Fatmire Bajramaj
Encyclopedia
Fatmire "Lira" Bajramaj (born 1 April 1988) is a German
footballer with Albanian
etnicity. She plays as an attacking midfielder for 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
and the German national team
. She placed 3rd in 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or
competition, an annual award given to the world's best player.
side and joining FCR 2001 Duisburg
. She made her Bundesliga debut in September 2004 for the club and scored her first goal one month later. Bajramaj immediately became a regular starter for Duisburg. She was runner-up with Duisburg for four seasons in a row from 2005 to 2008. During the 2008–09 season, Bajramaj won the UEFA Women's Cup. She also claimed the 2009 German Cup title, where she scored in the final.
After five seasons at Duisburg, Bajramaj moved to league rivals 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
for the 2009–10 season. At her new club, she won the Bundesliga title in 2010 and 2011. In the 2009–10 season
, Potsdam also claimed the inaugural UEFA Women's Champions League title, with Bajramaj scoring during the penalty shoot-out in the final. One year later, Potsdam again made it to the final, but lost against Olympique Lyonnais
.
Bajramaj came in second place for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or
award. She has announced to move to 1. FFC Frankfurt
for the 2011–12 season. The transfer is the most expensive in women's Bundesliga history.
in October 2005 against Scotland
. One year later, she won 2006 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship
at junior level. At the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship
, the German team was eliminated in the quarter-finals. Bajramaj started in all four of the team's matches and scored three goals during the tournament.
She won her first major international title at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She was a reserve player for Germany, appearing in four games, including the tournament's final, in which she won the corner that let to Germany's second goal. One year later, Bajramaj claimed bronze with Germany at the 2008 Summer Olympics
. She was brought on after 62 minutes in the third-place play-off and scored both goals in Germany's 2–0 win over Japan
. In 2009, Bajramaj won her first European trophy at the 2009 European Championship, where Germany claimed its seventh title. She has been called-up for Germany's 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup squad.
to Germany in 1993. Since 2007, she has been in a relationship with the Kosovo-Albanian actor and model Eshref Durmishi. In October 2009, she published her autobiography
Mein Tor ins Leben – Vom Flüchtling zur Weltmeisterin (My Gate [wordplay: German "Tor" translates to both "Goal"/"Gate"] into Life – From Refugee to World Champion).
Turbine Potsdam
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
footballer with Albanian
Albanian
Albanian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to the country of Albania* Albanians, a people living in Albania, Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Italy and elsewhere* The Albanian language...
etnicity. She plays as an attacking midfielder for 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
1. FFC Turbine Potsdam is a women's football club team in Potsdam, Germany. The full name is 1. Frauen-Fußball-Club Turbine Potsdam 71 e. V. . They are one of the most successful teams in Germany...
and the German national team
Germany women's national football team
The German women's national football team represents Germany in international women's football and is directed by the German Football Association . The team – informally called West Germany in English – played its first international match in 1982...
. She placed 3rd in 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or
2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or
The 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or was the inaugural year for FIFA's awards for the top football players and coaches of the year. The award merged FIFA's former World Player of the Year awards with the Ballon d'Or, previously presented by the French media to the top men's player in Europe. The awards...
competition, an annual award given to the world's best player.
Club
Bajramaj began her career at DJK/VfL Giesenkirchen. From 1997 to 2004 she played for FSC Mönchengladbach, before moving to the BundesligaFußball-Bundesliga (women)
The Women's Football Bundesliga is the main league competition for women's football in Germany. In 1990 the German Football Association created the German Women's Bundesliga, based on the model of the men's Bundesliga. It was first played with north and south divisions, but in 1997 the groups...
side and joining FCR 2001 Duisburg
FCR 2001 Duisburg
FCR 2001 Duisburg is a German women's football club from Duisburg. The first team plays in the Fußball-Bundesliga . They originate from a women's team formed in 1977 under the umbrella of FC Rumeln-Kaldenhausen and have existed as an independent club since 8th. June 2001...
