Vedat Muriqi

Vedat Muriqi (Albanian:Vedat Muriqi; born 24 April 1994) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Italian club Lazio and the Kosovo national team. He is known for his headers and strength.

For the Brazilian footballer, see Muriqui (footballer).

Vedat Muriqi
Muriqi with Fenerbahçe in August 2019
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-04-24) 24 April 1994
Place of birth Prizren, FR Yugoslavia
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Lazio
Number 94
Youth career
2005–2010 Liria
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Liria 10 (3)
2013–2014 Teuta Durrës 18 (1)
2014 → Besa Kavajë (loan) 13 (3)
2014–2016 Giresunspor 57 (21)
2016–2018 Gençlerbirliği 46 (5)
2018–2019 Çaykur Rizespor 50 (25)
2019–2020 Fenerbahçe 32 (15)
2020– Lazio 11 (1)
National team‡
2013 Albania U21 1 (1)
2013–2014 Kosovo U21 4 (1)
2016– Kosovo 26 (10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:10, 31 January 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2020

Early life

Muriqi was born in Prizren, Kosovo, , FR Yugoslavia (present-day Kosovo). In addition to his Kosovan and Albanian citizenship,[1] he acquired Turkish citizenship in 2015 under the naturalized name of Vedat Muriç.[2]

Club career

Teuta Durrës

On 14 January 2013, after impressing in a friendly match, Muriqi was given a one-and-a-half year contract by Albanian Superliga side Teuta Durrës.[3] On 23 February, he made his competitive debut later by entering in the second half of the 1–1 draw at Tirana in the round 16 of Albanian Superliga.[4]

Loan at Besa Kavajë

On 4 January 2014, Muriqi was loaned for five months to Albanian Superliga side Besa Kavajë. He played his first match for the new club on 1 February in the championship match versus Laçi, entering in the 46th minute and netting a last-minute equaliser to rescue his side a 2–2 draw.[5]

Giresunspor

On 18 August 2014, Muriqi signed to TFF First League side Giresunspor.[6] On 14 September 2014, he made his debut in a 0–1 home defeat against Adana Demirspor after coming on as a substitute at 78th minute in place of David Solomon Abwo.

Gençlerbirliği

On 31 May 2016, Muriqi signed to Süper Lig side Gençlerbirliği.[7] On 21 August 2016, he made his debut in a 2–0 home win against Gaziantepspor after coming on as a substitute at 64th minute in place of Cosmin Matei.

Çaykur Rizespor

On 11 January 2018, Muriqi signed to TFF First League side Çaykur Rizespor.[8][9] On 21 January 2018, he made his debut in a match against Manisaspor after being named in the starting line-up and scoring two goals during a 0–3 away win.[10]

Fenerbahçe

On 7 July 2019, Muriqi completed a transfer to Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe by signing for the next four seasons.[11] One day later, the club confirmed that Muriqi had joined on a permanent transfer.[12][13]

Lazio

On 15 September 2020, Muriqi signed a five-year deal with Serie A club Lazio.[14] On 20 October 2020, he played against Borussia Dortmund in the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League, to become the first player from Kosovo to feature in the competition.[15]

International career

Under-21

On 15 October 2013, Muriqi made his debut with Albania U21 in a 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 after coming on as a substitute at 46th minute in place of Herolind Shala.[16]

Under-21

In June 2013, Muriqi was named as part of the Kosovo U21 squad for 2013 Valais Youth Cup.[17] On 12 June 2013, he made his debut with Kosovo U21 in 2013 Valais Youth Cup semi-final against Ghana U20 after being named in the starting line-up and scored the draw goal in the 41st minute.[18]

Senior

On 30 August 2016, Muriqi received a call-up from Kosovo for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Finland.[19] On 11 June 2017, he made his debut starting in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Ukraine. On 10 September 2019, Muriqi provided two assists and scored a goal in the 5–3 loss against the England national football team in the 2020 Euros. He is the current top scorer of the Kosovan national football team with 10 goals.

Style of play and reception

Former Turkish international and World Cup semi-finalist Rüştü Reçber described Muriqi as an "ideal centre forward", praising his speed in confined spaces in field, aerial dominance, and his team play capabilities, in 2019.[20]

Former Turkish international and World Cup semi-finalist Hakan Ünsal underlined his strength, ball containing and shooting abilities, in 2019.[20] Okan Buruk, former Turkish international, World Cup semi-finalist and former Çaykur Rizespor manager who coached Muriqi stated that Muriqi dramatically improved during his latter season at club, due to his extra trainings, describing him reliable and labelling him "best forward in Turkey in that period".[21]

Former Turkish international and pundit Rıdvan Dilmen praised Muriqi, stating: "There are some forwards. They might be short and quick. Some are powerful. Some are tall, like Peter Crouch, who can get the ball on ground. Muriqi possesses all [of these]. If he could play alongside Alex, he could have scored 25 goals [in a season]", on 21 September 2019.[22]

