Danel Sinani
{{Short description|Luxembourgish footballer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Danel Sinani
Данел Синани
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|4|5|df=y}}{{Cite web|last=UEFA.com|title=Danel Sinani - Luxembourg - UEFA Nations League|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/teams/players/250087960--danel-sinani/|access-date=2020-11-08|website=UEFA|language=en}}
| birth_place = Belgrade, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia
| height = 1.85 m{{cite web |title=Danel Sinani |url=https://www.canaries.co.uk/player/danel-sinani |publisher=Norwich City F.C. |access-date=24 August 2022}}
| position = Winger
| currentclub = FC St. Pauli
| clubnumber = 10
| youthyears1 = 2006–2012
| youthclubs1 = FC Differdange 03
| youthyears2 = 2012–2014
| youthclubs2 = Racing FC
| years1 = 2014–2017
| clubs1 = Racing FC
| caps1 = 62
| goals1 = 12
| years2 = 2017–2020
| clubs2 = Dudelange
| caps2 = 64
| goals2 = 30
| years3 = 2020–2023
| clubs3 = Norwich City
| caps3 = 16
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2020–2021
| clubs4 = → Waasland-Beveren (loan)
| caps4 = 18
| goals4 = 3
| years5 = 2021–2022
| clubs5 = → Huddersfield Town (loan)
| caps5 = 39
| goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2023
| clubs6 = → Wigan Athletic (loan)
| caps6 = 10
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2023–
| clubs7 = FC St. Pauli
| caps7 = 29
| goals7 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 2015
| nationalteam1 = Luxembourg U19
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2015–2017
| nationalteam2 = Luxembourg U21
| nationalcaps2 = 11
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2017–
| nationalteam3 = Luxembourg
| nationalcaps3 = 71
| nationalgoals3 = 14
| medaltemplates =
| club-update = 03:56, 21 April 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 27 March 2025
}}
Danel Sinani ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Данел Синани}}; born 5 April 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli. Born in Serbia, he represents the Luxembourg national team.
Club career
=In Luxembourg=
Sinani played club football in Luxembourg for Racing FC Union Luxembourg before joining F91 Dudelange in 2017.{{NFT|68789}} With the latter, he won two Luxembourg National Division titles and the Luxembourg Cup. In November 2018, he scored the first ever goal for a Luxembourgish club in the group stage of a major European competition against Olympiacos.{{cite web| url= https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2020/april/factfile-danel-sinani/| title= Factfile: Danel Sinani| publisher=Norwich City F.C.| date=10 April 2020| access-date=11 April 2020}} In 2019, Sinani was given the Luxembourg Footballer of the Year award. It was his first award of the trophy, known as the Wanderpokal Challenge Guy Greffrath (Challenge Guy Greffrath Challenge Cup).{{cite news| url= https://www.wort.lu/de/sport/danel-sinani-ist-fussballer-des-jahres-5d8e6570da2cc1784e34c5b7| title= Danel Sinani ist Fußballer des Jahres| language=de|work=wort.lu| date=27 September 2019| access-date=11 April 2020}} In the summer of 2019, Sinani was offered a move to R.E. Virton, who play in the Belgian league, but he refused the deal.{{cite news| url= https://www.lequotidien.lu/sport-national/football-mon-contrat-jai-tout-simplement-signe-et-tout-renvoye-par-la-poste/| title= Mon contrat ? J'ai tout simplement signé et tout renvoyé par la poste| language=fr| last=Mollereau| first=Julien| work=Le Quotidien| date=3 April 2020| access-date=11 April 2020}} Later in the year, he scored two goals in a Europa League match against five time Europa League winners Sevilla.{{cite news| url= https://www.tageblatt.lu/headlines/europa-league-sinani-rettet-die-f91-ehre-gegen-sevilla/| title= Europa League: Sinani rettet die F91-Ehre gegen Sevilla| language=de| work=Tageblatt| date=7 November 2019| access-date=11 April 2020}} As of 2020, he has scored 13 goals in UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches. Sinani has scored 14 goals in 16 appearances in the 2019–20 Luxembourg National Division,{{cite news| url= https://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/4084364/norwich-sign-danel-sinani-from-f91-dudelange-after-placing-staff-on-furlough| title= Norwich sign Danel Sinani from F91 Dudelange after placing staff on furlough| work=ESPN| date=10 April 2020| access-date=11 April 2020}} nine goals in the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League, and 24 goals in 30 matches in all competitions.{{cite news| url= https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/12691/11971703/daniel-sinani-luxembourg-international-striker-agrees-norwich-transfer| title= Daniel Sinani: Luxembourg international striker agrees Norwich transfer| work=Sky Sports| date=10 April 2020| access-date=11 April 2020}}
