Arijan Ademi

Arijan Ademi (Macedonian: Аријан Адеми; born 29 May 1991) is a Croatian-Macedonian professional footballer who captains Prva HNL side Dinamo Zagreb and plays for the North Macedonia national team.

Arijan Ademi
Ademi playing for Croatia in 2013
Personal information
Full name Arijan Ademi
Date of birth (1991-05-29) 29 May 1991
Place of birth Šibenik, SR Croatia,
SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Dinamo Zagreb
Number 5
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Šibenik 56 (2)
2010– Dinamo Zagreb 178 (15)
2012 → Lokomotiva (loan) 3 (0)
National team‡
2009 Croatia U18 4 (1)
2008–2010 Croatia U19 17 (2)
2011 Croatia U20 3 (0)
2010–2012 Croatia U21 8 (1)
2013 Croatia 3 (0)
2014– North Macedonia 18 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 November 2020

Ademi started his professional career at Šibenik, debuting for the senior squad on 22 March 2008, aged just 16 years. On 16 June 2010, he was transferred to reigning Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb. Through ten seasons at the club, Ademi became the most decorated player in club's history, having won 17 trophies.[1]

Born in Croatia to Macedonian Albanian parents, Ademi represented his country of birth at various youth levels. Despite even making three appearances for the senior team, on 9 October 2014, he debuted for the Macedonia national team in an official match.

In 2015, Ademi initially received a four-year suspension for doping, which was subsequently reduced to two years.[2]

Club career

Šibenik

Ademi began his career at Šibenik where he was promoted to the first team on 15 September 2007. He made his first senior appearance for the club on 22 March 2008 in a match against Dinamo Zagreb.[3] He featured as a 63rd-minute substitute for Gabriel in a match Šibenik lost 5–1. The following season Ademi made 28 appearance for the senior squad, 16 of which he started in the first eleven. The 2009–10 Prva HNL was the most successful for Ademi as he made 27 appearances in the first eleven and scored two goals. He scored his first league goal on 25 July 2009 in an away match against Croatia Sesvete which Šibenik won 2–1.[3] He was also the youngest player that captained any Prva HNL club that season.[4]

Dinamo Zagreb

On 16 June 2010 he was transferred to Dinamo Zagreb for a fee of €400,000.[5] He made his first appearance for his new club on 31 July 2010 in a league match against Rijeka in a match Dinamo Zagreb lost 2–1. He also made his debut in European competitions on 4 August in the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round match against Sheriff Tiraspol which finished with a draw 1–1.[6] Upon arrival of the coach Vahid Halilhodžić he established himself as a first team regular in the position of defensive midfielder, and appeared as a starter in their 2010–11 UEFA Europa League group matches, as Dinamo finished third with 7 points, behind Villarreal and PAOK. By the end of the season he has won his first trophies with Dinamo, Prva HNL and Croatian Cup.

After losing his first team spot, in the second part of the 2011–12 season he was sent on loan to Lokomotiva, where he made only three appearances due to injury.

He came back from loan at the beginning of the 2012–13 season, and was a part of the squad that qualified for the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League. In the CL group stage, Ademi made 5 appearances, as Dinamo finished bottom of their group with one point.

On 7 October 2015, Dinamo Zagreb announced that Ademi failed a doping test after their recent Champions League win over Arsenal in September.[7] UEFA subsequently suspended Ademi for a period of four years.[8] On 27 March 2017, the suspension was reduced by two years as Ademi managed to prove that he hadn't taken doping intentionally, making him eligible for selection from October 2017.[9][10] In November 2017, Ademi was named the club captain, after coach Mario Cvitanović stripped Domagoj Antolić of captaincy.[11]

In summer 2020, upon winning Prva HNL, Ademi became the most decorated player in Dinamo's history, having won 17 trophies.[12] On 3 December 2020, he broke Sammir's record for most appearances for Dinamo in European competitions, making his 77th appearance in the 2–0 Europa League victory over Feyenoord at De Kuip.[1]

International career

Croatia

Ademi made his first international appearance for Croatia playing for the under-19 football team. His debut international cap came in a friendly match against Slovenia under-19 selection in Bistra, on 12 August 2008. Croatia won the match 3–1 and Ademi played until 69th minute when he was substituted by Renato Kelić. He made another appearance the next day when two selections faced each other in Brežice. The match finished with another win by Croatian under-19 team and Ademi played full 90 minutes in that match. He scored his first international goal on 17 September in a friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina under-19 team in Županja. The match finished with a 2–2 draw.[13]

His first official match for under-19 team came on 5 October 2008 when the team faced Estonia in Tallinn in their 2009 UEFA under-19 football championship. Estonia won the match 4–1 with Ademi playing the full match for Croatian side. He made another appearance against Kazakhstan on 7 October 2008 in a match Croatia won 4–0.[13]

After that, Ademi was capped four times in friendly matches for the under-18 team between 10 March and 2 April 2009. He also scored a goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina under-18 team on 31 March in a home match Croatia won 3–0. Ademi returned to under-19 team on 15 September 2009 featuring in the friendly match against Slovenia. After that, he made four more official appearances for the under-19 team in their 2010 UEFA under-19 football championship qualifying campaign.[13]

On 22 January 2013 national team head coach Igor Štimac called up Ademi for a friendly match against South Korea in London on 6 February 2013.[14] Earlier, in February 2013, Ademi had complained to the Albanian media that Albania never extended him an invitation.[15]

