Ilion Lika
Encyclopedia
Ilion Lika is an Albania
n football player who is currently plays with KF Tirana in the Albanian Superliga. The goalkeeper has previously played for Dinamo Tirana, KS Elbasani
and KS Kastrioti in Albania
and more recently FC Terek Grozny
in Russia
.
from 1999 to June 2007. He became a fan favourite during his time at Dinamo Tirana and was considered as being one of the best goalkeepers in the Albanian Superliga. Lika was tested by the Danish side Odense BK
but he wasn't offered a contract at the club. His failed trial in Denmark
paved the way for him to transferred to the 2005-2006 Albanian Superliga champions, KS Elbasani
in August 2007 where he signed a 1 year contract. He played just under 6 months in at KS Elbasani
before looking for a new team. It emerged in January that KF Tirana were interested in signing the Albanian
international and that Lika had spoken to a one of the club's owners about a possible switch back to the capital, however Lika himself quickly squashed these rumours insisting that he had never spoken to anyone about a move to KF Tirana and that it was all speculation. He also had offers from abroad as well with Vorskla Poltava apparently leading the chase for the goalkeeper's signature, although he had other clubs from Turkey
and the rest of Europe
interested in him. According to his agent, he was in contact with Vorskla Poltava and he stated that Lika had been offered a very good contract but it was still hard to accept because the location and the weather of Ukraine
would have been a problem for Lika.
, Lika was still wanted by Tom Tomsk and FC Terek Grozny
, both in Russia
. both clubs had offered him a contract but the one that FC Terek Grozny offered him was too hard to refuse and so he chose to move to Grozny
. He completed his move to the club on 29 January 2008 and he signed a two-year contract worth $
500,000. He stated that one of the main reasons for his move was that he hoped to one day become the Albania national football team
's first choice goalkeeper. Lika quickly became the club's 1st choice goalkeeper and put in many impressive performances throughout the 2008-2009 season including one against CSKA Moscow where he impressed even the CSKA Moscow's coach with his performance, he also kept a clean sheet in the historic 1–0 victory over one of the biggest clubs in Russia
.
He managed 9 clean sheets in 27 games during the 2008-2009 season.
Following a very impressive first season in Russia
, Lika has been offered to receive Chechenyan citizenship by the president of Chechnya
, Ramzan Kadyrov
. The president of Chechenya has expressed his desire for Lika to spend the rest of his career with FC Terek Grozny and has stated that he is a huge fan of the Albanian
goalkeeper. Ramzan Kadyrov
also gave Lika a brand new Land Rover
worth $110,000 as a present during the 2008-2009 season. In an interview with Ora News in Albania
, Lika explained that if any of his teammates call him by his given name Ilion, then they will be fined by the club's owner and president of Chechenya, Ramzan Kadyrov
who is one of Lika's biggest fans. The president wants the team and its supporters to call him Iljaz Lika instead of his official name, Ilion Lika. The chairman Ramzan Kadyrov
and Lika have formed a special relationship and understanding of each other based on their Islamic beliefs because according to Lika the chairman is a very religious man and after realising that Lika is a Muslim
as well he has treated him differently than the other players. Besides the Land Rover, he has also bought Lika a house in Chechenya. Lika and the chairman have also travelled to Dubai
on holiday together and they also went to Mecca
and that is how they have built a much closer relationship. He also says that he is treated like a king at the club and is a fan favourite already.
On 1 December 2009 Lika left with six other Terek Grozny players officially the Russia
n club. All five others are foreign the Slovakia
n defender Radoslav Zabavnik
, Brazilian defender Cléber and Romania
ns Florentin Petre
, Andrei Margaritescu
and Daniel Pancu
, the players left for free after that the club decided to not renew their contracts.
announced that Lika would miss at least 5 months of football after damaging his Achilles tendon
. The injury meant that he missed the start of the Russian Premier League
and also 3 crucial World Cup 2010 qualifiers and with first choice goalkeeper Arjan Beqaj
already out for a lengthly period, this would have meant that Lika would have been the first choice keeper and would have been back in the squad after spending more than 2 years out of the national squad. FC Terek Grozny
quickly brought in a goalkeeper to take the injured Lika's place, that goalkeeper was Andriy Dikan
and he was the club's main goalkeeper for the start of the 2009-2010 season. Lika spent 5 weeks rehabilitating in Macedonia in 2009 to try and get him back to full fitness.
