Elis Bakaj

Elis Bakaj
Personal information
Full name Elis Ermal Bakaj
Date of birth (1987-06-25) 25 June 1987
Place of birth Tirana, Albania
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Playing position Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Tirana
Number 19
Youth career
1996 KF Kristali
1997–2002 Partizani Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2002–2009 Partizani Tirana 136 (23)
2009–2011 Dinamo Tirana 58 (30)
2011–2012 Dinamo Bucureşti 27 (5)
2012–2014 Chornomorets Odessa 33 (9)
2014–2015 Tirana 27 (13)
2015 Hapoel Ra'anana 1 (0)
2015– Tirana 16 (7)
National team‡
2005 Albania U19 3 (0)
2005–2007 Albania U21 8 (2)
2008– Albania 27 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 February 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 August 2015

Elis Flamur Bakaj (born 25 June 1987 in Tirana) is an Albanian footballer who plays as a Attacking midfielder or a Forward for the Albania club KF Tirana and for Albania national team.

Bakaj began his career as a youth player for KF Kristali, before moving to Partizani Tirana. In 2002, he started his professional career with Partizani, playing until 2009 before moving to rivals of Dinamo Tirana. After playing with them for two years, he moved outside of Albania and signed with Romanian club Dinamo Bucureşti. After one season with White and Reds, he moved in Ukraine and signed with Chornomorets Odessa. Due to the civil unrest caused by the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, Bakaj return in Albania and signed with KF Tirana, his third club inside of Tirana.

A international footballer for Albania since 2008, Bakaj has earned over 25 caps for his country. He debuted in 2008 and scored his first goal with Red and Blacks four years later.

Career

Early career

Bakaj joined his first club KF Kristali in May 1996 at the age of just eight, where he would only remain until October. Despite only playing for the club less than six months, he still managed to be named the player of the year in the youth league.[2]

For the next six months, Elis was trained personally by former Albanian international and Dinamo Tirana player Andrea Marko. In June 1997 he joined Partizani Tirana under the guidance of coach Gazmend Kraja, where he worked his way up the ranks of the club, where he amazed the club, including its president Albert Xhani, who in January 2002 sent Bakaj into the club's senior side.[2]

Partizani Tirana

He joined Partizani's first team at the age of just 15 in January 2002 on a seven-year contract with a minimal wage of just 150,000 Lekë a season. His official Partizani debut came in the 2003 Intertoto Cup against Israeli side Maccabi Netanya, where coach Perlat Musta played Bakaj in the final seven minutes of the game.[2]

In September 2003, Partizani's new coach Ilir Spahiu sendt Bakaj on loan to FC Nacionali, a Partizani feeder team playing in the Albanian Second Division. The Nacionali coach Genci Tomorri gave Bakaj the opportunity of regular first team football, allowing the youngster to show his talent and score goals. In January 2004 his loan was ended and he returned to Partizani where the previous coach Spahiu had left and Sulejman Mema had now took charge.[2]

Bakaj's first senior Partizani goal came on 24 March 2004 in the Albanian Cup quarter finals against KF Elbasani, where he scored the winning goal in the 74th minute to send his side through to the semi finals in a season where Partizani eventually won the Albanian Cup.

Dinamo Tirana

Following his solid performances with Dinamo Tirana throughout the 2009–10 season, Bakaj was named Best Player of Albanian Superliga for the second consecutive year.[3]

Dinamo Bucureşti

In January 2011, in the last hours just before the expiration of the winter transfer window, Bakaj moved to Dinamo Bucureşti.[4] He signed a contract for five years with the Romanian team. The Albanian squad accepted the offer of €200,000[5] because he entered the final six months of his contract. He was recommended to Dinamo Bucureşti by their former glory, the Albanian star Sulejman Demollari, who played for the Bucharest team between 1991 and 1995 and scored 36 goals in 100 games.

He made his debut for Dinamo on 26 February 2011, when he played for 16 minutes in a Liga I game against Sportul Studenţesc.

His first goal for Dinamo was scored on 12 April 2011, in a game against Unirea Urziceni.

During the 2011 Cupa României Final Bakaj had a firecracker thrown at him by a Steaua București fan, which he managed to dodge.[6]

Chornomorets Odessa

On 27 February 2012, he joined Ukrainian club Chornomorets Odessa on loan.[7] He then signed for Chornomorets Odessa outright on a three-year contract in May.