Personal life

In September 2020, Muriqi tested positive for COVID-19.[23]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 31 January 2021[24]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Teuta Durrës 2012–13 Albanian Superliga 6000—60
2013–14 Albanian Superliga 12132—153
Total 1813200213
Besa Kavajë (loan) 2013–14 Albanian Superliga 13300—133
Giresunspor 2014–15 TFF First League 24482—326
2015–16 TFF First League 331740—3717
Total 5721122—6923
Gençlerbirliği 2016–17 Süper Lig 33373—406
2017–18 Süper Lig 13222—154
Total 46595005510
Çaykur Rizespor 2017–18 TFF First League 16800—168
2018–19 Süper Lig 341720—3617
Total 502520005225
Fenerbahçe 2019–20 Süper Lig 321542—3617
Lazio 2020–21 Serie A 111214[lower-alpha 1]0172
Career total 2277132124026383
  1. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Champions League

International
As of 18 November 2020[25]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Kosovo
201620
201751
201893
201974
202032
Total2610

International goals
Scores and results list Kosovo's goal tally first.[26]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1. 13 November 2017 Olympic Stadium Adem Jashari, Mitrovica, Kosovo  Latvia 2–2 4–3 Friendly
2. 27 March 2018 Stade Municipal Jean Rolland, Franconville, France  Burkina Faso 1–0 2–0
3. 11 October 2018 Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo  Malta 2–1 3–1 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D
4. 17 November 2018 National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta 1–0 5–0
5. 10 June 2019 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Bulgaria 2–2 3–2 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
6. 7 September 2019 Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo  Czech Republic 1–1 2–1
7. 10 September 2019 St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, England  England 3–5 3–5
8. 14 October 2019 Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo  Montenegro 2–0 2–0
9. 11 November 2020 Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania  Albania 1–2 1–2 Friendly
10. 15 November 2020 Stožice Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Slovenia 1–0 1–2 2020–21 UEFA Nations League C

References
  1. "Vedat Muriqi Artık Türk Vatandaşı" (in Turkish). NTV Spor. 2 July 2015. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  2. "Player Details > Vedat Muriç" (in Turkish). Turkish Football Federation. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  3. "Muriqi premton: Do ju bind të gjithëve te Teuta" [Muriqi promis: I'll convince everyone at Teuta] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 15 January 2013.
  4. "Tirana e Dedes e nis me "X" kundër Teutës. Bardheblutë zbresin të pestët në renditje…" [Dede's Tirana start with “X” versus Teuta. White&blues down to fifth place in ranking…] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 24 February 2013.
  5. "Besa Kavajë vs. Laçi 2 – 2". Soccerway. 1 February 2014.
  6. "Giresunspor, Vedat Muriqi ile anlaştı" (in Turkish). Milliyet. 18 August 2014.
  7. "Vedat Muriqi resmen Gençlerbirliği'nde". GOAL (in Turkish). 31 May 2016.
  8. "Vedat Muriç Çaykur Rizespor'da" (in Turkish). Çaykur Rizespor. 11 January 2018.
  9. "Vedat Muriqi Çaykur Rizespor'da" (in Turkish). Milliyet. 11 January 2018.
  10. "Debutim ëndrrash për Muriqin, shënon dy gola të bukur për katër minuta te Rizespori (Video)" (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 22 January 2018.
  11. "Vedat Muriqi Türkiye'nin En Büyük Ailesine Katıldı" [Vedat Muriqi joins with Turkey's largest family] (in Turkish). Fenerbahçe S.K. 7 July 2019.
  12. "Welcome Vedat Muriqi".
  13. "Vedat Muriqi'in bonservis bedeli belli oldu" (in Turkish). 8 July 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  14. "Comunicato 15.09.2020". S.S. Lazio (in Italian). 15 September 2020.
  15. "Vedat Muriqi debuton në Ligën e Kampionëve me Lazion". telegrafi.com (in Albanian). 20 October 2020.
  16. "Under-21 2015 - History - Albania-Bosnia and Herzegovina". Uefa.com. 15 October 2013.
  17. "U21 e Kosovës, në Zvicër për sensacion" [Kosovo's U21, in Switzerland for sensation]. albinfo.ch (in Albanian). 11 June 2013.
  18. "Le Ghana au bout du suspense" [Ghana at the end of the suspense] (in French). 2013 Valais Youth Cup. 12 June 2013. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014.
  19. "Bunjaki publikoi listën e lojtarëve për ndeshjen me Finlandën" (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 August 2016.
  20. "Vedat Muriqi için ne dediler?" (in Turkish). Hürriyet. 8 July 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  21. ""Vedat Muric, Türkiye'deki en iyi forvet oyuncusuydu"" (in Turkish). NTV Spor. 22 July 2019. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  22. "Son dakika: Rıdvan Dilmen'den Vedat Muriç'e büyük övgü" (in Turkish). Fanatik. 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  23. "Lazio, Muriqi ha il Covid: è asintomatico e in quarantena in Turchia" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  24. "Vedat Muriqi". Soccerway.
  25. "Vedat Muriqi". EU-football.info.
  26. "Muriqi, Vedat". National Football Teams.
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