Anel Raskaj
Encyclopedia
Anel Raskaj is a Kosovar
football player, who plays in midfield
for Halmstads BK
.
, in Prizren
, SFR Yugoslavia. At the age of 14 he moved with is his family to Halmstad
in Sweden
, where he continued his football career in IF Leikin, however only for a few months before leaving for local rivals Halmstads BK. Although he had not been selected as a trainee, a youth team player training with the senior squad, in 2007 he was put on the bench home against IFK Göteborg
in Allsvenskan and in the following away game against Kalmar FF
he made his debut, replacing Martin Fribrock
, just days following his 18th birthday.
Prior to the 2008 season he was raised from the youth team to become a full member of the senior squad, mainly being used as left winger. In 2009 Raskaj and Michael Görlitz
was the only players to have played in all league games of the season, 30 matches in total, he also represented the club in all the other 17 games of the year, 2 cup
and 15 friendly matches, thus being the only player that had played in all the clubs matches in that year. Anel Raskaj scored his first league goal in 2009 against Kalmar FF.
, Raskaj stated that he had been in contact with Swedish U21
co-manager Jörgen Lennartsson
, who had told him that he just had missed out on the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
as he had not yet gained Swedish citizenship. He also stated in the interview that he would choose Sweden
ahead of Kosovo
, if he were seen good enough. In another interview with Fotbolldirekt.se he stated that Albania
had already approached him, he had however turned them down.
In 2009 Raskaj was called up to the unofficial Kosovo national team, playing under the name Team Kosovo, to play in two matches against Swedish opposition, first against 2008 Swedish champions
Kalmar FF
, Raskaj did not take part in the second match against Malmö FF
.
On February 17, 2010, Raskaj was again called up to Kosovo national team, against Albania
. On June 10 Anel Raskaj participated as team captain when Kosovo played a friendly against his club Halmstads BK on Örjans Vall in Halmstad, the match ended 4-4 with another Halmstads BK and Kosovo national player, Kujtim Bala
, scoring a goal.
On July 28, 2010 Anel Raskaj announced that he had chosen to represent the Kosovo national team, stating that he wished to play national team football and that he believed he would have more chance of doing so for Kosovo rather than Sweden. He also stated that he had not yet fully closed the door regarding Sweden as U21 coach Jörgen Lennartsson had stated he wished to see Raskaj in the U21 team and the 2011 U21 European Championship
in Denmark
. However, he has yet to obtain Swedish citizenship and Kosovo has not been approved by FIFA.
and Arsenal's talented midfielder Cesc Fàbregas
, claiming he has more talent than two earlier Halmstads BK players, Fredrik Ljungberg
and Niclas Alexandersson.
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
football player, who plays in midfield
Midfield
Midfield is the part of a sports pitch that lies approximately in the center. It is a term most commonly associated with football to refer to the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region, but it can be used in field hockey to describe the same area, or in...
for Halmstads BK
Halmstads BK
Halmstads Bollklubb, also called HBK or just Halmstad, is a Swedish football club located in Halmstad in the southwest of Sweden. The club, formed 6 March 1914, competes in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan, and has won 4 national championship titles and 1 national cup title...
.
Club career
Anel Raskaj started to play football for KF LiriaKF Liria
Klubi Futbollistik Liria is a professional football club based in Prizren, Kosovo. The club was founded in 1937 and currently plays in the first division of football in Kosovo, Raiffeisen Superliga. KF Liria is one of the oldest football clubs in Kosovo...
, in Prizren
Prizren
Prizren is a historical city located in southern Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.The city has a population of around 131,247 , mostly Albanians...
, SFR Yugoslavia. At the age of 14 he moved with is his family to Halmstad
Halmstad
Halmstad is a port, university, industrial and recreational city at the mouth of Nissan in the province of Halland on the Swedish west coast. Halmstad is the seat of Halmstad Municipality and the capital of Halland County...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, where he continued his football career in IF Leikin, however only for a few months before leaving for local rivals Halmstads BK. Although he had not been selected as a trainee, a youth team player training with the senior squad, in 2007 he was put on the bench home against IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups....
in Allsvenskan and in the following away game against Kalmar FF
Kalmar FF
Kalmar FF is a Swedish football club located in Kalmar. Formed 10 January 1910, the club has won three national cup titles and 1 league title. Kalmar FF currently play in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan....
he made his debut, replacing Martin Fribrock
Martin Fribrock
Martin Fribrock is a Swedish footballer, who plays midfielder and winger for Esbjerg fB.- Career :Starting his football career in Askeröds IF he moved to Allsvenskan and Helsingborgs IF in 2000 at the age of 16, he stayed with the club for 4 season, in 2005 he moved to Halmstads BK, however he got...
, just days following his 18th birthday.
