Migjen Basha

Migjen Basha
Personal information
Full nameMigjen Xhevat Basha
Date of birth5 January 1987
Place of birthLausanne, Switzerland
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Torino
Number4
Youth career
–2004Team Vaud
2004Lausanne
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2005Lausanne36(4)
2006–2007Lucchese13(0)
2007Viareggio15(1)
2008–2009Rimini52(3)
2009–2010Frosinone38(3)
2010–2012Atalanta23(0)
2011–2012→ Torino (on loan)36(2)
2012–Torino50(2)
National team‡
2004–2005Switzerland U171(0)
2006–2007Switzerland U1913(1)
2007–2008Switzerland U211(0)
2013–Albania8(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 March 2014

Migjen Xhevat Basha (born 5 January 1987) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Italian club Torino and the Albania national team.

Migjen is the elder brother of Vullnet, who is also a professional footballer that plays as a midfielder for Spanish club Real Zaragoza and has been capped once for the Albania national football team.

Early life

Basha was born in Lausanne to Kosovar Albanian parents who were originally from Suva Reka.[1] He went to Suva Reka for the first time in his early childhood to learn Albanian language and went to school there for several years and then returned to Lausanne before the Kosovo war broke out. During the war, Suva Reka was burned to the ground and Basha's uncle was killed.[1] Those events had left a profound mark on his life.[1]

Club career

Lausanne

Basha started youth career at an amateur club Team Vaud and in 2004 he moved to Lausanne. In his first year at Lausanne, Basha gained entry on the first team. He made it his first professional debut at the age 18, on 16 July 2005 in the 2005–06 season match against Winterthur, finished in the 5–4 victory, where he came in as a substitute in the 60th minute in place of Patrick Isabella. He scored his first goal in the 3rd match appearance 2 weeks later, on 30 July 2005 in the 4–1 victory over Luzern in where Basha once again came in as a substitute in place of Patrick Isabella in the 68th minute and scored in the 88th goal of the time result 3–1.

Lucchese

For the second half of the 2005–06 season Basha moved to Italy at A.S. Lucchese-Libertas in the Serie C1. He played in 5 matches until the end of the season. He played for Lucchese in 8 matches in the 2006–07 season.

Viareggio

In 2007 he moved to Viareggio in Serie C2. He made a total of 15 appearances and scored 1 goal, only in the first half of the 2007–08 season.

Rimini

For the second half of the 2007–08 season he moved to Rimini. Basha played 12 games for Rimini in the second half of the 2007–08 season, since he made his debut on 2 February 2008 in the away victory 0–1 against Bari, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute.

He began the 2008–09 season with a goal on 17 August 2008 against Ravenna in Coppa Italia. The match finished in a draw 3–3 and ended a penalty shoot-out where Basha missed a penalty and finished in a penalty loss 5–7. He debuted with a goal in Serie B on 29 August, scoring the equalising goal against Parma, 1–1.[2] He managed to score another two goals in the month of February against Treviso on 7 February, which finished in a draw 2–2,[3] and on 28 February against Ancona, won 2–1.[4] He concluded the 2008–09 Serie B season with 38 appearances and 3 goals, he also played in two-legged match against Ancona, where the first leg played on 6 June 2009 finished in the draw 1–1,[5] and the second leg played a week later on 13 June finished in a 0–1, with Rimini relegated.[6]

Frosinone

Basha transferred to Serie B club Frosinone Calcio. Basha made his first appearance for Frosinone on 21 August 2009 against Salernitana, where he scored his first goal for the club and the match finished in the victory 1–2.[7] Basha would go on to make 38 appearances for the club and score three times. Basha helped Frosinone reach the 4th round of the Coppa Italia and scored a goal against Varese.

Atalanta

In June 2010, Atalanta, who had just been relegated from the Serie A, acquired his services from Frosinone.[8] Basha made his debut for Atalanta on 21 August 2010 against Vicenza playing full 90-minutes, as the match finished in the victory 2–0.[9] Until the end of the 2010–11 he played 7 matches as a starter and in total 23 appearances for Atalanta.

Torino

He moved on loan to fellow Serie B club Torino for the 2011–12 season.[10]

2011–12 season

He made his debut on 27 August 2011 against Ascoli in a victory 1–2.[11] Basha scored first goal for the Granata on 10 December 2011 against Pescara, won 4–2, where he scored the opening goal.[12] Basha made a total of 36 appearances for Torino, scoring 2 goals in Serie B. Torino achieved 2nd place, resulting in promotion to Serie A. In July 2012, Torino turned his loan deal from Atalanta into a permanent deal.

