Xhevdet Shabani Explained

Xhevdet Shabani
Birth Date:10 October 1986
Birth Place:Kaçanik, SFR Yugoslavia
Height:1.82 m
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:2002–2007
Youthclubs1:Lepenci
Years1:2007–2009
Caps1:60
Goals1:10
Years2:2009–2010
Caps2:25
Goals2:4
Years3:2010–2012
Caps3:46
Goals3:12
Years4:2012–2014
Clubs4:Drita
Caps4:48
Goals4:11
Years5:2014
Caps5:14
Goals5:3
Years6:2014–2015
Caps6:17
Goals6:2
Years7:2015–2016
Clubs7:Drita
Caps7:32
Goals7:8
Years8:2016–2017
Caps8:29
Goals8:9
Years9:2017–2021
Clubs9:Drita
Caps9:126
Goals9:31
Years10:2021–2022
Caps10:4
Goals10:0
Years11:2022
Caps11:17
Goals11:0
Years12:2022
Caps12:0
Goals12:0

Xhevdet Shabani (born 10 October 1986) is a Kosovar former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is nicknamed as "Rrapa".

Club career

Teuta Durrës

In June 2014, Shabani moved for the first time aboard and signed with Albanian Superliga side Teuta Durrës for the 2014–15 season.[1] In an interview, he said that the reason he signed was the project and club's ambition.[1] He commenced the season on 23 August by scoring in the 2–1 loss to Flamurtari Vlorë in the opening week of championship.[2]

Later on 10 September, Shabani scored a brace to lead the team into a 1–5 win over fellow relegation strugglers Elbasani for the first victory of the season.[3] He finished the first part of the season with 14 matches and 3 goals, in addition to 1 cup match, before leaving in January to return to Kosovo.

Feronikeli

On 11 January 2015, Shabani returned in Kosovo to sign a six-month contract with top flight side Feronikeli.[4] He debuted for the team on 1 March in the matchday 17 against Kosova Vushtrri, receiving a red card in the second half in an eventual 0–2 away win.[5] He scored his maiden Ferronikeli goal on 8 May in the 3–0 home win over Ferizaj to bring the team closer to the title.[6] He finished the second part of the season by appearing in 17 league matches and scoring twice as Ferronikeli won the 2014–15 Football Superleague of Kosovo.[7] Shabani left as a free agent in July 2015 after his contract ran out.[8]

Besa Pejë

In May 2016, Shabani completed a transfer at Besa Pejë by penning a contract for 2016–17 season.[9] During his first at only season at The Eagles, Shabani scored 9 goals in 29 league appearances as Besa finished 6th in championship.

Drita

On 16 June 2017, Shabani returned to Drita for a third time by penning a one-year contract, taking the squad number 10 in the process.[10] He made his competitive debut later on 20 August in the opening match of championship against Prishtina, scoring the lone goal of the match.[11] In matchday 5 against Drenica, Shabani produced a Man of the Match performance by assisting the second goal and winning the penalty which lead to the third goal in a 3–0 home win which returned Drita to the winning ways after three consecutive matches.[12] Later on 10 October, he scored his first brace of the season against the leaders of Llapi to bring Drita closer to the lead of championship.[13]

On 6 December, in the 2017–18 Kosovar Cup fourth round against Feronikeli, Shabani scored the opener for a 3–0 win to send Drita through to the next round.[14] His performances throughout the year earned him a spot at Football Superleague of Kosovo Team of the Year 2017.[15] He along with Ardian Limani were the only Drita players to be selected.[15]

Drita won the championship on 20 May 2018 after holding on into a draw in the final matchday versus Prishtina, finishing three points above them and also clinching a spot to 2018–19 UEFA Champions League preliminary round.[16] Shabani was ever-present, playing all matches as starter, netting 10 goals which placed him as the team's second scorer of the 2017–18 season.[17]

On 12 June 2018, it was announced that Drita would play their first Champions League game versus Santa Coloma.[18] The team won the match 2–0, with Shabani scoring Drita's first ever Champions League with a curled shot outside the box to break the deadlock in the 9th minute of extra-time.[19]

International career

On 22 January 2018. Shabani received his first call-up from Kosovo for the friendly match against Azerbaijan.[20] The match however was cancelled two days later, which prolonged his debut.[21]

