Mario Morina

Mario Morina (born 16 October 1992) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a forward.[1]

Mario Morina
Personal information
Full name Mario Morina
Date of birth (1992-10-16) 16 October 1992
Place of birth Tirana, Albania
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
2008–2010 Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Tirana 63 (13)
2013 Skënderbeu Korçë 13 (2)
2014–2015 Tirana 40 (10)
2015 Flamurtari Vlorë 8 (1)
2016 Kukësi 7 (0)
2016–2017 Kamza 23 (10)
2017 Besa Kavajë 6 (4)
2018 Dinamo Tirana 8 (0)
2018–2019 Prishtina 26 (8)
2019 Luftëtari 0 (0)
2020 Tirana 4 (0)
2020 Tirana B 1 (0)
National team
2011–2015 Albania U21 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:23, 8 December 2020 (UTC)

Club career

2010–11 season

Morina made his début for Tirana on 3 November 2010 in an Albanian Cup fixture at home against Skrapari. Morina was included in the starting line up, with fellow youngsters Blerti Hajdari and Enco Malindi. Morina played a role in his side's 4–0 win, including an assist for Hajdari, striking the post and winning a penalty which would be converted by Hajdari. Tirana coach Nevil Dede praised the player after the game has ended and stated that the youngster was in his plans for the near future.[2][3]

He would only have to wait until 20 November for his first league game, in a home game against Elbasani. Morina took the place of striker Sebino Plaku in the 71st minute when the score was 2–1 in favour of Tirana. In the 93rd minute of the game he marked his league début with a goal.[4][5]

2011–12 season

During 2011–12 season, despite the fact that he had rivalry in attack with Herby Fortunat and Mirel Çota, Morina was able to appear in 22 league matches, scoring four times, including the winners against Laçi and Flamurtari Vlorë respectively on 17 December 2011 and 18 March 2012.[6][7] He was an unused substitute in team's victory in 2011 Albanian Supercup against Skënderbeu Korçë, in a match delayed and disrupted by crowd trouble.[8][9] Morina was also an important instrument in 2011–12 Albanian Cup, playing 14 matches and scoring 7 goals; he scored for the first time in his career 5 goals in the second leg of first round against Himara as Tirana won 7–1 and progressed 10–1 on aggregate.[10] He also scored against Laçi and Kamza in Group 1 of quarter-finals, with Tirana who went to win the title for the second consecutive season, beating once again Skënderbeu in the final thanks to the winner of Bekim Balaj.[11]

2012–13 season

Morina started his third season with "white&blues" by winning 2012 Albanian Supercup on 19 August against Skënderbeu Korçë.[12] He scored his first goals of the season on 2 September in a 3–0 home win against Shkumbini Peqin.[13][14] Twentyfour days later, in the capital derby against the rivals of Partizani Tirana in the second leg of the Albanian Cup first round, Morina scored the opener after only 8 minutes as Tirana won 2–1, securing the progression to the second round.

Skënderbeu Korçë

On 10 June 2013, Morina was presented as the new Skënderbeu Korçë player, taking the squad number 9 last worn by fellow striker Sebino Plaku ahead of 2013–14 season.[15] He made his competitive debut for the club on 23 July in the returning leg of Champions League second qualifying round against Neftçi PFK at home; he entered the field as a 77th minute substitute in place of Gilman Lika and in the 116th minute assisted the goal of Nurudeen Orelesi. Skënderbeu won the match 1–0 and the tie with the same result, progressing to the third qualifying round of Champions League for the first time in history.[16]

Return to Tirana

He returned to his boyhood club Tirana in January 2014 with the club struggling in a relegation battle. With the help of Morina and his 5 league goals the club managed to escape relegation, marking a successful end of season for the club and player, which saw him voted as the talent of the year for 2014.[17]

