:Armando Vajushi

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Armando Vajushi

|image = Armando Vajushi 3.JPG

|upright = 0.9

|caption = Vajushi with Litex Lovech in 2012

|fullname =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|12|3|df=y}}

|birth_place = Shkodër, Albania

|height = 1.80 m

|position = Attacking midfielder, winger

|currentclub =

|clubnumber =

|youthyears1 = 2006–2009

|youthclubs1 = Vllaznia Shkodër

|years1 = 2009–2012

|clubs1 = Vllaznia Shkodër

|caps1 = 56

|goals1 = 8

|years2 = 2012–2014

|clubs2 = Litex Lovech

|caps2 = 86

|goals2 = 22

|years3 = 2015–2016

|clubs3 = Chievo

|caps3 = 0

|goals3 = 0

|years4 = 2015–2016

|clubs4 = → Livorno (loan)

| caps4 = 22

| goals4 = 0

|years5 = 2016–2018

|clubs5 = Pro Vercelli

| caps5 = 22

| goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2018

| clubs6 = → Avellino (loan)

| caps6 = 9

| goals6 = 1

|years7 = 2019

|clubs7 = Teuta Durrës

| caps7 = 9

| goals7 = 0

|years8 = 2020–2022

|clubs8 = Petrolul Ploiești

| caps8 = 34

| goals8 = 16

|nationalyears1 = 2009

|nationalteam1 = Albania U19

|nationalcaps1 = 3

|nationalgoals1 = 1

|nationalyears2 = 2010–2012

|nationalteam2 = Albania U21

|nationalcaps2 = 10

|nationalgoals2 = 1

|nationalyears3 = 2011–2014

|nationalteam3 = Albania

|nationalcaps3 = 6

|nationalgoals3 = 1

|club-update = 26 November 2021

|ntupdate = 8 June 2014

}}

Armando Vajushi (born 3 December 1991) is an Albanian professional footballer who last played as an attacking midfielder or a winger for Liga I club Petrolul Ploiești.

Vajushi made his senior debut for Vllaznia Shkodër in 2009, aged 17. He moved abroad to Bulgarian club Litex Lovech in January 2012, and three years later earned a transfer to Chievo in Italy. He did not make any appearances for the Gialloblu and spent the following seasons with stints in the Serie B, before returning to Albania with Teuta Durrës in 2019. In 2020, Vajushi joined Petrolul Ploiești in Romania.

Internationally, he registered his full debut for the Albania national team in a 0–4 friendly loss to Argentina in June 2011.

Club career

=Vllaznia Shkodër=

Vajushi is a product of the academies of his hometown club Vllaznia Shkodër, where he was part for 3 years before becoming professional.[http://www.panorama-sport.com/legjionaret/vajushil-e-verteta-per-monakon-klubi-punon-fshehtazi/ Vajushi: E vërteta për Monakon, klubi po punon fshehtazi] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205233901/http://www.panorama-sport.com/legjionaret/vajushil-e-verteta-per-monakon-klubi-punon-fshehtazi/ |date=5 February 2015 }} Panorama Sport "Vajushi ka dalë nga akademia e klubit shkodran, ku luajti për tre vjet."

Vajushi made his professional debut for Vllaznia Shkodër in the Europa League against Rapid Vienna on 16 July 2009, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute for Fetim Kasapi in the 5–0 loss.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2009/07/16/europe/uefa-cup/sk-rapid-wien/ks-vllaznia-shkoder/803279/|title=Rapid Vienna 5-0 Vllaznia Shkodër|publisher=Soccerway|date=16 July 2009|access-date=31 December 2011}} He made his league debut in the opening game on 23 August 2009 against Besa Kavajë, replacing Ansi Nika in the 72nd minute in the 2–0 loss.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2009/08/23/albania/super-league/ks-besa-kavaje/ks-vllaznia-shkoder/827803/|title=Besa Kavajë 2-0 Vllaznia Shkodër|publisher=Soccerway|date=23 August 2009|access-date=31 December 2011}}

In UEFA.com's season review of 2010–11, Vajushi was the 'One To Watch' and described as "one of the hottest prospects in Albania" after a successful campaign in which he made 32 league appearances for Vllaznia Shkodër and earned his first full international cap with Albania.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=alb/news/newsid=1648033.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710082021/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=alb/news/newsid=1648033.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 July 2011|title=Season review: Albania|publisher=UEFA|date=30 June 2011|access-date=26 January 2012}}

