Edvan Bakaj

Edvan Bakaj (born 9 October 1987) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Albanian club Tirana in the Albanian Superliga.

Edvan Bakaj
Personal information
Full name Edvan Bakaj
Date of birth (1987-10-09) 9 October 1987
Place of birth Tirana, Albania
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Tirana
Number 62
Youth career
2000–2004 Partizani Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 Partizani Tirana 20 (0)
2007 → Luftëtari Gjirokastër (loan) ? (0)
2008–2009 Laçi 15 (0)
2009–2010 Besa Kavajë 18 (0)
2010–2011 Dinamo Tirana 2 (0)
2011–2012 Besa Kavajë 19 (0)
2012–2014 Laçi 36 (1)
2014–2017 Tirana 38 (0)
2017 → Tirana B 3 (0)
2017–2018 Liria 14 (0)
2018–2019 Drita 10 (0)
2019 Luftëtari Gjirokastër 3 (0)
2019–2020 Tirana 6 (0)
National team‡
2003–2004 Albania U17 3 (0)
2004–2005 Albania U19 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 July 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21 July 2011

Club career

Besa Kavajë

During the winter break, Bakaj announced his departure from Laçi along with the striker Julian Malo,[1] and, in the first days of 2010, he joined Besa Kavajë on a free transfer for the second part of 2009–10.[2]

Romania

Following recommendation from his cousin Elis Bakaj, Edvan was given a trial at newly promoted Liga II side Alro Slatina. At first it was believed to be an unsuccessful trial as he did not impress in a friendly.[3] However, on 15 July 2011 he signed a contract at the club and joined his cousin and former teammate Elis in Romania.[4]

Return to Laçi

On 8 August 2012, Bakaj signed a one-year deal with Laçi.[5] He made his return debut with the club on 24 September 2012 during the league match away against Skënderbeu Korçë, where Bakaj concealed three times for a 3–0 defeat.[6]

On 4 May 2014, Bakaj scored his first career goal during the 6–0 thrashing of Kastrioti Krujë, valid for the 22nd week of 2013–14 season, scoring from the penalty kick.[7][8] He left the team after the end of the season by terminating his contract by mutual consensus.[9]

Tirana

On 25 July 2014, Bakaj signed a two-year contract with Tirana, taking the vacant number 31 for the 2014–15 season.[10] He made his league debut with the club on 30 November 2014 against his former side Laçi, keeping his first clean-sheet of the season in a goalless draw at home.[11]

During the 2014–15 season, he served mostly as a back-up for first goalkeeper Stivi Frashëri, but he took his place in early March 2015 after the match against Partizani Tirana, were Frashëri made a mistake that was decisive for the faith of the match.[12] Bakaj ended the season with 16 appearances in all competitions, including 9 in league, with Tirana who finished it in the fourth place and was eliminated in semi-finals of 2014–15 Albanian Cup against Laçi with the 1–0 aggregate.

He left the club on 7 August 2015 after being told that he was not in the plans of the technical staff,[13] but, five days later, however, a call from the club's president Refik Halili made him to change his mind and return in training.[14] Bakaj was the starting goalkeeper of the team during 2015–16 season, making 29 league appearances, collecting 2610 minutes as Tirana finished in 5th position. He also played in 5 Albanian Cup matches, as Tirana was eliminated in the quarter-final to Flamurtari Vlorë.[15]

During 2016–17 season, with the arrival of veteran Ilion Lika,[16] Bakaj was dropped to second choice, making only 5 appearances, all of them in cup, as Tirana was relegated for the first time in history,[17] and won the cup for a record 16th time.[18] In August 2017, Bakaj terminated his contract by mutual consent due to lack of playing time.[19]

Liria

On 10 August 2017, Bakaj completed a transfer to Liria of Football Superleague of Kosovo for an undisclosed fee.[20]

Drita

On 8 June 2018, Bakaj completed a transfer to fellow Football Superleague of Kosovo and defending champions Drita.[21] On 17 July 2018, he made his debut with Drita in first qualifying round of UEFA Champions League against Swedish side Malmö after being named in the starting line-up.[22]

Bakaj left the club on 21 January 2019, terminating the contract by mutual consent.[23]

Luftëtari Gjirokastër

On 29 January 2019, Bakaj returned in Albanian Superliga after one-and-a-half years abstence, signing with Luftëtari until the end of the season.[24] This marked the return of the goalkeeper at the club for the first time since 2007.[25] He spent the second part of 2018–19 season mainly as back-up, collecting only six appearances, including three in Albanian Superliga, leaving the team afterwards.

Tirana return

On 10 July 2019, Bakaj was presented the new player of Tirana, returning to the capital side for the first time since 2017.[26]

International career

Bakaj has been a former youth international player of Albania, player three and two matches respectively with U17 and U19 side.[27]

Personal life

Edvan is the cousin of Elis Bakaj, an Albania international midfielder and player of His cousin Elis Bakaj is an Albania international midfielder who plays of Kukësi. They were teammates for two years at Tirana.

