Artur Lekbello

Artur Lekbello (born 23 February 1966) is an Albanian retired football midfielder. His nickname, Tushe, is a short form of his first name.

Not to be confused with Artur Lekbello (footballer, born 1958).

Artur Lekbello
Personal information
Full name Artur Tushe Lekbello
Date of birth (1966-02-23) 23 February 1966
Place of birth Tiranë, Albania
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1991 17 Nëntori Tirana
1991–1998 Aris Thessaloniki 135 (3)
National team
1987–1996 Albania 30 (0)
Teams managed
2012 Tirana
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Club

Lekbello played for Nëntori Tirana and left communist Albania in 1991, joining Greek side Aris Thessaloniki alongside fellow Nëntori and national team midfielder Mirel Josa.

International

He made his debut for Albania in an October 1987 European Championship qualification match against Romania and earned a total of 30 caps, scoring no goals.[1] His final international was an October 1996 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Portugal.[2]

Managerial career

On 15 September 2012, Lekbello was named the new manager of Tirana, replacing the Spaniard Julián Rubio.[3] Three days later, he officially signed the contract with the club whom he started his professional career.[4] However, he resigned from the post later on 29 October following the poor results in the last four league matches.[5]

Personal life

Lekbello is married and has 2 children. In 2012, he was diagnosed with a rare muscle disease, which doctors told him that he had not more than 3 years to live.[6] In an interview on 13 May 2017, Lekbello stated that the disease is called "Muscle scarcity", which starts from hands or legs.[6] After his illness was made public in the Greek media, it was reported that a friendly match will be played on 17 May between the veterans of Aris Thessaloniki and Greece players that won the UEFA Euro 2004 to raise money for the treatment of the disease.[7]

Honours

References
  1. Albania - Record International Players - RSSSF
  2. "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  3. "Artur Lekbello, trajneri i ri i Tiranës" [Artur Lekbello, the new coach of Tirana] (in Albanian). Sport.Albeu.com. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  4. "Artur Lekbello, trajneri i ri i Tiranës" [Artur Lekbello, the new coach of Tirana] (in Albanian). Top Channel. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  5. "Rezultatet e dobëta, ikën Lekbello, vjen Tafaj" [Poor results, Lekbello goes, Tafaj arrives] (in Albanian). Panorama.com.al. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  6. Jorgis Memo (13 May 2017). "Rrëfimi rrëqethës i Artur Lekbellos: Ju tregoj sëmundjen e rrallë" [Artur Lekbellos's lousy confession: I tell you the rare illness] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  7. Jorgis Memo (13 May 2017). "Drama e Lekbellos, grekët mbledhin parà për t'i zgjatur jetën" [Lekbello's drama, Greeks gather money to extend his life] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2017.


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