Edon Zhegrova

Edon Lulzim Zhegrova (born 31 March 1999) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Swiss club Basel and the Kosovo national team.

Edon Zhegrova
Zhegrova with Standard Liège in 2015
Personal information
Full name Edon Lulzim Zhegrova
Date of birth (1999-03-31) 31 March 1999
Place of birth Herford, Germany
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Right winger
Club information
Current team
 Basel
Number 30
Youth career
0000 Flamurtari
0000–2015 Prishtina
2015 Standard Liège
2015–2017 Sint-Truiden
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2020 Genk 20 (2)
2019–2020 → Basel (loan) 22 (2)
2020– Basel 6 (1)
National team‡
2018– Kosovo 22 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 November 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2020

Club career

Early career

Zhegrova is a product of youth team systems of the different Kosovan and Belgian sides. In 2012, he was chosen as the best player of the Milan Junior Camp which was held in Kosovo.[1][2][3]

Genk

On 22 March 2017, Zhegrova joined Belgian First Division A side Genk.[4] On 10 September 2017, he made his debut in a 1–1 away draw against Gent after coming on as a substitute at 80th minute in place of Ruslan Malinovskyi.[5]

Loan at Basel

On 4 February 2019, Genk announced the loan of Zhegrova to Swiss side Basel.[6] In same day later, the club confirmed that he had joined on a 1½ season-long loan and receiving squad number 30.[7] On 23 February 2019, he made his debut in a 0–2 away win against Neuchâtel Xamax after coming on as a substitute at 83rd minute in place of Valentin Stocker.[8]

Return to Basel

On 22 September 2020, Zhegrova signed a three-year contract with Swiss Super League club Basel and receiving squad number 30.[9] Five days later, he made his debut in a 1–0 away win against Servette after being named in the starting line-up.[10]

International career

In August 2017, Zhegrova refused a call-up from Kosovo U21 with the pretense that it's important for him to concentrate on playing at the club level for now.[11] On 6 March 2018, he finally decides to play with Kosovo.[12][13][14] On 19 March 2018, Zhegrova received a call-up from Kosovo for friendly matches against Madagascar and Burkina Faso.[15] On 24 March 2018, he made his debut with Kosovo in a friendly match against Madagascar after being named in the starting line-up and scored his side's only goal during a 1–0 home win.[16]

Personal life

Zhegrova was born in Herford, Germany from Kosovo Albanian parents from Lipljan, that later it would be his temporary residence after his family returned to Kosovo's capital, Pristina after the end of Kosovo War.[11] Zhegrova's younger sister, Valza is a singer.[17][18]

Career statistics

Club
As of 27 September 2020[19]
Club Season League Cup Europe[lower-alpha 1] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Genk 2017–18 Belgian First Division A 12120—1[lower-alpha 2]0151
2018–19 711142—124
Total 192314210275
Basel 2018–19 (loan) Swiss Super League 8010—1[lower-alpha 3]0100
2019–20 (loan) 14210301[lower-alpha 3]0192
2020–21 100000—10
Total 232203020302
Career total 424517230577
  1. Including continental competitions, such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearance in 2017–18 Belgian First Division A; Championship play-offs
  3. Appearance with Basel U21

International
As of 17 November 2019[20]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Kosovo 201882
201990
Total172

International goals
As of 29 May 2018[20]
Scores and results list Kosovo's goal tally first.
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef
1. 24 March 2018 (2018-03-24) Stade Municipal Jean Rolland, Franconville, France  Madagascar 1–0 1–0 Friendly [21]
2. 29 May 2018 (2018-05-29) Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland  Albania 3–0 3–0 [22]

References
  1. "Taçi Oil" dhe "Milan Junior Kamp" çojnë dhjetë talente kosovarë në "San Siro" ["Taçi Oil" and "Milan Junior Camp" sent ten Kosovar talents to "San Siro"]. Telegraf.al (in Albanian). 2 November 2012.
  2. "Edon Zhegrova: Der Superlativ-Magnet aus dem Kosovo" [Edon Zhegrova: The superlative magnet from Kosovo] (in German). GOAL. 9 January 2018.
  3. "Goal.com: Edon Zhegrova, supertalenti nga Kosova që ëndërron Barcelonën" [Goal.com: Edon Zhegrova, a super-talent from Kosovo who dreams of Barcelona] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 9 January 2018.
  4. "Edon Zhegrova nënshkruan me Genk" [Edon Zhegrova signed with Genk] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 22 March 2017.
  5. "Zhegrova debuton në futbollin belg" [Zhegrova debuts in the Belgian football] (in Albanian). Radio Television of Kosovo. 10 September 2017.
  6. "Zhegrova trekt naar Basel" [Zhegrova moves to Basel] (in Dutch). K.R.C. Genk. 4 February 2019.
  7. "Edon Zhegrova leihweise zum FC Basel 1893" [Edon Zhegrova on loan to FC Basel 1893] (in German). FC Basel. 4 February 2019.
  8. "Der FCB gewinnt gegen Xamax" [The FCB wins against Xamax] (in German). FC Basel. 23 February 2019. FCB: Omlin; Widmer, Suchy (72. Frei), Kaiser, Petretta; Xhaka, Kuzmanovic (77. Zuffi); Okafor, Campo, Stocker (83. Zhegrova); Ajeti
  9. "Edon Zhegrova unterschreibt beim FCB bis Sommer 2023" [Edon Zhegrova will sign with FCB until summer 2023] (in German). FC Basel. 22 September 2020.
  10. "Eine bittere Penalty-Niederlage in Genf" [A bitter penalty defeat in Geneva] (in Albanian). FC Basel. 27 September 2020.
  11. "Genkenaar stuurt bondscoach wandelen: "Ik had daar weinig zin in" [Genkenaar sends national coach walking: "I did not feel like it]. Voetbalprimeur (in Dutch). 5 September 2017.
  12. "Edon Zhegrova i thotë "Po" Kosovës" [Edon Zhegrova says "Yes" to Kosovo] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 6 March 2018.
  13. "Zhegrova i thotë "Po" Kosovës" [Zhegrova says "Yes" to Kosovo]. Albinfo (in Albanian). 6 March 2018.
  14. "Edon Zhegrova i thotë "Po" Kosovës" [Edon Zhegrova says "Yes" to Kosovo] (in Albanian). Radio Television of Kosovo. 6 March 2018.
  15. "Lista e futbollistëve të ftuar nga Bernard Challandes për miqësoret e marsit" [List of invited footballers by Bernard Challandes for the March friendlies] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 19 March 2018.
  16. "Challandes e nis me fitore, Zhegrova debuton me gol" [Challandes starts with victory, Zhegrova debuts with a goal] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 24 March 2018.
  17. "Valza Zhegrova : Biografia" [Valza Zhegrova : Biography]. Tekste Shqip (in Albanian).
  18. "Fol Shqip" Show – Edon & Valza Zhegrova – 27.04.2019 on YouTube
  19. Edon Zhegrova at Soccerway. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  20. "Edon Zhegrova". eu-football.info. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  21. "Kosovo (1–0) Madagascar". eu-football.info. 24 March 2018.
  22. "Kosovo (3–0) Albania". eu-football.info. 29 May 2018.
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