Bekim Isufi Explained

Bekim Isufi
Fullname:Bekim Isufi
Birth Date:2 January 1976
Birth Place:Gjilan, SFR Yugoslavia
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Kosovo U20
Years1:2002–2003
Clubs1:Prishtina
Years2:2003–2005
Clubs2:Drita
Years3:2006–2007
Clubs3:Flamurtari
Nationalyears1:2002
Nationalteam1:Kosovo
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2011–2012
Managerclubs1:Drita
Manageryears2:2012–2013
Managerclubs2:Hajvalia
Manageryears3:2013–2014
Managerclubs3:Drita
Manageryears4:2015–2016
Managerclubs4:Drita
Manageryears5:2017
Managerclubs5:Vllaznia Pozheran
Manageryears6:2017–2018
Managerclubs6:Drita
Manageryears7:2019–2020
Managerclubs7:Ferizaj
Manageryears8:2021–
Managerclubs8:Kosovo U21 (assistant)
Manageryears9:2021
Managerclubs9:Ballkani

Bekim Isufi (born 2 January 1976) is a Kosovan professional football coach and former player who is the current manager of Kosovo national under-20 team.

Club career

Drita

Isufi became a famous football player in Kosovo, while playing for Drita in the 2002–03 season and where he had won captain armband for the first time in the Football Superleague of Kosovo.[1]

International career

On 7 September 2002. Isufi made his debut with Kosovo in a friendly match against Albania after coming on as a substitute at 66th minute in place of Xhevdet Llumnica.[2]

Coaching career

Fourth term at Drita

On 5 November 2017, Isufi became the manager of Drita for a second time,[3] and did the miracle finishing the 2017–18 season as the champion of 29 unbeaten matches[4] [5] and assure participation at the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League preliminary round.[6] [7] On 26 June 2018, Drita beat Andorran side FC Santa Coloma at Victoria Stadium in Gibraltar and became the first Kosovar side to win a UEFA Champions League match.[8]

On 13 September 2018, he resigned from the position of the coach after Drita loss against Llapi and under the direction of Isufi, Drita was the champion of the 2017–18 Football Superleague of Kosovo, won the 2018 Kosovar Supercup and as well made the team as most successful Kosovan team in European competitions since Kosovo was accepted in UEFA.

Notes and References

  1. News: Historike: Si u bë kampion Drita në vitin 2002–2003. Historical: How did Drita became champions in 2002-2003. Albanian. RajoniPress. 19 May 2018.
  2. Web site: Kosova 0:1 Albania. RSSSF. 7 September 2002.
  3. News: Bekim Isufi merr drejtimin e Dritës. Bekim Isufi takes the lead of Drita. Albanian. TopSporti.com. 5 November 2017.
  4. News: Drita feston titullin e kampionit, të dytin në histori. Drita celebrates the title of the champion, the second in history. Albanian. Football Federation of Kosovo. 20 May 2018. 7 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180701101058/http://www.ffk-kosova.com/federata/2018/05/20/drita-feston-titullin-e-dyte-te-kampionit-ne-histori/. 1 July 2018. dead.
  5. News: Historike: Drita e Bekim Isufit, kampione pa asnjë humbje. Historical: Drita of Bekim Isufi, champion without any loss. Albanian. Arbresh.info. 20 May 2018.
  6. News: Zyrtare: Ky është kundërshtari i Dritës në rundin preliminar për Champions. Official: This is the opponent of Drita in preliminary round for Champions. Kampioni i Kosovës, Drita e ka mësuar kundërshtarin për rundin preliminar në Ligën e Kampionëve. Drita do të përballet me kampionin e Andorrës, FC Santa Coloma (AND), raporton Gazeta Express. Albanian. Gazeta Express. 12 June 2018. 7 July 2018. 11 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180811164546/https://www.gazetaexpress.com/sport/zyrtare-ky-eshte-kundershtari-i-drites-ne-rundin-preliminar-per-champions-547187. dead.
  7. News: Hidhet shorti për Ligën e Kampionëve, Drita njeh kundërshtarin. The draw for the Champions League. Drita knows the opponent. Skuadra kampione e Kosovës, Drita ka mësuar kundërshtarin e saj në Ligën e Kampionëve, turni paraeleminator. Në total ishin 4 skuadra që merrnin pjese. Shorti i ka vendosur përballë skuadrën nga Andorra, Santa Coloma. Albanian. Panorama Sport. 12 June 2018.
  8. News: Drita historike, fiton ndeshjen e parë në Ligën e Kampionëve. Historic Drita, wins the first match in Champions League. Kjo është fitorja e parë e një ekipi kosovar në Ligën e Kampionëve. Albanian. Gazeta Express. 26 June 2018. 7 July 2018. 27 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180627173558/http://www.gazetaexpress.com/sport/drita-histor-fiton-ndeshjen-e-pare-ne-ligen-e-kampioneve-552538/. dead.