Brian Filipi
{{short description|Albanian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Brian Filipi
| image =
| height = {{height|m=1.80}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1989|8|11}}
| birth_place = Lezhë, Albania
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2009|9|19|1989|8|11}}
| currentclub =
| position = Midfielder, Striker
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Cervia{{cite news|url=http://www.ravennacalcio.com/cgi-bin/_ra/comunicati5.cgi?id=11221&mese=9&anno=2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925143906/http://www.ravennacalcio.com/cgi-bin/_ra/comunicati5.cgi?id=11221&mese=9&anno=2009|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 September 2009|publisher=Ravenna Calcio|accessdate=2009-09-19|date=19 September 2009|language=Italian|title=Cervia, Ravenna e nazionale albanese: ecco chi era Brian Filipi}}
| youthyears2 = 2007–2008 | youthclubs2 = Ravenna
| years1 = 2008–2009 | clubs1 = Ravenna | caps1 = 25 | goals1 = 7
| nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = Albania U19 |nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2008–2009 | nationalteam2 = Albania U21 |nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0
| pcupdate = 19 September 2009
}}
Brian Filipi (11 August 1989 – 19 September 2009) was an Albanian football midfielder/striker who spent his short professional career with Ravenna.
Club career
Born in Lezhë, Brian Filipi made his first team debut with Ravenna in the 2008–09 season, being protagonist of the club's successful season which almost ended in promotion to Serie B from Lega Pro Prima Divisione, despite the Albanian's young age. Before his professional debut with Ravenna, Filipi had already played at youth international level with his native country of Albania, receiving his first call-up for the Under-19 team in 2007.{{cite news|url=http://www.ravennacalcio.com/cgi-bin/_ra/comunicati3.cgi?id=7075&mese=10&anno=2007 |publisher=Ravenna Calcio |accessdate=2009-09-19 |date=4 October 2009 |language=Italian |title=Primavera: Brian Filipi chiamato nell'under 19 albanese |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715155841/http://www.ravennacalcio.com/cgi-bin/_ra/comunicati3.cgi?id=7075&mese=10&anno=2007 |archivedate=15 July 2011 }} He later became part of the Under-21 team as well.
In January 2009, following his impressive performances with Ravenna, he was optioned by Serie A club Palermo; however, in the 2009 summer transfer window Palermo decided not to acquire half of his registration rights, as already agreed with Ravenna, and Filipi stayed with the Emilia-Romagna club instead.{{cite news|title=Ravenna, muore la giovane promessa Brian Filipi. Era stato seguito anche dal Palermo |publisher=TuttoMercatoWeb |accessdate=2009-09-19 |date=19 September 2009 |language=Italian |url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/palermo/?action=read&idnotizia=14330 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120418222445/http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/palermo/?action=read&idnotizia=14330 |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2012 }}
International career
Filipi was part of Albania under-21 squad in the last three qualifying matches of 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/history/teams/200002--albania/|title=Under-21 2009 – Albania|publisher=UEFA|access-date=22 February 2018}} He made his debut on 20 August 2008 in the match against Greece, entering in the 55th minute as the match finished 1–1.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0257-0de76ae9b38e-a67374b996c7-1000--sukaj-edges-greece-towards-exit/|title=Sukaj edges Greece towards exit|publisher=UEFA|author=Fatjon Pandovski|date=20 August 2008|access-date=22 February 2018}} He went on to make another appearance as substitute versus Azerbaijan,{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0257-0de771846e6d-59cc1a98b623-1000--albania-and-azerbaijan-finish-with-nothing/|title=Albania and Azerbaijan finish with nothing|publisher=UEFA|date=10 September 2008|access-date=22 February 2018}} as Albania finished Group 1 at 4th position with 12 points.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/under21/season=2009/standings/round=15084/group=700384/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322074240/http://www.uefa.com/under21/season=2009/standings/round=15084/group=700384/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 March 2014|title=Qualifying round|publisher=UEFA|accessdate=22 February 2018}}
Filipi continued to be part of under-21 side in the opening two matches of next qualifying campaign.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/history/teams/200002--albania/|title=Under-21 2011 – Albania|publisher=UEFA|access-date=22 February 2018}} He played as substitute in the opening matchday against Scotland as Albania lost 0–1 at Ruzhdi Bizhuta Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0257-0de7955f81b5-01bc437ab964-1000--scotland-sucker-punch-downs-albania/|title=Scotland sucker punch downs Albania|publisher=UEFA|date=28 March 2009|access-date=22 February 2018}}
Death
On 19 September 2009, at around 23:00 CET, Brian Filipi was hit by a motorist while he was walking in a street in Cervia together with teammate Stefano Scappini, who suffered a minor strike on his arm in the crash.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italian-football/2009/09/19/1510364/albanian-under-21-international-brian-filipi-killed-in-car|title=Albanian Under-21 International Brian Filipi Killed in Car Accident|publisher=Goal|author=Salvatore Landolina|date=19 September 2009|accessdate=22 February 2018}} The car was driven by a 52-year-old woman who also sustained minor injuries in the event. She later travelled further to hit a number of parked vehicles in the same street. Filipi was successfully rushed to hospital, but died soon after due to the severe injuries he had sustained in the accident.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie_Minori/Lega_Pro/19-09-2009/tragedia-ravenna-501340196407.shtml|title=Tragedia a Ravenna Investito l'attaccante Filipi|trans-title=Tragedy at Ravenna forward Filipi run down|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=Italian|date=19 September 2009|accessdate=19 September 2009}}
Following the events, Ravenna handed a request to delay the game scheduled for the very next day to Foggia, which was immediately accepted by the League committee.
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Filipi, Brian}}
Category:Footballers from Lezhë
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Albanian men's footballers
Category:Albania men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Albanian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Road incident deaths in Italy