Armend Dallku Explained

Armend Dallku
Upright:0.9
Full Name:Armend Sabit Dallku[1]
Birth Date:16 June 1983
Birth Place:Vushtrri, SFR Yugoslavia
(now Kosovo)
Height:1.87 m
Position:Centre-back, right-back
Currentclub:Dukagjini (manager)
Youthyears1:1997–2002
Youthclubs1:Vushtrria
Years1:2002–2004
Clubs1:Prishtina
Caps1:47
Goals1:1
Years2:2004–2005
Clubs2:Elbasani
Caps2:23
Goals2:0
Years3:2005–2016
Clubs3:Vorskla Poltava
Caps3:292
Goals3:5
Years4:2016–2019
Clubs4:Prishtina
Caps4:41
Goals4:4
Totalcaps:403
Totalgoals:10
Nationalyears1:2002–2005
Nationalteam1:Albania U21
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2005–2013
Nationalteam2:Albania
Nationalcaps2:64
Nationalgoals2:1
Manageryears1:2019
Managerclubs1:Prishtina U19
Manageryears2:2019–2020
Managerclubs2:Prishtina
Manageryears3:2020–
Managerclubs3:Dukagjini

Armend Sabit Dallku (born 16 June 1983) is an Albanian professional football coach and former player who is a current manager of Dukagjini. He represented Albania at under-21 and full international level, collecting 64 international senior caps between years 2005–2013, thus becoming part of top ten of list of Albania international footballers, remaining until March 2017, when he was overwrited by national side captain at the time, Ansi Agolli.

Club career

Early career

Dallku was born in Vushtrri, and began his career at his hometown club KF Kosova Vushtrri. before transferring to Prishtina. Dallku's professional career started off in 2003 when he signed up with KF Prishtina. He spent the 2002–03 season there.[2] In 2004, he moved to Elbasani, playing 25 games in all competitions.

Vorskla Poltava

In the summer of 2005, Dallku joined Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava in the Ukrainian Premier League. He became one of the team's key players of the defending line. He scored two goals during the 2006–07 season.

On 1 May 2016, Dallku announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the season via a Facebook status.[3] Fourteen, Dallku played his final match as a professional footballer in a 1–0 home loss to Oleksandriya in the final day of the season, ending thus his 13-year career, 11 of them with Vorskla Poltava.[4]

Prishtina

On 14 June 2016, Dallku completed a transfer to his first senior club Prishtina, signing a one-year contract, taking the vacant squad number 4.[5] He was presented on the same day along with players such as Ahmed Januzi and Debatik Curri, his former international teammates.[6] Two weeks later, he was prompted new captain after the position was left vacant.[7] Speaking of that, Dallku stated: "It doesn't matter who's the captain. The important thing is the team to work properly."[7]

Dallku made his official debut with the club on 13 August in the Kosovan Supercup, where Prishtina beat 1–0 Feronikeli to win the first silverware of the season.[8] He made his league debut on 19 August in the opening league match against Llapi, playing full-90 minutes in a 3–1 home success.[9] He scored his first goal of the later on 22 October in the matchday 10 against Trepça.[10]

On 14 January 2017, in the yearly ceremony held by Football Federation of Kosovo, Dallku was named in the 2016 Team of the Year along with his teammate Liridon Leci.[11] He played 31 matches and scored one goal as Prishtina finished runner-up in the championship.[12]

International career

Dallku received the Albanian citizenship on 16 August 2004.[13]

In 2004 Dallku became part of the Albania national under-21 team managed by Hasan Lika playing in 4 first matches valid for the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 2 where he completed full 90-minutes in each match, helping the team to take 1 win versus Kazakhstan and 1 draw against Greece.

