Erjon Bogdani
Albanian professional football coach and former footballer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Erjon Bogdani (born 14 April 1977) is an Albanian professional football coach and former player. He is nicknamed "Bogu" or "Er-Bomber".[1][2]
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Erjon Bogdani | ||
Date of birth | (1977-04-14) 14 April 1977 (age 47) | ||
Place of birth | Tirana, Albania | ||
Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Youth career | |||
1987–1994 | Partizani Tirana | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1994–1997 | Partizani Tirana | 62 | (21) |
1997–1998 | Gençlerbirliği | 11 | (1) |
1998–2000 | NK Zagreb | 25 | (8) |
2000–2004 | Reggina | 67 | (11) |
2003–2004 | → Salernitana (loan) | 38 | (8) |
2004–2005 | Verona | 38 | (17) |
2005–2007 | Siena | 49 | (13) |
2007–2010 | Chievo | 61 | (8) |
2007–2008 | → Livorno (loan) | 17 | (2) |
2010–2012 | Cesena | 49 | (8) |
2012–2013 | Siena | 29 | (6) |
Total | 466 | (103) | |
International career | |||
1996–1998 | Albania U21 | 8 | (2) |
1997 | Albania U23 | 1 | (1) |
1996–2013 | Albania | 75 | (18) |
Managerial career | |||
2015–2016 | Albania (assistant) | ||
2016–2018 | Albania U19 | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Regarded as one of the most successful Albanian players of all time,[3] Bogdani began his career at Partizani Tirana in 1994 where he debuted at the age of 16. He left the club in January 1998 to sign with Gençlerbirliği.[4] That summer, Bogdani moved in Croatia to play for Zagreb,[4] before traveling to Italy where he enjoyed the best years of his career.[4]
Bogdani played in the following years in Serie A and B, representing Reggina, Salernitana, Verona, Siena, Chievo, Livorno and Cesena.[4] He became a free agent in May 2013 after his contract with Siena ran out, and retired from the sport in February 2014.[4]
Bogdani has 74 caps for Albania national team, making his debut in 1996 and scoring his first goal three years later.[5] With 18 goals, he is Albania's all-time top goalscorer, overtaking his former teammate Alban Bushi in 2011 by netting his 15th goal.[6] He holds numerous Albanian records, including most goals as substitute and oldest goalscoring in history, and has been dubbed as the best striker to play for the Red and Black.[7]
Following his retirement, Bogdani was initially appointed by Albanian Football Association as a youth talents scouter, starting the job in September 2014.[8] He began his managerial career by being named Gianni De Biasi assistant in August 2015.[9] In December 2016, he was named manager of Albania under-19 team.[10]