. She made her Bundesliga debut in September 2004 for the club and scored her first goal one month later. Bajramaj immediately became a regular starter for Duisburg. She was runner-up with Duisburg for four seasons in a row from 2005 to 2008. During the 2008–09 season, Bajramaj won the UEFA Women's Cup. She also claimed the 2009 German Cup title, where she scored in the final.
After five seasons at Duisburg, Bajramaj moved to league rivals 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
1. FFC Turbine Potsdam is a women's football club team in Potsdam, Germany. The full name is 1. Frauen-Fußball-Club Turbine Potsdam 71 e. V. . They are one of the most successful teams in Germany...
for the 2009–10 season. At her new club, she won the Bundesliga title in 2010 and 2011. In the 2009–10 season
2009–10 UEFA Women's Champions League
The UEFA Women's Champions League 2009–10 was the first edition of the newly branded tournament, and the ninth edition of a UEFA tournament for women's champion football clubs....
, Potsdam also claimed the inaugural UEFA Women's Champions League title, with Bajramaj scoring during the penalty shoot-out in the final. One year later, Potsdam again made it to the final, but lost against Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais (ladies)
Olympique Lyonnais Féminin is a French women's football club based in Lyon. The club has been the female section of Olympique Lyonnais since 2004. Lyon currently play in the Division 1 Féminine and are the defending champions having won the league for five straight seasons.The club was formed as...
.
Bajramaj came in second place for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or
2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or
The 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or was the inaugural year for FIFA's awards for the top football players and coaches of the year. The award merged FIFA's former World Player of the Year awards with the Ballon d'Or, previously presented by the French media to the top men's player in Europe. The awards...
award. She has announced to move to 1. FFC Frankfurt
1. FFC Frankfurt
1. FFC Frankfurt is a German women's association football club based in Frankfurt, Hesse and has a membership of about 430. The team currently plays in the German first division women's Bundesliga.- History :...
for the 2011–12 season. The transfer is the most expensive in women's Bundesliga history.
International
Bajramaj made her debut for Germany’s senior national teamGermany women's national football team
The German women's national football team represents Germany in international women's football and is directed by the German Football Association . The team – informally called West Germany in English – played its first international match in 1982...
in October 2005 against Scotland
Scotland women's national football team
The Scotland women's national football team represents Scotland in international women's football. They have yet to qualify for the final stages of the World Cup or European Championships and are currently ranked 23rd in the world and 14th in Europe....
. One year later, she won 2006 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship
2006 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship
-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semifinals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:7 goals Elena Danilova5 goals Marie-Laure Delie3 goals Isabel Kerschowski2 goals Emma Madsen Ann-Christin Angel Nadine Keßler Monique Kerschowski...
at junior level. At the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship
2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship
The 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship was held in Russia from 17 August to 3 September 2006. It was the officially recognized world championship for women's under-20 national football teams...
, the German team was eliminated in the quarter-finals. Bajramaj started in all four of the team's matches and scored three goals during the tournament.
She won her first major international title at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She was a reserve player for Germany, appearing in four games, including the tournament's final, in which she won the corner that let to Germany's second goal. One year later, Bajramaj claimed bronze with Germany at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and several other cities in the People's Republic of China from 6 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to send their full women's national teams and men's U-23 teams to participate...
. She was brought on after 62 minutes in the third-place play-off and scored both goals in Germany's 2–0 win over Japan
Japan women's national football team
The Japan women's national football team, or Nadeshiko Japan , is a selection of the best female players in Japan and is run by the Japan Football Association . Japan defeated the U.S...
. In 2009, Bajramaj won her first European trophy at the 2009 European Championship, where Germany claimed its seventh title. She has been called-up for Germany's 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup squad.
Personal life
Bajramaj's parents Ismet and Ganimet, who are ethnically Albanians, moved their family from Istog, KosovoKosovo
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...
to Germany in 1993. Since 2007, she has been in a relationship with the Kosovo-Albanian actor and model Eshref Durmishi. In October 2009, she published her autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
Mein Tor ins Leben – Vom Flüchtling zur Weltmeisterin (My Gate [wordplay: German "Tor" translates to both "Goal"/"Gate"] into Life – From Refugee to World Champion).
