Sabien Lilaj
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sabien Lilaj | ||
| Date of birth | 10 February 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Korçë,[1] Albania | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | KF Skënderbeu Korçë | ||
| Number | 88 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| -2008 | KF Tirana | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2011 | KF Tirana | 67 | (3) |
| 2011–2012 | NK Lokomotiva | 15 | (0) |
| 2012– | KS Skenderbeu | 20 | (4) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2008-2011 | Albania U-21 | 10 | (0) |
| 2011– | Albania | 8 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 May 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 June 2013 | |||
Sabien Lilaj (born 10 February 1989 in Korçë, Albania) is an Albanian footballer who currently plays for KF Skënderbeu Korçë in Albanian Superliga. He is a versatile midfielder who can play in a holding role in the centre as well as a more attacking role in advanced positions, he has also played on the wings at times. He also played for Tirana in the 2009-10 UEFA Champions League against Norwegian side Stabaek.[2]
Career
KF Tirana
Despite only being 19 at the time, Lilaj was picked as part of the senior KF Tirana side, this being down to new coach Blaž Slišković being impressed by the youngster in pre-season.[3] The young midfielder was a player that Slišković liked and which he featured in most of the games, despite his young age and lack of experience. However, following the dismissal of Slišković in December 2009, Lilaj found it very difficult to break into the Tirana first team again,[4] and with the return to fitness of inspirational captain Devi Muka the task of breaking through became even slimmer.
Club career
Correct as of 2 December 2010[update]
| Club | Season | League | Continental | Cup | Supercup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| KF Tirana | 2008-09 | 20 | 1 | – | 2 | 0 | – | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2009-10 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 2010-11 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 14 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 52 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 1 | |
Honours
KF Tirana
- Albanian Superliga (1): 2008-09
- Albanian Supercup (1): 2009
International career
Albania U-21s
Lilaj was first selected for Albania under-21s on 22 October 2008 by Artan Bushati for a friendly against neighbouring country Macedonia. He was picked in the 23 man squad that would be travelling to Macedonia for the friendly along with 2 other KF Tirana players, Enri Tafaj and Migen Metani.[5] However he would not be able ot play the friendly in Ohrid on 19 November 2008 due to injury just days before the fixture. This meant that fellow Tirana team mate Migen Metani took his place in the squad.[6] He was again picked by Artan Bushati in February 2009, this time preparation for the UEFA U-21 Championship. He was picked in the squad once again with fellow club team mate Migen Metani.[7]
Albania A team
In 2011 Lilaj made a debut for Albanian national team.[8]
References
- ^ Transfermarkt. "Sabien Lilaj profile". Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ "KF Tirana 1-1 Stabaek". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Tirana (2008-2009)" (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ Feriz Ferizaj (10 June 2009). "Gjeorgjitë, është "dita e gjykimit" për kuqezinjtë" (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ Jorgis Memo (22 October 2008). "Bushati shpall emrat e rinj të U-21" (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Dëmtimi, Lilaj zëvendësohet me Metanin" (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ Ilir Cara (12 February 2009). "Misioni i Shpresave, më larg se fusha e lojës" (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
- ^ Lilaj.html Sabien Lilaj at National-Football-Teams.com