Fadil Vokrri Explained

Fadil Vokrri
Order:President of
Office:Football Federation of Kosovo
Term Start:16 February 2008
Term End:9 June 2018
Vicepresident:Agim Ademi
Bekim Haxhiu
Predrag Jović
Predecessor:Sabri Hashani
Successor:Agim Ademi
Birth Name:Fadil Avdullah Vokrri
Birth Date:23 July 1960
Birth Place:Podujevo, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia (modern Kosovo)
Death Place:Pristina, Kosovo
Nationality:Kosovan
Albanian
Yugoslav (formerly)
Occupation:Footballer
Football administrator
Module:
Embed:yes
Header-Color:lavender
Position:Striker
Youthyears1:1976–1979
Youthclubs1:Llapi
Years1:1980–1986
Clubs1:Prishtina
Caps1:172
Goals1:55
Years2:1986–1989
Clubs2:Partizan
Caps2:55
Goals2:18
Years3:1989–1990
Clubs3:Nîmes
Caps3:24
Goals3:13
Years4:1990–1992
Clubs4:Fenerbahçe
Caps4:43
Goals4:13
Years5:1992–1993
Clubs5:Bourges
Caps5:30
Goals5:10
Years6:1993–1995
Clubs6:Montluçon
Caps6:39
Goals6:12
Totalcaps:363
Totalgoals:121
Nationalyears1:1984–1987
Nationalteam1:Yugoslavia
Nationalcaps1:12
Nationalgoals1:6

Fadil Avdullah Vokrri (23 July 1960 – 9 June 2018) was a Kosovan football administrator and formerly Yugoslav player.

Arguably one of the greatest Kosovan footballers, he was the president of the Football Federation of Kosovo from 16 February 2008 until his death on 9 June 2018.

Early life

Born in Podujevo, SFR Yugoslavia (modern Kosovo), Vokrri was known for his Diego Maradona-like approach with quick movement and strong shooting (where he established his strong shooting reputation at FC Prishtina). He won a number of international caps for the former Yugoslavia in the mid-1980s and was unlucky to not win more caps where he was one of Yugoslavia's favourite football talents. He played in a star-studded lineup that included Agim Cana, Edmond Rugova and Fadil Muriqi, as well as other Kosovan players who were part of the Golden Generation in the 1980s. Vokrri's FC Prishtina went on to beat Red Star Belgrade at the Red Star Stadium and record a historic away victory for the Kosovan team.[1]

Club career

Vokrri scored a total of 121 goals and had 363 club appearances, he began his career at the age of 16 years old at Llapi. He then moved to Prishtina in 1980 and played there until 1986, scoring 55 goals and making 172 appearances. Vokrri was very successful with Partizan from Belgrade where he scored 18 goals and had 55 appearances.[2] He was key to both the team claiming the 1986–87 Yugoslav First League title, and their successful run in the 1988–89 Yugoslav Cup, notably scoring in the final as Partizan won 6–1 against Velež Mostar.[3]

In between the two trophy successes, Italian club Juventus showed interest in signing Vokrri. However, as he had not completed the then-compulsory two years' military service, he was unable to travel abroad, and so had to turn down the offer. He eventually completed the requirements for military service while playing for Partizan, fulfilling light tasks during the week around training and in between matches.[4]

He also played for Nîmes Olympique, Fenerbahçe where he played for the successful coach Guus Hiddink. Vokrri was a favourite of Fenerbahçe fans but was not as productive as he was with FC Prishtina and Partizan because of his older age.[5]

Post-retirement

After the Kosovo War ended, Vokrri returned to his country and became the sporting director of Prishtina.[2] On 16 February 2008, he was elected as the president of the Football Federation of Kosovo for a four-year mandate.[6]

Personal life

Vokrri and his wife Edita had two sons, Gramozi and Albert, and a daughter named Albana.[7] He had a degree in the Faculty of Management and Business.[2] Apart from his native Albanian, he was also fluent in French, Serbian and Turkish.[2] On 17 May 2018, he earned his Albanian passport.[8] [9]

