Ervin Skela
{{short description|Albanian footballer (born 1976)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ervin Skela
| image = 2018-09-17 Eintracht Frankfurt Golf Open Ervin Skela-8825.jpg
| caption = Skela in 2018
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|11|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Vlorë, Albania
| height = 1.73 m
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub =
| years1 = 1992–1995 | clubs1 = Flamurtari | caps1 = 32 | goals1 = 4
| years2 = 1993 | clubs2 = → Tirana (loan) | caps2 = 4 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1995–1997 | clubs3 = Union Berlin | caps3 = 57 | goals3 = 9
| years4 = 1998–1999 | clubs4 = Erzgebirge Aue | caps4 = 47 | goals4 = 8
| years5 = 1999–2000 | clubs5 = Chemnitzer FC | caps5 = 50 | goals5 = 11
| years6 = 2001 | clubs6 = Waldhof Mannheim | caps6 = 15 | goals6 = 3
| years7 = 2001–2004 | clubs7 = Eintracht Frankfurt | caps7 = 92 | goals7 = 26
| years8 = 2004–2005 | clubs8 = Arminia Bielefeld | caps8 = 32 | goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2005–2006 | clubs9 = 1. FC Kaiserslautern | caps9 = 34 | goals9 = 4
| years10 = 2006 | clubs10 = Ascoli | caps10 = 7 | goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2007–2009 | clubs11 = Energie Cottbus | caps11 = 72 | goals11 = 9
| years12 = 2009–2010 | clubs12 = TuS Koblenz | caps12 = 18 | goals12 = 0
| years13 = 2011 | clubs13 = TSV Germania Windeck | caps13 = 0 | goals13 = 0
| years14 = 2011 | clubs14 = Arka Gdynia | caps14 = 5 | goals14 = 0
| years15 = 2014–2018 | clubs15 = FC Hanau 93 | caps15 = 69 | goals15 = 46
| totalcaps = 534
| totalgoals = 120
| nationalyears1 = 2000–2011 | nationalteam1 = Albania | nationalcaps1 = 74 | nationalgoals1 = 13
}}
Ervin Skela (born 17 November 1976) is an Albanian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
He played the majority of his career in Germany, but he also played in Albania as well as Italy and Poland briefly. He is fourth most capped Albanian international with 75 appearances as well being the third highest goalscorer in the country's history with 13 goals.
Club career
=Early career=
Skela started his playing career in Albania, from a young age he was involved in football. He started his professional career with his local team KS Flamurtari Vlorë, who at the time were one of the best teams in Albania. He was at the Vlorë based club for three years from 1992 to 1995, during his time there he was loaned out to SK Tirana in 1993 but returned soon after.
=Germany=
After three years in Albanian football, Skela decided it was time to broaden his horizons and so moved to Germany to play for 1. FC Union Berlin. After spending three years at the Berlin club he had made over 57 appearances and scored a total of eight goals. He then moved to FC Erzgebirge Aue in 1997. In his two seasons there he made over 47 appearances and scored seven goals. in 1999 Skela moved to Chemnitzer FC where he played over 50 games and scored 11 goals. In the 2000 January transfer window he moved to SV Waldhof Mannheim who were the club who missed out on promotion that season by only a single point. But after spending only half a year at the club and making only 15 appearances he moved to Eintracht Frankfurt. After a total of three years at the club he made 92 appearances and scored 26 goals.{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/players/skeladata.html | title = Ervin Skela - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 4 February 2016 | access-date = 1 March 2016 | publisher = RSSSF | archive-date = 26 September 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220926003839/https://www.rsssf.org/players/skeladata.html | url-status = live }} Then Skela moved to Arminia Bielefeld where after only one season and 32 matches he hs left the club to join 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 2005. In his only season at the club he played 34 matches and scored four goals. But after a disappointing 2005–06 season which saw the club getting relegated to the 2. Bundesliga), Skela was released from his current contract with Kaiserslautern, and subsequently joined Italian side Ascoli Calcio 1898 on a free transfer in 2006.
