Ramazan Rragami

Ramazan Rragami (3 April 1944 – 15 January 2022) was an Albanian football player and coach. He played for the Albania national team and for Vllaznia Shkodër, becoming one of the club's most notable players of all time. He became a member of The Disciplinary Committee affiliated with The Albanian Football Federation.

Ramazan Rragami

Personal information
Date of birth	(1944-04-03)3 April 1944
Place of birth	Shkodër, Albania
Date of death	15 January 2022(2022-01-15) (aged 77)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1960–1964	Vllaznia
1964–1971	Partizani
1971–1977	Vllaznia
1977–1978	Skënderbeu
International career
1965–1973	Albania	20	(1)
Managerial career
1982–1983	Vllaznia
1983–1984	Albania U-21
1999–2000	Vllaznia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Ramazan Rragami had a brilliant career as a player as well as a coach in the national and international arena. He started playing in his native town, Vllaznia, at the age of 16. He continued there until 1967 when he was recruited by the Partizani team of Tirana and played there until 1970. He returned to Vllaznia in 1970 and, in 1972, won both the league title and League Cup. In the final game of the League Cup, Rragami scored seven times from the penalty spot, twice during regular time and five additional penalty kicks after an aggregate tie. It is worth noting that this is the first and last time a player has scored all penalties for one team. FIFA regulations at that time allowed one player to execute all penalty kicks after a regular game tie. FIFA has since changed the rule and different players are now required to make the attempt. Rragami was part of a famous football threesome from Shkodër with Medin Zhega and Sabah Bizi.^[1]

International career

Rragami made his debut for Albania in a May 1965 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Switzerland^[2] and earned a total of 20 caps, scoring 1 goal, from 1965 to 1973.^[3] He was the lone goalscorer in Albania's first ever World Cup qualification win over Finland in 1973^[4] and he played in the famous 0–0 draw with European powerhouse West Germany in December 1967.^[5]

His final international was a November 1973 FIFA World Cup qualification match against East Germany.

Managerial career

Rragami began his coaching career while he was still playing in 1972. Upon finishing his career as a player he started as a full-time coach with KS Vllaznia where he won the league in the 1982–1983 season. At the same time he was the assistant coach for the Albania national under-21 football team, which reached the quarter finals of the Euro 84. They became the first Albanian team in any level to qualify for a competitive tournament.

Ramazan Rragami then studied in Coverciano in Italy where he received his coaching certification in one of the most prestigious coaching schools in the world.

Personal life and death

Rragami died on 15 January 2022, at the age of 77.^[6]

Honours

As a player

• Albanian Superliga: 1972, 1974^[7]

As coach

• Albanian Superliga: 1983

References

1. Rragami-Bizi-Zhega, trioja shkodrane që mrekulloi shqiptarët - FK Vllaznia (in Albanian)
2. Profile - EU Football
3. Hoxha, Florent & Mamrud, Roberto (16 July 2009). "Albania - Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 15 October 2009.
4. Në kërkim të fitores së 15-të - Telegraf (in Albanian)
5. Presidenti Meta: Mirënjohje dhe vlerësim për sportistët e mëdhenj shqiptarë - Telegraf (in Albanian)
6. "Futbolli shqiptar në zi, shuhet në moshën 77-vjeçare legjenda e kombëtares dhe Vllaznisë, Ramazan Rragami". Top Channel. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
7. Albania - Championship Winning Teams - RSSSF

External links

• Ramazan Rragami at National-Football-Teams.com