On 13 July 2014, Morina signed a contract extension with Tirana, which will keep him in the capital until 2015.[18] Only one day later, he was sent on loan to Laçi for the club's first leg of 2014–15 UEFA Europa League second qualifying round against Zorya Luhansk.[19] He played 40 minutes in the first half before being replaced by Jetmir Sefa as Laçi was defeated 0–3 at home.[20]

Kukësi

On 27 January 2016, following his departure from Flamurtari Vlorë, Morina joined fellow Albanian Superliga side Kukësi on a free transfer, signing a contract until the end of the season.[21] There, he found his former Tirana teammate Klodian Duro as the team's coach, who strongly required his acquisition.[21] He made his league debut with the club four days later, appearing as a late substitute for fellow debutant Izair Emini in team's 3–0 home victory over Bylis Ballsh.[22]

Kamza

After being a free agent for almost two months, Morina joined Albanian First Division side Kamza by signing a one-year contract on 19 August 2016.[23]

Besa Kavajë

On 11 September 2017, Morina completed a transfer to Besa Kavajë by penning a one-year contract.[24] He played his first match for the team in the second matchday against Besëlidhja Lezhë as a substitute in a 2–0 away loss.[25]

Dinamo Tirana

On 31 January 2018, on the deadline day, Morina agreed personal terms and joined fellow Albanian First Division side Dinamo Tirana on a contract until the end of the season.[26]

Prishtina

On 14 August 2018, Prishtina of Football Superleague of Kosovo announced to have signed Morina on a one-year contract, reuniting him with his former manager Mirel Josa.[27][28]

Second return to Tirana

On 28 January 2019, Tirana announced to have signed Morina on a deal lasting until the end of 2019–20 season, after the player had been training with the team for two months following his departure from Prishtina.[29]

International career

For the qualifiers of 2015 UEFA Euro U-21, Albania was seeded in Group 4. On 14 August 2013, Morina made his Albania U21 debut in a 0–1 home defeat to Austria, appearing a second-half substitute.[30] A month later, he would play another match as a substitute in a 4–0 defeat against th reigning champions of Spain.[31] On 5 March 2014, in the last qualifying match against Austria at UPC-Arena, Morina started and played full-90 minutes, helping his side to win the match 3–1 and to end the qualifying campaign with style.[32]

Career statistics
As of 21 April 2018[1][33]
Club statistics
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tirana 2010–11 Albanian Superliga 17330——203
2011–12 224147—003611
2012–13 246423[lower-alpha 1]000318
Total 631321930008822
Skënderbeu Korçë 2013–14 Albanian Superliga 132323[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0204
Tirana 2013–14 Albanian Superliga 145———145
2014–15 26331——294
Total 40831——439
Laçi (loan) 2014–15 Albanian Superliga ——1[lower-alpha 1]0—10
Flamurtari Vlorë 2015–16 Albanian Superliga 8121——102
Kukësi 2015–16 Albanian Superliga 7020——90
Kamza 2016–17 Albanian First Division 241010——2510
Besa Kavajë 2017–18 Albanian First Division 6410——74
Dinamo Tirana 2017–18 Albanian First Division 8000——80
Prishtina 2018–19 Football Superleague of Kosovo 0000——00
Career total 169383413701021151
  1. All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  2. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearance in Albanian Supercup

Honours

Club
Tirana[1]
Skënderbeu Korçë[1]
Kukesi[1]
Kamza[1]

