Mentor Zhdrella

Mentor Zhdrella (born 10 June 1988) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kosovan club Llapi and the Kosovo national team. He has been hailed as one of Kosovo's greatest talent,[1] having been named four times as Footballer of the Year of Kosovo, in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Mentor Zhdrella is known for his pace, dribbling and his speciality is free kicks.

Mentor Zhdrella
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-06-10) 10 June 1988
Place of birth Prishtina, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Llapi
Number 7
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 KEK
2006–2008 2 Korriku
2008–2009 Prishtina
2008–2013 Hysi
2014 Drita
2014 Partizani 0 (0)
2014–2015 Prishtina 33 (5)
2015–2017 Feronikeli 44 (11)
2017– Llapi 32 (6)
International career‡
2014 Kosovo 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 November 2017
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 January 2017

Club career

Drita

On 28 March 2014, Zhdrella joined fellow top flight side Drita for the remaining part of 2013–14 season.[1]

Partizani Tirana

In June 2014, Zhdrella signed with Albanian Superliga side Partizani Tirana and was handed squad number 7.[2] He left the club after only one month after being unable to live away from his family.[3]

Prishtina

On 22 July 2014, Zhdrella completed a transfer to Prishtina by penning a one-year contract.[4] He was presented on the same day and was assigned squad number 7, stating: Prishtina is the biggest club of country, it's normal to be part of it."[5] He made his debut on 16 August in the opening matchday of 2014–15 Football Superleague of Kosovo against Istogu where his cross in the ninth minute turned into an own goal by Istogu's Elvis Gacaferri in an eventual 2–1 away win.[6]

His first score-sheet contributions came in his sixth appearance for the club on 20 September, netting in the 1–1 home draw against Vëllaznimi, ending a run of defeats.[7] He had to wait until 1 April of the following year to score his second goals, netting the second in the 3–0 home win over Drenica.[8] He finished the season with 5 goals in 33 league appearances, being ever-presented as Prishtina finished 3rd in the championship. Following the end of the contract, Zhderlla left as a free agent.

Feronikeli

On 3 August 2015, Zhdrella joined Feronikeli on a one-year deal.[9] In his first season, he played 22 matches and scored 6 goals as the team won the championship in the 2015–16 season.[10] In the 2016–17 season, he played 20 matches and scored 5 goals but Feronikeli didn't retain the title. In January 2017, Zhdrella was named in the Best XI of Football Superleague of Kosovo for 2016.[11] He left the club on 12 July 2017.[12] His departure was confirmed by Feronikeli's chairman, Arton Berisha.[12]

Llapi

On 14 July 2017, Zhdrella signed a contract with Llapi as a free agent.[13] He took the squad number 7, and made his debut on 19 August in the opening match of championship against Drenica which finished in a 1–0 home win.[14] He opened his scoring account on 29 October in the matchday 13 against bottom side Vllaznia Pozheran, netting twice inside eight minutes, including one with free kick, to overturn the score from 0–1 to 2–1 in an eventual 4–1 home win.[15]

International career

On 19 May 2014. Zhdrella received a call-up from Kosovo for the friendly matches against Turkey and Senegal.[16] On 21 May 2014, he made his debut with Kosovo in friendly match against Turkey after coming on as a substitute at 72nd minute in place of Dardan Rexhepi.[17]

Personal life

Zhdrella is a Muslim.[18] On 20 July 2015, he became a father for the first time when his wife gave birth to the couple's first son, named Kaon.[19]

Honours

Feronikeli

Individual

References
  1. "Zhdrella te Drita" [Zhdrella at Drita] (in Albanian). Borozani.com. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  2. "Mentor Zhdrella prezantohet te Partizani" [Mentor Zhdrella presented at Partizani] (in Albanian). Ora News. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  3. Ilir Cara (18 July 2014). "Zhdrella kërkon largimin. 26-vjeçari nuk po e përjeton mirë largësinë me familjen" [Zhdrella wants to leave. 26-year old is not experiencing well the distance with the family] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  4. "Prishtina prezanton përforcimet e reja" [Prishtina presents the new reinforcements] (in Albanian). Kosovalive360.com. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  5. "Zhdrella: Në Prishtinë për trofe" [Prishtina presents the new reinforcements] (in Albanian). Gazeta Express. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  6. "Java I: Prishtina – Istogu 2:1" [Week 1: Prishtina – Istogu 2:1] (in Albanian). kfistogu.com. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  7. "Barazim në Prishtinë" [A draw in Prishtina] (in Albanian). Borozani.com. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  8. "Prishtina ndjekëse e sigurtë" [Prishtina a secure follower] (in Albanian). Borozani.com. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  9. "Mentor Zhdrella prezantohet te Feronikeli (FOTO)" [Mentor Zhdrella presented at Feronikeli (PHOTO)] (in Albanian). Gazeta Tribuna. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  10. "Feronikeli kampion i Superligës së Kosovës në futboll" [Feronikeli chaampion of Kosovo Superleague in Football] (in Albanian). Zëri.info. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  11. "FFK zgjedh formacionin e vitit në Superligën e Kosovës" [FFK chooses the lineup of the year in the Kosovo Superleague] (in Albanian). Telegrafi.com. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  12. "Zyrtare: Zhdrella largohet nga Feronikeli" [Official: Zhdrella leaves Feronikeli] (in Albanian). Telegrafi.com. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  13. "Mentor Zhdrella te Llapi, Batatina ka disa fjalë" [Mentor Zhdrella at Llapi, Batatina has some words] (in Albanian). Infokusi.com. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  14. "JAVA I: LLAPI – DRENICA 1:0" [WEEK 1: LLAPI – DRENICA 1:0] (in Albanian). Llapifc.com. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  15. "Përmbysje për lidership, Llapi shkëlqen në fund" [Overturn for leadership, Llapi shines at the end] (in Albanian). Borozani.com. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  16. "Dy miqësoret, Bunjaku shpall listën e Kosovës" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 19 May 2014.
  17. "Turqia shumë e fortë, mposht Kosovën në miqësore 6:1" [Turkey very strong, defeats Kosovo in friendly 6:1] (in Albanian). Kosovalive360.com. 21 May 2014. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  18. "Zhdrella, falënderon Allahun" [Zhdrella, thanks god] (in Albanian). Radio Islame. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  19. "Mentor Zhdrella bëhet babë (FOTO)" [Mentor Zhdrella become father (PHOTO)] (in Albanian). Gazeta Olle. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
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