=Ascoli=
He signed a one-year deal at Italian club Ascoli and made his debut on 9 September 2006. However, Skela did not manage to make his breakthrough in the starting lineup and was released for free soon after.{{cite news|url=http://www.ascolicalcio.net/altre_news.asp?id=2102|title=COMUNICATO|trans-title=Announcement|publisher=Ascoli Calcio 1898|language=it|date=5 January 2007|access-date=28 December 2010|archive-date=9 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309164523/http://www.ascolicalcio.net/altre_news.asp?id=2102|url-status=dead}} During his time there Skela made seven appearances without scoring.
=Energie Cottbus=
During the January 2007 transfer window, Skela returned to Germany on 29 January 2007, with Energie Cottbus on a two-and-a-half-year contract. During his time so far at Energie Cottbus he has become a crowd favourite and one of their key players. In the 2007–08 season he played 34 matches and scored seven goals, his goals and magnificent displays in an Energie Cottbus jersey saved the club from relegation that same season. At the end of the season he had made 137 appearances in the Bundesliga and scored 21 goals in Germany's top division.
On 22 November 2008, Skela scored an historical goal in his career at Bundesliga against the giants of Bayern Munich, a match valid for the 14th week of the 2008–09 season, finished with a 4–1 loss at Allianz Arena, becoming the first and only player Albanian player to score against Bayern Munich.{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2008/11/22/germany/bundesliga/fc-bayern-munchen/fc-energie-cottbus/645729/|title=Bayern Munich 4–1 Energie Cottbus|date=22 November 2008|work=Soccerway|access-date=4 July 2015|archive-date=25 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125191705/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2008/11/22/germany/bundesliga/fc-bayern-munchen/fc-energie-cottbus/645729/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afKuk3LAQPw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/afKuk3LAQPw |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Ervin Skela - Best moments...|date=14 July 2010|work=YouTube.com|access-date=4 July 2015}}{{cbignore}} He scored his second goal of the season against the eventual champions VfL Wolfsburg on 26 April 2009 to secure his team a 2–0 victory and to become the first team to concede a defeat to VfL Wolfsburg after 4 months.{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/football/04/26/germany.wolfsburg/|title=Beaten Wolfsburg remain top of Bundesliga|publisher=CNN|date=26 April 2009|access-date=15 December 2017|archive-date=16 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216091656/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/football/04/26/germany.wolfsburg/|url-status=live}}
After two years with FC Energie Cottbus Skela left the club on 30 June 2009.{{cite web | url = http://albania-sport.com/mat.php?idm=12133 | title = Skela surprizon 1860-n, zgjedh Koblencin | publisher = albania-sport.com | access-date = 16 October 2009 | date = 13 October 2009 | language = sq | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707103455/http://albania-sport.com/mat.php?idm=12133 | archive-date = 7 July 2011 | df = dmy-all }}
=Koblenz=
After four months without a club, he signed on 14 October 2009 a two-year contract with TuS Koblenz, taking the number 28.{{cite news|url=http://www.oranews.tv/uncategorized/skela-2-vjet-kontrat-me-tus-koblenz/|title=Skela, 2 vjet kontratë me TuS Koblenz|date=14 October 2009|work=Ora News|access-date=4 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705085751/http://www.oranews.tv/uncategorized/skela-2-vjet-kontrat-me-tus-koblenz/|archive-date=5 July 2015|url-status=dead}} Skela made his debut in week 9 of 2009–10 season against Rot Weiss Ahlen, playing full-90 minutes in a 1–1 home draw.