Arsen Sykaj

Arsen Sykaj (born 16 April 1990) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Drenica in the Football Superleague of Kosovo.

Arsen Sykaj
Sykaj with Albania U21
Personal information
Full name Arsen Sykaj
Date of birth (1990-04-16) 16 April 1990
Place of birth Shkodër, Albania
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Drenica
Number 5
Youth career
2000–2007 Vllaznia Shkodër
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2012 Vllaznia 57 (1)
2012–2013 Kastrioti 22 (1)
2013–2015 Vllaznia 60 (0)
2015–2016 Besëlidhja 25 (0)
2016–2017 Sopoti 11 (1)
2017–2018 Teuta 21 (0)
2018– Drenica 1 (0)
National team
2008–2009 Albania U-19 3 (0)
2009 Albania U-20 1 (0)
2010–2012 Albania U-21 13 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 February 2018

Club career

Early career

Born in Shkodër, Sykaj is a product of the Vllaznia Shkodër academy, where he took his first steps into football by joining his hometown club in 1997 at the age of 8. He progressed through the youth ranks at the club and eventually played for the under-17s before joining the under-19s, where he became a key player and impressed the coaches enough to earn him a call up to the senior team in 2007 to train with the first team players whilst still playing for the under-19s side.

Tërbuni Pukë

Sykaj was loaned out to Albanian First Division side Tërbuni Pukë at the beginning of the 2008–09 season in order to gain first team experience. Upon his arrival at Tërbuni he immediately became an important first team player as a centre back. His loan deal at the club expired prematurely in March 2009 following Tërbuni Pukë's disqualification from the First Division, thus leading to Sykaj's return to his parent club Vllaznia.

Vllaznia

Following his return to Vllaznia, Sykaj became a first team player and he featured in 16 games during the 2009–10 season, 11 of which were substitute appearances. He also featured in Vllaznia's Albanian Cup run, which saw his side finish as runners-up, after being defeated by Besa Kavajë in the final. Sykaj played in the first leg of the quarter finals as well as the second leg of the semi finals, but did not feature in the final. The following season, he established himself further as a first team player, featuring in 22 league games, 20 of which were as a starting player, as he helped his side reach 3rd and earn a Europa League qualifying place.

Besëlidhja Lezhë

In the summer transfer window Sykaj, together with Arsen Hajdari left Albanian Superliga side Vllaznia to join the Albanian First Division team Besëlidhja which its primary priority was to reach promotion to highest division.[1] He played the full-time at the first match of the 2015–16 season against newly promoted team Korabi Peshkopi winning the match 1–0.

Teuta Durrës

On 16 January 2017, Sykaj returned to top flight by completing a transfer to Teuta Durrës for an undisclosed fee.[2] He made his competitive debut on 5 February as a substitute in the matchday 20 against Kukësi[3] and finished the second part of 2016–17 season with 12 matches, including 11 in league, collecting 786 minutes. On 21 January 2018, Sukaj left the club by terminating the contract by mutual consent after having find difficulties to play regularly in the first part of 2017–18 season.[4]

Drenica

On 28 January 2018, Sykaj moved for the first time aboard and joined the Football Superleague of Kosovo club Drenica.[5]

International career

Youth team

Sykaj has been a former Albanian international, having represented under-19, -20 and -21.

Senior team

Sykaj was first called up to the senior Albania team on 30 September 2011 by Josip Kuže for the last two Euro 2012 qualifying games against France and Romania.[6][7]

References
  1. Eduard Ilnica (10 August 2015). "Sykaj firmos te Besëlidhja, "dhurata" e Krepit për ditëlindje" [Sykaj signs at Besëlidhja, Kepi's "present" for birthday] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  2. "Teuta gjen qendërmbrojtësin" [Teuta finds the centre-back] (in Albanian). Sportal.al. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  3. "Kukësi vijon "marshimin", Laçi fundos Tiranën" [Kukësi continues “marching”, Laçi sinks Tirana] (in Albanian). Sportal.al. 5 February 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  4. "Teuta vijon merkaton, largohet Arsen Sykaj" [Teuta continues the transfer market, Arsen Sykaj leaves] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  5. "Vijon eksodi, Sykaj e Peposhi firmosin në Kosovë" [The exodus continues, Sykaj and Peposhi signs at Kosovo] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  6. "Kuzhe shpall listën për Francën dhe Rumaninë" [Kuže announces the list for France and Romania] (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. 30 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  7. "Rinovimi, Kuzhe fton 4 emra të rinj në kombëtare" [The renewal, Kuže call-up 4 new names in the national team] (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. 1 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
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