Kristi Vangjeli
Kristi Vangjeli (born 5 September 1985) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back[1] for Kosovan club Prishtina and the Albania national team. His preferred position is right back, but he can also play on the left as he has done for both club and country on a number of times, as well as defensive midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kristi Vangjeli | ||
| Date of birth | 5 September 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Korçë, Albania | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Adelaide Olympic | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1990–1995 | Skënderbeu Korçë | ||
| 1998–2001 | Agios Georgios | ||
| 2001–2004 | Aris | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2011 | Aris | 106 | (0) |
| 2011–2013 | Chornomorets Odesa | 25 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Aris | 11 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | Skënderbeu Korçë | 61 | (4) |
| 2016 | Astra Giurgiu | 5 | (0) |
| 2016–2019 | Skënderbeu Korçë | 97 | (2) |
| 2019 | Adelaide Olympic | 9 | (0) |
| 2019–2021 | Tirana | 53 | (1) |
| 2021 | Prishtina | 0 | (0) |
| 2023– | Adelaide Olympic | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2004–2005 | Albania U21 | 6 | (0) |
| 2007–2015 | Albania | 35 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2022 | Tirana (asscoach) | ||
| 2022 | Tirana U-15 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 June 2019 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 October 2014 | |||
Club career edit
Early years edit
Vangjeli began playing football at the age of just 5 with local side Skënderbeu Korçë under the guidance of coach Benin Beta. As he lived near the Skënderbeu training ground, he would watch the first team players train which gave him the further ambition to succeed in the game. He stayed at Skënderbeu for 5 years until the age of 10, where he had been playing with his older brother Pavli (1984-2021).[2]
In 1997 his parents sent his brother Pavli on a 2-month trial with PAOK F.C., and when the club signed Pavli, his family then moved to Thessaloniki in Greece along with Kristi. As his brother was already at the club, his father did not want Kristi to try out for the PAOK team as well.
Kristi had to wait for his chance, which was given to him while he was playing football at his school, a coach from a small local team was watching the young Albanian playing from outside the gates. As Kristi did not know Greek well at the time, he did not understand him very well but he understood that he was a football coach and that he would like for Kristi to train with his team, Agios Georgios F.C. After his first training session he joined the club and played for them the very next day. After 2 years at the club, he was promoted to the first team and began to train with them at the age of just 15. As he was tall, fast and lively he was playing as a forward at the time, which was noted in a friendly game by the coach of the Aris second team. In that friendly Vangjeli scored 2 goals for the 5th tier side and was immediately offered a trial at Aris.[2]
Without Agios Georgios knowing, Kristi went on trial at Aris at the end of the season, which was a successful one, leading to a 2,000,000 Drachma move to Aris. It was at Aris B that he changed his position from a forward, firstly as a defensive midfielder. At the age of 17 he was promoted to the Aris first team and in his first friendly for the senior team he was played at right fullback by Ole Skouboe due to injuries, in which he excelled and was offered his first professional contract just one month later.
Aris edit
Vangjeli is a defender who can play at either right back or left back. In 2003, Vangjeli signed for the Greek side Aris and since then made over 100 appearances.
