Shkëlzen Gashi

Shkëlzen Gashi
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-07-15) 15 July 1988
Place of birth Zürich, Switzerland
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder, Forward
Club information
Current team
 Colorado Rapids
Number 11
Youth career
1998–2007 Zürich
1999–2000 → Grasshoppers (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2006–2009 Zürich 1 (0)
2008 → Schaffhausen (loan) 16 (3)
2008–2009 → Bellinzona (loan) 30 (3)
2010–2011 Neuchâtel Xamax 13 (1)
2011 → Aarau (loan) 15 (5)
2012 Aarau 26 (17)
2012–2014 Grasshopper 60 (24)
2014–2016 Basel 41 (25)
2016– Colorado Rapids 0 (0)
National team‡
2004–2005 Switzerland U17 6 (1)
2005–2006 Switzerland U19 5 (2)
2006–2009 Switzerland U21 10 (5)
2013– Albania 10 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 January 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 September 2015

Shkëlzen Gashi (born 15 July 1988) is an Albanian footballer who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids and the Albania national team.

Club career

Early career

Gashi was born in Zürich, Switzerland by parents originary from Qabiq of Klina, Kosovo.[1]

Zürich

Gashi made it his first professional debut at age 18 in the 2006–07 Swiss Super League, on 12 August 2008 against St. Gallen coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute in place of Xavier Margairaz, were the match finished in the loss 3–1.[2] He also played for Zürich against Spartak Moscow on 6 December 2007 in a UEFA Cup match, were Gashi came in as a substitute in the 81st minute for Silvan Aegerter and the match finished in the loss 1–0.[3]

Loan to Schaffhausen

On 29 January 2008 he was loaned to FC Schaffhausen for the rest of the season 2007–2008.

Loan to Bellinzona

Returning to Zürich, on July 2008 he was loaned to Bellinzona for a year and half until the end of the year 2009.

Neuchâtel Xamax

In January 2010 Gashi joined Neuchâtel Xamax on a two-year contract.

Aarau (including loan)

In January 2011 he was loaned out to FC Aarau for a year.

When Neuchâtel Xamax lost its license, in January 2012 he signed a contract with Aarau for the remainder of the season.[4]

With Aarau in the full 2011–12 season of Swiss Challenge League he made it 26 appearances, 25 as a starter and just once as a substitute, in where he scored 17 goals to help his team ranking as runners-up behind St. Gallen and finishing himself in the second place of the Top Scorers rank among two other players with the same amount of 17 goals, Moreno Merenda (Vaduz) and Igor Tadić (Kriens), also and behind of his compatriot, the fellow Albania national team's striker, Armando Sadiku who won the Golden boot with 19 goals playing for Locarno.

Grasshopper

When his contract at FC Aarau expired in June 2012, he signed a three-year deal with Grasshopper Club Zürich.[5]

2012–13 season

During his first season with Grasshopper, Gashi played 28 league matches, including 17 as a starter, and scored 5 goals, helping the team to finish the season as runner-up.

2013–14 season

Gashi debuted with a goal in the 2013–14 season, as he scored the opening goal in the 67th minute against St. Gallen on 14 July 2013, with the match finishing in a 0-2 victory.[6] On 27 July 2013 Gashi scored a goal against his former team Aarau; the match finished in the victory 4–2 coming from behind 1–2 in the first-half, as Gashi scored the latest goal in the 85th minute.[7] Gashi played in both two-legged matches against Lyon valids for 2013–14 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round where both matches finished in the loss 1–0, first on 30 July 2013 were Gashi played entire match[8] and the last on 6 August 2013 with Gashi once again playing an entire match.[9] After Grasshopper were eliminated and started in the UEFA Europa League playing against Fiorentina, where Gashi played as a starter in the first leg match on 22 August 2013 and substituted off in the 57th minute, as the match finished in the loss 1–2.[10] Gashi scored a penalty goal on 20 October 2013 against Lausanne, match finished in the victory 2–0.[11] On 9 November 2013 Gashi scored in the Swiss Cup against Köniz, finished in the victory 1–4.[12] On 24 November 2013 Gashi scored twice against his former team Aarau, who had scored also in the first half season, were also the match finished in the same victory result 2–4.[13] Gashi scored in two consecutive matches, on 2 February 2014 in the victory 1–3 against Luzern,[14] successed by a goal on 16 February 2014 in the victory 1–5 against St. Gallen, who Gashi had scored also in the opening match of the league campaign.[15]