{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2009/10/18/germany/2-bundesliga/tus-koblenz-1911-ev/rot-weiss-ahlen/795992/|title=Koblenz vs. Rot Weiss Ahlen|date=14 October 2009|work=Soccerway|access-date=4 July 2015|archive-date=23 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423235037/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2009/10/18/germany/2-bundesliga/tus-koblenz-1911-ev/rot-weiss-ahlen/795992/|url-status=live}} After the match, the coach of the team Rapolder was frustrated with the rest of the players, saying that "Skela alone cannot decide the matches" and that he expected more from the players like Shefki Kuqi, Matej Mavric, Benjamin Lense and Melinho.{{cite news|url=http://lajme-news.blogspot.com/2009/10/nuk-mjafton-vetem-skela.html|title=Nuk mjafton vetëm Skela|date=21 October 2009|work=Ora News|access-date=4 July 2015|archive-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621143649/http://lajme-news.blogspot.com/2009/10/nuk-mjafton-vetem-skela.html|url-status=live}} Skela would appear in further 17 matches with Koblenz who ended the season in 17th place, relegated from the league.{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/germany/2-bundesliga/2009-2010/regular-season/r9120/|title=Summary - 2. Bundesliga - Germany - Results, fixtures, tables and news|work=Soccerway|access-date=4 July 2015|archive-date=29 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629005244/http://int.soccerway.com/national/germany/2-bundesliga/2009-2010/regular-season/r9120/|url-status=live}}
=Germania Windeck=
On 1 February 2011, Skela joined FC Germania Windeck.{{cite web|url=http://www.reviersport.de/145950---germania-windeck-scholz-transfer-knaller.html|title=Unglaublich, aber wahr! Ervin Skela wechselt nach Windeck|publisher=RevierSport|language=de|date=1 February 2011|access-date=5 March 2010|archive-date=6 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006055927/http://www.reviersport.de/145950---germania-windeck-scholz-transfer-knaller.html|url-status=live}}
=Arka Gdynia=
On 4 March 2011, Skela left Germania Windeck{{cite web | url = http://www.tuskoblenz.de/Aktuell/artikel/id/3965/t/Perfekt!+Ervin+Skela+unterschreibt+Dreijahresvertrag+bei+der+TuS | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091017050830/http://www.tuskoblenz.de/Aktuell/artikel/id/3965/t/Perfekt!+Ervin+Skela+unterschreibt+Dreijahresvertrag+bei+der+TuS | url-status = dead | archive-date = 17 October 2009 | title = Perfekt! Ervin Skela unterschreibt Dreijahresvertrag bei der TuS | publisher = tuskoblenz.de | access-date = 16 October 2009 | date = 14 October 2009 | language = de | df = dmy-all }} and signed with Arka Gdynia.{{cite web | url = http://www.arka.gdynia.pl/news,6869-ervin-skela--w-arce.html | title = Ervin Skela w Arce! | date = 28 February 2011 | access-date = 28 February 2011 | publisher = arka.gdynia.pl | language = pl | archive-date = 3 February 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140203214324/http://www.arka.gdynia.pl/news,6869-ervin-skela--w-arce.html | url-status = live }} Skela debuted for the first time in Polish top league on 11 March 2011, playing in the last minutes of the 2–2 away draw against Górnik Zabrze.{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/03/11/poland/ekstraklasa/ks-gornik-zabrze/arka-gdynia-ssa/942216/|title=Górnik Zabrze vs. Arka Gdynia 2 – 2|publisher=Soccerway|date=11 March 2011|access-date=4 July 2015|archive-date=6 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906232556/http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/03/11/poland/ekstraklasa/ks-gornik-zabrze/arka-gdynia-ssa/942216/|url-status=live}} His time with the Polish side was short-lived, as he left the club in June 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.albaniasoccer.com/lajme/te-ndryshme/30-te-ndryshme/4879-levizjet-ervin-skela-divorcohet-me-polaket-e-arka-gdynia-.html|title=Levizjet/ Ervin Skela divorcohet me polaket e Arka Gdynia|trans-title=Transfers/ Ervin Skela divorced with Polish Arka Gdynia|publisher=Albania Soccer|date=8 June 2011|access-date=4 July 2015|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429025037/http://www.albaniasoccer.com/lajme/te-ndryshme/30-te-ndryshme/4879-levizjet-ervin-skela-divorcohet-me-polaket-e-arka-gdynia-.html|url-status=live}} He appeared in only five matches, which three of them as a starter.
