Andi Ribaj

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Andi Ribaj

| fullname =

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|11|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Vlorë, Albania

| height = 1.83 m

| position = Striker

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2002–2008

| youthclubs1 = Apolonia Fier

| years1 = 2008–2013 | clubs1 = Apolonia | caps1 = 83 | goals1 = 12

| years2 = 2013–2014 | clubs2 = Skënderbeu | caps2 = 42 | goals2 = 8

| years3 = 2015–2015 | clubs3 = Apolonia | caps3 = 17 | goals3 = 6

| years4 = 2015–2016 | clubs4 = Maccabi Kiryat Gat | caps4 = 29 | goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2016–2017 | clubs5 = Teuta | caps5 = 26 | goals5 = 4

| years6 = 2017–2018 | clubs6 = Vllaznia | caps6 = 31 | goals6 = 5

| years7 = 2018–2023 | clubs7 = Flamurtari | caps7 = 74 | goals7 = 12

| club-update = 28 May 2023

| ntupdate =

}}

Andi Ribaj (born 21 November 1989) is a retired Albanian professional footballer who played as a striker.

Club career

In August 2013, Ribaj joined Skënderbeu on a two-year contract.{{cite news|url=https://www.panorama.com.al/sport/firmos-muzaka-largohet-kerciku-andi-ribaj-zyrtarizon-kontraten-me-skenderbeun/#gsc.tab=0|title=Firmos Muzaka, por largohet Kërçiku. Andi Ribaj zyrtarizon kontratën me Skënderbeun|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=13 August 2013|access-date=1 September 2024}}

In January 2015, Ribaj made his return to Apolonia after one-and-a-half season by signed a six-month contract.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/apolonia-triplete-ne-merkato/|title=Apolonia, tripletë në merkato|trans-title=Apolonia, treble in transfer market|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=31 January 2015|access-date=12 May 2015}} He debuted for the first time after his return in the last day of the same month, starting and playing full-90 minutes in a 2–0 loss against Partizani.{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/01/31/albania/super-league/ks-apolonia-fier/kf-partizani-tirana/1701607/|title=Apolonia Fier vs. Partizani Tirana 0 – 2|publisher=Soccerway|date=31 January 2015|access-date=27 July 2015}}

On 3 August 2015, Ribaj moved for the first time abroad as he signed a three-year deal with Liga Leumit side Maccabi Kiryat Gat.{{cite news|url=http://www.sport5.co.il/Articles.aspx?docID=194439|title=החלוץ האלבני אנדי ריבאז' חתם בקרית גת|publisher=Sport5.co.il|language=Hebrew|date=3 August 2015|access-date=14 September 2016}} He made his debut for the club on 21 August in the opening league match against Maccabi Ahi Nazareth,{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/08/21/israel/liga-leumit/ironi-kiryat-gat/maccabi-ahi-nazareth-fc/2073777/|title=Ironi Kiryat Gat vs. Maccabi Ahi Nazareth 1 – 2|publisher=Soccerway|date=21 August 2015|access-date=21 August 2015}} and scored his first goal three weeks later during the 1–2 home defeat to Hapoël Rishon LeZion.{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/09/28/israel/liga-leumit/ironi-kiryat-gat/ironi-rishon-lezion-fc/2073807/|title=Ironi Kiryat Gat vs. Hapoel Rishon LeZion 1 – 2|publisher=Soccerway|date=28 September 2015|access-date=28 September 2015}} That was his only strike of the season, as he appeared in 29 league matches, in addition one cup match.

