Florian Kamberi (born 8 March 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Croatian club Slaven Belupo and the Albania national team.

Florian Kamberi
Personal information
Full name Florian Kamberi[1]
Date of birth (1995-03-08) 8 March 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Zürich, Switzerland
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2+12 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Slaven Belupo
Number 45
Youth career
0000 Tuggen
0000 Rapperswil-Jona
0000–2013 Grasshopper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Rapperswil-Jona 15 (10)
2014–2018 Grasshopper II 26 (21)
2015–2018 Grasshopper 32 (3)
2016–2017Karlsruher SC (loan) 15 (1)
2018Hibernian (loan) 14 (9)
2018–2020 Hibernian 53 (11)
2020Rangers (loan) 6 (1)
2020–2022 St. Gallen 8 (0)
2021Aberdeen (loan) 11 (0)
2021–2022Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 23 (4)
2022 Winterthur 13 (1)
2023 Huddersfield Town 1 (0)
2023–2024 Slaven Belupo 5 (0)
International career
2015 Switzerland U20 1 (0)
2015–2016 Switzerland U21 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:32, 24 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:17, 5 January 2023 (UTC)

Kamberi has previously played for Grasshopper, Karlsruher SC, Hibernian, Rangers and Huddersfield Town. He represented Switzerland at the under-21 level, and has since been selected for the Albania squad.

Club career edit

Grasshoppers edit

Kamberi started his professional career with Swiss club Grasshoppers. On 31 August 2016, Kamberi was loaned to Karlsruher SC for the 2016–17 season in 2. Bundesliga.[2][3]

Hibernian edit

Kamberi went on trial with Scottish Premiership club Hibernian in January 2018,[4] and moved there on loan on 31 January.[5] Kamberi made his debut for Hibernian later that day, and scored the first goal in a 2–1 win against Motherwell.[6] Kamberi scored a hat-trick for Hibs on 3 April, in a 3–1 win against Hamilton.[7][8]

In June 2018, Hibernian signed Kamberi to a three-year contract.[9] Kamberi scored a hat-trick in a Europa League qualifier against NSÍ Runavík on 12 July.[10]

Loan spell to Rangers edit

Kamberi moved on loan to Rangers on 31 January 2020.[11] Following the end of this loan period, and after a period spent in Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kamberi returned to Hibernian for pre-season training in June 2020.[12]

St. Gallen edit

On 6 August 2020, Kamberi moved back to his native Switzerland to sign for St. Gallen on a three-year deal.[13][14] Kamberi tested positive for COVID-19 in November 2020, and played infrequently for St. Gallen during the early part of the 2020–21 season.[15]

Kamberi was released from his contract by St. Gallen on 23 June 2022.[16]

Loan spell to Aberdeen edit

On 1 February 2021, Kamberi completed a loan switch back to Scotland to sign with Aberdeen until the end of the season.[17]

Sheffield Wednesday (loan) edit

On 30 July 2021, Kamberi moved on a season-long loan deal to England to join recently relegated League One side Sheffield Wednesday.[18] He would make his debut on the opening day of the season against Charlton Athletic coming off the bench to replace Callum Paterson after he suffered a nasty head injury.[19] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win at Rotherham United on 21 August 2021.[20]

Winterthur edit

On 7 July 2022, Kamberi signed with Winterthur.[21] His contract with the club was cancelled on 29 November 2022.[22]

Huddersfield Town edit

On 5 January 2023, Kamberi joined EFL Championship side Huddersfield Town on a short-term deal until the end of the season.[23]

Slaven Belupo edit

On 11 October 2023, Kamberi joined Croatian Football League club Slaven Belupo on a contract until the end of the season.[24]

International career edit

Kamberi was born in Switzerland and is of Kosovan descent,[25][26][27] which made him eligible to represent Switzerland, Kosovo and Albania.[28] Kamberi played in youth internationals for Switzerland,[29] and he scored for their under-21 team in a 1–1 draw against England in March 2016.[30]

Kamberi was included in the Albania squad for the first time in November 2019.[31] Delays in processing the paperwork required to transfer his international status from Switzerland to Albania, and a slight ankle injury, meant that he was unable to play in their matches with Andorra and France.[32]

On 17 March 2021, Kamberi was called up by the Albania national team ahead of their World Cup Qualifiers against Andorra, England and San Marino.[33]

