Labinot Harbuzi

Labinot Harbuzi

Personal information
Full name	Labinot Harbuzi
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	Gençlerbirliği
Number	8
Youth career
0000–1998	Malmö BI
1999–2000	Falkenberg
2000–2001	Malmö
2002–2004	Feyenoord
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2005	Feyenoord	0	(0)
2004–2005	→ Excelsior (loan)	9	(0)
2006–2009	Malmö	50	(4)
2009–	Gençlerbirliği	22	(4)
International career
2006–2008	Sweden U21	3	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 May 2010

Labinot Harbuzi (born 4 April 1986) is a Swedish footballer of Kosovar-Albanian descent who currently plays for Gençlerbirliği.

Early life

Harbuzi migrated to Sweden with his family because of the Kosovo war. His father, Ismet, was a famous table tennis player in Kosovo.

Club career

Early career

Growing up in the Malmö-suburb Rosengård, he began his career with Malmö BI, the same club where his good friend, Zlatan Ibrahimović began his career. Being a very hot prospect in his young years, he was spotted by Swedish Malmö FF.

Feyenoord

At 15 years old he was signed by Dutch club Feyenoord where he started playing professional football in the club's reserve team and youth team. In 2005 he was loaned to their satellite club Excelsior where he played 9 league games.

Malmö FF

In the spring of 2006 he returned to Malmö FF and made his Allsvenskan debut that same year. He made history when he became the first goalscorer in the then newly built Swedbank Stadion.

Gençlerbirliği

On 11 July 2009, Harbuzi signed with the Turkish club Gençlerbirliği S.K. His contract with the side started in January 2010, when his contract with Malmö FF expired.

International career

He is a Swedish under-21 international, making his debut against Republic of Ireland on 28 February 2006. He also played in the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.