In September 2016, he was bought on trial by fellow Albanian Superliga club Partizani,{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/andi-ribaj-ne-prove-te-partizani-ne-loje-edhe-mazrekaj/|title=Andi Ribaj në provë te Partizani, në lojë edhe Mazrekaj|trans-title=Andi Ribaj on trial at Partizani, on game even Mazrekaj|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=14 September 2016|access-date=14 September 2016}} playing a friendly match for reserve team against Dinamo Tirana. However, he was not offered a contract by the technical staff after failing impressing,{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/andi-ribaj-si-meteor-provohet-e-largohet-nga-partizani/|title=Andi Ribaj si meteor, provohet e largohet nga Partizani|trans-title=Andi Ribaj like an meteor, comes on trial and leaves|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=15 September 2016|access-date=4 September 2017}} and eventually ended up by penning a one-year contract with other top flight club Teuta.{{cite news|url=http://newsport.al/2016/09/u-bashkua-partizanin-perfundon-te-teuta/|title=U bashkua me Partizanin, përfundon te Teuta|trans-title=Joined Partizani, ends up at Teuta|publisher=Newsport.al|language=Albanian|date=22 September 2016|access-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905004317/http://newsport.al/2016/09/u-bashkua-partizanin-perfundon-te-teuta/|archive-date=5 September 2017|url-status=dead}}

Ribaj made his official debut on 12 October against his former side Skënderbeu, failing to score as Teuta slumped into a 1–0 away defeat.{{cite news|url=http://newsport.al/2016/10/teuta-perforcim-te-ri-ne-sulm-ribaj-debuton-ndaj-ish-ekipit-ne-korce/|title=Teuta me përforcim të ri në sulm, Ribaj debuton ndaj ish-ekipit në Korçë|trans-title=Teuta with a new inforcment on attack, Ribaj debuted against his former team in Korçë|publisher=Newsport.al|language=Albanian|date=13 October 2016|access-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905010341/http://newsport.al/2016/10/teuta-perforcim-te-ri-ne-sulm-ribaj-debuton-ndaj-ish-ekipit-ne-korce/|archive-date=5 September 2017|url-status=dead}} He scored his maiden Teuta goal later on 30 November in the matchday 13 against Flamurtari, netting his team's only goal in an eventual 1–2 home defeat.{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/11/30/albania/super-league/ks-teuta-durres/ks-flamurtari-vlore/2342635/|title=Teuta Durrës vs. Flamurtari Vlorë 1 – 2|publisher=Soccerway|date=30 November 2016|access-date=4 September 2017}} Then, he scored a brace in the 0–2 away win at Laçi to give Teuta three important points against the survival relegations rivals.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/live-ribaj-shenon-perseri-teuta-i-afrohet-fitores/|title=Dy herë Ribaj, Teuta mund Laçin dhe del nga zona e ftohtë (Video)|trans-title=Ribaj twice, Teuta beats Laçi and gets out of the cold zone|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=22 December 2016|access-date=4 September 2017}} Ribaj finished the season with 4 goals in 26 league appearances, collecting 1300 on the field as Teuta secured another season in the Albanian Superliga. He left the team after the end of the season.{{cite news|url=http://sportal.al/levizje-te-teuta-largohet-dyshja-e-sulmit/|title=Lëvizje te Teuta, largohet dyshja e sulmit|trans-title=Movements at Teuta, the forward duo leaves|publisher=Sportal.al|language=Albanian|date=30 May 2017|access-date=4 September 2017}}

In September 2017, Ribaj was close to a move to Kastrioti of Albanian First Division,{{cite news|url=http://sportekspres.com/kastrioti-nuk-ndalet-andi-ribaj-goditja-e-merkatos/|title=Kastrioti nuk ndalet, Ribaj goditja e merkatos|trans-title=Kastrioti doesn't stop, Ribaj the mercato hit|publisher=Sport Ekspres|language=Albanian|author=Bujar Balliu|date=4 September 2017|access-date=7 September 2017}} but eventually joined Vllaznia in top flight on a one-year contract.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/afrimi-qe-mbylli-merkaton-ribaj-nuk-e-refuzoja-dot-vllaznine/|title=Afrimi që mbylli merkaton, Ribaj: Nuk e refuzoja dot Vllazninë|trans-title=The approach that ended mercato, Ribaj: I couldn't refuse Vllaznia|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=7 September 2017|access-date=7 September 2017}} He ended a barren run of 14 league games without a goal for Vllaznia on 16 December 2017, when he headed in against Kamza at Loro Boriçi Stadium to give the home side a 1–0 lead. The match finished 3–2 for Vllaznia.{{cite news|url=http://sportekspres.com/vuajtje-pa-fund-ndaj-kamzes-por-vllaznia-ringjallet/|title=Vuajtje pa fund, por Vllaznia ringjallet|trans-title=Endless suffering, but Vllaznia resurrected|publisher=Sport Ekspres|language=Albanian|date=16 December 2017|access-date=16 December 2017}}