On 16 March 2014, Gashi scored his first hat-trick in the match against FC Sion finished in the victory 4–2.[16] Gashi scored in the 0–2 victory on 12 April 2014 against Lausanne and with his goal he was ranked first in the top goalscorers list among with his team-mate Caio.[17] He scored again on 27 April 2014 against Basel, giving his team away draw 1–1 where he scored the opening match goal in the 36th minute and later in the 84th-minute substituted off.[18] On 4 May 2014 Gashi scored a super hat-trick of 4 goals in the victory 5–0 against Young Boys, were Gashi scored in the minutes of 4th, 41st (a penalty), 50th and 54th.[19][20] 3 days after, on 7 May 2014 Gashi scored a penalty goal against St. Gallen; the match finished in a clean result 2–0.[21] Gashi scored a goal on 15 May 2014 in the home victory 4–1 against Luzern, where he scored the second goal in the 5th minute, only 1 minute after the opening goal scored by his team-mate Caio.[22]

Gashi finished the 2013–14 season with a total of 32 appearances and he scored 19 league goals, leading the 2013–14 Swiss Super League Top scorers table and such winning the Golden Boot with an difference about 6 goals from the closest followers, Caio his team-mate, Mario Gavranović & Valentin Stocker, each with 13 goals.[23]

Basel

On 28 June 2014, the UEFA Champions League hopefuls FC Basel 1893 reached an agreement with domestic rivals Grasshopper to sign Gashi on a four-year contract in the next coming days subject to passing a medical.[24][25][26] Gashi was presented on 1 July and Basel discovered to have paid an estimated €3 million for Gashi and he would earn until of €1 million per season including benefits.[27]

2014–15 season

Gashi made his debut for Basel on 19 July 2014, playing as a starter against one of his former teams Aarau. Basel won the away game 2–1 and Gashi gave the assist to the second goal which was scored by Naser Aliji in the 38th minute.[28] Gashi scored his first goal for his new club in the next fixture a week later, on 27 July 2014, the home game in the St. Jakob-Park against Luzern. The match ended with a 3–0 victory for the home team with Gashi scoring the second goal in the 39th minute.[29] He scored his second goal in the next match on 2 August 2014 against Thun. This match ended in a 3–2 away victory.[30] He scored his third goal on 9 August 2014 against Zürich which ended in a 4–1 victory. Gashi scored the opening goal in the 24th minute.[31]

The following match was lost 0–2 against St. Gallen, but Gashi returned to the score sheet on 17 August 2014 in the away tie against Sion which ended in a 3–2 victory. Gashi scored the opening goal in the 19th minute.[32][33] On 31 August 2014 in the 3–1 home victory against Young Boys Gashi provided two assists for goals scored by Derlis González in the 4th minute and the second by Marco Streller in the 20th minute.[34][35] Gashi also scored the only goal on 18 October 2014 against Young Boys to give Basel the 1–0 victory.[36] In round 14 on 1 November 2014, Gashi scored the opening goal in the 2–0 victory against his previous club Grasshoppers.[37]

Coach Paulo Sousa did not enter Gashi on the team sheet during either of their first three first matches in the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League group stage However, on 4 November 2014 Gashi made his UEFA Champions League debut and scored his first European goal for his team in the 4–0 win over Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad,[38] becoming the fourth Albanian player after Kliton Bozgo, Besart Berisha and Lorik Cana to score a goal in the UEFA Champions League.[39][40] He was included in the starting eleven and played the full 90 minutes match.[41][42]

In the Basel's match on 23 November against Aarau Gashi scored twice. The first in the 17th minute to open the score and his second in the 86th minute, successed by the Breel Embolo goal in the 90'+3 minute and the game ended with a 3–0 victory .[43] A week later again on 30 November Gashi scored twice as Basel won 2–1 away in the Letzigrund stadium against Zürich, the team that held second place in the league table at the time. The first goal was scored by a side footed shoot shortly before half-time and a header as winning goal in the 90+4 minute. Basel then held a five-point lead as league leaders.[44]

In the closing match of the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League group stage against Liverpool on 9 December 2014 Gashi played as a Left Winger for the full 90-minutes match which ended in the 1–1 draw[45] and following a good play in this match, Gashi was selected to the best starting 11 of the week in the UEFA Champions League after Basel eliminated Liverpool and evaluation that the official website of UEFA.com has given, introduced Gashi among names like Samir Nasri, Lukas Podolski or Neymar. In the description for the Albanian player, the UEFA website says Gashi has had a very positive appearance in the match against Liverpool, running about 12 km, making it the biggest threat to "Reds" doing 2 solo-actions (one blocked and one outside the gate) were the best argument for the 26-year-old qualities.[46]

