Arlind Kalaja

Arlind Kalaja
Personal information
Full name Arlind Kalaja
Date of birth (1995-12-27) 27 December 1995
Place of birth Shkodër, Albania
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current team
 Kukësi
Youth career
200x–2013 Vllaznia Shkodër
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2018 Vllaznia Shkodër 103 (10)
2018– Kukësi 0 (0)
National team
2010 Albania U15 1 (0)
2011–2012 Albania U17 3 (0)
2013–2014 Albania U19 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 May 2018

Arlind Kalaja (born 27 December 1995) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Albanian club Kukësi.[1]

Club career

Vllaznia Shkodër

Kalaja was promoted to Vllaznia's senior squad during the 2012–13 season, making his professional debut on 27 April 2013 by playing in the second half of the match lost at the hands of Besa Kavajë.[2]

Later in the next season, Kalaja did not play any match, featuring only once as an unused substitute in the 1–1 draw versus Tirana at Qemal Stafa Stadium.[3]

In March 2015, Kalaja underwent surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) by doctor Fausto Zanelli.[4] He remained sidelined for the next five months, only returning in action at the end of September, playing as substitute in the 1–0 home loss to Laçi in the 2015–16 Albanian Superliga matchday 5.[5]

On 26 July 2017, Kalaja agreed another contract extension, signing for the upcoming season.[6]

In the 2017–18 season, he made 30 league appearances, starting only 7, collecting 973 minutes, scoring 4 goals as Vllaznia was relegated for the first time in 60 years.[7] He went on saying that he was "persecuted" within the group, adding that he was left aside and was not given regular playing time.[8]

On 3 June 2018, Kalaja announced his departure from the club once his contract expired, finshing his spell with more than 100 appearances in all competitions.[9]

Kukësi

On 6 June 2018, Kalaja agreed personal terms and completed a transfer to Kukësi, penning a contract until June 2020.[10]

International career

Kalaja has been a former Albania youth international, representing his country at under-15, -17 and -19 level.

Career statistics

As of 23 May 2018[1]
Club statistics
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vllaznia Shkodër 2012–13 Albanian Superliga 1010——20
2013–14 0000——00
2014–15 20260——262
2015–16 29441——335
2016–17 23040——270
2017–18 30441——345
Total 10310192——12212
Vllaznia Shkodër B 2017–18 Albanian First Division 0000—1[lower-alpha 1]010
Kukësi 2018–19 Albanian Superliga 000000—00
Career total 10310202000012312
  1. ↑ All appearance(s) in Albanian First Division play-out

References

  1. 1 2 Arlind Kalaja at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "Vllaznia Shkodër vs. Besa Kavajë 0 – 1". Soccerway. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  3. ↑ Adela Merko (8 December 2013). "Tirana dhe Vllaznia, barazim mes tensionit. Nikaj: Barazimi ishte rezultati më i drejtë" [Tirana and Vllaznia, a draw between tension. Nikaj: The draw was a fair result] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  4. ↑ "Kalaja përfundon në bisturi, 5 muaj jashtë fushave" [Kalaja ends up in scapel, 5 months outside the fields] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "Vllaznia Shkodër vs. Laçi 0 – 1". Soccerway. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Zyrtare, Kalaja rinovon me Vllazninë" [Official, Kalaja renew with Vllaznia] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  7. ↑ "Vllaznia bie nga Superiorja, mbijeton Kamza, Partizani pa Evropë (Video)" [Vllaznia relegated from Superliga, Kamza survives, Partizani without Europe (Video)] (in Albanian). Konica.al. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "Kalaja: Sot firmos me Kukësin, Vllaznia më bllokoi të ardhmen" [Kalaja: Today I sign with Kukësi, Vllaznia blocked me the future] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  9. ↑ "Kalaja konfirmon ndarjen nga Vllaznia, këtë radhë pa polemika" [Kalaja confirms the separation from Vllaznia, this time without controversies] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  10. ↑ Alfred Lleshi (6 June 2018). "Arlind Kalaja firmos zyrtarisht për 2 vite me Kukësin" [Arlind Kalaja officially signs for 2 years with Kukësi] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
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