Individual

References
  1. "Albania – M. Morina – Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  2. "Mario Morina, talenti bardheblu i Kupes" [Mario Morina, white&blue talent of the cup] (in Albanian). Futbolli Shqiptar. 4 November 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  3. "Më së fundi një produkt... bardheblu" [Finally a white&blue... product] (in Albanian). Sport Ekpres. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  4. Erion Saliu (21 November 2011). "Pejiç i rikthen buzëqeshjen Tiranës, Dede lançon të rinjtë" [Pejić returns Tirana the smile, Dede launches the youth] (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  5. Oltian Ruçi (21 November 2011). "KF Tirana 3–1 KF Elbasani". Football Database. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  6. "Tirana vs. Laçi 1 –0". Soccerway. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  7. "Flamurtari Vlorë vs. Tirana 0 – 1". Soccerway. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  8. "Skënderbeu Korçë vs. Tirana 0 – 1". SoccerWay. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  9. "KF Tirana 0–0 Skënderbeu". Football Database. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  10. "KF Tirana 7–1 SK Himara". FSHF.org. 28 September 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  11. "Tirana fiton Kupën e Shqipërisë, mund Skënderbeun pas 120 min" [Tirana wins Albanian Cup, defeats Skënderbeu after 120 minutes] (in Albanian). Shqiptarja.com. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  12. "Tirana fiton Superkupën e Shqipërisë" [Tirana wins Albanian Supercup] (in Albanian). ABC News. 20 August 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  13. Altin Manallari (2 September 2012). "Bardhebutë mundin 3–0 Shkumbinin, gjirokastritët shkatërrojnë 4–1 Teutën" [White&blues defeats Shkumbini 3–0, Gjirokastra destroys Teuta 4–1] (in Albanian). Gazeta Shqip. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  14. "Tirana vs Shkumbini Peqin 3 – 0". Soccerway. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  15. Llazi Saro (11 June 2013). "Morina prezantohet te Skënderbeu. Ademir Soza rinovon, ikën Radas ose Gvozdenoviç" [Morina presented at Skënderbeu, Ademir Souza renew, Radas or Gvozdenović leaves] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  16. "Skënderbeu Korçë vs. Neftçi 1 – 0". Soccerway. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  17. "Çmimi, Morina "Talenti i Vitit" në Superiore" [The award, Morina "Talent of the Year" in Superliga] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  18. "Morina rinovon me bardheblutë" [Morina renew with white&blues] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  19. "Laçi përforcohet me Mario Morinën për ndeshjen e radhës në Europa League" [Laçi reinforced with Mario Morina for the next Europa League match] (in Albanian). Ora Sport. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  20. "Laçi vs. Zorya 0 – 3". Soccerway. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  21. Alfred Lleshi (27 January 2016). "Merr fund "telenovela", Mario Morina firmos për Kukësin" [The "telenovela" ends, Mario Morina signs for Kukësi] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  22. Sotir Kora (31 January 2016). "Kukësi e nis me fitore, 3-0 me Bylis" [Kukësi starts with a win, 3-0 with Bylis] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  23. "Kamza nuk ndalet, firmos edhe me Mario Morinën" [Kamza doesn't stop, Mario Morina signs also] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  24. "Ditë nënshkrimesh te Besa, spikat afrimi i Mario Morinës" [Signings day at Besa, highlighted the Mario Morina arrival] (in Albanian). Vipsport.al. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  25. Eduard Ilnica (23 September 2017). "Besëlidhja mposht Besën me dy gola të Kamara (Video)" [Besëlidhja defeats Besa with two goals from Camara (Video)] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  26. Eduard Ilnica (1 February 2018). "Dinamo blindon sulmin, ish-sulmuesi i Tiranës firmos me skuadrën blu" [Dinamo armored the attack, ex-Tirana striker signs for the blue team] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  27. "Sulmuesi Marjo Morina nënshkruan me Prishtinën" [Striker Mario Morina signs with Prishtina] (in Albanian). prishtinafc.com. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  28. Erjon Halili (15 August 2018). "Josa merr edhe sulmuesin tiranas te Prishtina" [Josa takes the Tirana striker at Prishtina] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  29. "Morina rikthehet në shtëpi" [Morina returns home]. kftirana.al (in Albanian). KF Tirana. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  30. "Austria begin Group 4 with a win in Albania". UEFA.com. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  31. "Slick Spain leave Albania standing". UEFA.com. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  32. "Albania sign off with stylish win in Austria". UEFA.com. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  33. "Football : Mario Morina". Football Database. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
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