=FC Hanau 93=
Having not played professional football since leaving Arka Gdynia in 2011, Skela came out of retirement and signed with 8th tier German side FC Hanau 93 on 29 January 2014 at the age of 37.{{cite web | url = http://www.t-online.de/sport/fussball/id_67662154/ex-bundesliga-profi-skela-wechselt-zu-hanau-93.html | title = Ex-Bundesligaspieler wechselt in die 8. Liga | publisher = t-online.de | access-date = 30 January 2014 | date = 29 January 2014 | language = de | archive-date = 13 April 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170413071650/http://www.t-online.de/sport/fussball/id_67662154/ex-bundesliga-profi-skela-wechselt-zu-hanau-93.html | url-status = live }} In the second part of 2013–14 season, Skela played 7 games and scored 5 goals.
During the 2014–15 season, Skela played 26 league matches and scored 18 goals, being the second goalscorer of the team behind Kahraman Damar, as the team achieved the promotion to Gruppenliga Frankfurt Ost (VII). In addition, he also scored twice in four cup games.
On 16 January 2016, Hanau confirmed via their Facebook page that Skela has extended his contract with the club for another season.{{cite news|url=https://www.facebook.com/135868666437335/photos/a.147013981989470.22669.135868666437335/1095352690488923/?type=3&theater |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/135868666437335/1095352690488923 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |url-access=limited|title=Großartig. Ervin Skela wird auch in der kommenden Saison und bis zum Ende seiner Spielerkarriere für Hanau 93 auflaufen. Das macht uns schon ein wenig stolz. Mit dieser Meldung dürften hoffentlich auch die Spekulationen um seine Zukunft endlich beendet sein.|publisher=1. Hanauer FC 1893 - Hessens ältester Fußball-Club|language=de|date=16 January 2016|access-date=16 January 2016}}{{cbignore}} In the 2015–16 season, Skela played in 11 league matches, scoring twice.{{cite news|url=https://www.torgranate-rhein-main.de/spieler.page?id=346511|title=Spielerprofil Ervin Skela 2015–16|publisher=Torgranate|language=de|access-date=24 June 2018|archive-date=24 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624180857/https://www.torgranate-rhein-main.de/spieler.page?id=346511|url-status=live}} In the 2016–17 season, Skela bagged 19 goals in just 18 league appearances, collecting 1528 minutes.{{cite news|url=https://www.fupa.net/spieler/ervin-skela-26666.html|title=Ervin Skela - 1. Hanauer FC 1893|publisher=Fupa.net|language=de|access-date=24 June 2018|archive-date=6 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406064917/http://www.fupa.net/spieler/ervin-skela-26666.html|url-status=live}}
In the 2017–18 season, Skela was available for the team very rarely, playing only seven matches and scoring two goals,{{cite news|url=https://www.torgranate-rhein-main.de/spieler.page?id=346511|title=Spielerprofil Ervin Skela 2017–18|publisher=Torgranate|language=de|access-date=24 June 2018|archive-date=24 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624180857/https://www.torgranate-rhein-main.de/spieler.page?id=346511|url-status=live}} due to his occupation in obtaining UEFA Pro Licence. On 28 April 2018, he agreed another contract extension, signing a new one-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/skela-rinovon-ne-moshen-42-vjecare-ne-klub-jane-te-lumtur/|title=Skela rinovon në moshën 42-vjeçare, në klub janë të lumtur|trans-title=Skela renew at 42 years-old, at the club they are happy|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=28 April 2018|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=29 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429025322/http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/skela-rinovon-ne-moshen-42-vjecare-ne-klub-jane-te-lumtur/|url-status=live}}
International career