After being without a club for almost a month the goalkeeper was offered a contract at struggling Albanian side KS Vllaznia Shkoder
. He signed for the club on 19 January 2010 after coming to an angreement with the management and owners of the club. Following his arrival he became only the club's third choice keeper behind veteran Armir Grimaj
and youngster Olti Bishani
. After playing just 1 game with the club against KS Shkumbini Peqin
which resulted in a 2-1 loss, Lika was released from his contract by the club president Valter Fushaj. Lika stated that he was unhappy about his contract and the clauses agreed and after a mutual agreement he was made a free player on 29 January 2010, just 10 days after his arrival at the club.
the goalkeeper was offered a new contract at Albanian side KS Kastrioti Kruje
. He signed for the club on 1 February 2010 until the end of the season.
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Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n football player who is currently plays with KF Tirana in the Albanian Superliga. The goalkeeper has previously played for Dinamo Tirana, KS Elbasani
KS Elbasani
Klubi i Futbollit or KF Elbasani is an Albanian football club, which plays in the city of Elbasan. The club was founded in 1913, from the fusion of two teams, "Aferdita Elbasan" and "Perparimi Elbasan", under the name "Klubi Futbollit Urani Elbasan"....
and KS Kastrioti in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
and more recently FC Terek Grozny
FC Terek Grozny
FC Terek Grozny is a Russian football club, currently playing in the Russian Premier League....
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Career
Lika played for KS Dinamo TiranaKS Dinamo Tirana
Klubi Sportiv Dinamo Tirana is an Albanian football team, playing in the Albanian capital of Tirana, founded in 1950. They play at the Stadiumi Qemal Stafa which has a capacity of 25,000. Their main rivals are fellow Tirana team KF Tirana.- History :...
from 1999 to June 2007. He became a fan favourite during his time at Dinamo Tirana and was considered as being one of the best goalkeepers in the Albanian Superliga. Lika was tested by the Danish side Odense BK
Odense BK
Odense Boldklub is a Danish professional football club based in the town of Odense. The club has won three Danish championships and five Danish Cup trophies. OB play in the Danish Superliga and their home field is TRE-FOR Park in Odense on Funen...
but he wasn't offered a contract at the club. His failed trial 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...
paved the way for him to transferred to the 2005-2006 Albanian Superliga champions, KS Elbasani
KS Elbasani
Klubi i Futbollit or KF Elbasani is an Albanian football club, which plays in the city of Elbasan. The club was founded in 1913, from the fusion of two teams, "Aferdita Elbasan" and "Perparimi Elbasan", under the name "Klubi Futbollit Urani Elbasan"....
in August 2007 where he signed a 1 year contract. He played just under 6 months in at KS Elbasani
KS Elbasani
Klubi i Futbollit or KF Elbasani is an Albanian football club, which plays in the city of Elbasan. The club was founded in 1913, from the fusion of two teams, "Aferdita Elbasan" and "Perparimi Elbasan", under the name "Klubi Futbollit Urani Elbasan"....
before looking for a new team. It emerged in January that KF Tirana were interested in signing the Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
international and that Lika had spoken to a one of the club's owners about a possible switch back to the capital, however Lika himself quickly squashed these rumours insisting that he had never spoken to anyone about a move to KF Tirana and that it was all speculation. He also had offers from abroad as well with Vorskla Poltava apparently leading the chase for the goalkeeper's signature, although he had other clubs from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and the rest of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
interested in him. According to his agent, he was in contact with Vorskla Poltava and he stated that Lika had been offered a very good contract but it was still hard to accept because the location and the weather of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
would have been a problem for Lika.
FC Terek Grozny
Even though he had turned down a move to UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Lika was still wanted by Tom Tomsk and FC Terek Grozny
FC Terek Grozny
FC Terek Grozny is a Russian football club, currently playing in the Russian Premier League....
