Arlind Kalaja (born 27 December 1995) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a winger[1] for Swedish club Ljungskile in the Ettan.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Arlind Kalaja | ||
| Date of birth | 27 December 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Shkodër, Albania | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Ljungskile | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2014 | Vllaznia | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2018 | Vllaznia | 118 | (12) |
| 2018–2019 | Kukësi | 15 | (0) |
| 2019 | → Kastrioti (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Teuta | 18 | (3) |
| 2020–2022 | Vllaznia | 29 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | Ljungskile | 25 | (0) |
| 2023 | Panelefsiniakos | ||
| 2023–2024 | Fostiras | 13 | (1) |
| 2024– | Panionios | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2009 | Albania U15 | 1 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Albania U17 | 5 | (0) |
| 2013 | Albania U19 | 5 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 December 2023 | |||
Club career edit
Vllaznia Shkodër edit
Kalaja was promoted to Vllaznia's senior squad during the 2012–13 season, making his professional debut on 27 April 2013 by playing in the second half of the match lost at the hands of Besa Kavajë.[3]
Later in the next season, Kalaja did not play any match, featuring only once as an unused substitute in the 1–1 draw versus Tirana at Qemal Stafa Stadium.[4]
In March 2015, Kalaja underwent surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) by doctor Fausto Zanelli.[5] He remained sidelined for the next five months, only returning in action at the end of September, playing as substitute in the 1–0 home loss to Laçi in the 2015–16 Albanian Superliga matchday 5.[6]
On 26 July 2017, Kalaja agreed another contract extension, signing for the upcoming season.[7]
In the 2017–18 season, he made 30 league appearances, starting only 7, collecting 973 minutes, scoring 4 goals as Vllaznia was relegated for the first time in 60 years.[8] He went on saying that he was "persecuted" within the group, adding that he was left aside and was not given regular playing time.[9]
On 3 June 2018, Kalaja announced his departure from the club once his contract expired, finishing his spell with more than 100 appearances in all competitions.[10]
Kukësi edit
On 6 June 2018, Kalaja agreed personal terms and completed a transfer to Kukësi, penning a contract until June 2020.[11]
On 31 January 2019, on deadline day, Kalaja was loaned to Kastrioti Krujë until the end of 2018–19 season.[12]
Teuta Durrës edit
Ahead of the 2019/20 season, Kalaja joined KF Teuta Durrës on a two-year deal.[13]
International career edit
Kalaja has been a former Albania youth international, representing his country at under-15, -17 and -19 level.
Career statistics edit
- As of 9 February 2019[2]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Vllaznia Shkodër | 2012–13 | Albanian Superliga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2014–15 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 2 | ||||
| 2015–16 | 29 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 33 | 5 | ||||
| 2016–17 | 23 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 | ||||
| 2017–18 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 34 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 103 | 10 | 19 | 2 | — | — | 122 | 12 | ||||
| Vllaznia Shkodër B | 2017–18 | Albanian First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Kukësi | 2018–19 | Albanian Superliga | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |
| Kastrioti Krujë (loan) | 2018–19 | Albanian Superliga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 117 | 10 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 12 | ||
- ^ All appearance(s) in Albanian First Division play-out
References edit
- ^ Arlind Kalaja at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b Arlind Kalaja at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Vllaznia Shkodër vs. Besa Kavajë 0 – 1". Soccerway. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ Adela Merko (8 December 2013). "Tirana dhe Vllaznia, barazim mes tensionit. Nikaj: Barazimi ishte rezultati më i drejtë" [Tirana and Vllaznia, a draw between tension. Nikaj: The draw was a fair result] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Kalaja përfundon në bisturi, 5 muaj jashtë fushave" [Kalaja ends up in scalpel, 5 months outside the fields] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Vllaznia Shkodër vs. Laçi 0 – 1". Soccerway. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Zyrtare, Kalaja rinovon me Vllazninë" [Official, Kalaja renew with Vllaznia] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Vllaznia bie nga Superiorja, mbijeton Kamza, Partizani pa Evropë (Video)" [Vllaznia relegated from Superliga, Kamza survives, Partizani without Europe (Video)] (in Albanian). Konica.al. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Kalaja: Sot firmos me Kukësin, Vllaznia më bllokoi të ardhmen" [Kalaja: Today I sign with Kukësi, Vllaznia blocked me the future] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Kalaja konfirmon ndarjen nga Vllaznia, këtë radhë pa polemika" [Kalaja confirms the separation from Vllaznia, this time without controversies] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ Alfred Lleshi (6 June 2018). "Arlind Kalaja firmos zyrtarisht për 2 vite me Kukësin" [Arlind Kalaja officially signs for 2 years with Kukësi] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Kastrioti "i vjedh" Kalajën Kukësit" [Kastrioti "steals" Kalaja from Kukësi] (in Albanian). Ora News. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ Një shkodran ikën, një vjen tek Teuta. Firmos Arlind Kalaja, shkodrasport.com, 15 June 2019
External links edit
- Arlind Kalaja at the Albanian Football Association (in Albanian and English)
- Arlind Kalaja – UEFA competition record (archive)
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