Ardit Hoxhaj

Ardit Hoxhaj (born 20 July 1994) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a striker for AF Elbasani.[1]

Ardit Hoxhaj
Personal information
Full name Ardit Hoxhaj
Date of birth (1994-07-20) 20 July 1994
Place of birth Vlorë, Albania
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Vllaznia Shkodër
Number 27
Youth career
2010–2012 Flamurtari
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Flamurtari 1 (0)
2013–2014 Himara 12 (0)
2014–2016 Bylis 56 (12)
2016–2019 Skënderbeu 10 (0)
2017 → Korabi (loan) 15 (0)
2017–2018 → Flamurtari (loan) 27 (2)
2019 Ferizaj 8 (1)
2019–2020 Flamurtari 33 (8)
2020–2023 Vllaznia Shkodër 94 (20)
International career
2014 Albania U19 1 (0)
2016 Albania U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 April 2023

Club career

Hoxhaj started his career with Flamurtari in 2011. In the 2011–12 season, he was part of under-19 squad. In the 2012–13 season as well he played for under-19 side[2] but also featured in the first team under coach Julián Rubio debuting in both competition Kategoria Superiore and Cup during the October 2012 and participating also in other 3 league matches and 1 in cup as an unused substitute.[1]

On 21 June 2016, Hoxhaj was sent on trial to PAS Giannina of Superleague Greece.[3] He successfully passed the trial; however, he did not sign a contract with the club due to high economic demand of Bylis.[4]

On 6 September 2016, Hoxhaj completed a transfer to Skënderbeu for an undisclosed fee, signing a contract until June 2019.[5] His spell at the club was marred by his lack playing time, having appear only five times in the first part of the season, including two appearances in league, both as substitute, failing thus to make an impact.

On 22 January 2017, Hoxhaj agreed personal terms and signed a two-year contract with Korabi, taking the vacant squad number 11.[6] This turned out to be a fraud, however, as Hoxhaj joined Korabi only on loan until the end of the season.[7] He made his debut in team's 0–1 home defeat to Laçi,[8] as he went on to play 14 more appearances, all of them as starter, failing to score, as Korabi finished the season in the last spot with only 13 points, returning to Kategoria e Parë after one season.

On 10 June 2017, Hoxhaj returned to Flamurtari after four years on a long-season loan deal.[7] He was presented six days later where his transfer was made official, stating: I'm happy to be back home. I'll give the maximum for my city's team.[9] He made his first appearance of the season on 16 September in the 3–1 home win over Lushnja.[10] He opened his scoring account later on 29 October by scoring the winner at Partizani.[11] It was his fourth goal against the capital club, thus making his favourite opponent to score against.[11] Hoxhaj played 27 league matches during the 2017–18 season, scoring twice, as Flamurtari finished in a disappointing 6th-place finish.[12]

Hoxhaj returned to his parent club Skënderbeu in June 2018.[13] Having not played since May 2018, he made his first appearance of the season on 26 September by scoring in a 4–0 home win against Veleçiku in the second leg of 2018–19 Albanian Cup first round; he was forced to abandon the match once again due to another injury.[14] On 5 February of the following year, Hoxhaj announced his departure from the club, citing the lack of first team appearances as the main reason, thus becoming a free agent.[15] On the same day, he also announced that he has joined fellow top flight side Luftëtari.[15] However, due to the transfer being concluded five days after the end of winter transfer market, Hoxhaj become ineligible to play for his new side for the second half of 2018–19 season, as he was registered as Skënderbeu player.[16]

On 11 March 2019, Hoxhaj joined Kosovan club KF Ferizaj.[17]

On 17 August 2020, Vllaznia announced to have signed Hoxhaj on a one-year contract.[18]

International career

He was called up to the Albania under-21 team by coach Redi Jupi for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification closing match against Israel on 10 October 2016.[19] He debuted for the under-21 national side against Israel replacing Uendi Vecaj at half time in a 4–0 loss.[20]

Personal life

He has cited his role model and favourite footballer the Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, and he is also a fan of Italian club Milan.[21]