He went on trial at German Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln before the start of the 2011–12 season but Köln did not follow up their interest in the player as they deemed his €300,000 price tag too expensive. He even scored twice in a 7-0 friendly against Vorgebirgsauswahl and was described by manager Stale Solbakken as being "very fast, even mentally" and that he was convinced in his ability.{{cite web|url=http://www.general-anzeiger-bonn.de/sport/regio-fussball/news/Vor-allem-die-Gastspieler-zaubern-in-Bornheim-article275667.html|title=Vor allem die Gastspieler zaubern in Bornheim|publisher=General Anzeiger|language=German|date=3 August 2011|access-date=26 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.koeln.de/koeln/sport/fc_gewinnt_70_gegen_vorgebirgsauswahl_503549.html|title=FC gewinnt 7:0 gegen Vorgebirgsauswahl|publisher=Koeln.de|language=German|date=3 August 2011|access-date=26 January 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200421/http://www.koeln.de/koeln/sport/fc_gewinnt_70_gegen_vorgebirgsauswahl_503549.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/mohamad-muss-passen-rensing-haelt-556117/artikel|title=Köln: Vajushi überzeugte Solbakken|publisher=Kicker|language=German|date=8 August 2011|access-date=26 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spox.com/de/sport/fussball/rundumdenball/1108/tagesticker-05-08-vfl-wolfsburg-trainer-felix-magath-verpflichtung-papiss-demba-cisse-sc-freiburg-christoph-daum-nationaltrainer-oesterreich.html|title=Der Fußball-Tag im Ticker|publisher=Spox|language=German|date=8 August 2011|access-date=26 January 2012}}

=Litex Lovech=

File:Armando Vajushi.jpg, 3 March 2012.]]

On 3 January 2012, Vajushi joined Bulgarian A PFG title holders Litex Lovech on a three-and-a-half-year contract, for a fee of €100,000.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/vajushi-lan-duart-me-vllaznine-firmos-per-liteksin/|title=Armando Vajushi "lan duart" me Vllazninë, firmë për Liteksin|trans-title=Armando Vajushi "washes his hands" with Vllaznia, signed for Litex|language=Albanian|publisher=Panorama Sport|date=29 December 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/03012012/2/litex-part-company-coach-dzhambazki.html|title=Litex part company with coach Dzhambazki|publisher=Euro Sport|date=3 January 2012|access-date=14 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=bul/news/newsid=1739913.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113015016/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=bul/news/newsid=1739913.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 January 2012|title=Stoichkov turning to youth at Litex|publisher=UEFA|author=Stoyan Georgiev|date=9 January 2012|access-date=14 January 2012}} He made his debut in a 3–0 home win over Vidima-Rakovski on 3 March, coming on as a substitute for Galin Ivanov.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/03/03/bulgaria/a-pfg/pfk-litex-lovech/pfk-vidima-rakovski/1255332/|title=Litex 3–0 Vidima-Rakovski|publisher=soccerway.com|date=3 March 2012}}

On 12 May, Vajushi scored his first goal, netted the fourth for Litex's 5–0 victory over Kaliakra Kavarna.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/05/12/bulgaria/a-pfg/pfk-litex-lovech/pfc-kaliakra-kavarna/1255419/|title=Litex 5–0 Kaliakra|publisher=soccerway.com|date=12 May 2012}} On 2 March 2013, he scored two goals in the 0–2 away win over CSKA Sofia and a few days later he voted by journalists as the player of the Bulgarian A Football Group 16th week.[http://www.sportishqiptar.com.al/newsite/2013/03/06/vajushi-mes-me-te-mireve/ Vajushi mes më të mirëve - Sporti Shqiptar Online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312052558/http://www.sportishqiptar.com.al/newsite/2013/03/06/vajushi-mes-me-te-mireve/ |date=12 March 2013 }} Sporti Shqiptar In the 2012–13 season, Vajushi played in all 30 league games for Litex and finished the season with 9 goals.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/03/02/bulgaria/a-pfg/pfc-cska-sofia/pfk-litex-lovech/1427190/|title=CSKA Sofia vs. Lovech - 2 March 2013 - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}} On 10 August 2013, Vajushi scored Litex's 1000th A PFG goal in a 5–1 away win over Pirin Gotse Delchev.{{cite web|url=http://pfclitex.com/site/bg/news.php?id=2387 |title=Литекс вече с над 1000 гола в А група, Ваюши и Десподов влязоха в историята |publisher=pfclitex.com |date=12 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814220119/http://pfclitex.com/site/bg/news.php?id=2387 |archivedate=14 August 2013 }}