Death

On 9 June 2018, Vokrri suffered a heart attack while he was exercising and died on his way to the emergency room.[10] [11] [12] [13] Later that day, the Prishtina City Stadium was renamed to the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in his honor.[14] [15]

Vokrri was given a state funeral on 10 June 2018 and was buried at the Pristina City Cemetery.[16] President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi marked the day as a national day of mourning, with all flags lowered at half mast across Kosovo, and at embassies all over the world.[17]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[18]
ClubSeasonLeagueCup[19] Europe[20] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Prishtina1980–81Yugoslav Second League25500255
1981–822713002713
1982–833215003215
1983–84Yugoslav First League31900319
1984–8530800308
1985–8627500275
Total172550017255
Partizan1986–87Yugoslav First League2850020305
1987–881160021137
1988–891671142209
Total551811836321
Nîmes1989–90French Division 22413002413
Fenerbahçe1990–911.Lig2162142279
1991–922271000237
Total431331425016
Bourges1992–93French Division 23010003010
Montluçon1993–94Championnat National 22611002311
1994–9513100131
Total3912003912
Career total36312142125379128

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[21]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Yugoslavia198432
198562
198600
198732
Total126

Scores and results list Yugoslavia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vokrri goal.[18] [21]

List of international goals scored by Fadil Vokrri
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
112 September 1984Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland1–01–6Friendly
220 October 1984Zentralstadion, Leipzig, East Germany2–23–21986 FIFA World Cup qualification
31 February 1985Maharaja's College Stadium, Kochi, India1–03–11985 Nehru Cup
41 May 1985Stade Municipal, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg1–01–01986 FIFA World Cup qualification
514 October 1987Grbavica Stadium, Sarajevo, SFR Yugoslavia1–03–0UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying
62–0

Honors

Partizan[22]

