Lorenc Leskaj
Lorenc Leskaj (born 2 October 1968) is an Albanian retired footballer, who played as a defender for Partizani Tirana football club.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 2 October 1968 | ||
Place of birth | Albania | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1986–1991 | Partizani Tirana | ||
National team | |||
1990 | Albania | 2 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Club career
Leskaj played for Partizani Tirana in an infamous September 1987 European Cup first leg in Lisbon against Benfica that saw Partizani lose 4–0 and end the game with 7 men as 4 players were sent off and with Leskaj himself getting a yellow card.[1][2] Partizani were punished by UEFA for the incidents, and they were knocked out of the competition following a walkover victory for Benfica in what would have been the second leg, and they were also banned from Europe for 4 years.
International career
He made his debut for Albania in a September 1990 friendly match against Greece and earned a total of 2 caps, scoring no goals.[3]
His second and final international was a November 1990 European Championship qualification match against France.[4]
Defection
Leskaj, alongside national team members Genc Ibro and Eduard Kaçaçi, disappeared from the national team squad in March 1991 in Geneva on their way to Paris to play a European Championship qualifier against France.[5] At the time, Albania was still ruled by the communists. The players were later reported to have sought asylum in Switzerland.[6]
References
- Albanski klub jedini uspeo da zaradi 4 crvena kartona za poluvreme: Najprljaviji mečevi u istoriji Kupa i Lige šampiona (VIDEO) - Telegraf (in Albanian)
- uefa.com. "UEFA Champions League 1987/88 - History - Benfica-Partizani Lineups – UEFA.com".
- "Player Database".
- Report - UEFA
- SE PERDIERON 3 JUGADORES - El Tiempo (in Spanish)
- Kuzhe therret 23lojtare kunder Frances - Info Arkiva (in Albanian)
- Albania - Championship Winning Teams - RSSSF
External links
- Lorenc Leskaj at National-Football-Teams.com