Emiliano Veliaj (born 9 February 1985) is a retired Albanian footballer who played as a midfielder. He was a member of the Albania national Team between 2010 and 2012, earning 2 full caps.

Club career

Korabi Peshkopi

On 1 July 2016, Veliaj agreed personal terms and signed a one-year contract with newly promoted

Albanian Superliga The Kategoria Superiore, officially known as Abissnet Superiore for sponsorship reasons, is a professional league for men's association football clubs. At the top of the Albanian football league system, it is the country's primary football compet ...

side

Korabi Peshkopi KS Korabi is an Albanian football club based in Peshkopi, named after the nearby Mount Korab, which is the tallest mountain in Albania and North Macedonia. The club's home ground is the Korabi Stadium. History Early history The club was founded ...

for an undisclosed fee. In a press conference later that month, Veliaj stated that Korabi made the best offer for him, despite interest from several other Albanian clubs. He made his debut for the club on 7 September in the opening league match of 2016–17 season against his former team Laçi, playing full-90 minutes in a goalless draw. He also played in the two-legged match against Kamza in the first round of Albanian Cup, as Korabi was eliminated with the aggregate 3–1. During the first part of the season, Veliaj made 13 league appearances, in addition 2 in cup, failing to score in the process, as Korabi struggled for results, finishing it in the penultimate spot.

Tomori Berat

On 26 January 2017, Veliaj returned to his boyhood club

Tomori Berat KF Tomori is an Albanian football club based in the city of Berat. The club's home ground is the Tomori Stadium and they currently participate in the Kategoria e Parë. History The sport of football was introduced to the city of Berat in the ear ...

for the first time in 12 years. He was immediately placed in the starting lineup, making his return debut on 3 February in the matchday 14 against Pogradeci. During the second part of 2016–17 season, Veliaj played 10 matches without scoring and left the team following the end of the season.

Korabi Peshkopi return

On 30 August 2017, after training for a while with Egnatia, Veliaj returned to Korabi Peshkopi this time in Albanian First Division as a free transfer.

International career

Veliaj made his

senior Senior (shortened as Sr.) means "the elder" in Latin and is often used as a suffix for the elder of two or more people in the same family with the same given name, usually a parent or grandparent. It may also refer to: * Senior (name), a surname ...

debut on 2 June 2010 by appearing in the last minutes of the friendly against Andorra, which ended in a 1–0 home win for Albania. After two years, he was called up again by the new coach

Gianni De Biasi Giovanni "Gianni" De Biasi (, sq, Xhovani "Xhani" De Biazi), born 16 June 1956 is an Italian football coach and former player. He holds dual Italian and Albanian citizenship. De Biasi was the first coach of the Albania national team to lead th ...

for the friendlies against Qatar and Iran in May 2012. He made another senior appearance, this time against Iran at the İnönü Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey, entering in the last moments in a 1–0 win.

Honours

;Besa Kavajë *

Albanian Cup The Albanian Cup ( sq, Kupa e Shqipërisë) is the main "knockout" competition in Albanian football. The competition started in 1939 as Kupa e Mbretit (English:"The King's Cup"). Just after a year the cup was suspended as the Second World War st ...

: 2006–07 ;Laçi *

: 2014–15 * Albanian Supercup:

2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...

References

External links

* * * 1985 births Living people Sportspeople from Berat Men's association football midfielders Albanian men's footballers Albania men's youth international footballers Albania men's under-21 international footballers KF Tomori players KF Besa Kavajë players KF Laçi players KF Shkumbini players KF Teuta Durrës players KF Korabi Peshkopi players KF Vora players KF Burreli players KF Luzi i Vogël 2008 players Kategoria Superiore players Kategoria e Parë players Kategoria e Dytë players Albania men's international footballers {{Albania-footy-midfielder-stub