1986–87

1988–89

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Si Fadil Vokrri e mundi dy herë Beogradin". How Fadil Vokrri defeated Beograd two times. Sport Ekspres. sq. 10 June 2018. 11 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Federata e Kosovës jep lajmin e kobshëm, ja njoftimi për vdekjen e Vokrrit. Federation of Kosovo gives the sad news, here is the announcement for Vokrri's death. Panorama Sport. sq. 9 June 2018. 11 June 2018.
  3. Web site: Yugoslavia - Cup Final Details 1947–2001. RSSSF. 11 June 2018.
  4. News: Kosovo's remarkable football rise. BBC Sport.
  5. Web site: Vdekja e papritur, kush ishte Fadil Vokrri, Maradona i shqiptarëve të Kosovës…. Unexpected death, who was Fadil Vokrri, Maradona of Albanians of Kosovo…. Panorama Sport. sq. 9 June 2018. 11 June 2018.
  6. News: Fadil Vokrri, kryetar i ri i FFK-së. Fadil Vokrri, new chairman of FFK. Fadil Vokrri është kryetari i ri i Federatës së Futbollit të Kosovës dhe nga 53 deleagtë të pranishëm 42 kanë votuar për Vokrrin, 10 për Brojën dhe 1 fletëvotim është shpallur i pavlefshëm. https://web.archive.org/web/20110710235749/http://www.ffk-kosova.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=2. Football Federation of Kosovo. sq. 16 February 2008. 10 July 2011.
  7. Web site: Kjo është familja e Fadil Vokrrit, bashkëshortja, djemtë dhe vajza. This is the family of Fadil Vokrri, the wife, sons and daughter. Bota Sot. sq. 9 June 2018. 11 June 2018.
  8. Web site: Dekret Nr. 10783, datë 17.5.2018 për dhënie të shtetësisë shqiptare. Decree No. 10783, dated 17.5.2018 for granting of Albanian citizenship. Qendra e Botimeve Zyrtare. sq. 17 May 2018. 17 May 2018.
  9. Web site: Pasaporta shqiptare për të tërë, nga Qaka e Vokrri deri te sportiste amerikane që nuk e dinë ku është Shqipëria. Albanian passports for all, from Qaka and Vokrri to American sportsman who doesn't know were Albania is. Sport Ekspres. sq. 25 May 2018. 11 June 2018.
  10. News: Head of Kosovo soccer federation Fadil Vokrri dies. Reuters. 9 June 2018. 9 June 2018.
  11. News: Vdiq Fadil Vokrri. Legjenda e futbollit të Kosovës dhe kryetari i Federatës së Futbollit të Kosovës, Fadil Vokrri ka vdekur sot në moshën 57-vjeçare. Vokrri ka vdekur si pasojë e një sulmi në zemër. Sulmi në zemër ndaj Vokrrit ka ndodhur rreth orës 9:30 të mëngjesit derisa po bënte fitnes. Koha Ditore. sq. 9 June 2018.
  12. News: Zyrtari i EULEX-it që i dha ndihmën e parë Vokrrit: Ishte pa ndjenja kur ndërhyra. Zyrtari policor i Eulexit kishte qëlluar rastësisht në qendrën e fitnesit kur kishte parë se Vokrrit i ishte vështirësuar gjendja. Fillova ta ndihmoj dhe më pas nisi të marr frymë. Pasi u duk se po i përmirësohej gjendja, unë e lash në duart e stafit mjekësor të cilët e transportuan në spital. Sinqerisht, më vije shumë keq. Ndihem i trishtuar ka thënë Persson. Telegrafi. sq. 9 June 2018.
  13. News: Doktorët: Vokrri erdhi pa shenja jete. Specialisti i mjekësisë emergjente, Avdush Bajgora, ka thënë për Klan Kosovën se legjenda e futbollit kosovar Fadil Vokrri ishte pa shenja jete kur kishte arritur në Qendrën Klinike Universitare të Kosovës. Vokrri ishte dërguar me urgjencë në qendrën kryesore spitalore të vendit pas një sulmi në zemër, të cilit nuk ka mundur t’i mbijetojë, duke ndërruar akoma pa mbërritur në QKUK. Klan Kosova. sq. 9 June 2018.
  14. ShpendA. Shpend Ahmeti. Shpend Ahmeti. 1005412181666619392. Albanian. 9 June 2018. Stadiumi i qytetit me nder do ta mbaj emrin e tij Fadil Vokrri. The city stadium with honorably will keep his name Fadil Vokrri.
  15. News: Kryetari i Prishtinës, Shpend Ahmeti: Stadiumi i qytetit me nder do ta mbajë emrin e Fadil Vokrrit. Mayor of Prishtina, Shpend Ahmeti: The city stadium with honorably will keep his name Fadil Vokrri. Kryetari i kryeqytetit të Kosovës, ai i Prishtinës, Shpend Ahmeti, ka konfirmuar se stadiumi i qytetit të Prishtinës do të mbajë emrin e ikonës së futbollit shqiptar të Kosovës, Fadil Vokrri. Telegrafi. sq. 9 June 2018.
  16. News: Varroset legjenda Fadil Vokrri (Video/Foto). The legend Fadil Vokrri is buried (Video/Photo). IndeksOnline. sq. 10 June 2018.
  17. News: Sot ditë zie në Kosovë, varroset legjenda Fadil Vokrri. Today is a day of mourning in Kosovo, the legend Fadil Vokrri is buried. Lajmi.net. sq. 10 June 2018.
  18. News: Vokri Fadil. Football Association of Serbia. sr.
  19. Cup appearances are missing
  20. Including continental competitions, such as UEFA Cup
  21. News: Fadil Vokrri - national football team player. EU-Football.info.
  22. Web site: Fadil Vokrri. National Football Teams. 11 June 2018.