2012–13 season

Basha made his debut in Serie A on 26 August 2012 against Siena in a 0–0 draw by coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute in place of Giuseppe Vives.[13] He scored his first goal in the Italian top flight on 28 October 2012 against Parma, which finished in a 1–3 loss.[14] He concluded the 2012–13 season with 21 appearances and 1 goal.

2013–14 season

Basha began 2013–14 season against Sassuolo on 25 August 2013, which finished in the victory 2–0, with Basha assisting the second goal scored by Alessio Cerci in the 63rd minute.[15] His season was prematurely ended 5 weeks early due to the injury to his left foot on 13 April 2014 during the match against Genoa in the 57th minute, and surgical intervention for an achilles tendon injury.[16] He finished the season with 24 league appearances and Torino finished in the 7th place with a total of 57 points, only 1 point behind of Parma which secured the last place advancing in the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League,[17] a place which Torino lost it only in the closing match of the season, where they took only a 2–2 draw against Fiorentina also with Alessio Cerci missing an important penalty kick in the 3rd minute of the stoppage time,[18] where in the other side Parma won 2–0 over Livorno.[19] But it was not the final end, because on 29 May 2014 Torino among with Basha received good news, as they noticed to take Parma's place in the 2014–15 Europa League, after Parma were banned by UEFA for not being granted a UEFA licence, where they anyway had lodged an appeal to the high court, but it refused to overturn the decision, after they were judged to have withheld a figure of just under €300,000 in income tax.[20]

During the Summer transfers period, it was speculated that Basha would leave Torino due to his place in the starting line up, as Torino were looking to transfer A.C. Milan midfielder Antonio Nocerino.[21]

2014–15 season

On 5 January 2015 he returned to Torino after a nine month injury spell against Chievo Verona on 6 January 2015.[22] After a long period off the field, Basha had already recovered, but admitted he was not yet in full shape to play.[23][24] He returned to the first team on 22 February 2015 in the match against Fiorentina, but he remained on the bench once again.[25] On 1 March he managed to return to the pitch in stoppage time against Napoli, won 1–0 by Torino,[26] and as a starter on 16 March against Lazio; holding the Captain's amband for the first time.[27]

International career

Albania

Although capped for Switzerland at youth levels, Basha declared that he wanted to play for Albania.[28] In July 2010 he applied for an Albanian passport in order to be eligible to play for the "Red and Blacks",[29] but the Swiss Football Association did not agree that Basha be able to play for another nation. After Basha publicly declared that he will never play for Switzerland, but only for Albania,[30] on 30 July 2012 it was reported that Basha would start the procedures to get an Albanian passport, which will allow him to play for Albania,[31] whereas on 21 August 2012 it was reported that Basha has acquired the Albanian citizenship, but FIFA has not cleared him yet to play for Albania.[32] FIFA once ruled out the switch of nationality by outside his country of birth (or parent and grandparent's country of birth), however had opened the door for Irish from Northern Ireland to represent Republic of Ireland,[33] which may apply to ethnic minority outside the boundary of modern political border.

Basha was convocated for the first time by Albania on 15 March 2013 for the match against Norway.[34] On 19 March 2013 Basha and the Albanian Football Association (FSHF) received the go ahead from FIFA that Migjen Basha was allowed to play for Albania[35] On 22 March 2013 Basha debuted with Albania coincided in a 0–1 victory against Norway in Oslo, match valid for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.[36] He scored his first goal on 26 March 2013 in a friendly match against Lithuania.[37] Only two matches were enough and Albanian football opinion saw Basha as a replacement for the retired Altin Lala, according to his playing position and his abilities.[38] His second goal for Albania came one year later after the first, on 5 March 2014 in a friendly match against Malta finished in the victory 2–0, where Basha scored the opening goal in the 26th minute.[39]

Exactly a year after his second goal and last call up at national team even, following his return to Torino in a impressive form also playing as a starter and holding the Captain amband against Lazio, Basha returned back to national team as he received the call up by the coach Gianni De Biasi for the 4th match of the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Group I match against Armenia on 29 March 2015. On 18 March the coach Gianni De Biasi published a pre-list of 17 called up players and right after Basha became the 18th man to include in the pre-list squad.[40]

Career statistics

Club

As of 19 April 2015 [41][42]
Season Club League country League League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2004–05 Lausanne 1. Liga Promotion 22300--223
2005–06 Swiss Challenge League 14100--141
Total 3640000364
Lucchese Serie C1 5000--50
2006–07 8000--80
Total 1300000130
2007–08 Viareggio Serie C2 15100--151
Total 1510000151
Rimini Serie B 12000--120
2008–09 40300--403
Total 5230000523
2009–10 Frosinone Serie B 38331--414
Total 3833100414
2010–11 Atalanta Serie B 23020--250
Total 2302000250
2011–12 Torino Serie B 36210--372
2012–13 Serie A 21100--211
2013–14 24010--250
2014–15 5100--51
Total 8642000884
Career total 26315700027015

