Daniel Xhafa
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Xhafaj | ||
| Date of birth | 1 May 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Vlorë, Albania | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1992–1995 | Flamurtari Vlorë | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1999 | Flamurtari Vlorë | 70 | (17) |
| 2000–2003 | Dinamo Tirana | 63 | (23) |
| 2000 | → Bylis Ballsh (loan) | 12 | (8) |
| 2003–2004 | Flamurtari Vlorë | 20 | (4) |
| 2003–2005 | Teuta Durrës | 58 | (42) |
| 2005–2006 | Neuchâtel Xamax | 21 | (3) |
| 2005–2006 | Elbasani | 2 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Teuta Durrës | 31 | (20) |
| 2007–2009 | Tirana | 61 | (18) |
| 2009–2010 | Besa Kavajë | 32 | (18) |
| 2010–2011 | Flamurtari Vlorë | 31 | (19) |
| 2011–2012 | Skënderbeu Korçë | 24 | (11) |
| 2012–2014 | Teuta Durrës | 55 | (24) |
| 2015 | Dinamo Tirana | 3 | (0) |
| Total | 483 | (207) | |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2007 | Albania | 2 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 July 2015. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 July 2015 | |||
Daniel Xhafaj (born 8 March 1977) is a retired Albanian professional footballer who played as a striker.
Club career
Besa Kavajë
Xhafaj signed for Besa Kavajë on 27 August 2009 after having played in the Champions League qualifiers with previous club Tirana against Norwegian side Stabæk. Tirana's failure to qualify to the next round lead to Xhafaj considering his options, one of those came from Besa's president Nexhat Bizhdili who had great ambitions to make Besa one of Albania's top sides. Just days before finalising the deal for the striker, he had a meeting with Bizhdili to discuss a possible transfer, after he was convinced he signed on 27 August 2009 and trained with the rest of the club at their preseason training camp in Mavrovë.[1]
On 29 November 2009, in the matchday 12 away against Vllaznia Shkodër, Xhafaj scored in the 35th second of the match to make it the fastest goal ever in Albanian Superliga; Besa won 3–2.[2][3] The record was later broken by Partizani Tirana's Stevan Račić in 2014.[4]
Flamurtari Vlorë
He was released by the Flamurtari chairman Shpëtim Gjika on 19 July 2011, along with three other main players, Sebino Plaku, Bledar Devolli and Julian Ahmataj.[5]
Skënderbeu Korçë
Despite interest from Greek side PAS Giannina, Xhafaj signed a one-year contract with Albanian champions Skënderbeu Korçë on 23 July 2011, just 4 days after being released by Flamurtari. It was believed he had signed a contract worth €70,000 for the 2011–12 season.[6][7][8]
Teuta Durres
On 2 August 2012, Xhafa returned to Teuta Durres after a 5-year absence by signing a one-year contract.[9] He left the team on 30 May 2014 at the end of the season after his contract expired and the club's directors decided not to renew his contract.[10]
Dinamo Tirana and retirement
In November 2014, Xhafaj begun traning with Dinamo Tirana as he was a free agent at that time.[11] His approach to the club was greeted by the club's administrator Saliaj, who went on to say: "It's an honour and pleasure to have back an ex-champion of Dinamo back on the team again to contribute in this category."[11] On 15 January of the following year, Xhafaj officially signed a one-year contract with the club, with the month salary reported to be 150,000 Albanian lek (around €1,100).[12] He made his first appearance of the season on 7 February by playing the entire match of the 1–0 away defeat at Lushnja.[13] After that, he went on to make further two league appearances before retiring from the sport in March 2015.
