Agim Zeka

Agim Sali Zeka[1] (born 6 September 1998) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Albanian club Erzeni.[4]

Agim Zeka
Personal information
Full name Agim Sali Zeka[1]
Date of birth (1998-09-06) 6 September 1998
Place of birth Pristina, FR Yugoslavia[2]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position(s) Right winger
Team information
Current team
 Erzeni
Number 11
Youth career
2004–2016 Prishtina
2015 → KEK (loan)
2016 Skënderbeu Korçë
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Skënderbeu Korçë 3 (0)
2017–2020 Lille B 24 (1)
2018 → Varzim (loan) 2 (1)
2018–2019 → Leixões (loan) 3 (0)
2019 → Fortuna Sittard (loan) 5 (1)
2020–2021 Mouscron 0 (0)
2021 Austria Wien 11 (1)
2021–2022 Drita 6 (0)
2022 Prishtina 9 (1)
2022–2023 Drenica 25 (3)
2023– Erzeni 8 (1)
International career‡
2014 Albania U17 3 (1)
2016 Albania U19 3 (3)
2017 Albania U20 1 (0)
2017–2019 Albania U21 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 June 2019

Club career

Early career and Skënderbeu Korçë

Zeka at the age of six started playing football in Prishtina, where he has played in all age groups. In January 2015, due to ignorance by the Prishtina's staff, Zeka was loaned to the youth team of KEK, where after the end of the loan, he returned to Prishtina until January 2016, where he joined the U19 team of the Albanian club Skënderbeu Korçë.[5] On 21 February 2016, Zeka made his debut with Skënderbeu Korçë U19 in a league match against Besa Kavajë U19 after coming on as a substitute at 42nd minute in place of Andis Foto and scored his side's second goal during a 9–0 home win.[6]

Promotion to the first team

In 2016–17 season, Zeka is promoted to the first team of Skënderbeu Korçë, which competed in the Kategoria Superiore, which is the top tier of football in the country. On 28 September 2016, he made his debut with Skënderbeu Korçë in the 2016–17 Albanian Cup first round against Butrinti after being named in the starting line-up.[7]

Lille B

On 31 January 2017, Zeka signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Championnat de France Amateur club Lille B.[8] Lille B reportedly paid a €300K transfer fee to Skënderbeu Korçë and also the later kept 20% of his card.[9] Four days later, he made his debut in a 0–1 home defeat against L'Entente after being named in the starting line-up.[10]

Loan to Varzim

On 9 January 2018, Zeka joined LigaPro side Varzim, on a season-long loan.[11] Five days later, he made his debut in a 2–1 away defeat against Vitória Guimarães B after coming on as a substitute at 83rd minute in place of Mário Sérgio.[12] One month after debut, Zeka scored his first goal for Varzim in his second appearance for the club in a 2–3 away win over Penafiel in LigaPro.[13]

Loan to Leixões

On 8 August 2018, Zeka joined LigaPro side Leixões, on a season-long loan.[14] Three days later, he made his debut in a 2–1 away defeat against Benfica B after coming on as a substitute at 73rd minute in place of Erivaldo.[15]

Loan to Fortuna Sittard

On 28 January 2019, Zeka joined Eredivisie side Fortuna Sittard, on a season-long loan.[16] Fourteen days later, he made his debut, but with U21 team in a 0–2 home defeat against PEC Zwolle U21 after being named in the starting line-up.[17] On 12 May 2019, he made his first team debut in a 3–0 away defeat against Groningen after coming on as a substitute at 76th minute in place of Mark Diemers.[18]

Mouscron

On 1 August 2020, Lille B announced the transfer of Zeka to Belgian side Mouscron.[19] In same day later, the club confirmed that he had joined on a one year contract.[20] He was named as a Mouscron substitute, twice in August for league games against Antwerp (seven days after joining),[21] and Mechelen (six days later),[22] but was an unused substitute in these matches which were the last he was called up by the team.

