Leart Paqarada Explained

Leart Paqarada
Fullname:Leart Shukri Paqarada
Birth Date:8 October 1994
Birth Place:Aachen, Germany
Height:1.84 m
Position:Left-back
Currentclub:1. FC Köln
Clubnumber:17
Youthyears1:1998–2003
Youthclubs1:Werder Bremen
Youthyears2:2003–2012
Youthclubs2:Bayer Leverkusen
Years1:2012–2014
Clubs1:Bayer Leverkusen II
Caps1:30
Goals1:1
Years2:2014–2020
Clubs2:SV Sandhausen
Caps2:152
Goals2:5
Years3:2020–2023
Clubs3:FC St. Pauli
Caps3:95
Goals3:5
Years4:2023–
Clubs4:1. FC Köln
Caps4:17
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2009–2010
Nationalteam1:Germany U16
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2010–2011
Nationalteam2:Germany U17
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2013
Nationalteam3:Albania U21
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2014–
Nationalteam4:Kosovo
Nationalcaps4:28
Nationalgoals4:1
Club-Update:15:29, 18 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:19 June 2023

Leart Shukri Paqarada (born 8 October 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back for German club 1. FC Köln. Internationally, he has represented Germany and Albania at the youth level, before finally switching his international allegiance to Kosovo at the senior level.

Club career

Early career

Paqarada joined local club Werder Bremen at the age of four. After five years, he moved to Bayer Leverkusen, where he played at all youth levels. In November 2012, Paqarada was promoted to the club's reserve team, Bayer Leverkusen II. His debut with reserve team came on 17 November in a 3–2 away win against VfB Hüls after coming on as a substitute in the 89th minute in place of Tobias Steffen.[1]

SV Sandhausen

In the summer of 2014, Paqarada joined 2. Bundesliga side SV Sandhausen. On 3 August 2014, he was named as a Sandhausen substitute for the first time in a league match against Darmstadt 98.[2] His debut with Sandhausen came seven days later in a 1–1 home draw against 1. FC Kaiserslautern after being named in the starting line-up.[3]

FC St. Pauli

On 2 August 2020, Paqarada signed a three-year contract with 2. Bundesliga rivals FC St. Pauli,[4] joining on a free transfer.[5] On 13 September 2020, he made his debut with St. Pauli in the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal first round against SV Elversberg after being named in the starting line-up and assists in his side's first goal during a 4–2 away defeat.[6] He established himself as a regular in the club's line-up and served as its captain during the 2022–23 season.[7]

1. FC Köln

On 23 January 2023, Paqarada signed a three-year precontract with Bundesliga club 1. FC Köln and this transfer would become legally effective in July 2023.[8]

International career

Youth with Germany and Albania

From 2009, until 2011, Paqarada represented Germany at youth international level, making 13 appearances for the U16 and U17 teams. In February 2013, he became part of Albania U21 side with which he made his debut in a 0–0 home draw against Macedonia U21 after being named in the starting line-up.[9]

Kosovo

First period

On 4 September 2014, Paqarada received a call-up from Kosovo for the friendly match against Oman,[10] and made his debut after being named in the starting line-up.[11] His last international match was on 24 March 2021 against Lithuania in Pristina.[12] On 4 April 2021, Paqarada through an Instagram post announced his temporary international retirement due to the degradation, disrespect and ignorance that according to him was done by Kosovo's head coach Bernard Challandes and the possible return to the national team would occur if a new head coach is appointed.[13]

Second period

On 16 September 2022, Paqarada upon return from retirement received a call-up from Kosovo for the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League matches against Northern Ireland and Cyprus,[14] but due to injury, could not be part of the national team.[15] On 25 March 2023, he made his first match with Kosovo after return from retirement in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Israel after being named in the starting line-up.[16]

Personal life

Born in Aachen, Germany to Kosovo Albanian parents, Paqarada is the son of Shukri Paqarada, a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Prishtina.[17]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bayer Leverkusen II2012–13300030
2013–14Regionalliga West27100271
Total3010000301
SV Sandhausen2014–152. Bundesliga14010150
2015–162. Bundesliga29020310
2016–172. Bundesliga18010190
2017–182. Bundesliga30310313
2018–192. Bundesliga28120301
2019–202. Bundesliga32110331
Total151580001595
FC St. Pauli2020–212. Bundesliga30110311
2021–222. Bundesliga33241373
2022–232. Bundesliga32320343
Total95671001027
1. FC Köln2023–24Bundesliga17020190
Career total293121710031013

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Kosovo201410
201520
201640
201740
201831
201950
202040
202110
202200
202340
Total281

Scores and results list Kosovo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Paqarada goal.

Notes and References

  1. News: Hüls vs. Bayer Leverkusen II 2–3. Soccerway. 17 November 2012.
  2. News: Darmstadt 98 vs. Sandhausen 1–0. Soccerway. 3 August 2014.
  3. News: Sandhausen vs. Kaiserslautern 1–1. Soccerway. 10 August 2014.
  4. Web site: St. Pauli complete signing of Leart Paqarada. FC St. Pauli. 2 August 2020.
  5. News: Zwei auf einen Schlag: St. Pauli verpflichtet Paqarada und Smarsch. Two in one fell swoop: St. Pauli signs Paqarada and Smarsch. German. Kicker. 2 August 2020.
  6. Web site: FC St. Pauli bow out of the DFB Cup in Round 1. FC St. Pauli. 13 September 2020.
  7. Web site: Leart Paqarada und Jackson Irvine sind die neuen kapitäne. Leart Paqarada and Jackson Irvine are the new captains. German. FC St. Pauli. 15 July 2022.
  8. Web site: Leart Paqarada joins FC in the summer. 1. FC Köln. 23 January 2023.
  9. Web site: Shqipëria U-21, barazim 0–0 në miqësoren me Maqedoninë. Albania U-21, 0–0 draw in the friendly with Macedonia. Albanian. Gazeta Tema. 6 February 2013.
  10. Web site: Ja lista kundër Omanit. Here is the list against Oman. Albanian. TopSporti. 4 September 2014.
  11. Web site: Kosovo (1–0) Oman. eu-football.info. 7 September 2014.
  12. Web site: Kosovo (4–0) Lithuania. eu-football.info. 24 March 2021.
  13. Web site: Leart Paqarada largohet nga Përfaqësuesja e Kosovës. Leart Paqarada leaves the Kosovo national team. Albanian. Telegrafi. 4 April 2021.
  14. Web site: Giresse publikon listën e Dardanëve për ndeshjet e shtatorit. Giresse publishes the list of Dardanians for the September matches. Albanian. Football Federation of Kosovo. 16 September 2022.
  15. Web site: Konfirmohen tre mungesa të mëdha për Kosovën për dy ndeshjet e muajit shtator. Three major absences for Kosovo are confirmed for the two matches in September. Albanian. Telegrafi. 19 September 2022.
  16. Web site: Israel (1–1) Kosovo. eu-football.info. 25 March 2023.
  17. Web site: Leart Paqarada është djali i legjendës së Prishtinës (Foto). Leart Paqarada is the son of the legend of Prishtina (Photo). Albanian. Telegrafi. 6 October 2016.
  18. Web site: Kosovo (2–0) Burkina Faso. eu-football.info. 27 March 2018.