Samir Ujkani

Samir Ujkani (born 5 July 1988) is a Kosovo Albanian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Italian club Torino and captains the Kosovo national team. He previously represented Albania at youth and full international level.

Samir Ujkani

Samir Ujkani with Novara in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Samir Ujkani
Date of birth	5 July 1988
Place of birth	Vushtrri, SAP Kosovo, FR Yugoslavia
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team	Torino
Number	18
Youth career
2001–2006	Ingelmunster
2006–2007	Anderlecht
2007–2008	Palermo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2015	Palermo	34	(0)
2009–2012	→ Novara (loan)	86	(0)
2013	→ Chievo (loan)	0	(0)
2015–2017	Genoa	0	(0)
2016	→ Latina (loan)	21	(0)
2016–2017	→ Pisa (loan)	35	(0)
2017–2018	Cremonese	37	(0)
2018–2019	Çaykur Rizespor	1	(0)
2019	→ Çaykur Rizespor U21	0	(0)
2019–	Torino	1	(0)
National team^‡
2007–2009	Albania U21	6	(0)
2008–2014	Albania	20	(0)
2014–	Kosovo	27	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 July 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 September 2020

Early life

Ujkani was born in Resnik, a village near Vushtrri, Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo, at the time part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. His family then moved to Belgium six years after his birth.[2]

Club career

Youth clubs

At the age of thirteen, Ujkani enrolled into Ingelmunster, spending six years there before moving to Anderlecht. The Anderlecht football academy has a reputation of producing talented goalkeepers such as Jacky Munaron.[3] Ujkani played until June 2007 for the Anderlecht Under-19s, and made also ten appearances with their reserves team. In June 2007, he agreed to sign a five-year contract with Palermo of the Italian Serie A.[2]

Palermo

Since then, Ujkani served as unused bench in two UEFA Cup matches for Palermo, and several Serie A matches as well. He was confirmed as third-choice goalkeeper for the Rosanero's 2008–09 season, and later promoted as second goalkeeper after the club chose to transfer-list veteran goalkeeper Alberto Fontana.

On 26 April 2009, Ujkani made his professional debut with Palermo, replacing injured Marco Amelia during a Serie A match against Milan at the San Siro.[4] His performance was congratulated from Kaká at the end of the match.[5] In July 2009, he was loaned out to Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Novara in exchange with Giacomo Brichetto, also in order to gain first team experience.[6]

On 14 June 2012, Palermo owner Maurizio Zamparini confirmed that Ujkani will be playing on Palermo for the 2012–13 season.[7][8] On 22 June 2012, Palermo announced from their website to have re-acquired the full transfer rights of Ujkani and fellow Novara player Michel Morganella.[9]

For Palermo's 2013–14 season, spent in Serie B after its previous season's relegation, he was used as a second-choice goalkeeper – receiving playing time – and being praised for his development relative to his previous stint with Palermo. During December and January 2014, he became temporary first-choice to cover for the injured Stefano Sorrentino. His contract with Palermo expired 30 June 2015.

Loan at Novara

Ujkani immediately cemented his place as Novara's first-choice goalkeeper. He was a pivotal and influential member of squad, helping promote Novara from the Lega Pro Prima Divisione to the Serie B in the 2009–10 season, marking a 33-year return for the club to Serie B.[10] This prompted Novara to ask for an extension to his loan, which was agreed by Palermo in July 2010.[11]

Ujkani helped Novara reach promotion in 2010–11 to Serie A after a 55-year absence.[12] On 31 January 2011, Palermo announced it had sold 50% of Ujkani's transfer rights to Novara, along with Michel Morganella (both tagged for €1.5 million),[13] as part of a bid involving striker Pablo González (€5 million).[14]

Ujkani has been a crucial member of the squad in the Serie A, helping Novara beat Internazionale home and away when Ujkani pulled off a point-blank save to deny Giampaolo Pazzini and held off Wesley Sneijder when he struck the free-kick from a dangerous position.[15] He also helped Novara secure a draw against Napoli.

From 16 October 2011, Ujkani sustained a broken nose and lost four teeth when he collided with teammate Michel Morganella against Bologna. Being one of the fan favourites, then Andrea Ballarè, the Mayor of Novara visited Ujkani in hospital.[16] Ujkani returned on 5 December in a match against Lazio.

Loan at Chievo

After the arrival of goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino at Palermo, Ujkani moved on loan to Chievo on 29 January 2013.[17] In his short stint there, he did not play a single game, serving as back-up to Christian Puggioni, and was not acquired by the Verona-based club, thus making his return to Palermo by the end of season.

Genoa

On 19 July 2015, Genoa announced the signing of Ujkani on a free transfer,[18][19] he did not play a single game.

Loan at Latina

On 8 January 2016, Ujkani joined Serie B side Latina on loan.[20] On 16 January 2016, he made his debut in a 1–0 home defeat against former club Novara after being named in the starting line-up.

Loan at Pisa

On 11 July 2016, Ujkani joined Serie B side Pisa on loan. On 7 August 2016, he made his debut with Pisa in the second round of 2016–17 Coppa Italia against Brescia after being named in the starting line-up.

Cremonese

On 14 July 2017. Ujkani signed with the newly promoted team of Serie B side Cremonese.[21] On 6 August 2017, he made his debut with Cremonese in the second round of 2017–18 Coppa Italia against Virtus Entella after being named in the starting line-up.