=Norwich City=
In April 2020, he signed for Norwich City for the 2020–21 season.{{cite news| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52249423| title= Norwich sign Luxembourg forward Danel Sinani| work=BBC Sport| date=10 April 2020| access-date=10 April 2020}} His contract is until 2023, and he is the first Luxembourgish Norwich City player.{{cite news| url=https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/city-complete-sinani-deal-1-6603448| title=Norwich City complete signing of Danel Sinani| work=The Pink'un| date=10 April 2020| access-date=10 April 2020| archive-date=10 April 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410212001/https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/city-complete-sinani-deal-1-6603448| url-status=dead}}
In August 2020, Sinani was loaned to Belgian club Waasland-Beveren for the season.{{Cite web|date=22 September 2020|title=Sinani and Sitti complete loan switches to Belgian side Waasland-Beveren|url=https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2020/september/sinani-and-sitti-complete-loan-switches-for-belgian-side-waasland-beveren/|access-date=22 September 2020|website=Norwich City F.C.|archive-date=23 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923054005/https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2020/september/sinani-and-sitti-complete-loan-switches-for-belgian-side-waasland-beveren/|url-status=dead}}
On 28 July 2021, he joined Huddersfield Town on a season-long loan. As part of the loan agreement with Norwich, Huddersfield have the option to sign him permanently at the end of the season.{{Cite web|title=Loan: Danel Sinani joins from Norwich City|url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2021/july/loan-danel-sinani-joins-from-norwich-city/|access-date=2021-07-28|website=www.htafc.com|language=en-gb}} Sinani made his EFL Championship debut as a late substitute in the 1–1 draw against Derby County at Pride Park on 6 August 2021.{{Cite news|title=Covid-hit Terriers fight back at Derby|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58035735|access-date=2021-09-01}} He made his full home debut against Everton in the EFL Cup on 24 August 2021 when Huddersfield lost 2–1.{{Cite news|title=Ten-man Everton edge past Huddersfield|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58239477|access-date=2021-09-01}}
Upon his return to Norwich he scored his first goal for the club in an EFL Cup win over Birmingham City on 9 August 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62387958|title=Norwich 2-2 Birmingham|publisher=BBC |date=9 August 2022 |access-date=10 August 2022}} He then scored his first league goal for the club in his next appearance, a 2–1 victory over former club Huddersfield Town at Carrow Road.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/12673708/norwich-city-2-1-huddersfield-town-canaries-earn-first-win-of-the-season|title=Norwich City 2-1 Huddersfield Town: Canaries earn first win of the season|website=Sky Sports|date=16 August 2022|access-date=23 August 2022}}
On 31 January 2023, the last day of the 2022–23 winter transfer window, Sinani joined Championship side Wigan Athletic on loan until the end of the season.{{cite news |title=Wigan Athletic: Arsenal's Omar Rekik and Norwich City's Danel Sinani join on loan |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64470543 |access-date=31 January 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2023}}
Sinani was released by Norwich City at the end of the 2022–23 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/dowell-to-depart-as-club-confirm-released-players|title=Club confirms players that will depart this summer|website=www.canaries.co.uk|date=5 May 2023|accessdate=4 July 2023}}
=FC St. Pauli=
On 4 July 2023, Sinani signed for Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli on a free transfer.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcstpauli.com/news/der-fc-st-pauli-verpflichtet-danel-sinani/|title=DER FC ST. PAULI VERPFLICHTET DANEL SINANI|trans-title=FC ST. PAULI SIGNS DANEL SINANI|language=German|website=www.fcstpauli.com|date=4 July 2023|accessdate=4 July 2023}}
International career
Sinani made his international debut for Luxembourg in 2017. Kosovo approached Sinani about representing them internationally, as his parents are from Dragash. Sinani refused the meeting to discuss it, as he sees Luxembourg as his home.{{cite news| url= https://www.sportske.net/vest/medjunarodni-fudbal/srbiju-veceras-napada-beogradjanin-danel-sinani-386875.html| title= Srbiju večeras napada Beograđanin Danel Sinani!| language=bs| last=CVETKOVIĆ| first=Ivan| work=sportske.net| date=10 September 2019| access-date=11 April 2020}} Sinani scored three goals for Luxembourg during their 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D campaign.