Honours

Club

Drita

2017–18

Individual

Notes and References

  1. News: Nga Kosova në Durrës, Shabani tregon për projektin. From Kosovo to Durrës, Shabani tells for the project. Panorama Sport. sq. 26 June 2014. 3 November 2017.
  2. News: Bind Flamurtari, start i frikshëm kundër Teutës. Lika: Paguam gabimet në mbrojtje. Flamurtari convinces, stary start against Teuta: Lika: We paid our defensive mistakes. Panorama Sport. sq. Ermal Sika. 23 August 2014. 23 August 2014.
  3. News: Teuta turpëron Elbasanin, dorëhiqet File. Pisha braktis lojën, zbardhen prapaskenat. Teuta humiliates Elbasani, File resigns. Pisha abandon the game, the backdrops are unveiled. Panorama Sport. sq. Fatmir Ahmeti. 11 September 2014. 12 September 2014.
  4. News: Xhevdet Shabani, nga Teuta tek Ferronikeli. Xhevdet Shabani, from Teuta to Ferronikeli. Sport Ekspres. sq. 11 January 2015. 11 January 2015.
  5. News: Tjetër flasin, Ferronikeli fiton. Others talk, Ferronikeli wins. Borozani.com. sq. 1 March 2015. 4 November 2017.
  6. News: Lideri i kthehet fitores. The leader return to victory. Borozani.com. sq. 8 May 2015. 4 November 2017.
  7. News: Kampion. Champion. Borozani.com. sq. 7 June 2015. 4 November 2017.
  8. News: Pse qau me zë Xhevdet Shabani pas largimit nga Feronikeli?. Why did Xhevdet Shabani cried following his departure from Feronikeli?. Gazeta Tribuna. sq. 26 July 2015. 4 November 2017.
  9. News: EKSKLUZIVE: Xhevdet Shabani te Besa. EXCLUSIVE: Xhevdet Shabani at Besa. Gazeta Olle. sq. 30 May 2016. 30 May 2016.
  10. News: XHEVDET SHABANI RIKTHEHET TE DRITA. Xhevdet Shabani returns to Drita. Rtklive.com. sq. 16 June 2017. 16 June 2017.
  11. News: Ska dritë për Prishtinën. There is no light for Prishtina. Borozani.com. sq. 20 August 2017. 3 November 2017.
  12. News: Pas 4 xhiros, Drita gjen fitoren. After 4 rounds, Drita finds the win. Borozani.com. sq. 17 September 2017. 3 November 2017.
  13. News: Xhevdet Shabani shkëlqen për ditëlindje, Drita feston. Xhevdet Shabani shines for birthday, Drita celebrates. Borozani.com. sq. 10 October 2017. 3 November 2017.
  14. News: Shabani e Rexha çojnë Dritën përpara. Shabani and Rexha sends Drita forward. Borozani.com. sq. 6 December 2017. 6 December 2017.
  15. News: Valon Berisha shpallet futbollisti më i mirë i vitit për herë të dytë radhazi. Valon Berisha announced best footballer of the year for the second time in a row. Football Federation of Kosova. sq. 12 January 2018. 13 January 2018.
  16. Web site: Drita kampione e Kosovës, finale e hidhur për Josën. Drita champion of Kosovo, bitter end for Josa. Top-Channel.tv. sq. 20 May 2018. 26 June 2018.
  17. Web site: Statistikat. Statistics. ffk-kosova.com. sq. 26 June 2018.
  18. Web site: Kush është Santa Coloma, kundërshtari i Dritës në parakualifikueset e Ligës së Kampionëve. Which is Santa Coloma, Drita's opponent in Champions League preliminary round. Telegrafi.com. sq. 12 June 2018. 26 June 2018.
  19. Web site: FC Santa Coloma 0-2 Drita. UEFA.com. 26 June 2018. 26 June 2018.
  20. News: Lajmi i fundit: Lista e Kosovës kundër Azerbajxhanit. Breaking news: List of Kosovo versus Azerbaijan. Korneri. sq. 22 January 2018. 22 January 2018.
  21. Web site: Friendly match cancelled. Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. 25 January 2018. 25 January 2018.
  22. Web site: Futbollisti Xhevdet Shabani shpallet sportisti i vitit 2010. Footballer Xhevdet Shabani named sportsman of the year 2010. Municipality of Kaçanik. sq. 15 January 2011. 15 January 2011.