, both in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. both clubs had offered him a contract but the one that FC Terek Grozny offered him was too hard to refuse and so he chose to move to Grozny
Grozny
Grozny is the capital city of the Chechen Republic, Russia. The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the preliminary results of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 271,596; up from 210,720 recorded in the 2002 Census. but still only about two-thirds of 399,688 recorded in the 1989...
. He completed his move to the club on 29 January 2008 and he signed a two-year contract worth $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
500,000. He stated that one of the main reasons for his move was that he hoped to one day become the Albania national football team
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...
's first choice goalkeeper. Lika quickly became the club's 1st choice goalkeeper and put in many impressive performances throughout the 2008-2009 season including one against CSKA Moscow where he impressed even the CSKA Moscow's coach with his performance, he also kept a clean sheet in the historic 1–0 victory over one of the biggest clubs in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
He managed 9 clean sheets in 27 games during the 2008-2009 season.
Following a very impressive first season in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Lika has been offered to receive Chechenyan citizenship by the president of Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
, Ramzan Kadyrov
Ramzan Kadyrov
Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov is the President of Chechnya and a former Chechen rebel.Ramzan is a son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, assassinated in May 2004. In February 2007 Kadyrov replaced Alu Alkhanov as President, shortly after he had turned 30, which is the minimum age for the post...
. The president of Chechenya has expressed his desire for Lika to spend the rest of his career with FC Terek Grozny and has stated that he is a huge fan of the Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
goalkeeper. Ramzan Kadyrov
Ramzan Kadyrov
Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov is the President of Chechnya and a former Chechen rebel.Ramzan is a son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, assassinated in May 2004. In February 2007 Kadyrov replaced Alu Alkhanov as President, shortly after he had turned 30, which is the minimum age for the post...
also gave Lika a brand new Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
worth $110,000 as a present during the 2008-2009 season. In an interview with Ora News in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, Lika explained that if any of his teammates call him by his given name Ilion, then they will be fined by the club's owner and president of Chechenya, Ramzan Kadyrov
Ramzan Kadyrov
Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov is the President of Chechnya and a former Chechen rebel.Ramzan is a son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, assassinated in May 2004. In February 2007 Kadyrov replaced Alu Alkhanov as President, shortly after he had turned 30, which is the minimum age for the post...
who is one of Lika's biggest fans. The president wants the team and its supporters to call him Iljaz Lika instead of his official name, Ilion Lika. The chairman Ramzan Kadyrov
Ramzan Kadyrov
Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov is the President of Chechnya and a former Chechen rebel.Ramzan is a son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, assassinated in May 2004. In February 2007 Kadyrov replaced Alu Alkhanov as President, shortly after he had turned 30, which is the minimum age for the post...
and Lika have formed a special relationship and understanding of each other based on their Islamic beliefs because according to Lika the chairman is a very religious man and after realising that Lika is a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
as well he has treated him differently than the other players. Besides the Land Rover, he has also bought Lika a house in Chechenya. Lika and the chairman have also travelled to Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
on holiday together and they also went to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
and that is how they have built a much closer relationship. He also says that he is treated like a king at the club and is a fan favourite already.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n club. All five others are foreign the Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
n defender Radoslav Zabavnik
Radoslav Zabavník
Radoslav Zabavník is a Slovak football defender who currently plays for 1. FSV Mainz 05.- Career :Zabavník played for MFK Košice and MŠK Žilina in his native country's Corgoň Liga, winning the championship twice with MŠK Žilina. Between 2004 and late 2005, Zabavník played in Bulgaria for PFC CSKA...
, Brazilian defender Cléber and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
ns Florentin Petre
Florentin Petre
Florentin Petre "Piticul" is a retired Romanian footballer.-Career:Petre debuted in Divizia A with Dinamo Bucureşti in 1994, scoring in his first match. Except for a spell in UTA Arad in the second half of that season, he has stayed with Dinamo since. He helped win The Double in 2000 before...
, Andrei Margaritescu
Andrei Margaritescu
Andrei Silviu Margaritescu is a Romanian professional football player, who plays for CS Mioveni in Liga 1.-Honours:...
and Daniel Pancu
Daniel Pancu
Daniel Gabriel Pancu is a Romanian footballer who currently plays for Liga I club Rapid Bucureşti.-Career:Pancu began his playing career at FC Politehnica Iaşi. He made his debut in the Romanian First Division in 1995. In the winter of 1996 he was transferred to Rapid Bucureşti for the sum of US$...