Chornomorets edit
After eight years at Aris, Vangjeli made a €300,000 move to Chornomorets Odesa in the Ukrainian Premier League on 30 August 2011, signing a three-year contract.[3][4] On the third round of 2013–14 UEFA Europa League, Vangjeli's Chornomorets faced his childhood club Skënderbeu Korçë.[5][6] He left the club in January 2014.[7]
Return to Aris edit
On 28 January 2014, Vangjeli signed a contract with Superleague Greece club Aris Thessaloniki.[8]
Skënderbeu Korçë edit
On 30 June 2014, Vangjeli signed with Skënderbeu and returned to his hometown Korçë after 15 years absence.[9] During his presentation he said that playing with Skënderbeu Korçë is a "dream come true".[9] The contract that he signed with the club meant that he would play only in their Champions League campaign, and, if Skënderbeu were eliminated, he would return to Aris Thessaloniki.[10]
He made his European debut with the club in the first leg of Champions League second qualifying round against Belarusian side BATE Borisov, playing full 90 minutes in a goalless draw at Borisov Arena.[11] He also played in the return leg at Skënderbeu Stadium, with Skënderbeu who didn't earn more than a 1–1 draw, thus eliminated due to away goal rule.[12]
After Skënderbeu's Champions League campaign ended, Vangjeli remained with Skënderbeu, signing a one-year contract to play for the White and Reds until the end of the 2014–15 season.[13][14] In the 2014 Albanian Supercup match against Flamurtari Vlorë, he played in the entire match that ended with a 1–0 win at Qemal Stafa Stadium for Vangjeli's side, winning his first silverware of the season.[15]
He made his Albanian Superliga debut in the opening match of the new season against the newcomers of Elbasani, helping the team to commenced the league season with a 1–0 win at neutral ground of Qemal Stafa Stadium, due to reconstruction of Elbasan Arena.[16] On 17 October, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Flamurtari in Flamurtari Stadium.[17] That was his first ever goal in his 11-year career.[18]
On 17 June 2016, he announced his departure from the club via an open later to the club fans, citing that he left the club for familiar and economic reasons.[19]
Astra Giurgiu edit
On 17 June 2016, Vangjeli signed a contract with Romanian Liga I champions FC Astra Giurgiu.[20] He made his league debut for the club on 23 July 2016 in a 4-1 home loss to FC Dinamo București. He was subbed off at halftime, being replaced by Alexandru Stan.[21]
Return to Skënderbeu Korçë edit
On 30 August 2016, Vangjeli returned to Skënderbeu Korçë after Astra Giurgiu's financial problems, signing a one-year contract.[22] During the 2016–17 season, he made 38 matches, including 33 in league, scoring once in cup, as Skënderbeu failed to win the league for the first time in six years and lost the Albanian Cup final against Tirana.[23] On 19 June 2017, Vangjeli penned a contract extension, signing until June 2018.[24]
Adelaide Olympic edit
On 5 June 2019, Vangjeli signed for Adelaide Olympic for the remainder of the 2019 NPL season.[1]
International career edit
Albania U21 edit
In the summer of 2004, just months before becoming part of Albania, Vangjeli turned down an invitation to become part of Greece under-23 team for 2004 Summer Olympics.[25]
Vangjeli's first international call up came in September 2004 under Hasan Lika, following the players promotion to the Aris senior team.[2] He made his debut for Albania U21s side against Greece in a 1–1 draw, which he played just two days before his 19th birthday.
Albania edit
Vangjeli has been playing for Albania since 2007 and has so far won 35 caps.[26]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Aris | 2003–04 | Superleague Greece | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||||
| 2005–06 | Football League | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | Superleague Greece | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2007–08 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | |||
| 2008–09 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2009–10 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2010–11 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8[b] | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 106 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 0 | — | 130 | 0 | |||
| Chornomorets | 2011–12 | Ukrainian Premier League | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 38 | 3 | ||
| Total | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
| Aris | 2013–14 | Superleague Greece | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| Total | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
| Skënderbeu Korçë | 2014–15 | Albanian Superliga | 33 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 41 | 3 |
| 2015–16 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 11[f] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 42 | 1 | ||
| 2016–17 | 33 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0[e] | 0 | 38 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18 | 31 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 14[g] | 1 | 0[e] | 0 | 42 | 1 | ||
| Total | 125 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 171 | 7 | ||
| Astra Giurgiu | 2016–17 | Liga I | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 272 | 5 | 31 | 1 | 44 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 350 | 7 | ||
- ^ a b c All appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
- ^ a b All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearance in Ukrainian Super Cup
- ^ All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
- ^ a b c d Appearance in Albanian Supercup
- ^ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, six in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Fourteen appearances in UEFA Europa League
International edit
- As of 21 October 2014[30]
| Albania national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2007 | 7 | 0 |
| 2008 | 6 | 0 |
| 2009 | 6 | 0 |
| 2010 | 7 | 0 |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 35 | 0 |
Honours edit
- Aris FC[27]
- Chornomorets Odesa[27]
- Ukrainian Cup: Runner-up 2012–13
- Ukrainian Super Cup: Runner-up 2013
- Skënderbeu Korçë[27]
- Albanian Superliga : 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18
- Albanian Cup : 2017-18; Runner-up 2016-17
- Albanian Supercup : 2014; Runner-up 2015
- Astra Giurgiu[27]
- Tirana
References edit
- ^ a b "Adelaidenow.com.au | Subscribe to The Advertiser for exclusive stories". www.adelaidenow.com.au. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
- ^ a b c Andi Matraxhiu (2011-03-18). "Vangjeli: Si më kërkuan para, që të luaja me kombëtaren Shpresa" (in Albanian). Sporti Shqiptar. Retrieved 2011-03-24.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Кристи Вангели заключил контракт с «Черноморцем»". FC Choronomorets (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-06-10.
