Artur Lekbello (Albanian goalkeeper)

Artur Lekbello
Personal information
Full name Artur Shkëlqim Lekbello
Date of birth (1958-01-25) 25 January 1958
Place of birth Lezhë, Albania
Playing position Goalkeeper
Youth career
1974-1978 Partizani Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978-1985 Partizani Tirana
1985-1986 Lokomotiva Durrës
1986-1987 Flamurtari Vlorë
1987-1988 Lokomotiva Durrës 33 (0)
1988-1990 17 Nëntori Tirana
1990-1991 Lokomotiva Durrës 7 (0)
1991-1992 Partizani Tirana
National team
1987 Albania 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Artur Lekbello (born 25 January 1958) is an Albanian retired footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Lekbello came into football during his school years in Durrës and when he joined the army's tank brigade in 1975 he became reserve goalkeeper at army team Partizani Tirana alongside Perlat Musta. During the communist era it was not common for players to change clubs but Lekbello returned to his hometown to play for Lokomotiva Durrës in 1985, only to be ordered by the football federation to join Flamurtari to play in the 1986 UEFA Cup against FC Barcelona after their first goalkeeper Luan Birçe was not allowed to travel and young reserve Anesti Arapi was deemed to inexperienced.[1] Lekbello became an instant hero as Flamurtari was only beaten on away goals by the Spanish giants. He returned to Lokomotiva and was suddenly lured back, somewhat overweight, to join Partizani when Musta left for Romania in 1991.

Cult hero status

He became something of a cult hero again at Feyenoord when he kept the Rotterdam club at bay for a long period in a 1991–92 European Cup Winners' Cup game, only to concede a late goal to lose and for Partizani to go out 0-1 on aggregate.[2]

International career

He made his debut for Albania in an October 1987 European Championship qualification match against Romania and earned his second and final cap against Spain in the same year.[3]

Personal life

Lekbello has two daughters and has been working for the Civil Emergency Office in Durrës County after his football career. He had also coached youth teams at Teuta.[1] In 2016 he was goalkeeper coach with the Albania U19s.[4]

Honours

1979, 1989 [5]

References

  1. 1 2 Artur Lekbello, oficeri i Brigadës së Tankeve që ndali Barcelonën - Panorama (in Albanian)
  2. ↑ Feyenoorders hebben veel moeite met muur van Partizan; Monsterzeges steeds zeldzamer - NRC (in Dutch)
  3. ↑ "Player Database".
  4. ↑ Artur Lekbello: Kjo kombëtare e ka rrugën të hapur për në kupën e Botës - Durrës Lajm (in Albanian)
  5. ↑ Albania - Championship Winning Teams - RSSSF
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