International career
Xhafa was called for the first time in national team in June 2007 by the coach Otto Barić for the qualifying match against Luxembourg in Luxembourg city. He was able to make his debut in this match, featuring in the last 13 minutes of the 3–0 win at Stade Josy Barthel.[14]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 18 May 2015[15]
| Club | League | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Flamurtari Vlorë | Albanian Superliga | 1995–96 | 1 | 0 | ? | ? | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| 1996–97 | 11 | 0 | ? | ? | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| 1997–98 | 22 | 3 | ? | ? | — | — | 22 | 3 | ||
| 1998–99 | 23 | 10 | ? | ? | — | — | 23 | 10 | ||
| 1999–00 | 7 | 2 | 2+ | 5 | — | — | 9 | 7 | ||
| Total | 64 | 15 | 2+ | 5+ | — | — | 66 | 20 | ||
| Bylis Ballsh | Albanian Superliga | 1999–00 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 8 |
| Total | 16 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 8 | ||
| Dinamo Tirana | Albanian Superliga | 1999–00 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 1 |
| 2000–01 | 30 | 11 | ? | ? | — | — | 30 | 11 | ||
| 2001–02 | 24 | 10 | 3+ | 2 | — | — | 27 | 12 | ||
| 2002–03 | 13 | 2 | 1+ | 1 | — | — | 14 | 3 | ||
| Total | 72 | 24 | 4+ | 3 | — | — | 76 | 27 | ||
| Flamurtari Vlorë | Albanian Superliga | 2002–03 | ? | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | ? | 4 |
| 2003–04 | 30 | 11 | ? | ? | — | — | 30 | 11 | ||
| Total | 72 | 24 | 4+ | 3 | — | — | 76 | 27 | ||
| Career Total | 80 | 23 | 2+ | 5+ | 0 | 0 | 82 | 28 | ||
International
As of 7 July 2015[16]
| Albania national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 |
Honours
Club
- Dinamo Tirana
- Teuta Durrës
- Tirana
- Besa Kavajë
- Flamurtari Vlorë
- Albanian Superliga Runner-up: 2010–11
- Skënderbeu Korçë
Individual
- Albanian Golden Boot (2): 2009–10, 2010–11
- Albanian Superliga Player of the Month: September 2013[17]
References
- ↑ "Bizhdili bind Xhafaj për Besën" [Bizhdili convinces Xhafaj for Besa] (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. 27 August 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- ↑ "Vllaznia Shkodër vs. Besa Kavajë 2 – 3". Soccerway. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- ↑ Kel Naraci (29 November 2009). "Daniel Xhafaj goli më i shpejtë" (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- ↑ "Partizani triumfon në Elbasan për 12 sekonda, Laçi fundos Apoloninë" [Partizani prevails in Elbasan for 12 seconds, Laçi sinks Apolonia] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ↑ Gjergji Stefa (19 July 2011). "Katër largime "big" në Vlorë!" [Four "big" departures in Vlorë!] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
- ↑ "Daniel Xhafaj firmos per Skenderbeun" [Daniel Xhafaj signs for Skënderbeu] (in Albanian). Albania Sport. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
- ↑ "Daniel Xhafa firmos per Skenderbeun" [Daniel Xhafa signs for Skënderbeu] (in Albanian). Futbolli Shqiptar. 23 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
- ↑ "Xhafa per 70 mije euro te Skenderbeu" [Xhafa to Skënderbeu for €70,000] (in Albanian). Albania Sport. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
- ↑ "Xhafaj, largimi "numër 3": shkon te Teuta!" [Xhafaj, departure "number 3": goes to Teuta!] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
- ↑ Leonidha Musaj (30 May 2014). "I skadoi kontrata, Daniel Xhafaj largohet nga Teuta" [The contract expried, Daniel Xhafaj leaves Teuta] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- 1 2 Erjon Hamitaj (23 November 2014). "Daniel Xhafaj rikthehet te Dinamo" [Daniel Xhafaj returns to Dinamo] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ↑ "Dinamo, Xhafaj firmos për 1 vit" [Dinamo, Xhafaj signs for 1 year] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ↑ "Lushnja vs. Dinamo Tirana 1 – 0". Soccerway. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
- ↑ "Football MATCH: 06.06.2007 Luxembourg v Albania". EU-Football.info. 7 June 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Albania - D. Xhafaj - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Football PLAYER: Daniel Xhafaj". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ Daniel Xhafaj shpallet futbollisti më i mirë i muajit shtator; Gazeta e Durresit, 6 October 2013
External links
- Daniel Xhafa at National-Football-Teams.com