Blerti Hajdari

Blerti Hajdari (born 1 August 1990 in Tirana) is an Albanian retired football player. He played for KF Tirana in the Albanian Superliga with his main position being striker but he could also play as an attacking midfielder and as a second striker. After injury cut short his career, he started his own company in the United States.[1]

Blerti Hajdari
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-08-01) 1 August 1990
Place of birth Tirana, Albania
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder/Forward
Youth career
2005–2007 Partizani
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2011 Tirana 22 (3)
National team‡
2006–2007 Albania U-17 3 (1)
2008 Albania U-19 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 May 2010
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20 May 2010

Career

Early career

Hajdari started his career with Partizani Tirana at youth level at a young age. He played for the 17s and 19s sides for the club before transferring to KF Tirana in the summer of 2007. Following his move away from Partizani, Hajdari was put into the senior team straight away and began to train with the first team players. He was selected as a federated player for the 2007–2008 season for KF Tirana.[2] However, despite being in the first team he was also selected for some KF Tirana U-19 matches in order to gain more experience at the club.

2007–2008

He made his league debut for KF Tirana on 8 December 2007 against KS Skenderbeu Korce, Hajdari came on in the 63rd minute for the veteran Nevil Dede.[3] His first league start of his career came on the final day of the season against KS Kastrioti Kruje. Hajdari played the full game in midfield.[4] During the 2007-08 champaign he managed to feature in 4 games without scoring.[5]

2008–2011

Hajdari was part of a number of young players that were in the senior team ahead of the new season, all of them trying to impress new manager Blaž Slišković in order to gain a place in the senior team for the 2008–09 season.[6] Hajdari was part of the lucky few that were picked by Slišković to feature in his team for the new season. His first game of the 2008–2009 season came on the opening day of the season against KS Vllaznia Shkoder. Hajdari came on in the 83rd minute for Migen Memelli.[7] During the 2008–2009 season KF Tirana were crowned champions of Albania after a successful season, Hajdari was part of the success but played just 5 games during the entire season, including a start in a Tirana derby against Dinamo Tirana.[8]

2011–2012

Hajdari decided to move to United States where he joined the New York Red Bulls. He was made part of the team from John Wolyniec, an ex player now the coach of the New York red Bulls 2nd team. Hajdari played 12 games in the NPSL league where the Red Bulls was part and scoring 9 goals.

International career

Albania U-17

He was selected by coach Edmond Licaj to be tested for the Albanian U-17 team on 13 September 2006, whilst still playing for KF Partizani Tirana.[9] He was selected by Licaj for the match against Finland in which Albania lost 4–1 in Finland. Hajdari was given the number 11 shirt and was picked in the starting eleven and also the captain of this team.[10]

Albania U-21

Blerti Hajdari was selected by coach Artan Bushati for the Albanian U-21 team for the match against Azerbaijan on 5 September 2009 in Durres. He was chosen as part of the 23-man squad along with fellow KF Tirana players Migen Metani, Ditmar Bicaj and Albania U-21 captain Erindo Karabeci.[11]

Career stats
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Albania League Albanian Cup Europe Total
2007–08KF TiranaSuperliga522000572[12]
2008–09KF TiranaSuperliga10345310178[13]
2009–10KF TiranaSuperliga2076320269

References
  1. Intervista/ Ish-sulmuesi i Tiranës tregon pse la futbollin për të marrë drejtimin e një kompanie në New York - Newsport (in Albanian)
  2. "Tirana, lojtaret e federuar" (in Albanian). Albania-Sport. 1 September 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  3. Tirana 3-2 Skenderbeu
  4. Kastrioti 1-2 Tirana
  5. 2007-2008
  6. "Andi Lila firmos me Tiranën" (in Albanian). Albania-Sport. 19 August 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  7. 2008-2009 debut
  8. 2008-2009 games
  9. "Edmond Licaj nis testimet me futbollistet e U-17" (in Albanian). Albania-Sport. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  10. "U-17, Shqiperia humbet 4-1 me Finlanden. Neser kunder Izraelit" (in Albanian). Albania-Sport. 16 October 2006. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  11. "U-21, Azerbajxhani, shansi për pikët e para" (in Albanian). Albania-Sport. 31 August 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  12. 2007-2008 season
  13. 2008-2009 season
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