Ribaj concluded his first and only season in Shkodër by scoring 5 goals in 31 league appearances, as Vllaznia was relegated for the first time in 60 years, just one year before the club's 100 anniversary.{{cite news|url=http://top-channel.tv/2018/05/23/goleada-me-e-hidhur-ne-histori-vllaznia-bie-nga-kategoria/|title=Goleada më e hidhur në histori, Vllaznia bie nga kategoria!|trans-title=The bitterest goal fest in history, Vllaznia relegated!|publisher=Top-Channel.tv|language=Albanian|date=23 May 2015|access-date=17 February 2019}}

In September 2018, Ribaj remained in top flight, signing a contract with Flamurtari.{{cite news|url=http://newsport.al/ekskluzive-flamurtari-godet-ne-merkato-ish-sulmuesi-i-vllaznise-firmos-ne-vlore/|title=EKSKLUZIVE/ Flamurtari godet në merkato, ish-sulmuesi i VLLAZNISË firmos në Vlorë|trans-title=Exclusive/ Flamurtari strikes in transfer market, ex-Vllaznia forward signs in Vlora|publisher=Newsport.al|language=Albanian|date=8 September 2018|access-date=17 February 2019}} He scored his first goal for the club later on 17 February 2019 in a 2–0 home win over Skënderbeu.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/video-flamurtari-triumfon-ndaj-skenderbeut-oto-xhon-djeg-korcaret/|title=VIDEO/ Flamurtari triumfon ndaj Skënderbeut, Oto Xhon "djeg" korçarët|trans-title=Video/ Flamurtari prevails versus Skënderbeu, Otto John “burns” korçarët|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=17 February 2019|access-date=17 February 2019}}

Career statistics

{{updated|17 February 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/andi-ribaj/57323/|title=Albania - A. Ribaj - Profile with news, career statistics and history|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=14 September 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.footballdatabase.eu/football.joueurs.andi.ribaj.81747.en.html|title=Andi Ribaj : Football Database|publisher=Football Database|access-date=14 September 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.fshf.org/garat/components/lojtar.php?player_id=215194|title=Andi Ribaj FSHF|publisher=FSHF.org|access-date=17 December 2017}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Europe !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Club statistics
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="5"\|Apolonia \|2009–10 \|rowspan="1"\|Albanian Superliga \|19	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	19	1
2010–11 \|rowspan="1"\|Albanian First Division \|13	2	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	13	2
2011–12 \|rowspan="2"\|Albanian Superliga \|25	1	5	4	colspan="2"\|—	1Appearance in Albanian Superliga play-offs	2	31	7
2012–13 \|26	8	3	2	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	27	10
colspan="2"\|Total !83	12	8	6	colspan="2"\|—	1	2	92	20
rowspan="3"\|Skënderbeu \|2013–14 \|rowspan="2"\|Albanian Superliga \|31	8	6	0	2All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League	1	1Appearance in Albanian Supercup	0	40	9
2014–15 \|11	0	4	4	2All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League	0	1	0	18	4
colspan="2"\|Total !42	8	10	4	4	1	2	0	58	13
rowspan="1"\|Apolonia \|2014–15 \|rowspan="1"\|Albanian Superliga \|17	6	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	19	7
rowspan="1"\|Maccabi Kiryat Gat \|2015–16 \|rowspan="1"\|Liga Leumit \|29	1	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	30	1
rowspan="1"\|Teuta \|2016–17 \|rowspan="1"\|Albanian Superliga \|26	4	5	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	31	4
rowspan="1"\|Vllaznia \|2017–18 \|rowspan="1"\|Albanian Superliga \|31	5	4	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	35	6
rowspan="1"\|Flamurtari \|2018–19 \|rowspan="1"\|Albanian Superliga \|10	1	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	11	1
colspan="3"\|Career total !238	37	31	12	4	1	3	2	276	52