His performances resulted in a call up from Senior team by coach Hans-Peter Briegel for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) 5th game against Ukraine on 9 February 2005. Briegel decided to give the 20-year-old defender a start as a centre-back on his debut against a very strong Ukraine side. Although he played well he was unable to stop Ukraine from scoring two goals on either side of the interval. He became regular part of the senior side as he was called up for the March's matches playing the full match against Turkey as right-back where Albania lost 2–0.[14] In the next game against Greece coach Briegel left Dallku on the bench, bringing him on in the 85th minute with score at 2–0, though he was unable to change anything as Albania lost again.[15] Dallku was returned to U-21 for June's matches playing the full 90-minutes against Denmark in a heavy defeat 7–0.[16] He returned soon to senior side being an unused substitute against Kazakhstan on 3 September 2005, match won by Albania 2–1. He returned in action in October's month playing the full match against Ukraine as a centre-back in a 2–2 draw. Then 4 days later in the closing match against Turkey he played in the starting line up as a centre-back, receiving a yellow card in the 22nd minute with Albania losing home 0–1 by a 58th-minute goal where Dallku was replaced in the 63rd minute.[17]

He scored his first goal in a FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifier against Malta on 10 September 2008. The match ended 3–0 to Albania, which sent them to the top of their group ahead of giant teams such as Portugal, Sweden and Denmark.

He retired from international football on 6 March 2014 with 64 senior international caps and one goal.[18] [19] Dallku announced that he will play one last game against Kosovo, which was played on 13 November in Pristina.[20] However, Dallku didn't play but was mentioned.[21]

Personal life

Dallku's younger brother, Ardin (born 1 November 1994), is also a footballer who plays also as a defender and from 2012 to 2016 both brothers played each other at Vorskla Poltava.

Career statistics

Club

[22]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Prishtina2002–03Football Superleague of Kosovo30000300
2003–0417100171
Total47100471
Elbasani2004–05Albanian Superliga230230
Vorskla Poltava2005–06Ukrainian Premier League250250
2006–07282282
2007–0827020290
2008–0928040320
2009–10290102010330
2010–1129110301
2011–1226120110391
2012–1328010290
2013–1428120301
2014–1522040260
2015–162205120291
Total2925221150103306
Prishtina2016–17Football Superleague of Kosovo2912010321
2017–181230020143
Total414202010!464
Career total403102411702044611

International

[23]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Albania200570
200660
200790
200861
200980
201080
201180
201280
201340
Total641

Albania score listed first, score column indicates score after each Dallku goal.[23]

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
scope=colNo.scope=col data-sort-type=dateDatescope=colVenuescope=colCapscope=colOpponentscope=colScorescope=colResultscope=colCompetition
scope=row110 September 2008 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania 26 align=center 2–0 align=center 3–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Prishtina

