Bledi Shkëmbi

Bledi Shkëmbi (born 13 August 1979) is an Albanian professional football coach and former player.[1]

Bledi Shkëmbi
Personal information
Full name Bledi Shkëmbi
Date of birth (1979-08-13) 13 August 1979
Place of birth Korçë, Albania
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1990–1997 Skënderbeu Korçë
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Skënderbeu 80 (4)
2000–2001 Teuta 21 (1)
2001 Ethnikos Asteras 1 (0)
2002–2004 HNK Rijeka 50 (2)
2004 Kamen Ingrad 14 (2)
2005–2006 Zaporizhzhya 22 (0)
2006 Kryvbas 5 (0)
2007 Teuta 13 (0)
2007–2008 Partizani 25 (3)
2008–2009 Skënderbeu 28 (5)
2010 Besa 14 (2)
2010–2016 Skënderbeu 153 (27)
Total 426 (46)
National team‡
2001–2006 Albania 14 (0)
Teams managed
2017–2018 Liria
2018–2019 Teuta
2020- Ballkani
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 May 2016
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 August 2006

A former Albanian international, he has previously played for Ethnikos Asteras in Greece, HNK Rijeka and Kamen Ingrad in Croatia, Metalurh Zaporizhzhya and FC Kryvbas in Ukraine as well as Teuta Durrës, Partizani Tirana and Besa Kavajë in Albania.

Club career

Early career

Shkëmbi joined his local side Skënderbeu Korçë as an 11-year-old and progressed through the youth ranks before eventually being promoted to the senior side ahead of the 1997–98 season. He immediately became a first team player as an 18-year-old, featuring in 31 league games out of a possible 34, and scoring one goal in the process to help his side finish 11th in the league out of 18 teams. The following season was similar for Shkëmbi as he was an important player in the club's midfield as they finished just 2 points above the relegation zone as he played 24 league games and scored twice. He then made 25 appearances out of a possible 26 in the league during the 1999–00 season and scored once in a 7–0 thrashing of Apolonia Fier. He was then allowed to search for a new club and leave on a free transfer.

He joined Teuta Durrës ahead of the 2000–01 season, and his first game for the club was the 2000 Albanian Supercup against KF Tirana, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1–0 loss.[2] In the league he made 21 appearances and scored once, against Tomori Berat, as his side finished 6th with his former side Skënderbeu Korçë finishing bottom and being relegated to the Albanian First Division. He was part of the Teuta Durrës side that reached the final of the Albanian Cup during the 2000–01 season, as he scored against Naftëtari Kuçovë in the first round, before starting the final against KF Tirana who beat Teuta Durrës as they had done before the season started in the Albanian Supercup, this time 5–0.[3] He made his European debut with Teuta Durrës on 10 August 2001 in a UEFA Cup second qualifying round game against Rapid Vienna, starting in the 2–0 loss as he was substituted in the 82nd minute for Erion Matraku.[4] He also started the return leg but his side lost 4–0.[5] He then left the club following their short lived UEFA Cup run, as his contract ran out.

Besa Kavajë

In January 2010, Shkembi signed with Besa Kavajë on an 18 months contract with an option to renew for another year after the expiration of it.[6] During the second part of 2009–10 season, he played 12 matches, scoring twice in the process. He left the club after the end of the season, he and Alban Dragusha were excluded by the coach Shpëtim Duro ahead of the European clash against Olympiacos.[7]

Skënderbeu Korçë

In July 2010, he and Alban Dragusha were signed by Skënderbeu Korçë.[8] His return was strongly required by the club's fans.[9]

At the end of 2011–12 season, in which Shkëmbi contributed with 36 appearances and 10 goals in all competitions, he was presented Fair Play Award.[10]

On 19 August 2015, in the first leg of play-off round of 2015–16 UEFA Champions League against Dinamo Zagreb at Elbasan Arena, Shkëmbi scored the opener in the 37th minute with a free kick, but it was not enough as Dinamo Zagreb reacted and won the match 2–1.[11]

On 18 May, Shkëmbi officially retired from professional football at the age of 36, ending his nineteen-year career by lifting the club's six consecutive league title.[12][13]

International career

He has been a former international player of Albania from 2001 to 2006, during which he collected 14 matches without scoring a goal.[14] He was called by the coach of that time Sulejman Demollari to participate at Tournament Bahrain where he made 3 appearances, all of them as a substitute.

