Centre-back, defensive midfielder, central midfielder
Youth career
1997–2000
FC Dardania Lausanne
2000–2001
Paris Saint-Germain
Senior career*
Years
Team
Apps
(Gls)
2000–2003
Paris Saint-Germain B
39
(2)
2002–2005
Paris Saint-Germain
69
(2)
2005–2009
Marseille
122
(6)
2009–2010
Sunderland
31
(0)
2010–2011
Galatasaray
24
(1)
2011–2015
Lazio
82
(4)
2015–2016
Nantes
21
(0)
Total
388
(15)
International career
2003–2016
Albania
93
(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Lorik Agim Cana (Albanian pronunciation:[ˈlɔɾikˈtsana]; born 27 July 1983) is an Albanian former professional footballer. He is currently the Grassroots ambassador for children's football in Albania, named by the Albanian Football Association on 26 October 2017.
Cana played in the top divisions of France, England, Italy and Turkey, representing Paris Saint-Germain, Sunderland, Galatasaray, Lazio, FC Nantes and Olympique de Marseille as well as the Albania national team for which he held the appearance record for Albania's most capped player of all time, with 93 caps since he made his debut in 2003 until his retirement in 2016. He used to play primarily as a defensive and central midfielder but later switched to centre-back. He participated in the first major international competition for Albania, the UEFA Euro 2016 held in France.
At the age of 16, Cana was invited to Arsenal for a trial, but failed to attend because he was denied a British visa.[1] He began his senior club career playing for Paris Saint-Germain, before signing with rivals Olympique de Marseille in 2004 whom he went on to captain. In 2009, Cana made his league debut for Sunderland becoming the first player of Albanian origin to play in the Premier League. Later he joined Galatasaray, the most successful Turkish football club. Two years later, Cana signed for Italian Serie A club Lazio where he spent four years. In 2015, Cana returned to France, where he started his career, signing a two-year contract with Nantes.
Cana was eligible to play for either Albania, Switzerland or France, as he held all three passports.[2] He chose Albania and made his international debut in June 2003, at the age of 19. Cana is Albania's most capped player of all time with 93 caps where he was named captain in 2011. After the end of the UEFA Euro 2016 Cana announced his retirement from football.
^"Cana: Arsenali më ka kërkuar si 16-vjeçar" (in Albanian). Pristina, Kosovo: Telegrafi.com. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2010. Jam ftuar nga Arsenali për prova kur kam pasur 16 vjet, por nuk mund të vija për shkak të problemeve me vizën.
^Cana: Do të shënojmë dhe fitojmë ndaj Bjellorusisë! Yll Press > Sport: Kombëtaret - "3 pasaporta zotëronte Cana para se të zgjidhte Shqipërinë. Ai kishte në dorë të luante me Zvicrën ose Francën, por zgjodhi të përfaqësonte kombin e tij"
Lorik Agim Cana (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈlɔɾik ˈtsana]; born 27 July 1983) is an Albanian former professional footballer. He is currently the Grassroots...
include: Lorik Ademi (born 2001), Swedish footballer LorikCana (born 1983), Albanian footballer Lorik Emini (born 1999), Kosovan footballer Lorik Maxhuni...
graduate LorikCana signed for Marseille in 2005 after losing his starting place under manager Laurent Fournier. Like Fiorèse before him, Cana declared...
Cana was born in Đakovica, Yugoslavia (modern-day Gjakova, Kosovo) on 29 September 1956, to a Kosovar Albanian family. He is the father of LorikCana...
Football Tournament. As of January 2023, Albania's most capped player is LorikCana, who made 93 appearances for the senior team during his career. He made...
needed] The ambassador for the final was former Albanian international LorikCana.[citation needed] On 11 May 2022, UEFA announced Romanian István Kovács...
28, 2022. "KAPITENI LEGJENDAR/ LORIKCANA, njeriu simbol dhe frymëzimi i çdo shqiptari" [Legendary captain/ LorikCana, the symbol man and inspiration...
players of Albanian origin playing in top European teams. These include LorikCana, who captained Marseille and Sunderland as well as the Albanian national...
2010s Most appearances at the FIFA World Cup qualifiers Ervin Skela & LorikCana both at 28. Most appearances at the UEFA European Championship Etrit Berisha...
Netherlands (13 October 2015) Group D vs Spain (matchday 1; 13 June 2016) LorikCana in Group A vs Switzerland (matchday 1; 11 June 2016) Group A vs France...
Chiricheș for Romania against France First red card of the tournament: LorikCana for Albania against Switzerland Fastest yellow card from kick off: 2nd...
most expensive move involving Albanian international players behind of LorikCana which currently holds the record with a €6.75 million move from Galatasaray...
Serbia and Michel Platini. In September 2012, Albanian international LorikCana, along with Swiss internationals Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka and Valon...
11 October 2015 respectively. He played as a centre back among Captain LorikCana in both matches and on 11 October against Armenia he scored his first...
FIFA members' national teams. In September 2012, Albania international LorikCana, along with Swiss internationals Granit Xhaka, Valon Behrami and Xherdan...
on duty in the 2011 Copa América with Uruguay. The transfer involved LorikCana moving in the opposite direction to Lazio, while Galatasaray also paid...
were still deducted three points. Days after the match, he along with LorikCana were declared citizens of honour from the mayor of the city of Mitrovica...
second highest in Albania's international history, being overtaken only by LorikCana in 2014. He debuted for Albania in January 1998 during a friendly match...
October 2013. "KAPITENI LEGJENDAR/ LORIKCANA, njeriu simbol dhe frymëzimi i çdo shqiptari" [Legendary captain/ LorikCana, the symbol man and inspiration...
Kosovan origin LorikCana after another two years, as both midfielders became captains subsequently during their last years and Cana himself holds the...
Albanian politician, 5th President of the League of Communists of Kosovo LorikCana, Albanian footballer and captain on National football team of Albania...
National-Football-Teams.com. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2021. "Biografi e shkurtë e Lorik Canës në Mirror UK (British)" (in Albanian). Albanians Network. 5 May 2009...
Global Information