Idriz Batha

Idriz 'Idi' Refik Batha (born 28 March 1992) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Saudi First Division League club Al-Najma.[2][3]

Idriz Batha
Personal information
Full name Idriz Refik Batha
Date of birth (1992-03-28) 28 March 1992
Place of birth Gjirokastër, Albania
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Al-Najma
Number 19
Youth career
0000–2005 Partizani Tirana
2005–2011 Tirana[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Partizani Tirana 23 (3)
2012–2014 Besa Kavajë 35 (3)
2014 → Teuta Durrës (loan) 14 (2)
2014–2018 Partizani Tirana 125 (16)
2018–2019 Flamurtari 30 (4)
2019–2021 Tirana 63 (19)
2021–2023 UTA Arad 69 (1)
2023– Al-Najma 7 (0)
International career
2012–2014 Albania U21 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 October 2023

Club career

Early career

Born in the southern city of Gjirokastër, Batha moved to the capital Tiranë as a child where he joined the Partizani academy before moving to the academy of local rivals Tirana in 2005. He would remain at Tirana's academy until 2011, which is when he moved back to Partizani and signed his first professional contract at the age of 19. Partizani had been relegated to Kategoria e Dytë, the third-tier of Albanian football which is where Batha made his senior debut on 2 October 2011 in a 1–0 over Bilisht Sport.[4] He scored his first senior goals on 18 March 2012 against Albpetrol, scoring twice in the first half in the 2–0 win.[5] Batha helped Partizani finish top of the Kategoria e Dytë Group B table and achieve promotion back to Kategoria e Parë, before losing 3–1 to Group A winners Tërbuni in the Championship Final.[6]

Besa

Following an impressive season with Partizani in the third tier, Batha joined newly-promoted Kategoria Superiore side Besa in the summer of 2012, where he made his top-flight debut in the opening game against Laçi, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1–1 draw.[7] He scored his first top-flight goal on 10 March 2013 in a 2–1 win over Tirana, scoring in injury time to win the game for Besa.[8]

Teuta

While at Besa in January 2014 Batha went to Teuta on a short-term loan as Besa were struggling

Partizani

In the summer of 2O14 Batha agreed to return to Partizani on a free. On 11 November 2015, Batha extended his contract with Partizani Tirana for another three seasons, keeping him at the club until 2018.[9]

Flamurtari

He ran down his contract with Partizani but hadn't found a club yet so Partizani gave him a special 9-extra-day contract to find a club. He joined Flamurtari

Tirana

On 18 June 2019, Batha was unveiled as the new player of KF Tirana, signing a one-year contract with an option of a further one, worth €5,000 a month.[10] On 27 October, during the 3–0 win at Luftëtari Gjirokastër, Batha missed his first career penalty; his attempt was saved by Panagiotis Paiteris.[11] During the match against title rivals Kukësi at Arena Kombëtare, Batha scored a free-kick in the 85th minute that served as a temporarily equalizer in a eventual 2–1 win, sending Tirana top of the table for the first time this season.[12] The following week, Batha scored two penalties against his ex team Partizani in a 5–1 home win, helping Tirana record their biggest win over their city rivals since 2005.[13][14]

He was instrumental for his side in midfield during the 2019–20 Albanian Superliga season, scoring 10 goals in 33 appearances, a personal best, as Tirana won the championship title for the 25th time in their 100th anniversary.[15] In 2019–20 Albanian Cup, where Tirana reached the final,[16] Batha scored once in five appearances, collecting in total 38 appearances and 11 goals. On 8 August 2020, Tirana announced to have signed Batha on a new one-year contract.[17]

Batha took squad number 10 ahead of the 2020–21 season, which was last worn by Edon Hasani who departed the club.[18] On 19 August, he captained Tirana for the first time in their UEFA Champions League first qualifying round match against Dinamo Tbilisi, which ended in a 2–0 away win.[19]

UTA Arad

Batha joined UTA Arad of Romania in the summer of 2021 and due to UTA Arad's Albanian shareholders former Tirana teammate Erjon Hoxhallari joined him a year later. Both Batha and Hoxhallari left in the summer of 2023