In December 2014 Gashi was voted as the best player of the year 2014 in the Swiss Super League.[47] At the end of the first-half of the season Gashi was included in the best eleven of the Swiss Super League.[48] In February 2015 Gashi was proclaimed as the "Best Player of the Year 2014" in the Swiss Award, which was held by the Swiss Football Association at their gala for the past year. This because Gashi was 2013–14 top scorer with 19 goals, for the Grasshoppers and after his transfer to Basel during the summer, the striker closed the year again as top scorer for his new club. All assessments were made through votes from coaches, captains and journalists, as the Swiss Football Association finally brought the winners.[49]

After a 2-months break at the middle-season Gashi returned scoring since the first match of the year 2015 on 8 February against his previous team Grasshopper in which Basel won 2–4 where Gashi scored the second goal in the 69th minute for Basel second lead 1–2.[50] In the next fixture on 14 February 2015 Gashi scored again to continue with a fantastic form. He scored against Sion the equalising goal 1–1 in the 68th minute to help his team get the 1–1 draw even.[51]

Gashi became 1 of the 3 Albania international footballers which participated in a knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in history, among his team-mates at Basel Taulant Xhaka and Arlind Ajeti.[52] Gashi in his excellent of form, on 7 March 2015 scored twice against Thun to send in 18 the number of goals scored in the season and has double of goals more than his closest follower Berat Sadik of Thun with 9 goals scored in the season.[53] On 21 March 2015 Gashi returned to score twice one more time, against Luzern in a 4–1 away win.[54]

Gashi finished his first season at Basel with 31 league appearances in where he scored 22 goals

The season 2014–15 was a very successful one for Basel and for Gashi. Basel won the championship for the sixth time in a row that season[55] Basel were Swiss Super League champions, obtaining 78 points, 12 more than runners-up Young Boys who obtained 66 points.[56] In the 2014–15 Swiss Cup they reached the final. But for the third season in a row, they finished as runners-up, losing 0–3 to FC Sion in the final. Basel entered the Champions League in the group stage and reached the knockout phase as on 9 December 2014 they managed a 1–1 draw at Anfield against Liverpool.[57] But then Basel then lost to Porto in the Round of 16. Basel played a total of 65 matches (36 Swiss League fixtures, 6 Swiss Cup, 8 Champions League and 15 test matches). Under trainer Paulo Sousa Gashi totaled 48 appearances, 31 in the League (26 as a starter), 3 in the Cup, 5 in the Champions League, as well 9 in test games. He scored 27 goals in these matches, 22 of which were in the Swiss Super League thus winning the top-scorer golden boot for the second time in a row and this with two different clubs.[58][59]

Colorado Rapids

Gashi signed with Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids as a Designated Player on 1 February 2016.[60]

International career

Gashi was part and capped for the Switzerland U-17, U-19 and U-21 teams in competitive youth UEFA European Championships respective age categories.

After having never received a senior international call up from Switzerland, in 2013 he declared that will represent the Albania in the international level.[61][62] In August 2013 he joined the Albanian national team and made his debut on 14 August 2013 against Armenia, coming on as a substitute in the 56th minute for Edmond Kapllani in a 2-0 friendly win.[63] On 18 August 2013 Gashi received Albanian citizenship and to be able to play for Albania on international level he must reveived the go ahead from FIFA since he has played early before for Swiss youth-national teams.[64] The go ahead from FIFA came on 9 October 2013.[65] His first competitive international match was against the country of his birth Switzerland on 11 October 2013, where he included in the starting line up and got substituted off in the 55th minute for Odise Roshi, as the match finished in the 1-2 home loss.[66] He were called up and played a full 90-minutes in the friendly match against Belarus on 15 November 2013, finished in the goalless draw.[67]

UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying

After 3 first matches of the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying as an unused substitute, Gashi managed to play for the first time in the tournament on 29 March 2015 against Armenia by coming on as a substitute at half-time in place of Amir Abrashi. On the 81st minute, few minutes after entering the pitch, Gashi scored for the first time in the national team the second goal of Albania in the match, which gave Albania a comeback 2–1 victory: Albania was losing until the 77th minute 0–1 until Mavraj had scored the equalizer.[68]

