Mirlind Kryeziu (born 26 January 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Zürich. Born in Switzerland, he represents the Kosovo national team.

Mirlind Kryeziu
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-01-26) 26 January 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Zürich, Switzerland
Height 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Zürich
Number 31
Youth career
2004–2015 Zürich
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2019 Zürich U21 24 (2)
2015–2016Biel-Bienne (loan) 15 (0)
2017– Zürich 113 (6)
2021Kriens (loan) 10 (0)
International career
2013 Albania U15 1 (0)
2013 Switzerland U16 5 (2)
2013–2014 Switzerland U17 13 (0)
2014–2015 Switzerland U18 8 (0)
2015–2016 Switzerland U19 2 (0)
2016–2017 Switzerland U20 3 (0)
2021– Kosovo 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 2 September 2021

Club career

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Zürich

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Early career and Zürich U21

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Kryeziu at the age of 7, he started playing football in Zürich. On 20 September 2014, he made his debut with Zürich U21 in a 2–2 away defeat against Breitenrain Bern after coming on as a substitute at 88th minute in place of Fabijan Markaj.[1]

Loan at Biel-Bienne
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On 6 July 2015, Kryeziu joined Swiss Challenge League side Biel-Bienne, on a season-long loan.[2] On 5 December 2015, he made his debut in a 1–0 away defeat against Winterthur after being named in the starting line-up.[3]

Promotion to the first team

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On 13 February 2017, Kryeziu made his debut in a 1–1 home draw against Neuchâtel Xamax after being named in the starting line-up,[4] Two months after debut, he signed his first professional contract with Swiss Challenge League side Zürich after agreeing to a four-year deal.[5]

Loan at Kriens
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On 16 February 2021, Kryeziu joined Swiss Challenge League side Kriens, on a season-long loan.[6]

International career

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At the start of April 2013, Kryeziu received a call-up from Albania U15 for a selection camp in Switzerland.[7] From 16 April 2013 to 28 March 2017, he has been part of Switzerland at youth international level, respectively has been part of the U16, U17, U18, U19 and U20 teams and he with these teams played 29 matches and scored one goal. On 9 November 2018, Kryeziu received a call-up from Kosovo for the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League matches against Malta and Azerbaijan,[8] he was an unused substitute in these matches. On 2 September 2021, Kryeziu made his debut with Kosovo in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Georgia after coming on as a substitute at last minutes in place of Valon Berisha.[9]

Personal life

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Kryeziu was born in Zürich, Switzerland from Kosovo Albanian parents from Mleqani, a village near Mališevo.[10] He holds Kosovan and Swiss passports.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 30 January 2021[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Zürich U21 2014–15 1. Liga Promotion 2 0 0 0 2 0
2016–17 17 1 0 0 17 1
2017–18 Swiss Promotion League 4 1 0 0 4 1
2018–19 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 24 2 0 0 24 2
Biel-Bienne (loan) 2015–16 Swiss Challenge League 15 0 0 0 15 0
Zürich 2016–17 Swiss Challenge League 3 1 0 0 3 1
2017–18 Swiss Super League 8 0 1 0 9 0
2018–19 18 0 2 0 3 0 23 0
2019–20 21 1 2 0 23 1
2020–21 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 51 2 5 0 3 0 59 2
Kriens (loan) 2020–21 Swiss Challenge League 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 90 4 5 0 3 0 98 4
  1. ^ Including continental competitions, such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League

References

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  1. ^ "U21: 2:2 gegen Breitenrain" [U21: 2:2 against Breitenrain] (in German). FC Zürich. 20 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Der FC Biel verpflichtet Mirlind Kryeziu" [FC Biel signed Mirlind Kryeziu]. Facebook (in German). FC Biel-Bienne. 6 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Winterthur (1–0) Biel-Bienne". Soccerway. 5 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Zürich (1–1) Neuchâtel Xamax". Soccerway. 13 February 2017.
  5. ^ "Mirlind Kryeziu signs first professional contract". FC Zürich. 12 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Mirlind Kryeziu wechselt leihweise ins Kleinfeld" [Mirlind Kryeziu changes to the Kleinfeld on loan] (in German). SC Kriens. 16 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Seleksionimi i Zvicres" [Swiss selection] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. April 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Challandes publikon listën e futbollistëve për dy ndeshjet e radhës" [Challandes publish the list of footballers for two next matches] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 9 November 2018. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Georgia vs Kosovo, 2 September 2021". eu-football.info. 2 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Ekskluzive! Zvicra e donte me çdo kusht, por Kryeziu zgjodhi vendlindjen: Jam i lumtur, mezi po pres të luaj për Kosovën" [Exclusive! Switzerland loved it at all costs, but Kryeziu chose the birthplace: I'm happy, barely waiting to play for Kosovo] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 22 October 2018. Në një intervistë ekskluzive për Telegrafin, mbrojtësi nga Mleçani i Malishevës flet për prapaskenat dhe zgjedhjen e Kosovës
  11. ^ Mirlind Kryeziu at Soccerway  
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