Austria Wien

On 20 January 2021, Zeka joined Austrian Bundesliga side Austria Wien and received squad number 23.[23] Seventeen days later, he made his debut with Austria Wien in the 2020–21 Austrian Cup quarter-finals against Red Bull Salzburg after coming on as a substitute at 86th minute in place of Stephan Zwierschitz.[24] Zeka made his first Austrian Bundesliga appearance four days later after coming on as a substitute at 82nd minute in place of Andreas Poulsen in a 3–1 away defeat again against Red Bull Salzburg.[25]

Spells in Kosovo

On 1 August 2021, Zeka signed a two-year contract with Football Superleague of Kosovo club Drita.[26] In January 2022, he then moved to fellow league club FC Prishtina.[27] On September 6, 2022, Zeka moved to KF Drenica.[28]

International career

Under-17

On 6 October 2014, Zeka was named as part of the Albania U17 squad for 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifications.[29] Two days later, he made his debut with Albania U17 in a match against Norway U17 after being named in the starting line-up.[30] Five days after debut, Zeka scored his first goal for Albania U17 in his third appearance for the country in a 5–1 home win over San Marino U17.[31]

Under-19

On 30 September 2016, Zeka was named as part of the Albania U19 squad for 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifications.[32] Six days later, he made his debut with Albania U19 in a match against Republic of Ireland U19 after being named in the starting line-up.[33] Two days after debut, Zeka scored his first goals for Albania U19 in his second appearance for the country in a 2–3 home defeat over Germany U19,[34] he had the same fate three days later when scored a goal in a 1–0 home minimal win over Gibraltar U19.[35]

Under-21 and Under-20

On 2 June 2017, Zeka received an urgent call-up from Albania U21 for the friendly match against France U21 and 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification opening match against Estonia U21 to replace one of the three injured players.[36] Three days later, he made his debut with Albania U21 in friendly match against France U21 after coming on as a substitute at 52nd minute in place of Elvir Maloku.[37] Five month later, Zeka received a call-up from Albania U20 for the friendly match against Georgia U20,[38] and made his debut after being named in the starting line-up.[39]

Career statistics

Club
As of 1 August 2021[3]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Skënderbeu Korçë 2016–17 Kategoria Superiore 3030—60
Lille B 2016–17 Championnat National 2 11000—110
2017–18 9100—90
Varzim (loan) 2017–18 LigaPro 2100—21
Leixões (loan) 2018–19 3000—30
Fortuna Sittard (loan) 2018–19 Eredivisie 10006[lower-alpha 1]272
2019–20 40114[lower-alpha 1]293
Lille B 2019–20 Championnat National 2 4000—40
Total 37241104516
Mouscron 2020–21 Belgian First Division A 0000—00
Austria Wien 2020–21 Austrian Bundesliga 101101[lower-alpha 2]0121
Total 1011010121
Drita 2021–22 Kosovo Superleague 0000—00
Career total 47351114637
  1. All appearance(s) with Fortuna Sittard U21
  2. Appearance in 2020–21 Austrian Bundesliga Europa Conference League play-offs