, the players left for free after that the club decided to not renew their contracts.
Injury
Lika suffered an injury that would keep him out of action for over 5 months at the beginning of 2009. The vice-president of FC Terek GroznyFC Terek Grozny
FC Terek Grozny is a Russian football club, currently playing in the Russian Premier League....
announced that Lika would miss at least 5 months of football after damaging his Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
. The injury meant that he missed the start of the Russian Premier League
Russian Premier League
The Russian Premier League , currently called SOGAZ Russian Football Championship due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of Russian football. There are 16 teams in the competition...
and also 3 crucial World Cup 2010 qualifiers and with first choice goalkeeper Arjan Beqaj
Arjan Beqaj
Arjan Beqaj is a former Albanian professional footballer from Kosovo. In a career spanning 19 years he played for seven clubs in four countries and .He is now the goalkeeping coach at Anorthosis Famagusta.-Early career:...
already out for a lengthly period, this would have meant that Lika would have been the first choice keeper and would have been back in the squad after spending more than 2 years out of the national squad. FC Terek Grozny
FC Terek Grozny
FC Terek Grozny is a Russian football club, currently playing in the Russian Premier League....
quickly brought in a goalkeeper to take the injured Lika's place, that goalkeeper was Andriy Dikan
Andriy Dikan
Andriy Oleksandrovich Dikan is a Ukrainian international football goalkeeper currently playing for Russian side FC Spartak Moscow.He also held Russian citizenship which he obtained in 2000 in Khabarovsk...
and he was the club's main goalkeeper for the start of the 2009-2010 season. Lika spent 5 weeks rehabilitating in Macedonia in 2009 to try and get him back to full fitness.
Vllaznia
KS Vllaznia Shkodër
Klub Futboll Vllaznia Shkodër is an Albanian football club based in Shkodër. KF Vllaznia have been Albanian champions nine times and won the National Cup six times, the last success coming at the end of the 2007–08 season, after a long 21 year drought in the competition...
. He signed for the club on 19 January 2010 after coming to an angreement with the management and owners of the club. Following his arrival he became only the club's third choice keeper behind veteran Armir Grimaj
Armir Grimaj
Armir Grimaj is an Albanian football goalkeeper who currently plays for Vllaznia Shkodër. He previously played for Ethnikos Piraeus in the Greek Super League and has been playing for Vllaznia Shkodër since 1999.-References:...
and youngster Olti Bishani
Olti Bishani
Olsi Bishani is an Albanian football goalkeeper who currently plays for Ada Velipojë in the Albanian First Division.-External links:* at Vllaznia.eu...
. After playing just 1 game with the club against KS Shkumbini Peqin
KS Shkumbini Peqin
Klubi Sportiv Shkumbini is an Albanian football club based in Peqin. They play in the Albanian Superliga, the top division in Albanian football. They play at the Fusha Sportive Peqin.-Supporters:...
which resulted in a 2-1 loss, Lika was released from his contract by the club president Valter Fushaj. Lika stated that he was unhappy about his contract and the clauses agreed and after a mutual agreement he was made a free player on 29 January 2010, just 10 days after his arrival at the club.
Kastrioti
After released from his contract by KS Vllaznia ShkoderKS Vllaznia Shkodër
Klub Futboll Vllaznia Shkodër is an Albanian football club based in Shkodër. KF Vllaznia have been Albanian champions nine times and won the National Cup six times, the last success coming at the end of the 2007–08 season, after a long 21 year drought in the competition...
the goalkeeper was offered a new contract at Albanian side KS Kastrioti Kruje
KS Kastrioti Krujë
Klubi Sportiv Kastrioti Krujë is an Albanian football club based in Krujë.They currently play in the Albanian Superliga, which is the top division in Albania. They play their home games at the Stadiumi Kastrioti, which has a capacity of over 8,500.-History:The club was founded in 1926...
. He signed for the club on 1 February 2010 until the end of the season.
National team statistics
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