North Macedonia

After Ademi was not picked for the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad in Brazil by coach Niko Kovač, he decided to play for Macedonia.[16] Kovač later changed his mind and tried to call him up after the tournament but Ademi refused as he had already given his word to Football Federation of Macedonia and hadn't wanted to break the besa.[17] On 9 October 2014 he made his official debut in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Luxembourg.[18][19]

On 8 October and 12 November 2020, Ademi took part in North Macedonia's 2–1 and 1–0 victories over Kosovo and Georgia in the UEFA Euro 2020 play-offs, despite being injured both times, helping North Macedonia reach their first major tournament in history.[20][21]

Personal life

Ademi was born in Šibenik to a Macedonian Albanian family who hail from Pirok. His great-grandfather moved from Pirok to Šibenik after World War II and opened a pastry shop that is still working.[17] He is a cousin of Macedonian professional football player Agim Ibraimi.[22]

In April 2020, Ademi's girlfriend Andrea Janković, daughter of Janko Janković, gave birth in Zagreb to their first child, a baby boy they named Adrian.[23]

Career statistics

Club
As of 2 February 2021[24][25]
Club Season League Cup Other Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Šibenik 2007–08Prva HNL10———10
2008–0928010——290
2009–1027270——342
Total 56280——642
Lokomotiva (loan) 2011–12Prva HNL30———30
Dinamo Zagreb 2010–1121070—80360
2011–125011—2081
2012–1324320—80343
2013–142417210111434
2014–152634010111424
2015–1680——51131
2016–17—————
2017–1822231——253
2018–1915240—122314
2019–201931010122335
2020–21 141000092233
Total 178152943078928828
Career total 237173743078935530

International
As of match played 12 November 2020[26]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Croatia 201330
Total30
North
Macedonia		 201430
201511
201600
201711
201840
201951
202040
Total183

International goals
North Macedonia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ademi goal.[26]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 June 2015 Štadión pod Dubňom, Žilina, Slovakia
4
  Slovakia
1–2
1–2
 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
2 9 October 2017 Stadion Mladost, Strumica, Macedonia
5
  Liechtenstein
4–0
4–0
 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 5 September 2019 Yaakov Turner Toto Stadium, Beersheba, Israel
12
  Israel
1–1
1–1
 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying

Honours

Club

Šibenik

Dinamo Zagreb

Individual

References
  1. Olivari, Davorin (5 December 2020). "'Kakva godina, dobio sam sina, idem na Euro i s Dinamom imam proljeće u Europi! Transfer? Vidjet ćemo!'". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  2. "Arijan Ademi: Dinamo Zagreb midfielder's doping ban cut to two years". BBC Sport. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  3. "Ademi "KOX" Arijan". Nogometni magazin. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  4. "Arijan Ademi – najmlađi kapetan Lige" (in Croatian). Index.hr. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  5. "Ademi: Tetkove su mi slastice omogućile nogometnu karijeru". Večernji list (in Croatian). 29 May 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  6. Hina (3 December 2020). "Ademi prestigao Sammira i postao novi Dinamov rekorder: Dugo će pamtiti veliku noć u Rotterdamu". Gol.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  7. "Dinamo Zagreb's Arijan Ademi fails drug test after win over Arsenal". BBC. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  8. "Dinamo Zagreb's Arijan Ademi banned for four years for drugs test". BBC Sport. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  9. "Arijan Ademi: Dinamo Zagreb midfielder's doping ban cut to two years". BBC Sport. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  10. Bevanda, Antonio (16 June 2020). "Počelo je tučnjavom, zaustavio ga i doping, ali sve je preživio". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  11. Tironi, Hrvoje (26 November 2017). "Antolić više nije kapetan Dinama, traka na ruci Ademija!". Goal.com (in Croatian). Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  12. Ničota, Tomo (16 June 2020). "Najtrofejniji igrač Dinama: Kad to čujem, naježim se! Da mi je to netko najavio, rekao bih mu da je lud!". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  13. "Statistics – Caps: Arijan Ademi". Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  14. Štrbinić, Lovro (21 January 2013). "Štimac objavio popis za Južnu Koreju, braća Kovač preuzimaju mladu reprezentaciju" (in Croatian). Sportnet.hr. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  15. Talenti/ Ademi: Shqipëria nuk u interesua për mua, zgjodha Kroacinë
  16. "'Kovačev popis za Svjetsko prvenstvo nije utjecao na moju odluku'". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  17. Mikuličin, Petar (21 April 2018). "Šibenska priča obitelji Ademi: 'Arijan je otišao u Dinamo jer Hajduk za njega nije zagrizao'". Slobodna Dalmacija (in Croatian). Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  18. "FYR Macedonia strike late to beat Luxembourg". UEFA. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  19. "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  20. "Makedonska Večer: Zbog takvih kao što je Ademi idemo na Euro". Index.hr (in Croatian). 13 November 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  21. "Боби Николов: Да ви кажам каков лав е Аријан Адеми!". Sportmedia.mk (in Macedonian). 9 October 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  22. Damjan Tratnik (25 July 2012). "Heerenveen ali Dinamo?" (in Slovenian). Nogomania.com. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  23. Ćosić, Morana (30 April 2020). "Arijan Ademi postao otac: Po sina i curu došao pred rodilište". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  24. "Arijan Ademi". GNK Dinamo. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  25. "Croatian Football Cup Seasons". Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  26. "Arijan Ademi stats". European Football. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
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