Bekim Isufi

Bekim Isufi (born 2 January 1976) is a Kosovo Albanian professional football coach and former player who last managed Drita.

Bekim Isufi
Personal information
Full name Bekim Isufi
Date of birth (1976-01-02) 2 January 1976
Place of birth Gjilan, SFR Yugoslavia
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Prishtina
2003–2005 Drita
2006–2007 Flamurtari
National team
2002 Kosovo 1 (0)
Teams managed
2011–2012 Drita
2012–2013 Hajvalia
2013–2014 Drita
2015–2016 Drita
2017 Vllaznia Pozheran
2017–2018 Drita
2019– Ferizaj
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Drita

Isufi became a famous football player in Kosovo, while playing for Drita in the 2002–03 season and where he had won captain armband for the first time in the Football Superleague of Kosovo.[1]

International career

On 7 September 2002. Isufi made his debut with Kosovo in a friendly match against Albania after coming on as a substitute at 66th minute in place of Xhevdet Llumnica.[2]

Coaching career

Fourth term at Drita

On 5 November 2017, Isufi became the manager of Drita for a second time[3] and did the miracle finishing the 2017–18 season as the champion of 29 unbeaten matches[4][5] and assure participation at the preliminary round of 2018–19 UEFA Champions League.[6][7] On 26 June 2018, Drita beat Andorran side Santa Coloma at Victoria Stadium in Gibraltar and became the first Kosovar side to win a UEFA Champions League match.[8]

On 13 September 2018, he resigned from the position of the coach after Drita loss against Llapi and under the direction of Isufi, Drita was the champion of the 2017–18 Football Superleague of Kosovo, won the 2018 Kosovar Supercup and as well made the team as most successful Kosovan team in European competitions since Kosovo was accepted in UEFA.

References
  1. "Historike: Si u bë kampion Drita në vitin 2002–2003" [Historical: How did Drita became champions in 2002-2003]. RajoniPress (in Albanian). 19 May 2018.
  2. "Kosova 0:1 Albania". RSSSF. 7 September 2002.
  3. "Bekim Isufi merr drejtimin e Dritës" [Bekim Isufi takes the lead of Drita]. Borozani (in Albanian). 5 November 2017.
  4. "Drita feston titullin e kampionit, të dytin në histori" [Drita celebrates the title of the champion, the second in history] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 20 May 2018. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  5. "Historike: Drita e Bekim Isufit, kampione pa asnjë humbje" [Historical: Drita of Bekim Isufi, champion without any loss]. Arbresh.info (in Albanian). 20 May 2018.
  6. "Zyrtare: Ky është kundërshtari i Dritës në rundin preliminar për Champions" [Official: This is the opponent of Drita in preliminary round for Champions] (in Albanian). Gazeta Express. 12 June 2018. Kampioni i Kosovës, Drita e ka mësuar kundërshtarin për rundin preliminar në Ligën e Kampionëve. Drita do të përballet me kampionin e Andorrës, FC Santa Coloma (AND), raporton Gazeta Express
  7. "Hidhet shorti për Ligën e Kampionëve, Drita njeh kundërshtarin" [The draw for the Champions League. Drita knows the opponent] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 12 June 2018. Skuadra kampione e Kosovës, Drita ka mësuar kundërshtarin e saj në Ligën e Kampionëve, turni paraeleminator. Në total ishin 4 skuadra që merrnin pjese. Shorti i ka vendosur përballë skuadrën nga Andorra, Santa Coloma
  8. "Drita historike, fiton ndeshjen e parë në Ligën e Kampionëve" [Historic Drita, wins the first match in Champions League] (in Albanian). Gazeta Express. 26 June 2018. Kjo është fitorja e parë e një ekipi kosovar në Ligën e Kampionëve
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