Career statistics
As of 2 February 2019[1]
Club statistics
Club Season League Cup Europe[lower-alpha 1] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Flamurtari 2012–13 Kategoria Superiore 1010—20
2013–14 0030—30
Total 1040—50
Himara 2013–14 Kategoria e Parë 120——120
Bylis 2014–15 Kategoria e Parë 25530—285
2015–16 31740—357
Total 561270—6312
Skënderbeu 2016–17 Kategoria Superiore 2030—50
2018–19 8121—102
Total 10151—152
Korabi (loan) 2016–17 Kategoria Superiore 150——150
Flamurtari (loan) 2017–18 Kategoria Superiore 27272—344
Luftëtari 2016–17 Kategoria Superiore 0000—00
Career total 12115222—14317
  1. Including continental competitions, such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League

Honours
Bylis[1]
Skënderbeu[1]

References
  1. Ardit Hoxhaj at Soccerway. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  2. "Ardit Hoxhaj profile". fshf.org (in Albanian). FSHF. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  3. Adi Metaliu (21 June 2016). "Ardit Hoxhaj, në provë te Pas Janina e Lilës" [Ardit Hoxhaj, on trial at Lila's Pas Giannina] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. "Ardit Hoxhaj, interes edhe nga Kroacia" [Ardit Hoxhaj, interest even from Croatia] (in Albanian). Minuta90.al. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. Sotir Kora (6 September 2016). "Hoxhaj zyrtarisht te Skënderbeu, firmos për 3 vite" [Hoxhaj officially at Skënderbeu, sign for three years] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  6. Erald Kodheli (22 January 2017). "Korabi përforcohet me Ardit Hoxhaj" [Korabi reinforced with Ardit Hoxhaj] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  7. "Ardit Hoxhaj kthehet te Flamurtari" [Ardit Hoxhaj returns to Flamurtari] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  8. "Korabi Peshkopi vs. Laçi 0 – 1". Soccerway. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  9. "Ardit Hoxhaj: Më bindi projekti, ky Flamurtar fiton trofe!" [Ardit Hoxhaj: The project convinced me, this Flamurtar wins trophies] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  10. "Flamurtari Vlorë vs. Lushnja 3 – 1". Soccerway. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  11. "Partizani-Flamurtari, Ardit Hoxhaj i bëhet makth Partizanit" [Partizani-Flamurtari, Ardit Hoxhaj becomes nightmare of Partizani] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  12. "RENDITJA/ Skënderbeu kampion, Vllaznia e Lushnja në "greminë". Shikoni tabelën përfundimtare" [RANKING/ Skënderbeu champion, Vllaznia and Lushnja in “abyss”. See the eventual table] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  13. "Skënderbeu, konfirmohet lojtari i parë që rikthehet nga huazimi" [Skënderbeu, the first player return from the loan confirmed] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  14. Llazi Saro (27 September 2018). "Rikthimi në fushë zgjat vetëm 65 minuta, Ardit Hoxhaj dëmtohet sërish" [The return on the field lasts only 65 minutes, Ardit Hoxhaj injured again] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  15. "Hoxhaj konfirmon ekipin e ri pas largimit nga Skënderbeu, por ka një problem…" [Hoxhaj confirms the new team following the departure from Skënderbeu, but there is a problem…] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  16. "Transferimi i Ardit Hoxhajt, "blof" i Luftëtarit?" [The transfer of Ardit Hoxhaj, “bluff” of Luftëtari?] (in Albanian). Sport Ekpres. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  17. Zyrtare: Ferizaj nënshkruan me Ardit Hoxhajn, telegrafi.com, 11 March 2019
  18. "FOTO – Vllaznia mbyll marrëveshjet dhe firmos me tre futbollistë për sezonin e ri…" [Vllaznia finishes the deals and signs with three footballers for the new season]. shkodraweb.com (in Albanian). 17 August 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  19. "FSHF skandal me Shpresat, fshihet lista e Kombëtares U-21" [AFA scandal with hopes, list of national under-21 is hidden] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  20. "Israel U21 vs. Albania U21 4 – 0". Soccerway. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  21. Gentjan Alinani (9 May 2016). ""Makthi" i Partizanit, Hoxhaj: Frymëzohem nga Ronaldo, jam milanist" [Partizani's “nightmare”, Hoxhaj: I'm inspired by Ronaldo, I'm a Milan fan] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
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