively.[21][22] Kuqi played his last game for the club in March 2010, coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute in a 2–0 loss to Rot-Weiß Oberhausen.[23] He left the club at the end of the 2009–10 season.[18]

Kuqi spent a week on trial at Dutch Eerste Divisie side RBC Roosendaal in July 2010, scoring in the club's 1–0 friendly win against Royal Antwerp.[24] However, just three days after his trial at Roosendaal, Kuqi linked up with his brother Shefki once again, having previously played alongside him at Koblenz,[25] as he joined Championship side Swansea City on trial for two weeks.[3] He featured in a pre–season friendly against Port Talbot Town, scoring the winning goal in the 93rd minute.[26][27] He also netted in another friendly against Llanelli, scoring the final goal of the game from 25–yards in a 5–1 win.[28] However, he was unsuccessful in his attempt to earn a contract at Swansea, and subsequently requested a trial at League Two side Stevenage in August 2010.[17]

Stevenage

He played in a reserve match for the club against Ipswich Town.[17] Three days later, Kuqi made his debut in the club's 3–1 win against Stockport County, coming on as a substitute in the 84th minute.[29] He left Stevenage after failing to secure a full-time contract with the club.[1]

Dundee

Shortly after, on 1 September 2010, Kuqi signed for Scottish First Division club Dundee on a one-year contract.[30] He made his debut for the club in a 3–1 loss to Dunfermline Athletic,[31] and featured in two other games for the club.[32] However, in October 2010, Kuqi was one of nine players released by Dundee after the club went into administration.[33][34][35] On being released, Kuqi said "My family just moved in two weeks ago. Of course you feel let down. Before I came here they spoke differently. They promised things and then after five weeks you're in administration".[33]

TPS Turku

On 28 March 2011, TPS Turku announced that the club had signed Kuqi on a one-year contract.[36] He made his debut for the club on 6 May 2011, scoring in a 2–0 win over HJK Helsinki, the first game of the 2011 Veikkausliiga season.[37] Kuqi scored eight goals in 23 appearances for the club during the 2011 season.[1]

Panionios

In September 2011, Kuqi joined Super League side Panionios. He made his debut for the club in a 1–0 away win against Panetolikos, scoring the only goal of the game in the eleventh minute.[38] Two weeks later, in his third appearance for the club, Kuqi scored twice in a 3–0 victory away at Kerkyra.[39]

Atromitos

In June 2012 it was announced that Kuqi would transfer from Panionios to another Super League club, Atromitos,[40] a club which he left after a mutual consent contract termination.

ATK

On 12 September 2017, Kuqi joined Indian Super League franchise ATK for the 2017–18 season.[41] He was released in January 2018, having scored once in six appearances.[42][1]

Helsinki IFK

On 11 December 2018, Finnish Veikkausliiga-side HIFK Fotboll announced, that they had signed Kuqi for the 2019 season on a one-year deal.[43]

International career

In March 2005, Kuqi was called up to the Finland squad for a friendly against Kuwait. He started the match, and scored the only goal of the game in a 1–0 win.[44] Six days later, he came off the substitute's bench to score twice within the space of five minutes in Finland's 4–1 win against Saudi Arabia.[44][45] In 2005, he got a six-month ban to the national team after leaving the team, after a U21-match against Czech Republic was played, for a birthday night out in Prague with a fellow international Toni Koskela. After that, Kuqi was out of the picture and it was thought that he was keen to play for Kosovo,[46] but in August 2008 he was called up to the squad once more when Stuart Baxter selected him for a friendly against Israel, although he was an unused substitute.[47] In September 2008, Kuqi gained his third cap as a 75th-minute substitute in Finland's 2010 World Cup qualifier against Germany, with the game ending 3–3.[48]

Personal life

He is the younger brother of Shefki Kuqi.[28][49]