Managerial career

Liria

On 16 June 2017, Shkëmbi begun his managerial career as he was appointed manager of Football Superleague of Kosovo outfit Liria.[15] He signed a contract for the 2017–18 season.[15] Later on 2 March 2018, he handed a resignation request due to presidency change in the club.[16] Following the 1–0 win over Feronikeli that day,[17] Shkëmbi stated that the club is in financial crisis and the presidency seek to put hands on the lineup.[16] Shkëmbi eventually resigned on 19 May after guiding the team to a 5th-place finish.[18]

Teuta Durrës

On 3 June 2018, Shkëmbi was announced as the new manager of Teuta Durrës for the 2018–19 season.[19]

Career statistics

Club
As of 20 May 2016[1][20]
Club statistics
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Teuta Durrës 2006–07 Albanian Superliga 13000——130
Partizani Tirana 2007–08 Albanian Superliga 25300——253
Skënderbeu Korçë 2008–09 Albanian First Division 13300——133
2009–10 Albanian Superliga 15200——152
Total 28500——285
Besa Kavajë 2009–10 Albanian Superliga 14200——142
Skënderbeu Korçë 2010–11 Albanian Superliga 30810——318
2011–12 2271132[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]03610
2012–13 201720000273
2013–14 287405[lower-alpha 3]200379
2014–15 314632[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0407
2015–16 2203010[lower-alpha 4]11[lower-alpha 2]0361
Total 153273281933020738
Career total 233373281933028746
  1. All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  2. Appearance in Albanian Supercup
  3. Four appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, one in UEFA Europa League
  4. Six appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, four in UEFA Europa League

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[21]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Albania 200230
200350
200420
200530
200610
Total140

Honours

Club
Besa Kavajë[1]
Skënderbeu Korçë[1]

Individual

References
  1. "Albania - B. Shkëmbi - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  2. Albania 1999–00 Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Albania 2000–01 Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Rapid 2–0 Teuta
  5. Teuta 0–4 Rapid
  6. "Bledi Shkembi firmos me Besen!" [Bledi Shkembi signs with Besa!] (in Albanian). Futbolli Shqiptar. 20 January 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  7. "Shpetim Duro perjashton Shkembin dhe Dragushen!" (in Albanian). Futbolli Shqiptar. 13 July 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  8. "Shkembi dhe Dragusha neser i bashkohen Skenderbeut ne Mavrove!" (in Albanian). Futbolli Shqiptar. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  9. "Tifozet korcar kerkojne rikthimin e Bledi Shkembit" (in Albanian). Futbolli Shqiptar. 12 May 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  10. "Bekim Balës i jepet çmimi "Talenti i sezonit 2011-2012"" [Bekim Balaj is given the award "Talent of the 2011-2012 season"] (in Albanian). Gazeta Shqip. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  11. Ergis Tafalla (19 August 2015). "Skënderbeu-Dinamo Zagreb 1-2. "Ujqërit e dëborës" humbin raundin e parë në Elbasan Arena" [Skënderbeu-Dinamo Zagreb 1-2. "Snow wolves" loses the first round at Elbasan Arena] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  12. Ergis Tafalla (18 May 2016). "Ngriti titullin kampion të 6-të radhazi, Shkëmbi "var këpucët në gozhdë"" [Lifted the 6th consecutive championship tille, Shkëmbi "hangs up his boots"] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  13. Sotir Kora (18 May 2016). "Lamtumira e kampionit, Shkëmbi tërhiqet nga futbolli" [Farewell of captain, Shkëmbi retires from football] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  14. Bledi Shkëmbi | National Football Teams 19 August 2015, Retrieved on 19 August 2015
  15. "ZYRTARE: Bledi Shkëmbi trajner i KF Lirisë" [OFFICIAL: Bledi Shkëmbi manager of KF Liria] (in Albanian). Lajmi.net. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  16. "Bledi Shkëmbi ofron dorëheqjen nga Liria, mesazh kryetarit të klubit" [Bledi Shkëmbi offers the resignation from Liria, a message to club's chairman] (in Albanian). Telegrafi.com. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  17. "Zeka ndëshkon ish-skuadrën, Liria ngjitet" [Zeka punishes ex-team, Liria climbs] (in Albanian). Borozani.com. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  18. "Bledi Shkëmbi largohet nga Liria" [Bledi Shkëmbi flees from Liria] (in Albanian). GazetaExpress. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  19. "EKSKLUZIVE/ Dikur futbollist, Shkëmbi rikthehet tek ish-skuadra si… trajner" [EXCLUSIVE/ Once footballer, Shkëmbi returns to ex-team as… manager] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  20. "Football : Bledi Shkëmbi". Football DataBase. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  21. "Football PLAYER: Bledi Shkëmbi". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
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