Career statistics
As of 15 August 2015[28][29]
Club Season League Cup Continental[lower-alpha 1] Other[lower-alpha 2] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Laçi 2008–09 15010——160
2009–10 0020——20
Total 150300000180
Besa Kavajë 2009–10 30———30
2010–11 150001010170
Total 180001010200
Dinamo Tirana 2010–11 20———20
Total 2000000020
Besa Kavajë 2011–12 19040——230
Total 190400000230
Laçi 2012–13 16090——250
2013–14 221502010301
Total 3811402010551
Tirana 2014–15 9070——160
2015–16 0000——00
Total 90700000160
Career total 101128030201341
  1. Including continental competitions, such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
  2. Including other competitions, such as Albanian Supercup

Honours
Besa Kavajë[29]
Laçi[29]
Tirana[29]

References
  1. "Malo e Bakaj ikin nga Laçi" [Malo and Bakaj leaves Laçi] (in Albanian). Arkiva Lajmeve. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  2. "Edvan Bakaj kalon te Besa" [Edvan Bakaj goes to Besa] (in Albanian). Arkiva Lajmeve. 1 January 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  3. "Bakaj nu rămâne la Alro" [Bakery does not stay at Alro] (in Romanian). Pro Sport. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  4. Constantin Neacsu (15 July 2011). "Bakaj si-a trimis varul la Slatina" [Bakaj sent his cousin to Slatina] (in Romanian). Cancan. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  5. "Edvan Bakaj firmos për Laçin" [Edvan Bakaj signs for Laçi] (in Albanian). Info.al. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  6. Llazi Saro (25 September 2012). "Skënderbeu s'e lëshon kreun, thyen Laçin. Josa: Duhet të përmirësohemi" [Skënderbeu doesn't leave the lead, breaks Laçi. Josa: Need to improve] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  7. "Laçi, "tenis" për Europën me Kastriotin. Nica: Do t'ia dalim edhe ndaj Skënderbeut" [Laçi, "tenis" for Europe with Kastrioti. Nica: We're gonna make it even against Skënderbeu] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  8. "Laçi vs. Kastrioti Krujë 6 – 0". Soccerway. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  9. "Portieri Edvan Bakaj largohet nga Laçi" [Goalkeeper Edvan Bakaj leaves Laçi] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  10. "Portieri Bakaj" [Goalkeeper Bakaj] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  11. "Superliga Shqiptare/ Tirana ndal hapin, barazon me Laçin, Partizani merr kreun ndaj Teutës" [Tirana stop the step, draw with Laçi, Partizani takes the lead versus Teuta] (in Albanian). Standard.al. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  12. "E ulin në stol, Stivi Frashëri shpërthen në "Facebook": Te Tirana më shajnë nga nëna!" [They bench him, Stivi Frashëri explodes in "Facebook": At Tirana they insult me at mother] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  13. "Tirana, largohet edhe Edvan Bakaj" [Tirana, Edvan Bakaj leaves] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 7 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  14. "Bakaj bën prapaktheu, qëndron te Tirana" [Bakaj makes about-turn, stays at Tirana] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  15. "VIDEO/ Flamurtari përmbys Tiranën, vlonjatët fitojnë mes tensionit" [VIDEO/ Flamurtari overturns Tirana, "vlonjatët" wins between tension] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  16. "Ilion Lika rikthehet bardheblu, skuadra vijon pergatitjet!" [Ilion Lika returns white&blue, team continues the preparations] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  17. Rinald Bregasi (27 May 2017). "Tragjike, Tirana bie nga kategoria" [Tragical, Tirana relegated] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  18. "Tirana fiton Kupën e Shqipërisë, sezoni 2016-2017" [Tirana wins Albanian Cup, 2016-2017 season] (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  19. "Bakaj: Nuk jam Nejmari, por e lashë Tiranën sepse doja të luaja!" [Bakaj: I'm not Neymar, but I left Tirana because I wanted to play!] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  20. "Lamtumirë Tirana, Edvan Bakaj firmos në Kosovë" [Goodbye Tirana, Edvan Bakaj signs in Kosovo] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  21. "Zyrtare: Drita prezanton Edvan Bakajn" [Official: Drita presents Edvan Bakaj] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 8 June 2018.
  22. "Formacionet zyrtare: Malmo – Drita" [Official lineups: Malmo – Drita]. Lajmi.net (in Albanian). 17 July 2018.
  23. "Zyrtare: Edvan Bakaj largohet nga Drita" [Official: Edvan Balaj flees from Drita]. Telegrafi.com (in Albanian). 21 January 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  24. Blerim Jahaj (29 January 2019). "Ahmataj nuk shkon i vetëm në Gjirokastër, firmos edhe Bakaj" [Ahmataj doesn't go alone in Gjirokastër, Bakaj signs as well]. Telesport.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  25. "Rikthim te Luftëtari pas 11 vitesh, lëvizje surprizë në Gjirokastër" [Return at Luftëtari after 11 years, a surprise move in Gjirokastër]. Sport Ekspres (in Albanian). 29 January 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  26. "ZYRTARE/ "Pazar" te Luftëtari, Tirana rikthen portierin" [Official/ "Shopping" at Luftëtari, Tirana brings back the goalkeeper]. Panorama Sport (in Albanian). 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  27. "Edvan Bakaj". UEFA.com. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  28. "Football : Edvan Bakaj". Football Database. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  29. "Albania - E. Bakaj - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
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