International

Albania national team [42]
YearAppsGoals
201371
201411
Total82

International goals

Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 26 March 2013 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana  Lithuania 3–0 4–1 Friendly
2 5 March 2014 Niko Dovana Stadium, Durrës  Malta 1–0 2–0 Friendly

Honours

Club

Atalanta
Torino

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 L'Eco di Bergamo (3 August 2010). "Basha tells about himself". L'Eco di Bergamo (in Italian). Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  2. ↑ Parma vs. Rimini - 29 August 2008 - Soccerway
  3. ↑ Rimini vs. Treviso - 7 February 2009 - Soccerway
  4. ↑ Rimini vs. Ancona - 28 February 2009 - Soccerway
  5. ↑ Ancona vs. Rimini - 6 June 2009 - Soccerway
  6. ↑ Rimini vs. Ancona - 13 June 2009 - Soccerway
  7. ↑ Salernitana vs. Frosinone - 21 August 2009 - Soccerway
  8. ↑ "MERCATO, BASHA ALL’ALATALANTA E TROIANIELLO AL SIENA". Frosinone Calcio (in Italian). 25 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  9. ↑ Atalanta vs. Vicenza - 20 August 2010 - Soccerway
  10. ↑ "Migjen Basha huazohet te Torino". Sportnet express. 14 July 2011.
  11. ↑ Ascoli vs. Torino - 27 August 2011 - Soccerway
  12. ↑ Torino vs. Pescara - 10 December 2011 - Soccerway
  13. ↑ Siena vs. Torino - 26 August 2012 - Soccerway
  14. ↑ Torino vs. Parma - 28 October 2012 - Soccerway
  15. ↑ Torino vs. Sassuolo - 25 August 2013 - Soccerway
  16. ↑ Shqiperia pa Bashën në miqësore aSport.info
  17. ↑ Summary - Serie A - Italy - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway
  18. ↑ Fiorentina vs. Torino - 18 May 2014 - Soccerway
  19. ↑ Parma vs. Livorno - 18 May 2014 - Soccerway
  20. ↑ Torino take Parma's Europa League place Goal.com
  21. ↑ Migjen Basha, “sirena” zvicerane Panorama Sport
  22. ↑ “Rilindja” pas 9 muajsh, Basha merr dhuratën më të bukur për ditëlindje! Sport Ekspres
  23. ↑ Basha grumbullohet për ndeshjen kundër Kievos Sport Ekspres
  24. ↑ Chievo vs. Torino - 6 January 2015 - Soccerway
  25. ↑ Fiorentina vs. Torino - 22 February 2015 - Soccerway
  26. ↑ “Mendova lamtumirën, dua të rikthehem kuqezi” Panorama Sport
  27. ↑ Pas 11 muajsh, Basha rikthehet titullar dhe madje si kapiten Rajonipress.com
  28. ↑ "Kuzhe kërkon talentin kosovar Migjen Basha në Kombëtare". Gazeta Start (in Albanian). 5 May 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  29. ↑ "Migjen Basha, "pasaporta" në tryezën e Topit". Sporti Shqiptar (in Albanian). 15 July 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  30. ↑ Dardanoz Zhilivoda (19 January 2011). "Ne Fokus / Zvicra antishqiptare, vendi krimit dhe korrupsionit". Albaniasoccer.
  31. ↑ Rosso, Stefano (30 July 2012). "Basha verso De Biasi: Toro news: Attivate le pratiche per ottenere passaporto albanese" (in Italian). Toro news.
  32. ↑ "FIFA mban "peng" Bashën (English: FIFA keeps Basha "hostage"". Panorama Sport. 2012-08-21.
  33. ↑ IFA fails in bid to halt player exodus to Republic
  34. ↑ Karaj, Leonard (March 15, 2013). "Basha: Next Monday I dress red and black". Panorama Sport.
  35. ↑ Sport, A (March 19, 2013). "FIFA: Basha mund të luaj me Shqipërinë". ASport.
  36. ↑ Norway vs. Albania - 22 March 2013 - Soccerway
  37. ↑ Albania vs. Lithuania (friendly) | National Football Teams
  38. ↑ De Biazi: Paradoks, tashmë nuk mjafton as vendi i tretë…
  39. ↑ Albania vs. Malta - 5 March 2014 - Soccerway
  40. ↑ Basha, lojtari i 18-të që merr ftesë nga De Biazi Sporti Shqiptar
  41. ↑ Migjen Basha profile at Soccerway
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Migjen Basha at National-Football-Teams.com

External links