Enea Mihaj Explained

Enea Mihaj
Birth Date:5 July 1998
Birth Place:Albania[1]
Height:1.86 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Famalicão
Clubnumber:4
Youthyears1:2011
Youthclubs1:Olympic Arena Academy
Youthyears2:2011–2017
Youthclubs2:Panetolikos
Years1:2017–2019
Clubs1:Panetolikos
Caps1:45
Goals1:0
Years2:2019–2022
Clubs2:PAOK
Caps2:23
Goals2:1
Years3:2022–
Clubs3:Famalicão
Caps3:43
Goals3:0
Nationalyears1:2016
Nationalteam1:Albania U19
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2016–2017
Nationalteam2:Albania U21
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2018–
Nationalteam3:Albania
Nationalcaps3:18
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:22 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:1 July 2024

Enea Mihaj (born 5 July 1998) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Famalicão and the Albania national team.

Early life

He was born in Albania and later moved with his family to Thessaloniki, Greece, and then to Rhodes, where he discovered his interest for football. At the age of 13, he was admitted to the Olympic Arena Academy where he stood out with his talent and caught the eye of Panetolikos, who signed him to their academy. At the age of 16, he moved to Aetolia-Acarnania.[2]

Club career

Panetolikos

Mihaj first suited up for Panetolikos on 14 December 2016 in a 2016–17 Greek Cup match against Kallithea where he was an unused substitute.[3] After two league matches as an unused substitute, he made his professional debut on 11 January 2017 in a cup match against PAOK, coming on as a substitute in the 87th minute in place of Giorgos Mygas.[4]

PAOK

On 21 June 2019, Mihaj signed with PAOK.[5] On 12 July 2020, he scored his first goal for PAOK in a 1–0 away victory against Olympiacos in the 90th minute.

Famalicão

On 15 August 2022, Mihaj signed a three-year contract with Primeira Liga club Famalicão.[6]

International career

Youth

Mihaj received his first call-up to the Albania under-19 team by coach Arjan Bellaj for the Roma Caput Mundi tournament in February and March 2016.[7]

He received his first call-up at the under-21 level by coach Redi Jupi for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 4 match against Israel on 10 October 2016.[8] He made his debut in the 4–0 defeat, coming on as a substitute at half-time in place of Kostandin Kariqi.[9]

He was called up again to Albania's under-21 side for two friendly matches against Moldova on 25 and 27 March 2017.[10]

Senior

Mihaj received his first senior call-up to Albania senior team by coach Christian Panucci for the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League C debut against Israel and Scotland on 7 and 10 September 2018.[11] He made his international debut in the 2–0 away loss to Scotland, entering in the last minutes of the match.[12]

Mihaj was named in the squad by the new manager Sylvinho for the opening UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying game against Poland in March 2023, filling in for the injured Ardian Ismajli.[13]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsAppsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Panetolikos2016–17Super League Greece001010
Super League Greece26030290
Super League Greece190190
Total45040490
PAOK2019–20Super League Greece412061
Super League Greece50100060
Super League Greece1401070220
Total2314070341
Famalicão2022–23Primeira Liga2506040350
2023–24Primeira Liga10000010
Total2606040360
Career total94114040701191

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Albania201820
201900
202030
202130
202250
202320
Total150

Honours

Club

PAOK

2020–21; Runner-Up :2021–22

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.paokfc.gr/profiles/enea-mihaj-a-team/ Enea Mihaj paokfc.gr
  2. News: Grekët "përulen" para talentit të shqiptarit. The Greeks "humble" in front of the Albanian talent. Albsport. Albanian. 18 January 2018. 19 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140615/http://albsport.al/2018/01/18/greket-perulen-para-talentit-te-shqiptarit/. 12 June 2018. dead.
  3. Web site: Kallithea vs. Panaitolikos - 14 December 2016. Soccerway. 12 January 2017.
  4. Web site: Panaitolikos vs. PAOK - 11 January 2017. Soccerway. 12 January 2017.
  5. Web site: Στον ΠΑΟΚ ο Enea Mihaj. sportsup.gr. 21 June 2019.
  6. Web site: 15 August 2022 . Enea Mihaj assina por três temporadas . Enea Mihaj signs for three seasons . 11 November 2023 . FC Famalicão . pt-pt.
  7. News: Kombëtarja U-19, në turneun "Roma Caput Mundi". The U-19 national team, in the tournament “Roma Caput Mundi”. FSHF.org. Albanian. 28 February 2016. 25 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171022034824/http://www.fshf.org/index.php/sq/lajme/3253-kombetarja-u-19-ne-turneun-roma-caput-mundi. 22 October 2017. dead.
  8. Web site: FSHF skandal me Shpresat, fshihet lista e Kombëtares U-21 . Panorama.com.al . . 2014-06-20 . 12 January 2017.
  9. Web site: Israel-Albania / Under-21 2017. UEFA. 12 January 2017.
  10. News: Kombëtarja U-21, pak risi në miqësoret ndaj Moldavisë. Under-21 national team, less innovation against Moldova. Panorama Sport. Albanian. 18 March 2017. 3 January 2018.
  11. News: Kundër Izraelit dhe Skocisë, Panucci shpall listën. Emra të rinj, por edhe rikthime. Top Channel. sq. 1 September 2018. 6 April 2023.
  12. News: Scotland 2–0 Albania. European Football. 10 September 2018. 6 April 2023.
  13. News: E FUNDIT/ Ardian Ismajli mungon kundër Polonisë, Silvinjo thërret mbrojtsin nga Portugalia. Sport Ekspres. sq. 19 March 2023. 5 April 2023.