Personal life
Sinani was born in Belgrade, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia to ethnic Gorani parents from Dragash. He moved to Luxembourg along with his family at the age of 5.{{cite web|url=http://sportekspres.com/historia-e-danel-sinanit-djalit-nga-sharri-qe-nuk-eshte-shqiptar/|title=Historia e Danel Sinanit, djalit nga Sharri që nuk është… shqiptar|trans-title=The history of Danel Sinani, the boy from Sharr who is not an… Albanian|publisher=Sport Ekspres|language=sq|date=5 September 2018|access-date=3 January 2019}}
He is the younger brother of Dejvid Sinani.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tageblatt.lu/headlines/dejvid-sinani-der-offensive-mittelfeldspieler-im-schatten-des-kleinen-bruders/|title=Dejvid Sinani - Der offensive Mittelfeldspieler im Schatten des kleinen Bruders|publisher=tageblatt.lu}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 18 April 2025}}{{soccerway|danel-sinani/411065}}
| 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{{Efn|Includes FA Cup, Belgian Cup, DFB Pokal}} !colspan="2"|League Cup{{Efn|Includes EFL Cup}} !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Racing FC
|Luxembourg Division of Honour |15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 3 | |||
| 2015–16
|23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 3 | |||
| 2016–17
|Luxembourg National Division |24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 6 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!62 | 12 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||62 | 12 | |||||
| rowspan="4"|Dudelange
|Luxembourg National Division |22 | 9 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 24 | 9 | ||
| 2018–19
|Luxembourg National Division |25 | 7 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 14{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League and 12 and two goals in UEFA Europa League}} | 4 | 39 | 11 | ||
| 2019–20
|Luxembourg National Division |17 | 14 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 13{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League and 11 and nine goals in UEFA Europa League}} | 9 | 30 | 23 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!64 | 30 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|—||29 | 13 | 93 | 43 | |||
| rowspan="4"|Norwich City
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23
|Championship |16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 2 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 2 | ||
| Waasland-Beveren (loan)
|18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in Belgian First Division A Promotion-Relegation play-off}} | 1 | 21 | 4 | ||
| Huddersfield Town (loan)
|Championship |39 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3{{efn|Appearances in EFL Championship Promotion play-offs}} | 1 | 47 | 7 | |
| Wigan Athletic (loan)
|Championship |10 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 10 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|FC St. Pauli
|7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 10 | 1 | |||
| 2024–25
|21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 21 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!28 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 32 | 4 | ||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!237 | 55 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 15 | 282 | 71 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{Updated|match played 25 March 2025}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="9"|Luxembourg
|2017 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2019 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total||71||14 |
Scores and results list Luxembourg's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Danel Sinani | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"|1 | 8 September 2018 | Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | {{fb|MDA}} | align="center"|3–0 | align="center"|4–0 | rowspan=3| 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D |
| align="center"|2 | 11 September 2018 | San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino | {{fb|San Marino}} | align="center"|3–0 | align="center"|3–0 | |
| align="center"|3 | 15 October 2018 | rowspan=3| Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | {{fb|San Marino}} | align="center"|2–0 | align="center"|3–0 | |
| align="center"|4 | rowspan="2"|10 October 2020 | rowspan="2"|{{fb|Cyprus}} | align="center"|1–0 | rowspan="2" align="center"|2–0 | rowspan="3"|2020–21 UEFA Nations League C | |
| align="center"|5 | align="center"|2–0 | |||||
| align="center"|6 | 13 October 2020 | Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro | {{fb|Montenegro}} | align="center"|2–1 | align="center"|2–1 | |
| align="center"|7 | rowspan="2"|4 June 2022 | rowspan="2"|LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania | rowspan="2"|{{fb|Lithuania}} | align="center"|1–0 | rowspan="2" align="center"|2–0 | rowspan="3"|2022–23 UEFA Nations League C |
| align="center"|8 | align="center"|2–0 | |||||
| align="center"|9 | 22 September 2022 | Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey | {{fb|Turkey}} | align="center"|2–1 | align="center"|3–3 | |
| align="center"|10 | 17 June 2023 | Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | {{fb|LIE}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|2–0 | rowspan=3| UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| align="center"|11 | 20 June 2023 | Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica, Bosnia & Herzegovina | {{fb|BIH}} | align="center"|2–0 | align="center"| 2–0 | |
| align="center"|12 | 8 September 2023 | rowspan=2| Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | {{fb|ISL}} | align="center"|3–1 | align="center"|3–1 | |
| align="center"|13 | 27 March 2024 | {{fb|Kazakhstan}} | align="center"|2–1 | align="center"|2–1 | rowspan=2|Friendly | |
| align="center"|14 | 25 March 2023 | Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland | {{fb|SUI}} | align="center"|1–3 | align="center"| 1–3 |
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
{{FC St. Pauli squad}}
{{Luxembourgian Footballer of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinani, Danel}}
Category:Luxembourgian people of Serbian descent
Category:Luxembourgian men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Belgrade
Category:Luxembourg men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Luxembourg Division of Honour players
Category:Luxembourg National Division players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Racing FC Union Luxembourg players
Category:F91 Dudelange players
Category:Norwich City F.C. players
Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players
Category:Wigan Athletic F.C. players
Category:Luxembourgian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Luxembourgian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Luxembourgian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:Luxembourgian expatriate sportspeople in Germany