Skënderbeu Korçë

Due to the civil unrest caused by the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, Bakaj agreed to be released from his contract with Chornomorets Odessa as he looked for a return to Albania. He was reportedly close to signing with his first club Partizani Tirana but a deal was not agreed so he joined Skënderbeu Korçë on 9 June 2014, pending FIFA clearance.[8][9] However, he was released by the club after only one month.[10]

Tirana

Without playing a single minute for Skënderbeu Korçë, Bakaj signed for Tirana on 19 July 2014, a one-year contract, where he was considered as an reinforcement for the club managed by Gugash Magani.[11] He was assigned the vacant number 19 for the upcoming 2014–15 season.

Bakaj made it his first debut for Tirana on 24 August 2014, a debut which brought his first goal as well, as he played as a starter in the opening match of the 2014–15 season against Apolonia Fier and scored the opening goal in the 24th minute of the match which finished in the 3–0 victory.[12][13] In second match of the season against Flamurtari, he delivered the cross that forced goalkepper Ilion Lika to make a mistake which resulted an owngoal, helping Tirana to prevail 1–0 at Qemal Stafa Stadium.[14]

In the fourth league match against the newcomers of Elbasani, Bakaj received a 91th-minute red card after insulting the referee Klajdi Kola;[15] Tirana was still able to win the match, however, thanks to a last-minute winner of Debatik Curri.[16] After the match, Disciplinary Commission of AFA suspended Bakaj for two matches, meaning that he would miss the next league match against Laçi and the first leg of the first round of 2014–15 Albanian Cup against Sopoti Librazhd.[17] He returned in action with Tirana in Tirana derby I against his former club Partizani Tirana,[18][19] playing full-90 minutes in a goalless draw at the emptied Qemal Stafa Stadium.[20]

On 18 October 2014, Bakaj scored his second goal of the season, a spectacular overhead kick in a 3–1 win against Kukësi at Qemal Stafa Stadium, helping Tirana to take the lead of league.[21] In the second leg of first round in 2014–15 Albanian Cup against Sopoti Librazhd, Bakaj scored the only goal from outside the zone in a 1–1 draw at Selman Stërmasi Stadium, helping the team to qualify in second round where they faced Bylis Ballsh.[22] This match was his debut in Albanian Cup with Tirana. Bakaj continued to be decisive for the team, scoring the winner goal against Teuta Durrës in the match vaild for the 9th week.[23] Tirana ended the first phrase of the season in the first place with 18 points, tied with the cross-town rivals of Partizani Tirana.[23]

Tirana started the second phrase of the season with a comfortable 0–3 away win against Apolonia Fier, where Bakaj headed the second goal of the match in the 65th minute.[24] On 23 November, during the match against Elbasani at the nearly renovated stadium Elbasan Arena, Tirana where behid twice inside of 19 minutes, but where able to made a remarkable comeback by winning 3–2 in the very last seconds. Bakaj assisted the first goal of the match scored by Muça with a free-kick, and later scored the second, again from a free-kick.[25] In the last match of 2015, Bakaj netted twice against Teuta Durrës in a eventual 4–2 home success.[26]

International career

Bakaj was member of the Albania national football team and made it his debut on 21 November 2007 against Romania in a Euro 2008 Qualifier. Bakaj came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute for Erjon Bogdani.

He scored his first senior international goal against Qatar on 22 May 2012 at Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas, Madrid, Spain.[27]

International goals

Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first.[28]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 22 May 2012 Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas, Madrid, Spain  Qatar 1–0 2–1 Friendly match

