Arbër Abilaliaj

Arbër Abilaliaj (born 6 June 1986) is an Albanian football coach and a former player who played as a forward.

Club career

Partizani Tirana

Abilaliaj previously played for Partizani Tirana, where he appeared as the club lost in the UEFA Intertoto Cup 2006 first round to Ethnikos Achna FC, despite scoring a goal in the second leg. While at Partizani, Abilaliaj had unsuccessful trials at FC Erzgebirge Aue and TuS Koblenz.

Tirana

Abilaliaj announced his departure from Besa Kavajë and later signed a one-year deal with the reigning champions Tirana for the 2009–10 season. His made his Tirana debut on 15 July in the first leg of Champions League first qualifying round against Stabæk, entering in the field as an 85th-minute substitute in an eventual 1–1 home draw. In the returning leg, he played in the second half as the team were crashed 4–0 and was eliminated with the 5–1 aggregate.

He made his domestic debut in the 2009 Albanian Supercup on 16 August, a 1–0 home win to Flamurtari Vlorë, in which he played full-90 minutes and scored the winning goal in the 72nd minute, giving the club its 8 Albanian Supercup title. Abilaliaj played as a started in team's opening league match of the season, a 3–1 home defeat to Flamurtari Vlorë, in which he scored his team's only goal. In the matchday 3 against Gramozi Ersekë, Abilaliaj was again in the scoresheet, scoring the only goal of the match to give Tirana another three important points.

Abilaliaj played a total of 31 matches in all competitions, scoring 8 goals. He finished the league with 6 goals as Tirana was not able to retain its Albanian Superliga title.

Return to Tirana

On 7 August 2012, Abilaliaj returned to Tirana by signing a one-year contract, and was given the vacant number 21 for the upcoming 2012–13 season. He made his league debut for the club on 22 September 2012 during the 1–0 away win over Luftëtari Gjirokastër, appearing as a 75th-minute substitute for Mirel Çota. On 21 November, he scored a hat-trick against Otranto during the friendly match valid for the Independence Cup.

Later on 23 February of the following year, Abilaliaj scored his first league goal for Tirana during the 1–1 tie against Teuta Durrës; he netted the goal in 72nd minute exactly two minutes after entering in the field. On 31 March, he scored his second league goal of the season during the 3–0 defeat of Kastrioti Krujë, heading home a Fatmir Hysenbelliu cross.

Following the end of the season, where Tirana ended in 5th place, Abilaliaj left the team after failing to cement his place at starting lineup, ending the season with 17 appearances between league and cup, scoring twice in the process.

Flamurtari Vlorë

On 26 August 2013, Abilaliaj signed a one-year deal with Flamurtari Vlorë, returning in his boyhood club after nine years.

He made his return debut with the club on 6 November during the 2–0 win over Gramshi in Albanian Cup. In his first league appearance four days later against Lushnja, Abilaliaj came in a second-half substitute and scored a crucial goal in 91st minute to help his team to win the match 4–3.

Two weeks later, Abilaliaj scored his third goal of the season during the 3–1 home defeat of Vllaznia Shkodër. On 22 February of the following year, Abilaliaj scored his first goal of 2014 during the 3–2 away lose to Kukësi, heading home a Gilman Lika cross in the 85th minute. Following the end of the match, Abilaliaj was sent immediately to the nearest hospital in Kukës after he had an abdomen problem, accompanied by vomiting. However, following the treatment from the doctors, he returned with the team to travel back to Vlorë.

He continued with his solid appearances even in Albanian Cup, netting a winner against Vllaznia Shkodër in the Quarter-final's second leg, sending Flamurtari Vlorë into the semi-finals with the aggregate 1–0. Following that, Abilaliaj scored his first brace of the season during the 2–4 away win over Lushnja, taking his tally up to five league goals, helping the club to win for the first time in Lushnje after 27 years.

With the arrival of new head coach Stanislav Levý on 15 June 2015, Abilaliaj was not in his plans and was allowed to leave the club, which Abilaliaj himself officially announced on 17 June.

Skënderbeu Korçë

He joined Albanian Superliga champions Skënderbeu Korçë shortly after leaving Flamurtari Vlorë, and he joined the rest of the squad at their pre season training camp in Flachau, Austria.

International career

He was part of the Albania national football team during the 2008 UEFA European Cup qualifications, but he did not made a debut.

Career statistics

Honours

Club

;Partizani Tirana
*Albanian Superliga: Runner-up 2007–08

;Tirana
*Albanian Supercup (2): 2009, 2012

;Flamurtari Vlorë
*Albanian Cup (1): 2013–14
*Albanian Supercup: Runner-up 2014

;Skënderbeu Korçë
*Albanian Supercup: Runner-up 2015
*Albanian Superliga (1): 2015–16

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Abilaliaj, Arber
1986 births
Living people
Footballers from Vlorë
Albanian men's footballers
Albania men's youth international footballers
Albania men's under-21 international footballers
Men's association football forwards
Flamurtari FC players
FK Partizani Tirana players
KF Besa Kavajë players
KF Tirana players
KF Skënderbeu Korçë players
Kategoria Superiore players
Croatian Football League players
Albanian expatriate men's footballers
Expatriate men's footballers in Croatia
NK Inter Zaprešić players
Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Croatia
Albanian football managers
FK Partizani Tirana managers
Kategoria Superiore managers
21st-century Albanian sportsmen