Elvis Sina

Elvis Sina (born 14 November 1978) is an Albanian former soccer-player. He has successfully played for Tirana in the Albanian Superliga, and for the Albania national team. He began his career as a midfielder,[1] but as the years passed he was utilized in defence firstly as right-back and later as a center-back.

Elvis Sina
Personal information
Full name Elvis Sina
Date of birth (1978-11-14) 14 November 1978
Place of birth Tirana, Albania
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2006 Tirana 261 (8)
2006–2007 Elbasani 25 (1)
2007–2008 Tirana 24 (0)
2008–2009 Dinamo Tirana 30 (0)
2009–2014 Tirana 107 (0)
Total 447 (9)
International career‡
1994 Albania U16 2 (0)
1996 Albania U18 2 (0)
1997–1999 Albania U21 11 (0)
2002–2005 Albania 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 June 2012
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 May 2010

Sina is the most-capped player in the history of Tirana with more than 470 appearances in all competitions.[2]

Club career

Sina began his professional career with Tirana in 1996 and by the age of 19 he became a key first team player, helping his side win the Albanian Superliga 6 times, Albanian Cup 4 times and Albanian Supercup 5 times. He left the club in 2006 in favour of signing with other top flight side Elbasani.[1] With his new side Sina played 25 league matches and scored one goal, the second of a 2–0 win versus Flamurtari Vlorë.[3] He only spent one season at Elbasani before heading back to Tirana for the 2007–08 season.

On 7 May 2008, Tirana lost the 2008 Albanian Cup Final match to Vllaznia Shkodër with Sina playing only in the first half.[4] After the end of the match, Sina along with two teammates were suspended by the club with the suspicion of match-fixing which subsequently lead to his second departure from the club.[5]

On 9 June 2008, Sina moved to Tirana's fierce local rivals Dinamo Tirana in the summer of 2008 where he won the Albanian Supercup in his only season at the club before once again returning to Tirana for his third stint in 2009.[6]

Sina returned for a second time at Tirana in August 2009 by signing as a free agent.[7][5] He played 27 league matches in his return season, which was cut-short in April 2010 when Sina suffered a nose injury and was forced to remain sidelined for the rest of the season.[8]

In July 2012, ahead of the 2012–13 season, manager Julián Rubio decided to strip Sina of captaincy in favour of goalkeeper Ilion Lika.[9]

On 8 April 2014, Sina announced that he will retired at the end of 2013–14 season at the age of 35.[10] In the last match of the season against Besa Kavajë, Sina was set to play the last match of his career, but this did not happen because Besa Kavajë didn't appear to play, forcing FSHF to award Tirana with a 3–0 victory.[11] However, for Sina, a farewell ceremony was held to celebrate his career, which was organised by Tirana.[12]

In his last season, Sina played 15 matches as his side assured mathematically survival on 3 May 2014, during the 2–2 away draw against Flamurtari Vlorë, where Sina was an unused substitute.[13][14]

International career

Sina made his debut for the national team in a 1–1 draw against Switzerland on 12 October 2002 whilst playing for KF Tirana. He came on as a late substitute for Ervin Fakaj in the 89th minute of the game.[15] His next international game was only 4 days away against Russia in Volgograd. Sina once again came on as a substitute but this time it was on the 60th minute mark, he replaced Fatmir Vata when the score was 4–1 to the Russians, Sina's presence on the field was shown as Russia did not manage to score again after he had entered the field.[16]

The defender earned his next cap in a friendly against Poland on 29 May 2005. It was his first game under the guidance of new coach Hans-Peter Briegel. He came on replacing midfielder Klodian Duro in the 78th minute of the game.[17] Sina's next appearance was a 2006 World Cup qualifier against Denmark on 8 June 2005. Just like his first cap this one was earned through a cameo appearance as he came on in the 92nd minute for midfielder Redi Jupi.[18]

Sina's last national team cap to date was a friendly in Tirana against Azerbaijan on 17 August 2005. Besides being his last cap, it was also his first start for the national team and the first time he had ever won an international game. He started the match in midfield and came off after an impressive game in the 90th minute for Kosovan born Armend Dallku.[19]

