Erjon Bogdani

Erjon Bogdani
Personal information
Full name Erjon Bogdani
Date of birth (1977-04-14) 14 April 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Tirana, Albania
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1987–1994 Partizani Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1997 Partizani Tirana 62 (21)
1997–1998 Gençlerbirliği 11 (1)
1998–2000 NK Zagreb 25 (8)
2000–2004 Reggina 67 (11)
2003–2004Salernitana (loan) 38 (8)
2004–2005 Verona 38 (17)
2005–2007 Siena 49 (13)
2007–2010 Chievo 61 (8)
2007–2008Livorno (loan) 17 (2)
2010–2012 Cesena 49 (8)
2012–2013 Siena 29 (6)
Total 466 (103)
International career
1996–1998 Albania U21 8 (2)
1997 Albania U23 1 (1)
1996–2013 Albania 75 (18)
Managerial career
2015–2016 Albania (assistant)
2016–2018 Albania U19
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Erjon Bogdani (born 14 April 1977) is an Albanian professional football coach and former player. He is nicknamed "Bogu" or "Er-Bomber".[1][2]

Regarded as one of the most successful Albanian players of all time,[3] Bogdani began his career at Partizani Tirana in 1994 where he debuted at the age of 16. He left the club in January 1998 to sign with Gençlerbirliği.[4] That summer, Bogdani moved in Croatia to play for Zagreb,[4] before traveling to Italy where he enjoyed the best years of his career.[4]

Bogdani played in the following years in Serie A and B, representing Reggina, Salernitana, Verona, Siena, Chievo, Livorno and Cesena.[4] He became a free agent in May 2013 after his contract with Siena ran out, and retired from the sport in February 2014.[4]

Bogdani has 74 caps for Albania national team, making his debut in 1996 and scoring his first goal three years later.[5] With 18 goals, he is Albania's all-time top goalscorer, overtaking his former teammate Alban Bushi in 2011 by netting his 15th goal.[6] He holds numerous Albanian records, including most goals as substitute and oldest goalscoring in history, and has been dubbed as the best striker to play for the Red and Black.[7]

Following his retirement, Bogdani was initially appointed by Albanian Football Association as a youth talents scouter, starting the job in September 2014.[8] He began his managerial career by being named Gianni De Biasi assistant in August 2015.[9] In December 2016, he was named manager of Albania under-19 team.[10]

  1. ^ “Receta” e Bogdanit: Ja si mund ta mundim Danimarkën Panorama Sport
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Er-Bomber was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Partizani fton Bogdanin: Është nder të vish te ne. Lika: Lojtarëve po u mësojmë derbin" [Partizani invites Bogdani: It's an honour to come to us. Lika: We are teaching the derby to players] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Erjon Bogdani mund të lërë futbollin" [Erjon Bogdani can leave football] (in Albanian). Ora News. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference First goal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Record was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Records was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Scout was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Assistant was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference U19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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