Agim Ibraimi

Agim Ibraimi (Macedonian: Агим Ибраими; born 29 August 1988) is a Macedonian professional footballer who plays for Kukësi as a midfielder.

Agim Ibraimi
Ibraimi dribbling past Andrei Arshavin while playing for Macedonia (left)
Personal information
Full name Agim Ibraimi
Агим Ибраими
Date of birth (1988-08-29) 29 August 1988
Place of birth Tetovo, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Kukësi
Number 7
Youth career
0000–2005 Shkëndija
2006–2008 Red Bull Salzburg
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Shkëndija 49 (3)
2006–2008 Red Bull Salzburg 3 (0)
2008–2010 Olimpija Ljubljana 47 (19)
2010–2011 Eskişehirspor 1 (0)
2011 Nafta Lendava 17 (0)
2011–2016 Maribor 107 (29)
2013–2014 → Cagliari (loan) 25 (2)
2016–2017 Astana 6 (0)
2017–2018 Domžale 36 (6)
2019–2020 Shkëndija 36 (7)
2020– Kukësi 16 (8)
National team‡
0000 Macedonia U17 3 (2)
0000 Macedonia U19 8 (1)
2007–2010 Macedonia U21 11 (2)
2009–2016 Macedonia 39 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 April 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 March 2016

Club career

Childhood and early career

Ibraimi was born in Tetovo, SR Macedonia, to Albanian parents. While growing up in Tetovo, Agim joined the Shkendija youth team and eventually broke through into the senior squad at the age of 17.

Shkendija and Red Bull Salzburg

Ibraimi debuted for Shkendija in 2005 and was a crucial member of the team. He made forty nine appearances and scored three goals, helping Shkendija reach fifth place in the Prva Liga. Making a significant impact on the club at such a young age, Agim was picked up by Red Bull Salzburg and moved abroad.

At Red Bull Salzburg, Ibraimi developed further under their tutelage. In two years at Salzburg, Ibraimi made three appearances for the senior team.

Olimpija

Ibraimi joined Olimpija who were at that time playing in the Slovenian Second League. His first season in the Slovenian capital was very successful, as Olimpija finished as league winners with Ibraimi scoring eleven goals.

The start of his second season in Ljubljana was not as smooth. After Miran Pavlin, the director of football who brought him to the club, departed for Koper, Ibraimi wanted to join him. But Olimpija's board had none of it, as the player still had a valid contract with the club. The start of his first season in Slovenian PrvaLiga was difficult, his form was not up to standard, but it did pick up eventually and Ibraimi regained his place in Olimpija's first eleven. He scored his first goal in the Slovenian PrvaLiga on 28 August against Koper.

Eskisehirspor

Ibraimi terminated his contract with Olimpija in the summer of 2010 and signed a three-year deal with Turkish team Eskişehirspor on 3 September 2010. He made his debut for Eskisehirspor on 25 September 2010 when he came off the bench in the 77th minute, but his team lost 1–0. Ibraimi failed to adjust to the Turkish league so he and the club agreed to mutually terminate the contract and Ibraimi joined Nafta Lendava during the 2011 January transfer window.

Maribor

On 10 June 2011, it was announced that Ibraimi has signed a three-year contract with the Slovenian club Maribor. He made his debut for Maribor against Dudelange in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League where he also scored his first goal and assist for the club.[1] Ibraimi has been a regular starter for Maribor and has been having a tremendous season in the Slovenian PrvaLiga. Despite not qualifying past the third round of qualifications, Maribor had a chance in the play offs for the UEFA Europa League against Scottish club, Rangers. Ibraimi helped Maribor reach the group stages of the Europa League after scoring a goal from just inside the box in the first leg.[2] Despite Maribor getting last place in their group, Ibraimi scored against Portugal club, SC Braga, in the only match of the group stage where Maribor secured a point. In May 2012, Ibraimi signed a new contract with the club until May 2015.[3] In the same month, he scored directly from a corner kick in an 8–0 win against Triglav Kranj and won the league title with Maribor. In December 2012, he won the Macedonian footballer of the year award.[4][5] He was voted as one of the best midfield players in the 2012–13 Slovenian PrvaLiga alongside his teammate Goran Cvijanović and Nik Omladič.[6] He was also selected as the overall best player in the 2012–13 PrvaLiga season.[7]

Cagliari

On the 31st of August, 2013, Agim Ibraimi moved to Cagliari on loan in exchange for Pablo Ceppelini and money.[8][9] In his second game for Cagliari, he provided an assist against Inter Milan. On March 2, 2014, Ibraimi scored his first goal for Cagliari against Udinese and providing an assist eight minutes earlier. Only maintaining five starting appearances for Cagliari, he did not receive much playing time in Italy.