Vajushi finished the first part of the 2013–2014 season with a total of 24 appearances (including 2 in the Bulgarian Cup), 9 goals (were 8 goals scored in the league, positioning in 10th place in the League's rank of Top scorers and 1 goal scored in Bulgarian Cup), also a total of 9 assists, positioning in second place behind Zdravko Lazarov on League's rank of Top assists.{{Cite web|url=http://a-pfg.com/%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%BD/2013-2014/|title=А група - Сезон 2013-2014|website=a-pfg.com}} Litex were placed as runners-up in the League table and gained entry in the Championship Group, who played with a total of seven teams. Vajushi finished the 2013–2014 season scoring in total 11 goals (including 1 in the Bulgarian Cup) in 33 appearances and Litex ranked 3rd in the league table, gaining entry to play in the UEFA Europa League for the next season.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/bulgaria/a-pfg/20132014/championship-round/r21512/|title=Summary - First League - Bulgaria - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}

=Italy=

On 1 February 2015 Vajushi signed for Italian Serie A team Chievo Verona becoming the second Albanian player to transfer in Italy during the Winter transfers window, after Andi Lila who moved to Parma.[http://superligashqiptare.com/lajmet-kryesore/zyrtare-vajushi-kalon-te-kievo/ Zyrtare: Vajushi kalon te Kievo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024004/http://superligashqiptare.com/lajmet-kryesore/zyrtare-vajushi-kalon-te-kievo/ |date=4 March 2016 }} SUPERLIGA SHQIPTARE

On 20 July 2016, Vajushi moved to Pro Vercelli.{{cite news|title=Calciomercato Pro Vercelli, ufficiale Vajushi dal Chievo|url=http://www.tuttosport.com/news/calcio/calciomercato/2016/07/20-13608785/calciomercato_pro_vercelli_ufficiale_vajushi_dal_chievo/|access-date=26 August 2016|work=Tuttosport|date=20 July 2016|language=Italian}}

=Teuta Durrës=

On 4 February 2019, Vajushi joined Teuta Durrës on a contract for the rest of the season.[http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/zyrtare-teuta-merr-forme-prezantohet-edhe-armando-vajushi/ ZYRTARE/ Teuta merr formë, prezantohet edhe Armando Vajushi], panorama.com.al, 4 February 2019

=Petrolul Ploiești=

On 22 January 2020, he signed for Romanian club Petrolul Ploiești.{{Cite web|url=https://fcpetrolul.ro/oficial-armando-vajushi-a-semnat-cu-fc-petrolul-ploiesti/|title=Oficial: Armando Vajushi a semnat cu FC Petrolul Ploiești!|access-date=22 January 2020|date=22 January 2020|author=Mihaitalazarica|publisher=Petrolul Ploiești|language=Romanian}}

International career

He made his international debut with the Albania national under-19 football team in the UEFA European Under-19 Championship (qualifying round) 2010 on 13 November 2009 in the opening match against Italy, finished in the hard 5–0 loss in where Vajushi came in as a substitute in the second-half 59th minute in place of Edon Hasani.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2009/11/13/europe/uefa-u19-championship/italy-under-19/albania-under-19/939380/n|title=Italy U19 vs. Albania U19 - 13 November 2009 - Soccerway}}