- ^ "Kristi Vangjeli kalon tek Cernomorets" [Kristi Vangjeli passes to Cernomorets] (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ "Skënderbeu kundër Cernomorets të Bakajt dhe Vangjelit, Kukësi sfidon Trabzonsporin" [Skënderbeu against Bakaj and Vangjeli's Chornomorets, Kukësi challenges Trabzonspor] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 9 August 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "Ndeshja Skënderbeu-Çernomorets; Vangjeli dhe Bakaj kthehen si kundërshtarë në "Qemal Stafa"" [Skënderbeu-Chornomorets match: Vangjeli and Bakaj returns to "Qemal Stafa" as opponents] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "Kristi Vangjeli largohet nga Çernomorets" [Kristi Vangjeli leaves Chornomorets] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "Kristi Vangjeli rikthehet tek Aris i Selanikut, Valmir Berisha firmos 4.5 vjet me Romën" [Kristi Vangjeli returns to Aris Thessaloniki, Valmir Berisha signs for 4.5 years with Roma] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ a b Llazi Saro (13 June 2014). "Vangjeli te Skënderbeu: Realizova ëndrrën. Një ditë do luaja në Korçë, Shkëmbi më bindi" [Vangjeli to Skënderbeu. I realized my dream. I was going to play one day in Korçë, Shkëmbi convinced me] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ [Bakaj and Vangjeli, white&red "part time"] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 1 July 2014. Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "Honours even as Skënderbeu hold on against BATE". UEFA.com. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "BATE eke out Skënderbeu success". UEFA.com. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "Vangjeli firmos për një vit me Skënderbeun" [Vangjeli signs for one year with Skënderbeu] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ ""Vangjeli, i Skënderbeut për gjithë sezonin"" [Vangjeli, at Skënderbeu for the whole season] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 18 July 2014. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "Skënderbeu e nis me trofe, fiton Superkupën e Shqipërisë" [Skënderbeu starts with trophy, wins Albanian Supercup] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ Karaj, Leonard (24 August 2014). "Kursehet Skënderbeu, shpërdoron Elbasani. File: Ishim Të pafat, prisni Elbasan ndryshe" [Skënderbeu spreads, Elbasani wasts. File: We were unlucky, expect a different Elbasan] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ^ Ermal Sika (18 October 2014). "Tre të kuq dhe tre në spital vetëm për… 1 pikë, Flamurtari ndan pikët me kampionët" [Three red cards and three in the hospital, Flamurtari shares the points with the champions] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ Llazi Saro (20 October 2014). "Kristi Vangjeli, përplot 11 vite pritje për golin" [Kristi Vangjeli, full of 11 years waiting for the goal] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ "Vangjeli firmos me kampionët e Rumanisë, pse u largova nga Skënderbu" [Vangjeli signs with Romania champions, here's why i left Skënderbeu] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "Şumudică a reuşit primul transfer important al verii: a adus la Astra fundaşul cu care vrea să atace grupele cupelor europene" [Şumudică made the first transfer of the summer transfer window: he brought a defender capable to qualify Astra in the group stage of a European competition] (in Romanian). ProSport. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "Astra Giurgiu vs. Dinamo Bucuresti – 23 July 2016 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
- ^ Elvis Rexha (30 August 2016). [Kristi Vangjeli returns to Skënderbeu] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ [Tirana wins Albanian Cup, 2016-2017 season] (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-06-06. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ "Vangjeli nuk e tradhton Skënderbeun, vjen rinovimi" [Vangjeli does not betrayal Skënderbeu, the renewal arrives] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ "Vangjeli: Në 2004-ën refuzova ftesën e Greqisë, ja çfarë i them Durmishajt" [Vagjeli: In 2004 I turned down Greece's invitation, here's what I tell Durmishaj] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Appearances for Albania National Team". RSSSF. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Albania - K. Vangjeli - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "Kristi Vangjeli - Profile and Statistics - SoccerPunter.com". SoccerPunter.com. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "Football : Kristi Vangjeli". Football Database. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "Kristi Vangjeli". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 14 March 2016.