Renato Arapi

Renato Arapi (born 28 August 1986 in Sukth, Durrës) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays for KF Teuta Durrës and Albania national team as a left and centre-back.

Renato Arapi
Personal information
Full name Renato Arapi
Date of birth (1986-09-28) 28 September 1986
Place of birth Sukth, Durrës, Albania
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position(s) Centre back, Left back
Club information
Current team
 Teuta
Number 3
Youth career
1993–2002 Teuta
2002–2003 Dinamo Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2005 Dinamo Tirana 1 (0)
2003–2004 → Erzeni Shijak (loan) 2 (0)
2005–2010 Besa Kavajë 92 (3)
2007–2009 → Silkeborg (loan) 23 (0)
2009–2010 → Shkumbini Peqin (loan) 16 (0)
2010–2016 Skënderbeu Korçë 150 (5)
2016–2018 Boluspor 48 (1)
2018–2019 Afjet Afyonspor 8 (0)
2019– Teuta 6 (1)
National team‡
2004–2005 Albania U18 13 (0)
2005–2006 Albania U19 11 (1)
2006–2008 Albania U21 19 (0)
2011– Albania 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 March 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 June 2015

Club career

Early career

Arapi first joined local club Teuta Durrës in 1993 as a young child, where he would remain for 9 years, playing for the different youth teams within the club before leaving in 2002 to join Dinamo Tirana. Following his move he was placed into the U19 side with Dinamo Tirana, where his impressive displays earned him a call up to the senior side towards the end of the 2002–03 season, where he made his professional debut against his first club Teuta Durrës on 3 May 2003 in a 2–0 loss for Arapi's side.[1] He was loaned out to Albanian First Division side Erzeni Shijak for the 2003–04 season, where he failed to break through into the first team and only made 2 appearances for the club during his loan spell before returning to Dinamo Tirana. In the summer transfer window in 2005, Arapi left Dinamo Tirana after failing to establish himself in the first team at the club, and he joined newly promoted Albanian Superliga side Besa Kavajë.

Besa Kavajë

Arapi joined Besa Kavajë and quickly established himself as a first team regular, playing in 19 league games and scoring one goal in his first season with the club, helping them to a respectable mid table 5th finish.[2] The following season Besa Kavajë continued their good performances in the league, finishing once again in mid table, 6th out of 12 teams. Arapi was also a key figure in the club's Albanian Cup campaign which saw him win his first major trophy after beating Teuta Durrës 3–2 in the final.[3] The following season he played the first half of the season with Besa Kavajë before going on a trial with Danish side Silkeborg and eventually joining the club on loan in January 2008 after impressing the management.

Silkeborg

He joined newly relegated Danish 1st Division side Silkeborg as a 21-year-old on a one-year loan deal from Besa Kavajë in January 2008 after initially impressing the club on trial.[4][5][6] He joined the club mid season and featured in 10 league games, helping his side to a 3rd-place finish at the end of the 2007–08 season, missing out on the second promotion place to SønderjyskE. The following season he struggled for playing time, and only featured in 13 league games, but his side had a successful season in which they finished as runners-up in the league and earned promotion to the Danish Superliga. His loan deal expired at the end of the 2008–09 season and Silkeborg did not take up the option to sign Arapi permanently, thus meaning that he returned to his parent club Besa Kavajë.

Return to Albania

After a spell away from Albanian football, Arapi returned to his homeland in the summer of 2009 and quickly became an important first team player once again at Besa Kavajë, who had one of their best seasons in their history, after they finished as runners-up in the Albanian Superliga and they won the Albanian Cup. Arapi played in 31 league games and was a key driving force in Besa Kavajë's cup success, and he scored in the cup final against Vllaznia Shkodër in the 85th minute to take it to extra time, which is when Besa won the cup 2-1 over 120 minutes.[7]

Skënderbeu Korçë

On 12 June 2015, Arapi signed a new one-year extension to his contract, lengthening his Skënderbeu Korçë career to 6 seasons.[8]

On 14 June 2016, Arapi officially announced his departure from the club after six years via an open later to the fans.[9] He stated that the left the club for familial reasons.[10] He, along with Bledi Shkëmbi and Orges Shehi were the only players that won six consecutive league titles for the club.[9]