Vajushi was called up for the Albania national under-21 football team's closing match of the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification - Group 10 against Azerbaijan on 4 September 2010.[http://www.yllpress.com/15230/kombetarja-u-21-bushati-shpall-listen-anti-azerbajxhan.html Kombëtarja U-21, Bushati shpall listën anti-Azerbajxhan > Sport: Kombëtaret] Yll Pres He made it his debut for Albania U21 against Azerbaijan by coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute in place of Ardit Shehaj and the match finished in the 3–2 loss.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2010/09/04/europe/uefa-u21-championship/azerbaijan-under-21/albania-under-21/928009/|title=Azerbaijan U21 vs. Albania U21 - 4 September 2010 - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}} For the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Vajushi played in 7 out 8 matches, all as a starter where he got substituted off in only 1 match, as Albania U21 came last trailing behind Russia, Portugal, Poland and Moldova, with 1 win and 2 draws, 11 goals scored and 18 conceded.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/international/europe/uefa-u21-championship/2013-israel/qualifying-round/group-6/g4326/|title=Summary - UEFA U21 Championship - Europe - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}

He made his international debut for Albania national football team on 20 June 2011 in a friendly match against Argentina.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/06/20/world/friendlies/argentina/albania/1111929/|title=Argentina vs. Albania - 20 June 2011 - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}} Vajushi scored his first goal for Albania on 8 June 2014, playing as a starter against San Marino and scoring the second goal in the 32nd minute, also gave an assist for the opening goal scored by Mërgim Mavraj in the 28th minute.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/06/08/world/friendlies/san-marino/albania/1667834/|title=San Marino vs. Albania - 8 June 2014 - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 1 February 2015}}{{soccerway|armando-vajushi/84536}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/43696/Armando_Vajushi.html|title=Armando Vajushi|first=Benjamin|last=Strack-Zimmermann|website=www.national-football-teams.com}}

Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" \|Club ! rowspan="2" \|Season ! colspan="3" \|League ! colspan="2" \|National Cup ! colspan="2" \|Continental ! colspan="2" \|Total
rowspan="4"\|Vllaznia Shkodër \|2009–10 \|Albanian Superliga \|9	0	0	0	2	0	11	0
2010–11 \|Albanian Superliga \|32	3	4	0	0	0	36	3
2011–12 \|Albanian Superliga \|12	5	4	4	4	1	20	10
colspan="2"\|Total !53	8	8	4	6	1	67	13
rowspan="5"\|Litex Lovech \|2011–12 \|A Group \|11	1	1	0	0	0	12	1
2012–13 \|A Group \|30	9	5	1	colspan="2"\|—	35	10
2013–14 \|A Group \|30	10	3	1	colspan="2"\|—	33	11
2014–15 \|A Group \|15	2	2	2	4	0	21	4
colspan="2"\|Total !86	22	11	4	4	0	101	26
rowspan="2"\|Chievo	2014–15	Serie A \|0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|colspan="2"\|—\|\|0\|\|0
colspan="3"\|Career total !139	30	19	8	10	1	168	39

=International=

{{updated|match played 8 June 2014}}[http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=27260 Armando Vajushi - national football team player] EU-Football.info

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="5"\|Albania
2011	1	0
2012	1	0
2013	2	0
2014	2	1
colspan=2\|Total\|\|6\|\|1

:Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vajushi goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Armando Vajushi
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col" data-sort-type="date"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Cap !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1 \| 8 June 2014 \|\| Serravalle Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino \|\| align="center"\|6 \|\| {{fb\|San Marino}} \|\| align=center \| 0–2 \|\| align=center \| 0–3 \|\| Friendly

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Armando Vajushi

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col" data-sort-type="date"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Cap

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

| 8 June 2014 || Serravalle Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino || align="center"|6 || {{fb|San Marino}} || align=center | 0–2 || align=center | 0–3 || Friendly

Honours

Individual

Albanian Footballer of the Year: 2011
Albanian Superliga Talent of the Season: 2010–11{{cite news|url=http://top-channel.tv/2011/06/03/roshi-dhe-vajushi-talentet-e-sezonit/|title=Roshi dhe Vajushi, talentet e sezonit|publisher=Top-Channel.tv|date=3 June 2011|access-date=30 December 2018}}
Albanian Superliga Player of the Month: February 2011{{cite news|url=http://www.ikub.al/sport_category/1102270017/Article-Talenti-shkodran-Vajushi-futbollisti-i-muajit-ne-Shqiperi.aspx|title=Talenti shkodran Vajushi, "futbollisti i muajit" në Shqipëri|work=Ikub.al|date=27 February 2011|access-date=7 July 2015}}