Career statistics
As of 19 January 2018

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lahti 2002[50] Veikkausliiga245245
2003[50] Veikkausliiga146146
2004[50] Veikkausliiga155155
2005[50] Veikkausliiga0000
Total 53165316
Birmingham City 2004–05[51] Premier League000000—00
2005–06[52] Premier League000000—00
Total 0000000000
Blackpool (loan) 2005–06[52] League One4000000040
Peterborough United (loan) 2005–06[52] League Two1000000010
Carl Zeiss Jena 2006–07[53] 2. Bundesliga1000000010
2007–08[54] 2. Bundesliga0000000000
Total 1000000010
TuS Koblenz 2007–08[54] 2. Bundesliga9400000094
2008–09[55] 2. Bundesliga295100000306
2009–10[56] 2. Bundesliga142200000162
Total 52113000005511
Stevenage 2010–11[1] League Two1000000010
Dundee 2010–11[32] Scottish First Division3000000030
TPS Turku 2011[1] Veikkausliiga2182[lower-alpha 1]0238
Panionios 2011–12[1] Superleague Greece241020——2610
Atromitos 2012–13[1] Superleague Greece16110—2[lower-alpha 1]0191
Pro Vercelli 2013–14[1] Lega Pro Prima Divisione7000001[lower-alpha 2]080
Olympiacos Volou 2014–15[1] Football League (Greece)8330——113
SG Sonnenhof Großaspach 2014–15[1] 3. Liga8330——113
PK-35 Vantaa 2016[1] Veikkausliiga1281152—1811
Inter Turku 2016[1] Veikkausliiga13800001[lower-alpha 3]0148
2017[1] Veikkausliiga18730——227
Total 31153000103515
ATK 2017–18[1] Indian Super League61———61
Career totals 24876161526037579
  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearance in Lega Pro Prima Divisione playoffs
  3. Appearances in relegation play-offs

International
National teamYearAppsGoals
Finland[18] 200523
200810
201282
201310
Total 125

International goals
Scores and results list Finland's goal tally first.
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.12 March 2005Kuwait National Stadium, Kuwait City Kuwait1–01–0Friendly
2. 18 March 2005Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam Saudi Arabia2–14–1Friendly
3.4–1
4. 1 June 2012Tamme Stadium, Tartu Estonia1–02–1Friendly
5.2–0
gollark: Okay, so neither implies the other, at least for bots.
gollark: Oh, not that.
gollark: No. Other way round.
gollark: See, I can turn it on and the only difference is that it can theoretically hear you.
gollark: That's just "deafened".

References
  1. "N. Kuqi". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. "Njazi Kuqi – ESPN". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  3. "Now Swansea have a look at Kuqi jr". This Is South Wales. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  4. "FC Lahti – 2004". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  5. "Peterborough seal Kuqi loan deal". BBC Sport. 17 March 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  6. "Birmingham City 2004/2005 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  7. "Chelsea 2–0 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 30 January 2005. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  8. "Blues For Newcastle Reserves". Newcastle United F.C. 18 October 2005. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  9. "Birmingham City 2005/2006 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  10. "Blackpool sign Birmingham's Kuqi". BBC Sport. 23 January 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  11. "Blackpool 4–2 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 24 January 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  12. "MK Dons 3–0 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 11 February 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  13. "Games played by Njazi Kuqi in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  14. "Peterborough 2–2 Barnet". BBC Sport. 17 March 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  15. "Njazi Kuqi – All time playing career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  16. "FC Groningen – 2006/07". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  17. "Ipswich 3–1 Stevenage". Ipswich Town F.C. 18 August 2010. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  18. "Njazi Kuqi". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  19. "St. Pauli 1–1 Koblenz". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  20. "Kaiserlautern 2–3 Koblenz". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  21. "Koblenz 1–5 St Pauli". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
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  39. "Kerkyra 0–3 Panionios". Soccerway. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
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  41. "ISL: ATK sign Finnish striker Njazi Kuqi". The Indian Express. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  42. "ISL: Struggling ATK make several changes to squad". Indo-Asian News Service. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  43. Njazi Kuqi IFK:hon, hifkfotboll.fi, 11 December 2018
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  46. "Football in Kosovo: What Does Independence Bring?". Pitch Invasion. 19 February 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  47. "International Friendly Matches 2008". RSSSF. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  48. "Finland 3–3 Germany". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  49. "Making a play for citizenship". Six Degrees. 26 February 2010. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
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  54. "Njazi Kuqi 2007/2008". Fussballdaten. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  55. "Njazi Kuqi 2008/2009". Fussballdaten. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
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