Al-Najma

On 9 July 2023, Batha joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Najma.[20]

Career statistics
As of 2 October 2023[2]
Club Season League Cup Other[lower-alpha 1] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Partizani 2011–12 Kategoria e Dytë 23300—233
Besa 2012–13 Kategoria Superiore 20120—221
2013–14 15210—162
Total 35330—383
Teuta Durrës (loan) 2013–14 Kategoria Superiore 14230—172
Partizani Tirana 2014–15 Kategoria Superiore 31131—342
2015–16 3221020352
2016–17 3182170409
2017–18 3155220387
Total 1251611411014720
Flamurtari 2018–19 Kategoria Superiore 30430—334
Tirana 2019–20 Kategoria Superiore 331051—3811
2020–21 3091030349
Total 631961307220
UTA Arad 2021–22 Liga I 35000—350
2022–23 341602[lower-alpha 2]0421
Total 6916020771
Al-Najma 2023–24 Saudi First Division League 7010—80
Career total 3664833516041553
  1. Includes the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Champions League and Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs
  2. All appearances in Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs

Honours

Clubs
KF Tirana[2]

References
  1. "Batha te Tirana dhe puthjet me "buzë të bëra"!". 18 June 2019.
  2. "Idriz Batha". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  3. UEFA
  4. Partizani 1–0 Bilisht Sport
  5. Partizani 2–0 Albpetrol
  6. Partizani 1–3 Tërbuni
  7. Laçi 1–1 Besa
  8. Besa 2–1 Tirana
  9. "Pas Bardhit e Trashit, rinovon edhe Idi Batha" [After Bardhi and Trashi, Idi Batha renew as well] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  10. "ZYRTARE/ Tirana prezanton ish-kapitenin e Partizanit, zbulohen detajet e kontratës" [Official/ Tirana presents the former captain of Partizani, the contract's details are unveiled] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  11. ""Penalltia e parë që humbas në karrierë", Batha: Thjesht rrëshqita, kam nostalgji për… Luftëtarin" ["The first career penalty that I miss", Batha: I just slipped, I have nostalgy for… Luftëtari] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  12. "Ndeshje e çmendur në "Air Albania", Tirana përmbys Kukësin me dy gola në fund dhe merr kreun" [Crazy match at "Air Albania", Tirana overturns Kukësi with two late goals and takes the lead] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  13. "VIDEO/ Kryevepër bardheblu në derbi, Tirana shkërmoq Partizanin dhe shkon +9 nga kampionët" [Video/ Whiteblue masterpiece in derby, Tirana destroys Partizani and goes +9 from the champions] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  14. "HISTORI/ "Shuplakë që përvëlon" nga Tirana, bardheblutë turpëronin dy herë brenda një sezoni Partizanin me "manita" dhe 4 gola diferencë" [History/ "A slap that burns" from Tirana, once the whiteblues embarrassed Partizani twice in a season with a "manita" and a 4 goal difference] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  15. "Nga Egbo te Ngo, ja notat e sezonit te kampionët e Tiranës" [From Ebgo to Ngoo, here are the season's grades for the champions of Tirana] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  16. "Teuta është fituesja e Kupës së Shqipërisë për edicionin 2019-2020" [Teuta is the winner of Albanian Cup for the 2019-2020 edition]. fshf.org (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  17. "Tirana njofton rinovimin e kontratës me lojtarin Idriz Batha" [Tirana announces the contract renewal with the player Idriz Batha]. kftirana.al (in Albanian). KF Tirana. 8 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  18. "Rita Ora, Egbo që falet dhe numri i Bathës, ja pikantet e Dinamo Tbilis-Tirana" [Rita Ora, Egbo which prays and Batha's number, here are the spicy from Dinamo Tbilisi-Tirana] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  19. "Dinamo Tbilisi 0–2 Tirana". UEFA. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  20. "" Idriz Batha" نجماوي".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.