Ilir Bozhiqi

Ilir Bozhiqi (born 22 May 1965 in Qyteti Stalin) is an Albanian retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Dinamo Tirana.

Ilir Bozhiqi
Personal information
Date of birth (1965-05-22) 22 May 1965
Place of birth Kuçovë, Albania
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1985 Naftëtari Qyteti Stalin
1985–1991 Dinamo Tirana
1991–1995 FC Braşov 57 (0)
1995–1996 Tractorul Brașov
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Bozhiqi started his career with hometown club Naftëtari Qyteti Stalin, before moving to Dinamo Tirana, with whom he won two league titles and two Albanian cups in six years.[1] He played in the infamous promotion/relegation playoff match in Qyteti Stalin against his former club Naftëtari in June 1988,[2] which ended in riots and burning of the Dinamo team bus and led to the suspension of Naftëtari from playing football for a year.[3]

He was the first foreign goalkeeper to play in the Romanian football.[4] He transferred from Dinamo Tirana to FC Braşov in 1991, where he stayed for four seasons, before moving to another Romanian team Tractorul Braşov in 1995.[5] In his spell at FC Braşov he came up to 57 caps in the first division, although having tough competition from teammates Şanta, Todericiu and Adrian Ene. In this time he also learned Romanian language, saying a in visit back there: "The time spent in Romania was the most beautiful of my career. I can not forget Braşov and the colleagues that I had, starting from Şanta and Ene, up to Săvoiu and Marian Ivan."[4]

Retirement

He is now goalkeeper coach at the Albanian national football team and at Skënderbeu Korcë. He also worked for Dinamo as a coach from 1997 to 2012.

Honours
1986, 1990 [6]

References
  1. Rrëfimi i Ilir Bozhiqit: Këtë mund ta quani sezoni i portierëve - Panorama (in Albanian)
  2. Revolta e Kuçovës 30 vjet më parë, rrëfehet Bozhiqi: Babai më tha të mos luaja! - Panorama (in Albanian)
  3. Speciale/ Revolta e Kuçovës, 30 vjet nga ndeshja që shkundi sistemin monist - Panorama (in Albanian)
  4. Stranierii din campionatul Romaniei (II) : sezonul 1991-1992
  5. The foreign footballers who played in Divizia A - Romanian Soccer
  6. Albania - Championship Winning Teams - RSSSF


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