Director career

On 9 September 2015, Sina was named the new director of Tirana's academy following the departure of Ardian Mema, another club legend.[20]

Career statistics

Club

Source:[21][22][23]

Club statistics
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tirana 1996–97 Albanian Superliga 7000——70
1997–98 31100——311
1998–99 28110——291
1999–2000 252002[lower-alpha 1]0—272
2000–01 210702[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0310
2001–02 230502[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 2]1311
2002–03 250202[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 2]0300
2003–04 344214[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]1416
2004–05 340213[lower-alpha 1]000391
2005–06 330104[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0390
2006–07 00004[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 2]050
Total 26182022306231012
Elbasani 2006–07 Albanian Superliga 25100——251
Tirana 2007–08 Albanian Superliga 240102[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0280
Dinamo Tirana 2008–09 Albanian Superliga 300502[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0380
2009–10 00001[lower-alpha 4]0—10
Total 300503010390
Tirana 2009–10 Albanian Superliga 27030——300
2010–11 290504[lower-alpha 4]0—380
2011–12 200130001[lower-alpha 2]0340
2012–13 160102[lower-alpha 4]01[lower-alpha 2]0200
2013–14 15020——170
Total 107024060201360
Career total 447950234010253813
  1. All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  2. Appearance in Albanian Supercup
  3. All appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
  4. All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

International

Source:[23][24]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Albania 200220
200530
Total50

Honours
Tirana[23]
Dinamo Tirana[23]

References
  1. "Mesfushori Elvis Sina te Elbasani" [Midfielder Sina at Elbasani]. Albania Sport (in Albanian). Arkiva Shqiptare e Lajmeve. 29 August 2006. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  2. "Elvis Sina" (in Albanian). KF Tirana Facebook. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. "Flmurtari 0-2 Elbasani". Football Database. 2 December 2006. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  4. "Vllaznia fiton Kupën, vendos dinaku "Deda"" [Vllaznia wins the cup, the sly Deda decides] (in Albanian). Arkiva Shqiptare e Lajmeve. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  5. "Zyrtare, Sina te Tirana, sot zbret ne stervitje" [Official, Sina to Tirana, today on training] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. 25 August 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  6. "Elvis Sina firmos për Dinamon" [Elvis Sina signs for Dinamo] (in Albanian). Arkiva Shqiptare e Lajmeve. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  7. "Sina: I lumtur që u ktheva në shtëpi" [Sina: Happy to return home] (in Albanian). Lajme. 25 August 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  8. "Tirana/ Sina demtohet dhe mbyll sezonin para kohe" [Tirana/ Sina injured and ends the season early] (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  9. "Tirana/ Ilion Lika kapiteni i ri i bardhebluve" [Tirana/ Ilion Lika the new captain of white&blues] (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  10. Leonard Karaj (9 April 2014). ""Blindohet" Gilberto, do rinovojë për 10 mijë dollarë. Sina do të tërhiqet në fund të sezonit" [Gilberto "armoured", will renew for $10,000. Sina will retire at the end of the season] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  11. "Mbrojtësi i Tiranës, Elvis Sina do të varë sot "këpucët në goxhdë"" [Tirana's defender, Elvis Sina will hang his boots today] (in Albanian). Ora News. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  12. "Sina, ceremoni lamtumire para ndeshjes me Besën" [Sina, farewell ceremony before the match with Besa] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  13. Kora, Sotir (4 May 2014). "Tirona siguron mbijetesën" [Tirana secure the survival] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  14. Ermal Sika (4 May 2014). "Barazim në Vlorë, mbijeton Tirana. Magani: Tani që ia dolëm, jam i gatshëm që të rinovoj" [A draw at Vlora, Tirana survives. Magani: Now that we made it, i'm ready to renew] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  15. Albania 1-1 Switzerland
  16. Russia 4-1 Albania
  17. Poland 1-0 Albania
  18. Denmark 3-1 Albania
  19. Albania 2-1 Azerbaijan
  20. "Elvis Sina, drejtor akademie te Tirana" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  21. Elvis Sina at Soccerway. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  22. "Football : Elvis Sina". Football Database. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  23. "Elvis Sina". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  24. "Elvis Sina - national football team player". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
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