Career statistics edit

As of end of 2022–23 season[34]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Grasshopper 2015–16[35] Swiss Super League 28 3 1 0 29 3
2016–17[36] Swiss Super League 4 0 0 0 5[a] 0 9 0
2017–18[37] Swiss Super League 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 32 3 1 0 0 0 5 0 38 3
Karlsruher SC (loan) 2016–17[36] 2. Bundesliga 15 1 0 0 15 1
Hibernian (loan) 2017–18[37] Scottish Premiership 14 9 0 0 0 0 14 9
Hibernian 2018–19[38][b] Scottish Premiership 33 8 3 1 1 0 6[a] 4 43 13
2019–20[39] Scottish Premiership 20 3 2 0 5 5 27 8
Total 53 11 5 1 6 5 6 4 70 21
Rangers (loan) 2019–20[39] Scottish Premiership 6 1 0 0 0 0 3[a] 0 9 1
St. Gallen 2020–21[40] Swiss Super League 8 0 0 0 1[a] 0 9 0
2021–22[41] Swiss Super League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 8 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 0
Aberdeen (loan) 2020–21[40] Scottish Premiership 11 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 14 1
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2021–22[41] EFL League One 23 4 2 0 0 0 2[c] 1 27 5
Winterthur 2022–23[42] Swiss Super League 13 1 1 0 0 0 14 1
Huddersfield Town 2022–23[43] Championship 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
Career total 176 30 13 3 6 5 17 5 211 43
  1. ^ a b c d Appearances in the Europa League
  2. ^ Soccerbase did not record appearances made by Kamberi against NSI Runavik on 19 July and Asteras Tripolis on 26 July and 2 August, and Molde on 9 August and 16 August 2018.
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy

References edit

  1. ^ "EFL - Squad List 2022/23 & U21 Registered Contracted Players" (PDF). 8 February 2023. p. 64. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  2. ^ "KSC angelt sich Kamberi" (in German). kicker online. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  3. ^ "GC leiht Stürmer Kamberi an Karlsruhe aus" (in Swiss High German). St. Galler Tagblatt. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Florian Kamberi: Hibernian poised to sign Swiss striker on loan from Grasshoppers". BBC Sport. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  5. ^ "FLORIAN KAMBERI JOINS ON LOAN". Hibernian FC. 31 January 2018. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Hibernian 2–1 Motherwell". BBC Sport. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  7. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (3 April 2018). "Hibernian 3–1 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Hibernian 3–1 Hamilton: Florian Kamberi aims for second after hat-trick". BBC Sport. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Hibernian: Swiss striker Florian Kamberi signs three-year deal". BBC Sport. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Hibernian 6–1 NSÍ Runavík". BBC Sport. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  11. ^ McLauchlin, Brian; Winton, Richard (31 January 2020). "Florian Kamberi: Rangers sign Hibs striker after Jermain Defoe injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Hibernian striker Florian Kamberi returns to Scotland ahead of pre-season training". Edinburghlive.co.uk. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  13. ^ Pilcher, Ross (6 August 2020). "Flo Kamberi finally seals Hibs exit as he joins St Gallen after Rangers loan spell". Daily Record. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  14. ^ "FCSG Verpflichtung-Kamberi". FC St.Gallen 1879 (in German). 6 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  15. ^ McPartlin, Patrick (20 January 2021). "Florian Kamberi 'could leave St Gallen' as former Hibs striker linked with moves to England and Germany". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Kamberi und Gonzalez verlassen den FCSG" (in German). St. Gallen. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Dons seal Kamberi loan deal". Aberdeen FC. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Owls sign Florian Kamberi". www.swfc.co.uk. 30 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Report: Charlton 0-0 Wednesday". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Rotherham 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday". BBC. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  21. ^ "FLORIAN KAMBERI VERSTÄRKT DIE OFFENSIVE" (in German). Winterthur. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  22. ^ "KAMBERI VERLÄSST DEN FCW" (in German). Winterthur. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  23. ^ "SIGNING: FLORIAN KAMBERI JOINS TOWN!". htafc.com. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Florian Kamberi novi je igrač Slaven Belupa" [Florian Kamberi is the new player of Slaven Belup]. nk-slaven-belupo.hr (in Croatian). 11 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Kosovo football player Florian Kamberi, excels in the Swiss Super League". Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Republic of Kosovo.
  26. ^ Blick (3 August 2015). "Florian Kamberi: Das ist der junge GC-Derby-Held".
  27. ^ "Hibs striker to face Saints despite grandfather's death". Edinburgh Evening News. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  28. ^ Wales, Peter (7 November 2019). "Albania set to call up Hibs star Florian Kamberi". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  29. ^ uefa.com. "Florian Kamberi – UEFA.com". Uefa.com.
  30. ^ "England Under-21s hold out in Switzerland despite Jordon Ibe red card". The Guardian. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  31. ^ "Konferencë për shtyp e trajnerit Reja për ndeshjet ndaj Andorrës dhe Francës". fshf.org (in Albanian). 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  32. ^ Atkinson, Mark (15 November 2019). "Hibs' Florian Kamberi withdraws from Albania squad due to paperwork issues and ankle niggle". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  33. ^ "Florian Kamberi's patience pays off as Aberdeen striker earns Sergio Porrini backing for Albania debut". Daily Record. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  34. ^ Florian Kamberi at Soccerway. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  35. ^ "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  36. ^ a b "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  37. ^ a b "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  38. ^ "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  39. ^ a b "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  40. ^ a b "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  41. ^ a b "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  42. ^ Florian Kamberi at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  43. ^ "Games played by Florian Kamberi in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2023.