Samir Ujkani
Encyclopedia
Samir Ujkani is a Albania
n international football goalkeeper
, currently playing for Novara
in a co-ownership agreement with Palermo
, and the Albanian national team
.
. His family then moved to Belgium six years after his birth.
Under-19s, and made also ten appearances with their Reserves team. On June 2007, he agreed to sign a 5 year contract with Palermo
of Serie A
.
Since then, he served as unused bench in two UEFA Cup matches for Palermo, and several Serie A matches as well. He was confirmed as third-choice goalkeeper for the rosaneros 2008–09 season campaign, and later promoted as second goalkeeper after the club chose to transfer-list veteran goalie Alberto Fontana.
On 26 April 2009, he made his professional debut with Palermo, replacing injured Marco Amelia
during a Serie A
game against Milan
at San Siro.
On July 2009 he was loaned out to Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Novara
to exchange with Giacomo Brichetto
, also in order to gain first team experience. He played as a first choice keeper throughout the season, and was protagonist of the club's promotion to Serie B
despite missing the final part of the season due to injury. This led Novara to ask for an extension to his loan, which was agreed by Palermo on July 2010. On 31 January 2011 Palermo announced to have sold 50% of Ujkani's transfer rights to Novara, as part of a bid involving striker Pablo Andrés González
.
in summer 2007 and started playing for the Albania U21
. He made his debut on 1 June in a European qualification match against Italy
.
On 6 October 2008, he received his first senior call-up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
qualifying matches with Hungary
and Portugal
. He made his full senior debut on June 10, 2009 in a 1–1 draw vs Georgia
at 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...
n international football goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
, currently playing for Novara
Novara Calcio
Novara Calcio is an Italian football club based in Novara, Piedmont.-History:In December 1908 the F.A.S. was created by eight students of Liceo Carlo Alberto, aged between 15–16 years; among them an engineer, Gianni Canestrini, and a lawyer, Piero Omodei Zorini...
in a co-ownership agreement with Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...
, and the Albanian national 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...
.
Early life
Ujkani was born in Resnik, a village which is now part of the municipality of Vushtrri, in central 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...
. His family then moved to Belgium six years after his birth.
Career
Ujkani played until June 2007 for the AnderlechtR.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
Under-19s, and made also ten appearances with their Reserves team. On June 2007, he agreed to sign a 5 year contract with Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...
of Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
.
Since then, he served as unused bench in two UEFA Cup matches for Palermo, and several Serie A matches as well. He was confirmed as third-choice goalkeeper for the rosaneros 2008–09 season campaign, and later promoted as second goalkeeper after the club chose to transfer-list veteran goalie Alberto Fontana.
On 26 April 2009, he made his professional debut with Palermo, replacing injured Marco Amelia
Marco Amelia
Marco Amelia, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Milan. He was part of the Italian squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup.-Early career:Amelia grew up as part of the Roma youth system...
during a Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
game against Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
at San Siro.
On July 2009 he was loaned out to Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Novara
Novara Calcio
Novara Calcio is an Italian football club based in Novara, Piedmont.-History:In December 1908 the F.A.S. was created by eight students of Liceo Carlo Alberto, aged between 15–16 years; among them an engineer, Gianni Canestrini, and a lawyer, Piero Omodei Zorini...
to exchange with Giacomo Brichetto
Giacomo Brichetto
Giacomo Brichetto is an Italian professional football player. Currently, he plays for U.S. Città di Palermo.-External links:*...
, also in order to gain first team experience. He played as a first choice keeper throughout the season, and was protagonist of the club's promotion to Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
despite missing the final part of the season due to injury. This led Novara to ask for an extension to his loan, which was agreed by Palermo on July 2010. On 31 January 2011 Palermo announced to have sold 50% of Ujkani's transfer rights to Novara, as part of a bid involving striker Pablo Andrés González
Pablo Andrés González
Pablo Andrés González is an Argentine footballer. He currently plays for Siena, on loan from Palermo. He is the younger brother of Mariano González.-Career:...
.
International career
Ujkani received an Albanian passportAlbanian 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...
in summer 2007 and started playing for the Albania U21
Albania national under-21 football team
The Albania national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
. He made his debut on 1 June in a European qualification match against Italy
Italy national under-21 football team
The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
.
On 6 October 2008, he received his first senior call-up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
qualifying matches with Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
and Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
. He made his full senior debut on June 10, 2009 in a 1–1 draw vs Georgia
Georgia national football team
The Georgia national football team is the national association football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. The Georgian team's first match took place in 1990, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major...
at Albania.