Sadri Gjonbalaj

Sadri Gjonbalaj (1966) is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He also earned five caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team.

Sadri Gjonbalaj
Personal information
Date of birth (1966-01-05) January 5, 1966
Place of birth Vusanje, SR Montenegro,
SFR Yugoslavia
Position(s) Forward
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1986 NC State Wolfpack
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1989 Los Angeles Lazers (indoor) 6 (0)
1988 → Albany Capitals (loan)
1989 New Jersey Eagles 17 (6)
1990 Washington Diplomats
1990–1991 New York Kick (indoor)
1991 Chicago Power (indoor) 9 (2)
1991–1992 Milwaukee Wave (indoor) 25 (18)
1993 Raleigh Flyers
1994 New York Fever
1994–1995 Canton Invaders (indoor) 13 (11)
1995 New York Centaurs 20 (4)
National team
1984–1985 U.S. U-20
1986–1993 United States 5 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Early life

Gjonbalaj was born in Vusanje, a village in SR Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia (modern-day Montenegro). Him and his family moved to Brooklyn, New York when he was a child.

Career

College

Gjonbalaj attended from the age of 17 at North Carolina State University where he played on the Wolfpack's soccer team from 1983 to 1986.[1]

Professional

In June 1987, the Los Angeles Lazers of the Major Indoor Soccer League selected Gjonbalaj in the first round (2nd overall) of the 1987 MISL Draft.[2] In May 1988, the Lazers loaned Gjonbalaj to the Albany Capitals of the American Soccer League.[3] In 1989, he was with the New Jersey Eagles of the ASL.[4] Then in 1990, he moved to the Washington Diplomats of the ASL successor league, the American Professional Soccer League. In the fall of 1990, he signed with the New York Kick of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL).[5] In January 1991, the Kick sold Gjonbalaj's contract to the Chicago Power.[6] He played nine games and scored two goals as the Power won the NPSL championship.[7] In December 1991, he signed with the Milwaukee Wave.[8] In 1993, he played for the Raleigh Flyers of the USISL.[9] He then moved to the New York Fever for the 1994 season. In December 1994, he returned to the NPSL when he signed with the Canton Invaders.[10] In 1995, he was with the New York Centaurs of the A-League where he scored four goals in twenty games.[11]

National team

In 1984 and 1985, Gjonbalaj played for the United States U-20 men's national soccer team.[12] Gjonbalaj also earned five caps with the U.S. national team.[13] His first appearance came in a February 5, 1986 scoreless tie with Canada when he came on for Brent Goulet. His next cap did not come until a June 12, 1987 loss to South Korea.[14] He had to wait three more years for his third cap which came in a September 14, 1991 win over Jamaica. Gjonbalaj scored the U.S. goal in the 1-0 victory. It was another two years before Gjonbalaj appeared for the U.S. again, this time on March 23, 1993 in a tie with El Salvador. His last cap came two days later on March 25, 1993.[15]

References
  1. NC State Men's Soccer History of Success
  2. "NO SURPRISE, FORCE PICKS BLISS WITH 1ST PICK" Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio) Wednesday, June 24, 1987
  3. "BROOKLYN IMPORT GIVES CAPITALS A LIFT IN DEBUT" Times Union (Albany, New York) Sunday, May 22, 1988
  4. The Year in American Soccer – 1989
  5. "GAME SHOULD BE A KICK FOR FANS" Times Union (Albany, New York) Sunday, November 4, 1990
  6. "SPORTS" Chicago Tribune Friday, January 18, 1991
  7. "1990-91 Chicago POWER individual player statistics". 2011-07-09. Archived from the original on 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  8. "Attack hammers Wave to move into division lead" Milwaukee Sentinel Saturday, December 28, 1991
  9. "Flyers turn back Columbia 2-0 on late goals by Kreis, Gjonbalaj The News & Observer Saturday, June 12, 1993
  10. NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1994–1995 Archived 2013-09-03 at the Wayback Machine
  11. GOALSeattle.com Galleries :: 1996 Seattle Sounders Media Guide :: 1996media_17 Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  12. "MEXICAN JUNIOR TEAM BEATS U.S. IN SOCCER Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio) Sunday, March 24, 1985
  13. U.S. Men's National Team Player Registry: F – J Archived 2009-07-31 at the Wayback Machine
  14. USA – Details of International Matches 1980–1989
  15. USA – Details of International Matches 1990–1994
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