Prior to the 2008 season he was raised from the youth team to become a full member of the senior squad, mainly being used as left winger. In 2009 Raskaj and Michael Görlitz
Michael Görlitz
Michael Görlitz is a German midfielder, who plays for Halmstads BK.-Career:Görlitz began his career with SB Phönix Nürnberg and joined later than to FC Holzheim Neumarkt. He was than scouted from 1...
was the only players to have played in all league games of the season, 30 matches in total, he also represented the club in all the other 17 games of the year, 2 cup
Svenska Cupen
Svenska Cupen , is a knockout cup competition in Swedish football and the main Swedish football cup. Svenska Cupen usually refers to the men's tournament, although a women's tournament is also held. Each year 98 teams compete, comprising the 16 teams from Allsvenskan and the 16 teams of Superettan...
and 15 friendly matches, thus being the only player that had played in all the clubs matches in that year. Anel Raskaj scored his first league goal in 2009 against Kalmar FF.
National team
On March 27, 2009 in a interview with the local newspaper HallandspostenHallandsposten
Hallandsposten is a newspaper printed in Halmstad, Sweden, that was founded 1850. It is the major newspaper of Halmstad, Hylte and Laholm municipalities. It is printed daily since 1900, before that it was printed two times a week. It has a distribution of 32,000.- External links :*...
, Raskaj stated that he had been in contact with Swedish U21
Sweden national under-21 football team
The Swedish U-21 national football team is the football team representing Sweden in competitions for under-21 year old players. Sweden U21's current captain is Jiloan Hamad with Jakob Johansson as vice captain.-UEFA European U-21 Championship Record:...
co-manager Jörgen Lennartsson
Jörgen Lennartsson
Jörgen Lennartsson is a Swedish football manager and the current manager of Elfsborg in Allsvenskan.Lennartsson is currently manager of Stabæk, where he started January 2011...
, who had told him that he just had missed out on the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship began on 15 June 2009, and was the 17th UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. This was the first tournament after the competition reverted to a two-year format, following the single-year 2006-07 competition, which allowed the change to...
as he had not yet gained Swedish citizenship. He also stated in the interview that he would choose Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
ahead of Kosovo
Kosovo national football team
The Kosovo national football team represents Republic of Kosovo in international men's football. Controlled by the Football Federation of Kosovo, the governing body for football in Kosovo, they are not a member of FIFA or UEFA....
, if he were seen good enough. In another interview with Fotbolldirekt.se he stated that Albania
Albania national football team
The Albania national association football team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
had already approached him, he had however turned them down.
In 2009 Raskaj was called up to the unofficial Kosovo national team, playing under the name Team Kosovo, to play in two matches against Swedish opposition, first against 2008 Swedish champions
Allsvenskan 2008
Allsvenskan 2008, part of the 2008 Swedish football season, was the 84th Allsvenskan season played. The first match was played on 30 March 2008 and the last matches were played on 9 November 2008.- Participating clubs :- Managers :- Standings :...
Kalmar FF
Kalmar FF
Kalmar FF is a Swedish football club located in Kalmar. Formed 10 January 1910, the club has won three national cup titles and 1 league title. Kalmar FF currently play in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan....
, Raskaj did not take part in the second match against Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
.
On February 17, 2010, Raskaj was again called up to Kosovo national team, against Albania
Albania national football team
The Albania national association football team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
. On June 10 Anel Raskaj participated as team captain when Kosovo played a friendly against his club Halmstads BK on Örjans Vall in Halmstad, the match ended 4-4 with another Halmstads BK and Kosovo national player, Kujtim Bala
Kujtim Bala
Kujtim Bala is a Swedish footballer of Kosovar descent, who plays as a winger for Varbergs BoIS FC.-Career:Starting his career in Veddige BK, he moved at the age of 15 to Halmstads BK in 2005...
, scoring a goal.
On July 28, 2010 Anel Raskaj announced that he had chosen to represent the Kosovo national team, stating that he wished to play national team football and that he believed he would have more chance of doing so for Kosovo rather than Sweden. He also stated that he had not yet fully closed the door regarding Sweden as U21 coach Jörgen Lennartsson had stated he wished to see Raskaj in the U21 team and the 2011 U21 European Championship
2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
UEFA U-21 Championship 2011 was the 18th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament was hosted by Denmark between 11 and 25 June 2011....
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. However, he has yet to obtain Swedish citizenship and Kosovo has not been approved by FIFA.
New Zidane
Halmstads BKs former manager, Janne Andersson, compares him with former French international star Zinedine ZidaneZinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
and Arsenal's talented midfielder Cesc Fàbregas
Cesc Fàbregas
Francesc "Cesc" Fàbregas i Soler is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona.Fàbregas started his career as a trainee with Barcelona but was signed by Premier League side Arsenal in September 2003 at the age of 16...
, claiming he has more talent than two earlier Halmstads BK players, Fredrik Ljungberg
Fredrik Ljungberg
Karl Fredrik "Freddie" Ljungberg is a Swedish footballer who currently plays as a right winger for Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan. Ljungberg was captain of the Swedish national team until he announced his international retirement after UEFA Euro 2008.Ljungberg was a model for Calvin Klein underwear...
and Niclas Alexandersson.