Club
FCR 2001 Duisburg- UEFA Women's Cup: Winner (1) 2008–09
- BundesligaFußball-Bundesliga (women)The Women's Football Bundesliga is the main league competition for women's football in Germany. In 1990 the German Football Association created the German Women's Bundesliga, based on the model of the men's Bundesliga. It was first played with north and south divisions, but in 1997 the groups...
: Runner-up (4) 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 - German Cup: Winner (1) 2008–09; Runner-up (1) 2006–07Frauen DFB Pokal 2006–07The Frauen DFB-Pokal 2006–07 was the 27th season of the cup competition, Germany's second-most important title in women's football. The first round of the tournament was held on 2–3 September 2006...
Turbine Potsdam
- UEFA Women's Champions League: Winner (1) 2009–102009–10 UEFA Women's Champions LeagueThe UEFA Women's Champions League 2009–10 was the first edition of the newly branded tournament, and the ninth edition of a UEFA tournament for women's champion football clubs....
- BundesligaFußball-Bundesliga (women)The Women's Football Bundesliga is the main league competition for women's football in Germany. In 1990 the German Football Association created the German Women's Bundesliga, based on the model of the men's Bundesliga. It was first played with north and south divisions, but in 1997 the groups...
: Winner (2) 2009–102009–10 Fußball-Bundesliga (women)The 2009–10 season of the Fußball-Bundesliga is the 20th season of Germany's premier women's football league. It started on 20 September 2009 and ended on 9 May 2010. On the 21st day of play Turbine Potsdam claimed the championship thus defending their title from the previous season...
, 2010–112010–11 Fußball-Bundesliga (women)The 2010–11 season of the Fußball-Bundesliga was the 21st season of Germany's premier women's football league. The season started on 15 August 2010 and ended early on 13 March 2011, so that the German national team has time to prepare for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. At the end of the season...
International
- FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
: Winner (1) 2007 - UEFA European ChampionshipUEFA Women's ChampionshipThe UEFA European Women's Championship, also called the UEFA Women's Euro and unofficially the "European Cup", held every fourth year, is the main competition in women's association football between national teams of the UEFA Confederation...
: Winner (1) 2009 - Olympic bronze medalFootball at the Summer OlympicsAssociation football, usually known simply as football or soccer, has been included in every Olympiad except 1896 and 1932 as a men's competition sport. Women's football was added to the official programme in 1996.-Early history:...
: (1) 2008Football at the 2008 Summer OlympicsFootball at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and several other cities in the People's Republic of China from 6 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to send their full women's national teams and men's U-23 teams to participate... - UEFA Women's Under-19 ChampionshipUEFA Women's Under-19 ChampionshipThe UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship is a competition in women's football for European national teams of players under 19 years of age. It is also a FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualifying competition...
: Winner (1) 20062006 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semifinals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:7 goals Elena Danilova5 goals Marie-Laure Delie3 goals Isabel Kerschowski2 goals Emma Madsen Ann-Christin Angel Nadine Keßler Monique Kerschowski...
Individual
- Silbernes LorbeerblattSilbernes LorbeerblattThe Silberne Lorbeerblatt is the highest sports award in Germany. It had been endowed on June 23, 1950 by the German President Theodor Heuss. It is awarded to athletes and teams if they placed several times at international championships. Furthermore, the honoree also has to have an exemplary...
: 2007 - FIFA Ballon d'OrFIFA Ballon d'OrThe FIFA Ballon d'Or is an association football award given annually to the player who is considered to have performed the best in the previous season...
: Third-place (1) 20102010 FIFA Ballon d'OrThe 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or was the inaugural year for FIFA's awards for the top football players and coaches of the year. The award merged FIFA's former World Player of the Year awards with the Ballon d'Or, previously presented by the French media to the top men's player in Europe. The awards...
External links
- Official website
- Profile at the German Football Federation
- Profile at Weltfussball.de