Career statistics

Club

As of 8 February 2016[1][29][30]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental[lower-alpha 2] Other[lower-alpha 3] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Partizani Tirana 2003–04 Albanian Superliga 8000——80
2004–05 321002010351
2005–06 2630000—263
2006–07 2950021—316
2007–08 291211——3013
2008–09 1222120—163
Total 1362332611014626
Dinamo Tirana 2008–09 Albanian Superliga 13410——144
2009–10 29153120—3416
2010–11 16111310111915
Total 58305430116735
Dinamo Bucureşti 2010–11 Liga I 16430——194
2011–12 1112010—141
Total 2755010—335
Chornomorets Odessa 2011–12 Ukrainian Premier League 10311——114
2012–13 19521——216
2013–14 4111301092
Total 3394330104112
Tirana 2014–15 Albanian Superliga 271352——3215
Total 271352——3215
Hapoel Ra'anana 2015–16 Israeli Premier League 1041——51
Total 1041——51
Tirana 2014–15 Albanian Superliga 16731——198
Total 16731——198
Career total 29887291313131343102
  1. ↑ Including cup competitions, such as Albanian Cup, Cupa României, Ukrainian Cup and Israel State Cup
  2. ↑ Including continental competitions, such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
  3. ↑ Including other competitions, such as Albanian Supercup

International

As of 25 October 2015[31][28]
Albania national team
YearAppsGoals
200710
200810
200930
201060
2011100
201251
201310
Total271

Honours

Club

Partizani Tirana
Dinamo Tirana

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "Football : Elis Bakaj". Football Database. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Elis Bakaj Bio" (in Albanian). Bakaj19.com. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Elis Bakaj, futbollisti më i mirë i vitit 2010" (in Albanian). Arkiva Lajmeve. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  4. ↑ TRANSFER. Elis Bakaj la Dinamo!
  5. ↑ Bakaj te Dinamo Bukuresht per 200 mije euro
  6. ↑ Elis Bakaj dodges fling firecracker during Romanian cup final
  7. ↑ Элис Бакай стал «моряком»
  8. ↑ "LIVE : Elis Bakaj lojtari më i ri i Skënderbeut" (in Albanian). KF Skënderbeu Korçë. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Elis Bakaj te Skënderbeu" (in Albanian). Borozani.com. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "Zyrtare: Elis Bakaj largohet nga Skënderbeu pas problemeve me disa lojtarë" (in Albanian). Ora Sport. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Zyrtare, Elis Bakaj firmos për Tiranën" (in Albanian). The Albanian. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Tirana vs. Apolonia Fier 3 – 0". Soccerway. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  13. ↑ Adela Merko (25 August 2014). ""Fluturon" Tirana, gola dhe spektakël ndaj Apolonisë. Magani: S’duhet të shpërdoronim" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  14. ↑ Adela Merko (31 August 2014). "Grushte kartonë të kuq, Ilion Lika "nderon" Tiranën. Magani: Po, ishte një fitore me fat" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  15. ↑ "Elis Bakaj doli me të kuqe, ofendoi gjyqtarin" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  16. ↑ Adela Merko (15 September 2014). "Fitore me drithërima, Tirana i falet Currit. Magani: E merituam, fitorja na ngjiti të parët" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "Disiplina gjobit dhe pezullon 2 ndeshje Elis Bakajn" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "Ndaj Partizanit kthehet Curri dhe Bakaj" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "Tirana shpreson faljen, përgatit… sheshin. Ndaj Partizanit kthehet Curri dhe Elis Bakaj" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  20. ↑ Adela Merko (27 September 2014). "Tirana dhe Partizani, paqe në derbin e… "mëkateve". Bulku: Sulmi ynë u furnizua pak" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  21. ↑ Adela Merko (20 October 2014). "Fitore me supergola, Tirana merr kreun" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  22. ↑ "Kualifikohet Tirana, Bakaj shmang humbjen" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  23. 1 2 "Mbyllet faza e parë e Superiores, Tirana dhe Partizani kryesojnë me nga 18 pikë" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 26 October 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  24. ↑ "Apolonia Fier vs. Tirana 0 – 3". Soccerway. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  25. ↑ Mema, Vladimir (24 November 2014). "Përmbysje e çmendur, Ndikumana… 99-ësh" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  26. ↑ "Teuta humbet 4-2 në Tiranë, por mbetet në vendin e tetë" (in Albanian). Durrës Lajm. 21 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  27. ↑ Albania defeat Qatar in friendly
  28. 1 2 "Elis Bakaj - national football team player". EU-Football.info. 6 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  29. ↑ "Albania - E. Bakaj - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  30. ↑ "Elis Bakaj - Soccer". Scoresway. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  31. ↑ "Elis Bakaj". National Football Teams. Retrieved 8 February 2016.

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