*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 March 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 March 2024
Bekim Balaj (born 11 January 1991) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Albanian club Vllaznia Shkodër and the Albania national team.
Balaj started his football career with his hometown club Vllaznia and made his professional debut at the age of 17 before going on to score 17 goals in 38 games for the club before moving to Turkey to join Gençlerbirliği.[1] After little success in Turkey he returned to Albania and played for Tirana[2] where he scored 15 league goals in 37 games before joining Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic in January 2013.
During his time at Sparta Prague he was loaned out to Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok for the entire 2013–14 campaign where he scored 9 goals in 36 games in all competition before return to his parent club for the first half of the following season. He joined Croatian club HNK Rijeka in January 2015 for a fee of €600,000.[3]
Balaj begun his international career with under-19 squad in 2008, and two years later also represented the under-21 squad. He made his international senior debut in 2012 and played an important role in Albania's successful UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, notably scoring the winner with a volley in the opening day against Portugal. He was selected in the 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016,[4] making his debut against Romania in the final group match.[5]
^"Turkish team signs Albanian striker". World Bulletin. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
^Cite error: The named reference Tirana was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Rijeka was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Euro 2016 squad was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Win against Romania was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
BekimBalaj (born 11 January 1991) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Albanian club Vllaznia Shkodër and the Albania national...
"pseudoatdhetaria"" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2016. ""Bekim" kuqezi në Aveiro, Shqipëria shokon Portugalinë" (in Albanian). Panorama...
2014, Roshi provided the match's only goal with a cross which found BekimBalaj. It was also the first ever win against "Seleção das Quinas". He missed...
wrestled a Serbian fan to the ground. The fan, who had previously hit BekimBalaj with a chair, bit Cana's finger and tried to cut it with his teeth. Cana...
as they beat group favourites Portugal 1–0 away thanks to a goal from BekimBalaj. In the second match against Denmark at the newly renovated Elbasan Arena...
performance with a loss to Albania in Shkodër, with a goal scored by BekimBalaj in the last moments of the game, in a match that was played over two...
in the team. Young forwards such as Sadiku was among Edgar Çani and BekimBalaj provided competition for the established and mature internationals which...
League qualification campaign. He received second place, after winner BekimBalaj, of an individual prestigious prize given from the sports association...
starting eleven. Young forwards such as Edgar Çani, Armando Sadiku and BekimBalaj provided competition for the established and mature internationals which...
2018-08-23. Retrieved 21 August 2018. "Ceki/ BekimBalaj firmos per tre vjet me Sparten e Prages" [Czechia/ BekimBalaj signs for three years with Sparta Prague]...
September 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2018. "Bekim Balës i jepet çmimi "Talenti i sezonit 2011-2012"" [BekimBalaj is given the award “Talent of the 2011-2012...
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