Labinot Haliti
Encyclopedia
Labinot Haliti is a football (soccer)
player who plays as striker for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League
. He holds Albanian
, Australian
and Kosovar
passports, making him eligible to represent Albania, Australia and the non FIFA-recognised Kosovo.
’s capital, Pristina.
Haliti fled his home country at the age of 14 with his family, arriving in Australia
in 1999, where they soon settled in Sydney
.
Since arriving in Sydney in 1999, Haliti has stamped himself as a potential superstar of the game with impressive stints at both Sydney Olympic and Sydney United in the defunct NSL.
Like so many juniors of the past few decades, Haliti’s talent was spotted by the legendary Frank Arok
player and coach of Hungarian descent.
Haliti played in the defunct National Soccer League
, firstly for Sydney Olympic
and then city rivals Sydney United
. It was at Olympic where Haliti played alongside Socceroos striker and close friend Ante Milicic
, who proved influential in ultimately bringing the attacking midfielder to the Newcastle Jets in the newly formed A-League
.
Haliti's impressive first season with the Jets led to much speculation about his international future, with the Albanian
national team and Australia
n Olyroos Under 23 team courting his services. A change in manager in his second season at Newcastle saw him starved of opportunities, and Haliti returned to Sydney United
in the New South Wales Premier League, prior to pursuing his career in Europe.
In June 2007 he signed for Croatian Prva HNL team, NK Slaven Belupo
, however, he failed to make an appearance for the club after signing for KS Teuta Durrës
in the Albanian first division a month later. After a string of appearances and 3 goals, he signed for Polish Orange Ekstraklasa team, Łódzki KS where he has established himself as a first team squad member.
On 26 August 2009 he was signed to a short-term deal by the Newcastle Jets as an injury replacement for Marko Jesic
.
On 2 October 2009 Haliti extended his contract with the jets to a two year deal.
On 3 September 2009 Haliti was included in the squad against Melbourne Victory
after a late clearance from his Polish side ŁKS Łódź and the Polish Football Association
. He scored with a header in the 87th minute and secure a 1-1 draw for the Jets.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who plays as striker for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
. He holds Albanian
Albanian passport
The Albanian passport is a travel and identity document that is issued to citizens who are nationals of Albania, and allows them to travel abroad...
, Australian
Australian Passport
Australian passports are issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Australia and overseas. Since 1984, Australian passports are issued only to citizens of Australia.- History :...
and Kosovar
Kosovan passport
The Kosovan passport is a travel document that is issued to the citizens of the disputed Republic of Kosovo. The document facilitates international travel as well as serving as proof of citizenship. The issuance of passports is the prerogative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the...
passports, making him eligible to represent Albania, Australia and the non FIFA-recognised Kosovo.
Club career
Haliti’s story begins in 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...
’s capital, Pristina.
Haliti fled his home country at the age of 14 with his family, arriving in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1999, where they soon settled in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
Since arriving in Sydney in 1999, Haliti has stamped himself as a potential superstar of the game with impressive stints at both Sydney Olympic and Sydney United in the defunct NSL.
Like so many juniors of the past few decades, Haliti’s talent was spotted by the legendary Frank Arok
Frank Arok
Ferenc 'Frank' Arok is a retired Serbian football player and coach of Hungarian descent....
player and coach of Hungarian descent.
Haliti played in the defunct National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
, firstly for Sydney Olympic
Sydney Olympic FC
Sydney Olympic Football Club is an Australian football club that plays in the NSW Premier League. It competed in the National Soccer League from 1977 until the league's demise in 2004, having won the championship in 1989–90, 2001–02, the League Cup in 1980, the minor premiership in 2002–03 and the...
and then city rivals Sydney United
Sydney United
Sydney United Football Club are an Australian football club from Sydney, Australia, established in 1957 by Croatian Australians in the area...
. It was at Olympic where Haliti played alongside Socceroos striker and close friend Ante Milicic
Ante Milicic
Ante Milicic is an Australian former football player. He is currently one of the assistant managers of A-League club Melbourne Heart. He is of Croatian Australian origin....
, who proved influential in ultimately bringing the attacking midfielder to the Newcastle Jets in the newly formed A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
.
Haliti's impressive first season with the Jets led to much speculation about his international future, with the Albanian
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...
national team and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Olyroos Under 23 team courting his services. A change in manager in his second season at Newcastle saw him starved of opportunities, and Haliti returned to Sydney United
Sydney United
Sydney United Football Club are an Australian football club from Sydney, Australia, established in 1957 by Croatian Australians in the area...
in the New South Wales Premier League, prior to pursuing his career in Europe.
In June 2007 he signed for Croatian Prva HNL team, NK Slaven Belupo
NK Slaven Belupo
NK Slaven Belupo, often referred to simply as Slaven and known internationally as NK Slaven Koprivnica, is a Croatian football club based in the city of Koprivnica in the north of the country...
, however, he failed to make an appearance for the club after signing for KS Teuta Durrës
KS Teuta Durrës
Klubi Sportiv Teuta Durrës or KS Teuta is an Albanian football team, with its base in the city of Durrës. The club was founded in 1925 with the name of "KS Urani". In 1927, the club renamed themselves to "SK Durrës", in 1930, "KS Teuta Durrës", in 1946 "Ylli i Kuq Durrës" , in 1950 "SK Durrës", in...
in the Albanian first division a month later. After a string of appearances and 3 goals, he signed for Polish Orange Ekstraklasa team, Łódzki KS where he has established himself as a first team squad member.
On 26 August 2009 he was signed to a short-term deal by the Newcastle Jets as an injury replacement for Marko Jesic
Marko Jesic
Marko Jesic is a football striker who currently plays for A-League outfit the Newcastle United Jets.-Club career:...
.
On 2 October 2009 Haliti extended his contract with the jets to a two year deal.
On 3 September 2009 Haliti was included in the squad against Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
after a late clearance from his Polish side ŁKS Łódź and the Polish Football Association
Polish Football Association
The Polish Football Association is the governing body of football in Poland. It organizes the Polish football leagues , the Polish Cup, the Polish SuperCup, the Polish League Cup, and the Polish national football team...
. He scored with a header in the 87th minute and secure a 1-1 draw for the Jets.