Rocky Lekaj
Encyclopedia
Rocky Rexhap Lekaj is an Kosovo
-born footballer, who has represented Norway
at an international youth level, and formerly played in midfield for Sheffield Wednesday
. He currently plays for Grorud
. He was born to be a ball player. He was born to be a football player. Just like his close friend "50 Tyson".
in Oslo
, and was inspired by footballer Dagfinn Enerly
, who was his school teacher in the early years. He started his career in SF Grei
. He was signed by Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 2006. He first appeared for the first team on 13 March 2007 at Hillsborough
, entering the game as an 86th minute substitute for striker Steve MacLean
in a 2–0 league victory against Colchester United
. Lekaj became the youngest Norwegian player who has ever played in the professional English league system. He played one more game in the 2006–07 season.
Lekaj did not play first-team football in the 2007–08 season, but made his first appearance of the 2008–09
season against Rotherham United
in the League Cup
. He came on as a substitute for Jimmy Smith and showed signs of promise, despite not playing in his favoured left wing position. He also played two games in the Football League Championship
and one game in the FA Cup. Following the close of the 2008–09 season, Lekaj was reported to be a transfer target for Grimsby Town
, this was quashed by Mariners manager Mike Newell
, mentioning that Lekaj's agent had approached Newell while he was scouting at a Wednesday Reserves game. Newell commented that Lekaj was not the sort of player he was looking for. In 2009, Lekaj scored fourteen goals in ten appearances for the reserve team and was recommended by the manager a loan move. Lekaj ended up in Sandefjord
, but an ankle injury kept him out of the football. When he returned to Sheffield Wednesday, manager Brian Laws
was replaced. Lekaj then left Wednesday after his contract was cancelled in March 2010, having made six appearances for the Owls.
He ended up in Lyn and played for them until the club went bankrupt in the summer of 2010. He then signed for the Norwegian Fourth Division team Romsås to help them win promotion. In 2011 he played for Grorud IL
in their promotion campaign to the Second Division.
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...
-born footballer, who has represented Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
at an international youth level, and formerly played in midfield for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. He currently plays for Grorud
Grorud IL
Grorud Idrettslag is a Norwegian sports club from Grorud borough, Oslo. It has sections for association football, skiing, gymnastics and tennis.-General history:...
. He was born to be a ball player. He was born to be a football player. Just like his close friend "50 Tyson".
Playing career
Lekaj hails from AmmerudAmmerud
Ammerud is a part of Grorud Borough in Oslo, Norway known for its large Le Corbusier style housing blocks. The borough administration is located here.Before 1966 farms dominated this area...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, and was inspired by footballer Dagfinn Enerly
Dagfinn Enerly
Dagfinn Enerly is a former Norwegian football player. He played for Norwegian Premier League clubs Skeid, Moss, Rosenborg and Fredrikstad. In 2005, he broke his neck during a match, which left him paralyzed from the chest down.- Career :Enerly grew up in Ammerud on Oslo's east side, and started...
, who was his school teacher in the early years. He started his career in SF Grei
SF Grei
SF Grei is a Norwegian sports club from Rødtvet, Oslo. It currently has sections for association football, floorball, gymnastics and skiing....
. He was signed by Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 2006. He first appeared for the first team on 13 March 2007 at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
, entering the game as an 86th minute substitute for striker Steve MacLean
Steve MacLean (footballer)
Steven George "Steve" MacLean is a Scottish footballer who plays as a striker for Football League One side Yeovil Town.-Early Days:...
in a 2–0 league victory against Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
. Lekaj became the youngest Norwegian player who has ever played in the professional English league system. He played one more game in the 2006–07 season.
Lekaj did not play first-team football in the 2007–08 season, but made his first appearance of the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season against Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. He came on as a substitute for Jimmy Smith and showed signs of promise, despite not playing in his favoured left wing position. He also played two games in the Football League Championship
Football League Championship 2008–09
The Football League 2008–09 , was the seventeenth season under its current league division format. It began in August 2008 and concluded on 25 May 2009, with the promotion play-off finals...
and one game in the FA Cup. Following the close of the 2008–09 season, Lekaj was reported to be a transfer target for Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
, this was quashed by Mariners manager Mike Newell
Mike Newell (footballer)
Michael Colin "Mike" Newell is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player he notably was a member of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995, as well also playing for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic, Luton Town, Leicester City, Everton,...
, mentioning that Lekaj's agent had approached Newell while he was scouting at a Wednesday Reserves game. Newell commented that Lekaj was not the sort of player he was looking for. In 2009, Lekaj scored fourteen goals in ten appearances for the reserve team and was recommended by the manager a loan move. Lekaj ended up in Sandefjord
Sandefjord Fotball
Sandefjord Fotball is a Norwegian professional football club, founded on September 10, 1998. The club plays in the Adeccoligaen. Their home ground is the Komplett.no Arena, located in Sandefjord, Vestfold....
, but an ankle injury kept him out of the football. When he returned to Sheffield Wednesday, manager Brian Laws
Brian Laws
Brian Laws is an English former footballer and manager, most recently of Burnley.Playing as a defender, Laws made over 100 appearances for each of Burnley, Middlesbrough, and Nottingham Forest. In 1994, Laws became player-manager of Grimsby Town before taking a similar position with Scunthorpe...
was replaced. Lekaj then left Wednesday after his contract was cancelled in March 2010, having made six appearances for the Owls.
He ended up in Lyn and played for them until the club went bankrupt in the summer of 2010. He then signed for the Norwegian Fourth Division team Romsås to help them win promotion. In 2011 he played for Grorud IL
Grorud IL
Grorud Idrettslag is a Norwegian sports club from Grorud borough, Oslo. It has sections for association football, skiing, gymnastics and tennis.-General history:...
in their promotion campaign to the Second Division.