Partizani Tirana

On 17 June 2016, Arapi joined fellow Albanian Superliga side Partizani Tirana on free transfer, signing a one-year contract.[11] He was given the squad number 3, and made his competitive debut on 28 June in 2016–17 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round against Slovan Bratislava, which ended in a goalless draw.[12]

Back to Teuta Durrës

On 30 January 2019, Arapi moved back to his home country after over two years in Turkey, and joined Teuta Durrës.[13]

International career

Arapi was selected by Josip Kuže for a friendly against Argentina on 20 June 2011, receiving thus his first call-up to the senior side.[14] He made his debut in the game which ended in a 4–0 loss by entering as an 81st-minute substitute.[15][16]

Career statistics

Club
As of 6 August 2015[17][18]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dinamo Tirana 2002–03 Albanian Superliga 10??——10
2003–04 00??——00
2004–05 00??——00
Total 10??——10
Erzeni Shijak 2003–04 Albanian First Division 20??——20
Total 20??——20
Besa Kavajë 2005–06 Albanian Superliga 191??——191
2006–07 271??——271
2007–08 151??3[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0191
2009–10 31061——371
Total 9236130101024
Silkeborg IF 2007–08 Danish 1st Division 100??——100
2008–09 130??——130
Total 230??——230
Shkumbini Peqin 2010–11 Albanian Superliga 160??——160
Total 160??——160
KF Skënderbeu Korçë 2010–11 Albanian Superliga 15020——170
2011–12 2301002[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 2]0360
2012–13 151312[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 2]0212
2013–14 303705[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 2]0423
2014–15 330302[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 2]0390
2015–16 0000200020
Total 1164251130401585
Career total 2507312160503029
  1. All appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
  2. Appearance in Albanian Supercup
  3. All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League

International
As of 15 June 2016[19][20]
Albania national team
YearAppsGoals
201110
201210
201320
Total40

Honours

Club
Besa Kavajë[17]
Silkeborg[17]
Skënderbeu Korçë[17]

Individual
  • Albanian Superliga Team of the Year: 2013–14
gollark: Idea: Chess, but good.
gollark: What? No it isn't.
gollark: Idea 2: we can identify Host by seeing who overzealously cares about increasing their point total, since they will obviously have thought of that.
gollark: Idea: we can identify Host by seeing who doesn't care much about increasing their point total (since the reward is not useful for them).
gollark: Sorry, I underslept.

References
  1. "Teuta 2-0 Dinamo" (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 3 May 2003. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  2. "Albania 2005-06". RSSF.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  3. "Besa fiton kupën e Shqiperisë" (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  4. "De nye i Silkeborg imponerer" (in Swedish). Tips Bladet. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  5. "Silkeborg henter albaner" (in Swedish). Bold. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  6. "Albaner på kontrakt i Silkeborg" (in Swedish). Ekstrabladet.dk. Archived from the original on 15 June 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  7. "Albania 2009-10". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  8. "Renato Arapi, edhe një vit i Skënderbeut" (in Albanian). Telesport.al. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  9. Sotir Kora (14 June 2016). "Zyrtare, Arapi largohet nga Skënderbeu" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  10. "Arapi largohet nga Skënderbeu" (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  11. "Arapi zyrtarisht i Partizanit" (in Albanian). Minuta90.al. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  12. "Europa League, Partizani barazon me Slovan Bratislavën" (in Albanian). Gazeta Shqip. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  13. Zyrtare, Teuta firmos me Renato Arapin, balkanweb.com, 30 January 2019
  14. Roger Gonzalez (19 June 2011). "Argentina vs Albania Preview". Goal.com. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  15. "l'Argentina travolge l'Albania in un'amichevole di preparazione" (in Italian). Sport Live. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  16. "Draugiškose rungtynėse Argentina sutriuškino Albaniją" (in Lithuanian). Sportas Delfi. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  17. "Albania – R. Arapi – Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  18. "Football : Renato Arapi". Football Database. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  19. "Football PLAYER: Renato Arapi". EU-Football.info. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  20. "name=Renato Arapi". National-Football-Teams.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
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