Altin Zeqiri Explained

Altin Zeqiri
Fullname:Altin Zeqiri
Birth Date:18 July 2000
Birth Place:Espoo, Finland[1]
Height:1.85 m
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Çaykur Rizespor
Clubnumber:77
Youthclubs1:EBK
Youthyears2:–2016
Youthclubs2:Honka
Youthyears3:2016–2018
Youthclubs3:Espoo
Years1:2017–2019
Clubs1:Espoo
Caps1:30
Goals1:11
Years2:2019–2023
Clubs2:Lahti
Caps2:87
Goals2:18
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Çaykur Rizespor
Caps3:37
Goals3:5
Nationalyears1:2021–2022
Nationalteam1:Kosovo U21
Nationalcaps1:11
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2023–
Nationalteam2:Kosovo
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:1
Club-Update:12 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:18 November 2023

Altin Zeqiri (born 18 July 2000) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a winger for Turkish Süper Lig club Çaykur Rizespor. Born and raised in Finland, Zeqiri represents the Kosovo national football team.

Early life

Born in Espoo, Finland, Zeqiri started to play football in the youth sectors of local clubs EBK, FC Honka and FC Espoo.[1] [2]

Club career

Zeqiri started his senior career in 2017 with FC Espoo, playing in Kakkonen.[3]

Lahti

On 23 July 2019, Zeqiri signed a two-year contract with Veikkausliiga club Lahti and received squad number 24.[4] Eighteen days later, he made his debut in a 4–0 away defeat against HJK after coming on as a substitute at 85th minute in place of Josu.[5] On 5 October 2021, he extended his contract with Lahti until the end of the 2023 season.[6] [7]

Çaykur Rizespor

On 9 August 2023, Zeqiri was acquired by Turkish club Çaykur Rizespor on a three-year deal, with an option for an additional year, for an undisclosed fee.[8] He debuted in Süper Lig on 13 August 2023, after being named in the starting line up in a 2–1 away loss against Adana Demirspor, playing full 90 minutes in the match.[9] Zeqiri scored his first goal in the league on 21 October 2023, in a 3–1 away loss against Kayserispor.[10]

International career

On 15 March 2021, Zeqiri received a call-up from Kosovo U21 for the friendly matches against Qatar U23.[11] Eleven days later, he made his debut with Kosovo U21 in first match against Qatar U23 after being named in the starting line-up.[12]

In August 2023, Zeqiri received his first call-up to the Kosovo senior national team by head coach Primož Gliha, for two UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Switzerland and Romania.[13] [14] He scored a goal in his full international debut for Kosovo on 12 October 2023, in a 0–3 away win against Andorra.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague cupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Espoo2017Kakkonen230023
2018Kakkonen18300183
2019Kakkonen1050030135
Total30110030003311
Lahti2019Veikkausliiga710071
2020Veikkausliiga20231233
2021Veikkausliiga18730217
2022Veikkausliiga2745023347
2023Veikkausliiga1543153238
Total8718142760010826
Çaykur Rizespor2023–24Süper Lig35510365
2024–25Süper Lig200020
-->Total375100000385
Career total154341521060017942

International goals

As of match played on 18 November 2023. Scores and results list Kosovo's goal tally first.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Altin Zeqiri FC Lahti. Finnish. FC Lahti. 24 August 2021.
  2. https://tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi/person/105094/player/seasons Tulospalvelu Palloliitto, A.Zeqiri
  3. https://fclahti.fi/uutiset/altin-zeqiri-siirtyy-turkin-paasarjaan/ Altin Zeqiri siirtyy Turkin pääsarjaan
  4. News: Nuori Altin Zeqiri FC Lahteen. Young Altin Zeqiri to FC Lahti. Finnish. FC Lahti. 23 July 2019.
  5. Web site: HJK vs. Lahti 4–0. Soccerway. 10 August 2019.
  6. https://fclahti.fi/uutiset/altin-zeqiri-jatkaa-lahdessa/ Altin Zeqiri jatkaa Lahdessa
  7. https://www.ess.fi/urheilu/4318914 FC Lahti teki jatkosopimuksen Altin Zeqirin kanssa
  8. Web site: FC Lahden Altin Zeqiri siirtyy Joel Pohjanpalon ex-seuraan Turkin pääsarjaan. YLE. 2 September 2023.
  9. https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/13/turkey/super-lig/adana-demirspor/caykur-rizespor/4162352/ ADANA DEMIRSPOR VS. RIZESPOR 2-1
  10. https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/21/turkey/super-lig/kayserispor/caykur-rizespor/4162428/ KAYSERISPOR VS. RIZESPOR 3-1
  11. Web site: Përzgjedhësi Nees publikon listën e futbollistëve për dy miqësoret kundër Katarit. Selector Nees publishes the list of footballers for the two friendlies against Qatar. Albanian. Football Federation of Kosovo. 15 March 2021.
  12. News: Kosova U21 pëson humbje në miqësoren e parë kundër Katarit U23. Kosovo U21 loses in the first friendly against Qatar U23. Albanian. Football Federation of Kosovo. 26 March 2021.
  13. Web site: 31 August 2023 . Përzgjedhësi Gliha publikon listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjet e shtatorit . Selector Gliha publishes the list of footballers for the September matches . 2 September 2023 . . sq.
  14. Web site: 31 August 2023 . Publikohet lista e Kombëtares së Kosovës për ndeshjet e shtatorit . 2 September 2023 . . sq.
  15. Appearances in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualification.