Betim Fazliji

Betim Fazliji (Albanian: Betim Fazlija; born 25 April 1999) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Swiss club St. Gallen and the Kosovo national team.

Betim Fazliji
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-04-25) 25 April 1999
Place of birth Vranje, FR Yugoslavia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 St. Gallen
Number 23
Youth career
2004–2014 FC Rebstein
2012–2014 → FC Altstätten (loan)
2014–2017 St. Gallen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 St. Gallen U21 30 (5)
2019– St. Gallen 35 (3)
National team‡
2019 Switzerland U20 2 (0)
2020– Kosovo 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 January 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 November 2020

Club career

On 21 June 2019, Fazliji signed his first professional contract with Swiss Super League side St. Gallen after agreeing to a two-year deal.[1] His debut with St. Gallen came on 27 July in a 1–2 away win against Basel after being named in the starting line-up.[2]

International career

Switzerland
"We parted well with Switzerland because I decided on my country and my career. I say thank you to Switzerland for everything because here I started and I achieved everything, but Kosovo is my home and I will play for them"

—Fazliji about relations with Switzerland after he choosing Kosovo.[3]

In September 2019, Fazliji becomes part of Switzerland U20 with which he made his debut in a 2–2 away draw against Portugal U20 after coming on as a substitute in the 78th minute in place of Yannick Marchand.[4] On 2 October 2020, he received a call-up from Switzerland U21 for 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Georgia U21 and Liechtenstein U21,[5] but Fazliji refused to join the team after he was in process of completing the necessary documents, which would allow him to play for Kosovo in November 2020 matches.

Kosovo

On 28 September 2020, Fazliji confirmed through an interview that he has started the process of completing the necessary documents which if completed in time, Fazliji would be ready to join with Kosovo national team in the next 2020–21 UEFA Nations League matches in November 2020.[6] On 3 November 2020, he received a call-up from Kosovo for the friendly match against Albania and 2020–21 UEFA Nations League matches against Slovenia and Moldova.[7]

Personal life

Fazliji was born in Vranje, FR Yugoslavia to Albanian parents from the village Miratovac of Preševo,[8] and he is the fifth player that comes from the Preševo Valley after Berat Djimsiti, Atdhe Nuhiu, Fidan Aliti and Gjelbrim Taipi.

References
  1. "FCSG verpflichtet Strübi und Fazliji" [FCSG sign Strübi and Fazliji]. FM1Today (in German). 21 June 2019.
  2. "Basel vs. St. Gallen 1–2". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  3. Romak Zeqiri (3 November 2020). "Ekskluzive, flet ardhja e re e Dardanëve, Betim Fazliji: Faleminderit Zvicër për gjithçka, por nuk mund ta refuzoj shtëpinë time Kosovën – jam këtu për evropian" [Exclusive, speaks the new arrival of the Dardanians, Betim Fazliji: Thank you Switzerland for everything, but I can not refuse my home Kosovo – I am here for European] (in Albanian). Telegrafi.
  4. "Portugal 2:2 (0:0) Schweiz" [Portugal 2:2 (0:0) Switzerland] (in German). Swiss Football Association. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  5. "U-21: Das Aufgebot für die nächsten Etappen der «Mission 21»" [U-21: The line-up for the next stages of «Mission 21»] (in German). Swiss Football Association. 2 October 2020.
  6. "Betim Fazliji, shtyllë e mbrojtjes së Kosovës prej ndeshjeve të nëntorit" [Betim Fazliji, pillar of Kosovo's defense from the November matches] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 28 September 2020.
  7. "Challandes publikon listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjet e nëntorit" [Challandes publishes the list of footballers for the November matches] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 3 November 2020.
  8. "Betim Fazliji nga Miratoci talenti i ri i futbollit që luan në superligën zviceriane" [Betim Fazliji from Miratoci the new football talent who plays in the Swiss Super League]. Presheva.al (in Albanian). 8 February 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.