Career statistics

Club

As of 26 August 2015 [69][70]
Season Club League country League League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2006–07ZürichSwiss Super League10001020
2007–08 SchaffhausenSwiss Challenge League1630000163
2008–09BellinzonaSwiss Super League1722051243
2009–1013121--142
Total Bellinzona 3034151395
Neuchâtel XamaxSwiss Super League12100--121
2010–111011--21
Total 1311100152
AarauSwiss Challenge League155----155
2011–12261721--2818
Total 412221004323
2012–13GrasshopperSwiss Super League28541--326
2013–14321931403920
Total 602472407126
2014–15BaselSwiss Super League 312222513825
2015–16 52000052
Total 362422514327
Career total 1977716715222886

International

As of 26 August 2015[70][71]
International appearances and goals
# Date Venue Opponent Final Score Goal Result Competition
2013
1 14 August 2013 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tiranë, Albania  Armenia 2–0 0 Win Friendly
2 11 October 2013 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tiranë, Albania   Switzerland 1–2 0 Loss FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying
3 15 November 2013 Akdeniz University Stadium, Antalya, Turkey  Belarus 0–0 0 Draw Friendly
2014
4 31 May 2014 Stade Municipal, Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland  Romania 0–1 0 Loss Friendly
5 4 June 2014 Ferenc Puskás Stadium, Budapest, Hungary  Hungary 1–0 0 Loss Friendly
2015
6 29 March 2015 Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania  Armenia 2–1 1 Win UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying

International goals

Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first.
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 29 March 2015 Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania  Armenia 2–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying

Total international

As of 7 September 2015
Albania national team [70][71]
YearAppsGoals
201330
201420
201531
Total81

