Njazi Kuqi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Njazi Kuqi
Personal information
Full name Njazi Kuqi
Date of birth 25 March 1983 (1983-03-25) (age 25)
Place of birth    Vučitrn, SFR Yugoslavia
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club TuS Koblenz
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2002-2005
2005-2006
2006
2006
2007-2008
2008-
FC Lahti
Birmingham
Peterborough (loan)
FC Groningen
Carl Zeiss Jena
TuS Koblenz
   

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Njazi Kuqi (born March 25, 1983 in Vučitrn, then SR Serbia, SAP Kosovo, SFR Yugoslavia now Kosovo) is a Finnish footballer of Kosovar Albanian origin who currently plays for TuS Koblenz. He is the younger brother of Shefki Kuqi.

Kuqi began his career with FC Lahti in 2002, where he was given the award of Finland's Under-21 player of the year (2004). The young striker moved to Birmingham City at the beginning of 2005, having made some productive appearances for his home team FC Lahti and becoming a lucrative goalscorer in the appearances he made. He had a number of more experienced strikers in front of him at Birmingham including Emile Heskey and Mikael Forssell, as well as a host of fellow youngsters like DJ Campbell. He also had a brief spell on loan with League Two side Peterborough United

In 2006, he was released by Birmingham City and signed by FC Groningen, where he was to compete for a place in the team with players such as the former Manchester United striker Erik Nevland. After a range of conflicts, Kuqi was dismissed from the Groningen squad on August 17, 2006.

In January 2007, he signed an 18-month contract with FC Carl Zeiss Jena after failing to win a contract during a trial at his brother's former club, Ipswich Town. However Kuqi has had problems fitting into the squad for a while was playing with the reserve side of FC Carl Zeiss Jena (FC Carl Zeis Jena II) in the German NOFV-Oberliga. In January 2008, he signed a contract with TuS Koblenz for 3 Years. Njazi is known for his bad temper and limited skills with the ball.