Çaykur Rizespor

On 18 July 2018. Ujkani signed with the newly promoted team of Süper Lig side Çaykur Rizespor, on a three-year contract.[22] On 26 September 2018, he made his debut for Çaykur Rizespor in the third round of the 2018–19 Turkish Cup against Tarsus Idman Yurdu after being named in the starting line-up.[23]

From the beginning of 2019, Ujkani was excluded from the first team squad alongside 4 other foreign players and moved down to the U21 squad.[24][25]

International career

Albania

Ujkani received an Albanian passport in summer 2007 and started playing for the Albania U21. He made his debut on 1 June in a European qualification match against Italy U21. On 6 October 2008, he received his first senior call-up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification qualifying matches with Hungary and Portugal.[26] He made his full senior debut on 10 June 2009 in a 1–1 draw with Georgia in Albania.[27] Ujkani lost his starting place to Etrit Berisha during the 2014 World Cup qualification.

Kosovo

On 2 March 2014. Ujkani received a call-up from Kosovo for the first permitted by FIFA match against Haiti[28] and made his debut after being named in the starting line-up.

Career statistics

Club

As of 26 September 2018[25]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other[lower-alpha 1]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Palermo	2007–08	Serie A	0	0	0	0	—				0	0
	2008–09		1	0	0	0	—				1	0
	2012–13		19	0	1	0	—				20	0
	2013–14	Serie B	11	0	0	0	—				11	0
	2014–15	Serie A	3	0	1	0	—				4	0
	Total		34	0	2	0	—				36	0
Novara (loan)	2009–10	Lega Pro Prima Divisione	23	0	3	0	—		1	0	27	0
	2010–11	Serie B	39	0	1	0	—				40	0
	2011–12	Serie A	24	0	2	0	—				26	0
Chievo (loan)	2012–13		0	0	0	0	—				0	0
	Total		86	0	6	0	—				94	0
Genoa	2015–16	Serie A	0	0	0	0	—				0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	—				0	0
Latina (loan)	2015–16	Serie B	21	0	0	0	—				21	0
Pisa (loan)	2016–17		35	0	3	0	—				38	0
	Total		56	0	3	0	—				59	0
Cremonese	2017–18	Serie B	37	0	1	0	—				38	0
	Total		37	0	1	0	—				38	0
Çaykur Rizespor	2018–19	Süper Lig	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Career total			213	0	13	0	0	0	1	0	228	0

1. Including other competitions, such as Supercoppa di Serie C

International

As of 10 October 2019[29]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Albania
	2009	4	0
	2010	1	0
	2011	8	0
	2012	5	0
	2013	2	0
Total		20	0
Kosovo
	2014	2	0
	2015	2	0
	2016	5	0
	2017	7	0
	2018	8	0
	2019	2	0
Total		26	0

References

1. "Samir Ujkani". torinofc.it.
2. "Migliaccio e Ujkani i primi acquisti del Palermo". US Città di Palermo. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
3. Jean-Paul Bonomi (6 February 2010). "Ujkani: "Novara? Città molto tranquilla, super-organizzata e… la società di calcio è fantastica!"". oknovara.it. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
4. "Esordio di Ujkani in Serie A". US Città di Palermo. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
5. http://news.al/lajme/artikull/iden/236101/titulli/Ujkani-Kaka-me-pergezoi Ujkani : Kaka me pergezoi ne fund te ndeshjes
6. "NEWS: ARRIVA SAMIR UJKANI" (in Italian). Novara Calcio. 24 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
7. "Zamparini e konfirmon: Ujkani portier i ri i Palermos" (in Albanian). asport. 14 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
8. "Samir Ujkani happy to be staying with Palermo". tribalfootball. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
9. "MOVIMENTI DI MERCATO" [MARKET MOVEMENTS] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
10. "La storia" (in Italian). Novara Calcio. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
11. "MOVIMENTI IN USCITA DEL PALERMO" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
12. "Novara seal return to Serie A". Archived from the original on 24 May 2012.
13. "Bilancio Palermo 2010/11: utile grazie a Cavani e Kjaer" (in Italian). ju29ro.com. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
14. "ACQUISTATO PABLO ANDRES GONZALEZ" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
15. AP (12 February 2012). "Inter Milan slip up against lowly Novara". Aljazeera. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
16. "Il Sindaco in visita a Ujkani ricoverato al "Maggiore"" (in Italian). andreaballare. 4 March 2012. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
17. "UJKANI CEDUTO AL CHIEVO, CETTO SI TRASFERISCE AL SAN LORENZO" [UJKANI SOLD AT CHIEVO, CETTO MOVES IN SAN LORENZO] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
18. "IL GRIFONE PRENDE SAMIR UJKANI" (in Italian). Genoa C.F.C. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
19. "Serie A TIM - Calcio mercato". legaseriea.it. Lega Nazionale Professionisti. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015.
20. "Ujkani è nerazzurro" (in Italian). U.S. Latina Calcio. January 2016. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
21. "Croce e Ujkani nuovi innesti grigiorossi" (in Italian). Cremonese. 14 July 2017.
22. "Ujkani Çaykur Rizespor'da" [Ujkani in Çaykur Rizespor] (in Turkish). Çaykur Rizespor. 18 July 2017.
23. "Çaykur Rizespor 2-0 Tarsus İdman Yurdu" (in Turkish). Çaykur Rizespor. 26 September 2018.
24. Okan Buruk: Emin adımlarla yolumuza devam etmek istiyoruz, fanatik.com.tr, 31 January 2019
25. "Samir Ujkani". Soccerway.
26. "Albania: Ujkani convocato nazionale "A"" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
27. "Albania vs. Georgia". soccerway.com. Perform Group. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
28. "Kosova shpall listën anti-Haiti". Albeu (in Albanian). 2 March 2014.
29. "Samir Ujkani". EU-football.info.

External links

• Samir Ujkani at Soccerway
• Samir Ujkani – FIFA competition record