Erdin Demir (born 27 March 1990 as Erdin Demirovski) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a left back. He played in Sweden, Norway, and Belgium during a career that spanned between 2008 and 2021. A full international between 2012 and 2014, he won six caps for the Sweden national team.

Erdin Demir
Demir in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Malmö, Sweden
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
Malmö FF
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Malmö FF 0 (0)
2009IFK Malmö (loan) 10 (1)
2009–2010 Limhamn Bunkeflo 34 (1)
2011 Trelleborgs FF 29 (0)
2012–2015 Brann 72 (0)
2015–2018 Waasland Beveren 87 (1)
2018–2021 Zulte Waregem 15 (1)
International career
2007–2008 Sweden U19 11 (1)
2011–2012 Sweden U21 15 (0)
2012–2014 Sweden 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 April 2019
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 November 2018

Career

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Sweden

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Demir played youth football with Malmö FF, making his professional debut in the Svenska Cupen against Kristianstad. He scored the first goal in what would become a 3–2 win to Malmö.[1] A move to LB07 was next as it became apparent he would not break into the Malmö first team. At the start of 2011, Demir moved back into the Allsvenskan with Trelleborg. Despite finishing fifteenth and in a relegation spot, he was nominated for Allsvenskan Newcomer of the Year.[2] His impressive season attracted interest from Swedish side Djurgården and unnamed teams in Turkey, the country of his origins.[3]

Brann

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On 6 December 2011, Demir signed with Norwegian club Brann for around five million Swedish kronor. His contract will run until the end of the 2015 Tippeligaen season.[4] Former Brann striker and Trelleborg team mate of Demir Joakim Sjöhage described the young Swede as "a modern full-back," continuing to say that "he is good offensively and stable defensively. He came as a new signing to Trelleborg, but was consistently one of the best in the team."[5]

During the mid-season break in his first season in Norway, Demir spoke of how he wished to use the autumn as a new start. On his first six months, he said, "I got a good start in pre-season. It created high expectations, then I had a less than fortunate start to the league. I received a lot of criticism. As with everyone else who receives that, it hit my self-confidence." He justified his slow start by saying, "I was bought as an offensive full back, to help with attack. You must be aware that there will be space behind me." His coach, Rune Skarsfjord was in agreement that "[Erdin] is unfinished," but is confident that he'll "grow" defensively.[6]

Belgium and retirement

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He retired from professional football in early 2022, after having played in Belgium since 2015.[7]

International career

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Demir has played seven games for the Sweden under-21 team. In his four appearances during the 2013 European Under-21 Championship qualification he has assisted four goals, the equal most of any player.[8]

On 14 December 2011, Erik Hamrén called Demir up to the Swedish national side for two friendly matches against Qatar and Bahrain.[9] His debut came against the former on 23 January 2012, in which he received very positive reviews.[10]

Career statistics

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As of 4 October 2015
Season Club Division League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2011 Trelleborg Allsvenskan 29 0 0 0 29 0
2012 Brann Tippeligaen 22 0 5 0 27 0
2013 21 0 0 0 21 0
2014 17 0 1 0 18 0
2015 OBOS-ligaen 12 0 1 1 13 1
2015–16 Waasland Beveren Pro League 10 0 0 0 10 0
Career total 111 0 7 1 118 1

References

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  1. ^ Kistianstads 2–3 Malmö (AET) football-lineups.com
  2. ^ Årets nykomling 2011 Archived 9 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine svenskfotball.se (in Swedish)
  3. ^ Erdin Demir nära Brann trellebordsallehanda.se (in Swedish)
  4. ^ Demir Signerte for Brann Archived 7 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine brann.no (in Norwegian)
  5. ^ Tror Demir er et funn Archived 13 July 2012 at archive.today aftenposten.no (in Norwegian)
  6. ^ – Første gang jeg har opplevd motgang Archived 24 February 2013 at archive.today aftenposten.no (in Norwegian)
  7. ^ "Erdin Demir tvingas lägga av". Fotbolltransfers.com (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  8. ^ 2013 under-21 Championships statistics uefa.com
  9. ^ Nio U21-spelare med till Qatar svenskfotball.se (in Swedish)
  10. ^ Demir och Hiljemark från start även mot Qatar svenskfotball.se (in Swedish)
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