2003–04

Vorskla Poltava

2008–09

Individual

Notes and References

  1. News: Dekret nr.4297, datë 16.8.2004 për dhënie të shtetësisë shqiptare. Decree No. 4297, dated 16.8.2004 on granting Albanian citizenship. I jepet shtetësia shqiptare me kërkesë të tij: Armend Sabit Dallku. https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072806/http://www.qbz.gov.al/doc.jsp?doc=docs%2FDekret%20Nr%204297%20Dat%C3%AB%2016-08-2004.htm. Albanian. Center of Official Publications (Albania). 16 August 2004. 3 January 2018. 3 October 2019. live.
  2. News: Armend Dallku - biography, stats, rating, footballer's profile. Footballtop.com. 16 May 2016. 16 May 2016.
  3. News: Armend Dallku mes Europës dhe lamtumirës nga Vorskla. Armend Dallku between Europe and farewell from Vorskla. Super Sport Albania. Albanian. Erald Kodheli. 1 May 2016. 16 May 2016.
  4. News: Armend Dallku "var këpucët në gozhdë". Armend Dallku "hangs up the boots in nail". Super Sport Albania. Albanian. Sotir Kora. 16 May 2016. 16 May 2016.
  5. News: Prishtina me lojtarë me karrierë ndërkombëtare. Prishtina with players with international careers. Telegraf.al. Albanian. 14 June 2016. 27 September 2016.
  6. News: Prishtina e ka seriozisht, afron tre ish-lojtarë të Shqipërisë. Prishtina is serious, approaches three ex-players of Albania. Panorama Sport. Albanian. 14 June 2016. 27 September 2016.
  7. News: Kush do të jetë kapiten i Prishtinës? Përgjigjet Dallku. Who's gonna be the new captain of Prishtina? Dallku answers. Gazeta Olle. Albanian. 26 June 2016. 1 March 2017. 1 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170301092855/http://gazetaolle.com/kush-do-te-jete-kapiten-i-prishtines-pergjigjet-dallku/. dead.
  8. News: Kosovë / Prishtina e Dallkut dhe Currit fiton Superkupën. Kosovo / Prishtina of Dallku and Curri wins the Supercup. Panorama Sport. Albanian. 13 August 2016. 27 September 2016.
  9. News: Java I: Prishtina – Llapi 3:1. Week I: Prishtina – Llapi 3:1. Prishtina FC. Albanian. Avni Durmishi. 19 August 2016. 27 September 2016.
  10. News: Prishtina mposht Trepçën. Prishtina defeats Trepça. Indeks Online. Albanian. 22 October 2016. 1 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170301180748/http://indeksonline.net/sport/prishtina-mposht-trepcen-27325/. 1 March 2017. dead.
  11. News: FFK-ja zgjedh më të mirët e vitit. FFK selects the bests of the year. Prishtina FC. Albanian. 14 January 2017. 1 March 2017.
  12. News: Java XXXIII: Drenica - Prishtina 1-3. WEEK XXXIII: Drenica - Prishtina 1-3. Prishtina FC. Albanian. 28 May 2017. 28 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171004135729/https://prishtinafc.com/al/lajme/post/java-xxxiii-drenica-prishtina-1-3. 4 October 2017. dead.
  13. Web site: PËR DHËNIE TË SHTETËSISË SHQIPTARE. FOR GIVING THE ALBANIAN CITIZENSHIP. Qendra e Botimeve Zyrtare. sq. 16 August 2004. 2 January 2023.
  14. Web site: Turkey - Albania 2:0 (WC Qualifiers Europe 2004/2005, Group 2). WorldFootball.net. 26 March 2005. 3 January 2023.
  15. Web site: Greece vs. Albania. Soccerway. 26 March 2005. 3 January 2023.
  16. Web site: Denmark - Albania 7:0 (U21 EURO Qualifiers 2004/2005, Group 2). WorldFootball.net. 7 June 2005. 3 January 2023.
  17. Web site: Armend Dallku » WC Qualifiers Europe 2004/2005. WorldFootball.net. 3 January 2023.
  18. News: Armend Dallku, lamtumirë kombëtares. Armend Dallku, goodbye to the national team. FSHF.org. Albanian. 6 March 2014. 16 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20150809000228/http://www.fshf.org/index.php/sq/lajme/1134-armend-dallku-lamtumire-kombetares. 9 August 2015. dead.
  19. News: Armend Dallku, lamtumirë kombëtares. Armend Dallku, goodbye to the national team. Panorama Sport. Albanian. 6 March 2014. 16 May 2016.
  20. News: Kosovë – Shqipëri, pensionohet Dallku. Kosovo – Albania, Dallku retires. Lajmi.net. Albanian. 4 November 2015. 16 May 2016.
  21. News: Dallku e Curri përshëndeten nga Kombëtarja. Dallku and Curri gets greeted by the national team. Telegrafi.com. Albanian. 13 November 2015. 16 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20151117015307/http://m.telegrafi.com/sport/dallku-e-curri-pershendeten-nga-kombetarja-5-0-76828.html. 17 November 2015. dead.
  22. Web site: Armend Dallku profile. FC Prishtina. 28 October 2017. 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171029065554/http://prishtinafc.com/al/skuadra/pro/armend-dallku. dead.
  23. News: Armend Dallku - national football team player. EU-Football.info. 2 November 2017.
  24. News: Kapiteni i Prishtinës, Armend Dallku "Mjeshtër sporti" në Ukrainë. Prishtina's captain, Armend Dallku “Sport master” in Ukraine. PrishtinaFC. Albanian. 13 December 2016. 1 March 2017. 7 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107022425/http://prishtinafc.com/al/lajme/post/kapiteni-i-prishtines-armend-dallku-mjeshter-sporti-ne-ukraine. dead.