| Renato Malota | |
| Birth Date: | 1989 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Lezhë, Albania |
| Height: | 1.910NaN0 |
| Position: | Centre-back |
| Currentclub: | Egnatia |
| Clubnumber: | 13 |
| Youthyears1: | 2002–2007 |
| Youthclubs1: | Besëlidhja |
| Years1: | 2007–2008 |
| Clubs1: | Besëlidhja |
| Caps1: | 5 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2008–2009 |
| Caps2: | 22 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2009–2012 |
| Caps3: | 50 |
| Goals3: | 4 |
| Years4: | 2012–2016 |
| Clubs4: | Kukësi |
| Caps4: | 115 |
| Goals4: | 4 |
| Years5: | 2016–2017 |
| Caps5: | 31 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 2018–2020 |
| Caps6: | 60 |
| Goals6: | 5 |
| Years7: | 2020–2022 |
| Clubs7: | Laçi |
| Caps7: | 47 |
| Goals7: | 2 |
| Years8: | 2022– |
| Clubs8: | Egnatia |
| Caps8: | 66 |
| Goals8: | 3 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2007–2008 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 6 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2009 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2008–2009 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 7 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Pcupdate: | 1 June 2024 |
| Ntupdate: | 16 September 2015 |
Renato Malota (born 24 June 1989) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Egnatia in the Kategoria Superiore.
On 9 August 2012, Malota completed a transfer at newly promoted Kukësi in club's first ever top flight season.[1] He was handed squad number 24, and played as starter in club's first ever Albanian Superliga match versus Luftëtari Gjirokastër which ended in a goalless draw.[2] Malota made his first cup appearance on 24 October in the first leg of second round against Tirana to help Kukësi achieve a historic 4–0 win at home versus capital club.[3] Malota's first score-sheet contributions came later on 10 February of the following year by netting the second of the 1–3 at Luftëtari Gjirokastër in the matchday 14.[4] His second of the season came later on 7 April in form of an opener in an eventual 1–1 draw at Teuta Durrës.[5] Malota concluded his first season at Kukësi by making 30 appearances, including 23 in league as Kukësi finished runner-up in championship to Skënderbeu Korçë and was eliminated in the semi-final of Albanian Cup by Laçi.[6] [7]
In the summer of 2013, Malota played an important role in Kukësi's squad that reached the play-off round of UEFA Europa League.[8] He played in all 8 matches and scored one goal. He appeared as substitute in both matches of first qualifying round against Flora as Kukësi progressed though away goal rule.[9] Malota then played as starter in the next two-legged tie against Sarajevo, as Kukësi won 3–2 on aggregate to advance to the third qualifying round.[10] [11] He scored his first European goal on 1 August 2013 in the first leg of third qualifying round versus Metalurh Donetsk to lead Kukësi into a 2–0 home win.[12] Kukësi then become the first Albanian club to reach play-off of an UEFA club competition after losing 1–0 in the second leg.[13] At play-off round, Malota couldn't avoid the elimination at the hands of Trabzonspor as Süper Lig club reached group stage by winning 5–1 on aggregate.[14]
On 8 August 2016, Malota completed a move to Partizani Tirana for an undisclosed fee, returning at Red Bulls for the first time after seven years.[15] He was presented on the same day, where he penned a two-year contract, stating: "This is the right year to win the title",[16] while refused to show the reasons why he left Kukësi where he was the captain.[15] He had to wait until matchday 8 to made his debut as he entered as a second-half substitute in Partizani's 0–1 defeat of Korabi Peshkopi at Selman Stërmasi Stadium.[17] In the beginning of 2017, Malota finally won his place at the starting lineup, making four full-90 minutes appearances in February. He scored his first goal of the season on 20 February in the Capital derby against Tirana, heading home a Lorenc Trashi cross in an eventual 2–1 win at Selman Stërmasi Stadium.[18]
Malota left the club in the first days of January 2018 after being excluded from winter training camp in Antalya.[19] He finished his second stint at capital club by playing 35 appearances in all competitions.
On 10 January 2017, Vllaznia Shkodër completed the signing of Malota on a free transfer.[20] The player penned a contract running until the end of the season with an option to renew for another season.[21]
Malota has represented Albania in under-19, -20 and -21 levels, but is yet to make his senior debut.
Malota continued to be part of under-21 squad for the next European qualifying campaign where Albania was placed in Group 10.[30] He started in the team's opening match on 28 March 2009, a late loss home to Scotland.[31] He appeared in the next three matches as Albania finished 5th in their group, leaving behind only Azerbaijan.[32] Malota concluded his under-21 career by playing 7 matches and scoring no goals.
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Besëlidhja Lezhë | 2007–08 | Albanian Superliga | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Partizani Tirana | 2008–09 | Albanian Superliga | 22 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | 28 | 1 | ||
| 2009–10 | Albanian Superliga | 19 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | 24 | 2 | |||
| 2010–11 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1[36] | 0 | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 19 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 50 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 62 | 4 | |||
| 2012–13 | Albanian Superliga | 23 | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | 30 | 2 | |||
| 2013–14 | 29 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8[37] | 1 | 45 | 1 | |||
| 2014–15 | 34 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16 | 29 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 42 | 3 | |||
| 2016–17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 115 | 4 | 27 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 215 | 1 | |||
| 2016–17 | Albanian Superliga | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |||
| Total | 31 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 2 | |||
| 2017–18 | Albanian Superliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 221 | 10 | 48 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 288 | 14 | |||