Agim Ibraimi has reached an agreement with Maribor to extend his contract until May 2017.[10]

Maribor

Returning to Maribor, Ibraimi helped the club reach the UEFA Champions League group stage by scoring in the qualifying rounds against Zrinjski Mostar and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The last time Maribor were in the Champions League was in 1999.[11] On 5 November 2014, Maribor drew against Chelsea in the Champions League. Ibraimi scored on the 50th minute with a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the box.

Astana

On 15 June 2016, Ibraimi signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Astana.[12] After an injury he ended his contract in the end of April 2017 and became a free agent.

International career

Ibraimi was capped for Macedonia U21 during the qualifying campaign for the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

He received his first call-up to the Macedonia national football team in a friendly match against Spain, which took place on 12 August 2009. On his debut, he came on as a substitute for Goran Pandev in 79th minute of the game. On 12 October 2012, he scored his first goal for Macedonia in a 1–2 home defeat against Croatia in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifications.[13] He scored another goal just three days later against Serbia for a 1–0 win for Macedonia.[14] He has earned a total of 39 caps, scoring 7 goals[15] and his final international was a March 2016 friendly match against Bulgaria.[16]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 21 August 2016[17][18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Shkëndija 2004–05 1. MFL 31——31
2005–06 262——262
2006–07 200——200
Total 493————493
Red Bull Salzburg 2007–08 Austrian Bundesliga 30——30
Olimpija Ljubljana 2008–09 2. SNL 191111——2012
2009–10 1. SNL 28822——3010
Total 471933————5022
Eskişehirspor 2010–11 Süper Lig 1010——20
Nafta Lendava 2010–11 1. SNL 17000——170
Maribor 2011–12 27941113114314
2012–13 25661122114410
2013–14 42006010112
2014–15 2423012400396
2015–16 27101020103110
Total 107291424394216842
Cagliari (loan) 2013–14 Serie A 25200——252
Astana 2016 Kazakhstan Premier League 600051—111
Career total 2555318548104232570

International
Macedonia national team
YearAppsGoals
200910
201030
201130
201293
201382
201452
201580
201620
Total397

[17]

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.12 October 2012Philip II Arena, Skopje Croatia
1–0
1–2
2014 World Cup qualifier
2.16 October 2012 Serbia
1–0
1–0
3.14 November 2012 Slovenia
3–1
3–2
Friendly
4.6 February 2013 Denmark
2–0
3–0
5.14 August 2013 Bulgaria
1–0
2–0
6.5 March 2014 Latvia
2–1
2–1
7.8 September 2014Estadi Ciutat de València, Valencia Spain
2–1
5–1
2016 Euro qualifier

Honours

Club

Olimpija

Maribor

Astana

Shkëndija

Individual

Personal life

Ibraimi is multilingual, speaking six languages fluently: Albanian, English, German, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian and Slovenian.[19] Ibraimi is a cousin of professional football player Arijan Ademi.[20] In February 2016, after having spent years of playing in the country, Ibraimi received a Slovenian citizenship.[21]

References
  1. Maribor take two-goal lead to Luxembourg
  2. Ibraimi's goal against Rangers
  3. http://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/prva-liga-si/ibraimijev-sestanek-z-zahovicem-krajsi-kot-pot-do-stadiona/282334
  4. NK Maribor. "Ibraimi nogometaš leta" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor official website. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  5. "Ibraimi najboljši v Makedoniji" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  6. "Olimpija po 26 letih slavila v Kopru, Aluminij že izpadel" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  7. "Agim Ibraimi najboljši igralec v Prvi ligi" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  8. "Agim Ibraimi to move to Cagliari". MacedonianFootball. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  9. "Calciomercato Cagliari: il colpo dell'ultim'ora, Agim Ibraimi" (in Italian). Corriere Dello Sport. 2 September 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  10. "Agim Ibraimi agrees to extension with Maribor". MacedonianFootball. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  11. "Šimundža revels in Maribor's 'phenomenal feeling'". UEFA official website. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  12. Агим Ибраими подписал контракт с Астаной. fca.kz (in Russian). FC Astana. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  13. NK Maribor. "Premiera Cvijanovića, gol Ibraimija" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor official website. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  14. NK Maribor. "Ibraimi spet strelec, Mertlju vseh 90" (in Slovenian). NK Maribor official website. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  15. Appearances for (North) Macedonia National Team - RSSSF
  16. "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  17. "Agim Ibraimi". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  18. "A. Ibraimi". Soccerway.com. Soccerway. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  19. Žiga Ikič, Marko Miklavič (26 October 2012). "VIDEO: "Proti Tottenhamu je točka ogromna stvar"" (in Slovenian). Šport TV. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  20. Damjan Tratnik (25 July 2012). "Heerenveen ali Dinamo?" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  21. Peter Dominko (26 February 2016). "Ibraimi v nadaljevanje sezone s slovenskim potnim listom" [Ibraimi in the second part of the season with a Slovenian passport] (in Slovenian). SNPortal.si. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
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