References
  1. "Presidenti Nishani, nënshtetësi 5 talenteve të U-17" [President Nishani, citizenship of 5 U-17 talents] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 21 February 2014.
  2. "Agim Zeka, djaloshi nga Prishtina që po çmend të gjithë me golat e tij me fanellën kuqezi (Video)" [Agim Zeka, the guy from Prishtina who is driving everyone crazy with his goals with the red and black jersey (Video)] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 11 October 2016.
  3. Agim Zeka at Soccerway
  4. Agim Zeka at Soccerway
  5. "Zbulohet e vërteta e hidhur: Ja pse u largua Agim Zeka nga Prishtina (VIDEO)" [The bitter truth is revealed: This is why Agim Zeka left Prishtina (VIDEO)]. Gazeta Olle (in Albanian). 1 February 2017. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019.
  6. "KF Skënderbeu 9:0 FC Besa" (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 21 February 2016.
  7. "Skënderbeu ndalet në Sarandë, por shkëlqen përforcimi bardheblu" [Skënderbeu stops in Saranda, but the white and blue reinforcement shines]. NewSport (in Albanian). 28 September 2016.
  8. "Avec Zeka, le LOSC prépare l'avenir" [With Zeka, LOSC prepares for the future] (in French). Lille OSC. 31 January 2017.
  9. "Agim Zeka zyrtarizohet te Lila, tjetër sukses për Skënderbeun" [Agim Zeka is made official at Lille, another success for Skënderbeu] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 31 January 2017. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017.
  10. "Lille B vs. Entente SSG 0–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  11. "OFICIAL: Lille empresta médio ao Varzim" [OFFICER: Lille loans midfielder to Varzim]. Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 9 January 2018.
  12. "Vitória Guimarães II vs. Varzim 2–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  13. "Penafiel vs. Varzim 2–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  14. "Lille prête encore Agim Zeka" [Lille ready yet Agim Zeka] (in French). L'Équipe. 8 August 2018.
  15. "Benfica B vs. Leixões 2–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  16. "Fortuna haalt Albanese aanvaller Zeka" [Fortuna gets Albanian attacker Zeka] (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. 28 January 2019.
  17. "Fortuna Sittard Sub 21 vs PEC Zwolle Sub 21". BeSoccer. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  18. "Groningen vs. Fortuna Sittard 3–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  19. "Agim Zeka s'en va à Mouscron" [Agim Zeka goes to Mouscron] (in French). Lille OSC. 1 August 2020.
  20. "Agim Zeka est au Canonnier" [Agim Zeka is at the Gunner] (in French). Royal Excel Mouscron. 1 August 2020.
  21. "Antwerp vs. Excel Mouscron 1–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  22. "Excel Mouscron vs. Mechelen 0–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  23. "Austria verpflichtet Offensivspieler Agim Zeka" [Austria signs offensive player Agim Zeka] (in German). FK Austria Wien. 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021.
  24. "Salzburg vs. Austria Vienna 2–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  25. "Salzburg vs. Austria Vienna 3–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  26. "Drita shpërthen 'bombën', zyrtarizojnë Agim Zekën" [The light explodes the 'bomb', make Agim Zeka official]. Gazeta Olle (in Albanian). 1 August 2021.
  27. Agim Zeka rikthehet në shtëpi..., facebook.com, 20 January 2022
  28. Agim Zeka, mirë se erdhe në familjën Kuq e Zi 🦅❤️🖤..., facebook.com, 2 September 2022
  29. "Kombëtarja U-17, gati per Eliminatoret" [National U-17 team, ready for the Eliminators] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 6 October 2014.
  30. "Norvegji U17 3:0 Shqipëri U17" [Norway U17 3:0 Albania U17] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 8 October 2014.
  31. "Shqipëri U17 5:1 San Marino U17" [Albania U17 5:1 San Marino U17] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 13 October 2014.
  32. "Grumbullohet ekipi kombëtar U-19" [The national U-19 team is assembled] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 30 September 2016. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017.
  33. "Albania U19 vs. Republic of Ireland U19 0–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  34. "Germany U19 vs. Albania U19 3–2". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  35. "Gibraltar U19 vs. Albania U19 0–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  36. "Tronditet kombëtarja U-21, dëmtohen tre titullarë. Thirren me urgjencë Lushkja dhe Zeka" [The national U-21 team is shaken, three starters are injured. Lushkja and Zeka are called urgently] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 2 June 2017.
  37. "Albania–France 0:3 (U21 Friendlies 2017, June)". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  38. "U-21, Bushi ne konference per shtyp" [U-21, Bushi at the press conference] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 6 November 2017.
  39. "U-20, humbet ndeshjen miqësore në Gjeorgji" [U-20, loses friendly match in Georgia] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 14 November 2017.
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