Honours

Club

Zürich
Aarau
Grasshopper
Basel
Individual

References

  1. ↑ Gashi: Do t’i shënoj Realit Telegrafi "Futbollisti kosovar nga Qabiqi i Klinës, Shkëlzen Gashi, pritet të luajë ....."
  2. ↑ Game Stats FC St. Gallen vs FC Zurich 3:1 (2:0) - Super League 2006/2007 - The 5th day Fussballdaten.de
  3. ↑ Spartak Moscow 1-0 FC Zurich - 2007-12-06 Match Report Football.co.uk
  4. ↑ Gashi bleibt vorerst bis Ende Saison beim FC Aarau, Aargauer-Zeitung.ch, 7 February 2012
  5. ↑ GC holt Shkelzen Gashi von Aarau Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF), 24 May 2012
  6. ↑ St. Gallen vs. Grasshopper - 14 July 2013 - Soccerway
  7. ↑ Grasshopper vs. Aarau - 27 July 2013 - Soccerway
  8. ↑ Olympique Lyonnais vs. Grasshopper - 30 July 2013 - Soccerway
  9. ↑ Grasshopper vs. Olympique Lyonnais - 6 August 2013 - Soccerway
  10. ↑ Grasshopper vs. Fiorentina - 22 August 2013 - Soccerway
  11. ↑ Grasshopper vs. Lausanne Sport - 20 October 2013 - Soccerway
  12. ↑ Köniz vs. Grasshopper - 9 November 2013 - Soccerway
  13. ↑ Aarau vs. Grasshopper - 24 November 2013 - Soccerway
  14. ↑ Luzern vs. Grasshopper - 2 February 2014 - Soccerway
  15. ↑ St. Gallen vs. Grasshopper - 16 February 2014 - Soccerway
  16. ↑ Grasshopper vs. Sion - 16 March 2014 - Soccerway
  17. ↑ Gashi shënon gol dhe ngjitet në vendin e parë të top-shënueseve aSport.info
  18. ↑ Basel vs. Grasshopper - 27 April 2014 - Soccerway
  19. ↑ Grasshopper vs. Young Boys - 4 May 2014 - Soccerway
  20. ↑ "Sh.Gashi shpërthen me 4 gola në Zvicër, edhe Meha shënon në fitoren e Paderbornit". Panorama Sport. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  21. ↑ Grasshopper vs. St. Gallen - 7 May 2014 - Soccerway
  22. ↑ Grasshopper vs. Luzern - 15 May 2014 - Soccerway
  23. ↑ Players - Super League - Switzerland - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway
  24. ↑ UEFA.com (14 June 2014). "Basel bring in Gashi from rivals Grasshoppers". uefa.com. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  25. ↑ "Shkelzen Gashi verlässt GC und geht zum FC Basel" (in German). 20minuten. 2014-06-28. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  26. ↑ Merkato, Shkëlzen Gashi transferohet te Bazel për 4 vjet Panorama Sport
  27. ↑ Prezantohet Gashi, firmos për 1 milion euro në vit Panorama Sport
  28. ↑ Aarau vs. Basel - 19 July 2014 - Soccerway
  29. ↑ Basel vs. Luzern - 27 July 2014 - Soccerway
  30. ↑ Thun vs. Basel - 2 August 2014 - Soccerway
  31. ↑ Basel vs. Zürich - 9 August 2014 - Soccerway
  32. ↑ Sion vs. Basel - 17 August 2014 - Soccerway
  33. ↑ Karaj, Leonard (2014-08-18). "Gashi "monstruoz", tjetër gol në Zvicër" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  34. ↑ Gashi asiston dy herë në fitoren e Baselit (video) aSport.info
  35. ↑ Basel vs. Young Boys - 31 August 2014 - Soccerway
  36. ↑ Young Boys vs. Basel - 18 October 2014 - Soccerway
  37. ↑ Basel vs. Grasshopper - 1 November 2014 - Soccerway
  38. ↑ "Basel ease to win over Ludogorets Razgrad and go second in Group B". The Guardian. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  39. ↑ "Shpërthen Shkëlzen Gashi, Besnik Hasi ndal Arsenalin". The Guardian. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  40. ↑ Gashi shënon në Champions, Bazeli shkatërron Ludogorets Sport Ekspres
  41. ↑ Holyman, Ian (4 November 2014). "Embolo leads Basel to Ludogorets stroll". uefa.com. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  42. ↑ Basel vs Ludogorets - 4 November 2014 - Soccerway
  43. ↑ "Dopietat, shpërthejnë Cikalleshi dhe Gashi". Panorama Sport. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  44. ↑ "Gashi i jashtëzakonshëm, tjetër dopietë në Zvicër". Panorama Sport. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  45. ↑ Liverpool vs. Basel - 9 December 2014 - Soccerway
  46. ↑ Gashi në formacionin e javës në Champions aSport.info
  47. ↑ Shkëlzen Gashi, "Lojtari i Vitit" në Zvicër (VIDEO) albeu.com
  48. ↑ Hadërgjonaj e Gashi mes 11 lojtarëve më të mirë të fazës së parë aSport.info
  49. ↑ Shkëlzen Gashi, “Lojtari i Vitit 2014″ në Zvicër, edhe Xhaka te më të mirët Panorama Sport
  50. ↑ Grasshopper vs. Basel - 8 February 2015 - Soccerway
  51. ↑ Ditë kosovarësh, shënon edhe Shkëlzen Gashi (VIDEO) Gazeta Olle
  52. ↑ Historike! 3 shqiptarë në 1/8-at e Champions League (FOTO LAJM) albeu.com
  53. ↑ Gashi nuk di të ndalet, dy gola Thun-it! (+Video) aSport.info
  54. ↑ Luzern vs. Basel - 21 March 2015 - Soccerway
  55. ↑ Marti, Caspar (2015). "Der Meisterfreitag im bunten Zeitraffer". FC Basel 1893. Retrieved 2015-05-29. (German)
  56. ↑ Summary - Super League - Switzerland - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway
  57. ↑ "Liverpool 1 Basel 1". BBC Sport. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  58. ↑ Players - Super League - Switzerland - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway
  59. ↑ Zindel, Josef (2015). Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2015/2016. FC Basel Marketing AG. ISBN 978-3-7245-2050-4.
  60. ↑ http://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2016/02/01/colorado-rapids-acquire-attacker-shk-lzen-gashi-designated-player
  61. ↑ Edhe Shkëlzen Gashi në Kombëtare - Sport Ekonomia Online
  62. ↑ Gashi: Ja zu Albanien Blick.ch
  63. ↑ Albania vs. Armenia - 14 August 2013 - Soccerway
  64. ↑ Ekskluzive: Shkëlzen Gashi merr shtetësinë shqiptare aSport.info
  65. ↑ Shkëlzen Gashi në fushë ndaj Zvicrës: Dua ti mund aSport.info
  66. ↑ Albania vs. Switzerland - 11 October 2013 - Soccerway
  67. ↑ Belarus vs. Albania - 15 November 2013 - Soccerway
  68. ↑ Albania vs. Armenia - 29 March 2015 - Soccerway
  69. ↑ Shkëlzen Gashi profile at Soccerway
  70. 1 2 3 Shkëlzen Gashi at National-Football-Teams.com
  71. 1 2 Shkëlzen Gashi - national football team player EU-Football.info
  72. ↑ "Torschützenliste – Raiffeisen Super League". Swiss Super League (in German). Retrieved 21 May 2014.

External links

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