Migen Memelli

Migen Memelli (born 25 April 1980 in Lushnjë) is a professional Albanian footballer who plays a striker. He is known for his goalscoring ability, and has twice been the top goalscorer in the Albanian Superliga.^[1]Migen Memelli largohet nga Laçi

Career

Early career (2000–2005)

Memelli began his professional career with Skënderbeu Korçë in 2000 as a 20 year old, where he scored 7 goals in 26 league games but could not help his side further as they finished bottom of the table and were subsequently relegated from the Albanian Superliga. He also scored 3 times in the Albanian Cup which took his tally to 9 goals for the season in all competitions.^[2] He left the club following their relegation and joined Superliga side Teuta Durrës in the summer transfer window of 2001, and he scored 4 times in 19 games in his first season to help his side finish in a respectable 4th place in the league. He also scored another 4 goals in the Albanian Cup as Teuta Durrës reached the semi-finals.^[3] The following season he scored 8 goals in 21 league games as Teuta Durrës finished 4th once again. He also scored 3 goals in the Albanian Cup as his side reached the final, which they eventually lost 1–0 to Dinamo Tirana, as he came on as a 63rd minute for Gentian Begeja in the final.^[4]

He moved to KF Elbasani in 2003 and immediately became a first team plater, netting 12 league goals in 29 games as KF Elbasani finished one place above the relegation zone. In the Albanian Cup he scored a first half hattrick against KS Devolli, and added another goal against Albpetrol Pato as he reached the quarter finals, and ended the season with 16 goals in all competitions. He joined newly promoted side KF Laçi in 2004 but did not have a fruitful experience, only featuring in 4 league games and scoring just once before returning to KF Elbasani in January 2015. He helped the club finish runners-up in the league with his 4 goals in 17 games, as well as scoring another goal in the Albanian Cup quarter finals as his side were knocked out by Teuta Durrës,^[5] taking his goal tally for season to 6 goals in all competitions for both clubs, the lowest of his career at the time.^[6] He rejoined Skënderbeu Korçë ahead of the 2005–06 campaign, and he scored on his second debut with the club in the first week of the Albanian Superliga in a 1–1 draw with Teuta Durrës. He scored 8 goals in 12 games in the first half of the season which attracted the interest of several foreign clubs, which included Norwegian side Brann who offered the player a trial in January 2006.

Brann (2006–2007)

His agent Knut Høibraatens arranged the trial with Brann, which was eventually resulted in a permanent move in March 2006 following a transfer fee of 600,000 kr.^[7]

GAIS

Memelli's first season with GAIS got off to a very good start as he scored 4 goals in 4 pre-season games. In the Allsvenskan he wasn't so lucky as he did not score any goals but he still played 16 games, and proved that he had other skills too. Another pre-season and 2 goals in 2 games, this might be his year. But the 2008 edition of Allsvenskan he was sidelined due to injury.

KF Tirana

Memelli was loaned out to the most successful team in Albanian, KF Tirana before the start of the Albanian Superliga 2008-09. Prior to his loan move back to Albania, Memelli was listed with 140 matches and 45 goals in the Albanian Superliga with Skënderbeu Korçë, Teuta Durrës, KS Elbasani and KF Laci from 2000 to 2006. He played a total of 28 games in the Albanian Superliga throughout the 2008-2009 campaign and managed to score an impressive 22 goals in the process, this meant that he beat Sebino Plaku to the Golden Boot and helped win a call up for Albania.

Flamurtari Vlore

On 27 January 2010 Memelli signs for KS Flamurtari Vlorë in the Albanian Superliga until the end of the season 2009-2010.

Saudi Arabia

After a very impressive second half of the 2009-2010 season with Flamurtari, where he scored 14 goals in just 15 games, almost averaging a goal a game, there was huge interest in the player from both Albania and abroad. However he opted to join former Dinamo Tirana coach Zlatko Dalić in Saudi Arabia and signed for Al-Faisaly Harmah on 17 June 2010. He signed a 1 year contract worth over $320,000. This deal included bonuses for every win and for every goal whilst at the club, and also a luxury apartment in the city of Harmah as well as a brand new car. The Arabian club had been tracking the player and had seen many DVDs of the player, along with the fact that he was the top scorer in Albania in the 2008-2009 season it convinced the owners of the club to offer Memelli such a huge offer.^[8]

International career

Following a very impressive return to Albania Memelli also received a call-up to the Albanian National Team by the coach at the time, Arie Haan. He made his debut for the Albanian National Team on 1 April 2009 against Denmark in a World Cup Qualification game. Memelli came on for Besart Berisha in the 85th minute of the game.^[9] His debut was not one to celebrate as Albania lost the match 3-0 and by doing so further reducing their chances of qualification, and Arie Haan, the manager that called him up then stood down from his role as the coach of Albanian National Team ^[10]

Honours

KF Tirana

• Albanian Superliga (1): 2008–09
• Albanian Supercup (1): 2009

Individual

• Albanian Superliga top goalscorer (2): 2008–09, 2012–13
• Albanian Cup top goalscorer (1): 2008–09

References

External links

• Football Database profile
• FSHF