Skela was first included in the Albania national team in 2000, and since then has played a total of 75 games and scored 13 goals for his country.{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/skela-intlg.html | title = Ervin Skela - Goals in International Matches | first = Roberto | last = Mamrud | date = 4 February 2016 | access-date = 1 March 2016 | publisher = RSSSF | archive-date = 13 August 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220813065208/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/skela-intlg.html | url-status = live }} He also holds the unique record for the most appearances by an Albanian international in the FIFA World Cup qualification along Lorik Cana with 28 in overall. He has established himself in the first team for many years now and is now one of Albania's most important players in years. On 7 June 2013, a few minutes before the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Norway at Qemal Stafa Stadium, he and his longtime partner Altin Lala were honored by Albanian Football Association for they contributions to the national team. They received a 'plaque of appreciation' by the Albanian Football Association Armando Duka for they services to Albania national team.{{cite news|url=http://www.albaniasoccer.com/lajme/shqiperi/kombetarja/7408-ne-fokus-lamtumire-mes-lotesh-nderohen-lala-e-skela.html|title=Në fokus/ Lamtumirë mes lotësh, nderohen Lala e Skela|work=Albania Soccer|date=8 June 2013|access-date=4 July 2015|archive-date=5 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705020120/http://www.albaniasoccer.com/lajme/shqiperi/kombetarja/7408-ne-fokus-lamtumire-mes-lotesh-nderohen-lala-e-skela.html|url-status=live}}
Career statistics
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{NFT|62|accessdate=3 July 2015}} | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="12"|Albania
|2000 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2004 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2007 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2010 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total||74||13 |
:Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Skela goal.{{cite news|url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=19429|title=Ervin Skela – national football team player|work=EU-Football.info|access-date=3 July 2015|archive-date=26 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826201545/https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=19429|url-status=live}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Ervin Skela | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"|1 | 25 April 2001 | Gaziantep Kamil Ocak Stadium, Gaziantep, Turkey | {{fb|TUR}} | align="center"|2–0 | align="center"|2–0 | Friendly match |
| align="center"|2 | 7 June 2003 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland | {{fb|IRL}} | align="center"|1–1 | align="center"|1–2 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
| align="center"|3 | 11 June 2003 | Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland | {{fb|Switzerland}} | align="center"|2–3 | align="center"|2–3 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
| align="center"|4 | 20 August 2003 | Stadion Goce Delčev, Prilep, Macedonia | {{fb|MKD}} | align="center"|1–2 | align="center"|1–3 | Friendly match |
| align="center"|5 | 18 February 2004 | Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania | {{fb|SWE}} | align="center"|1–1 | align="center"|2–1 | Friendly match |
| align="center"|6 | 4 June 2005 | Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania | {{fb|GEO}} | align="center"|3–1 | align="center"|3–2 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| align="center"|7 | 16 August 2006 | Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marino | {{fb|San Marino}} | align="center"|2–0 | align="center"|3–0 | Friendly match |
| align="center"|8 | 16 August 2006 | Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus | {{fb|BLR}} | align="center"|1–2 | align="center"|2–2 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| align="center"|9 | 6 June 2007 | Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg | {{fb|LUX}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|3–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| align="center"|10 | 19 November 2008 | Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan | {{fb|AZE}} | align="center"|1–1 | align="center"|1–1 | Friendly match |
| align="center"|11 | rowspan="2"|12 August 2009 | rowspan="2"|Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania | rowspan="2"|{{fb|CYP}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center" rowspan="2"|6–1 | rowspan="2"|Friendly match |
| align="center"|12 | align="center"|2–1 | |||||
| align="center"|13 | 3 March 2010 | Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania | {{fb|NIR}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|1–0 | Friendly match |
Honours
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{90minut|6481}}
- {{NFT player|62}}
- {{Fussballdaten|skelaervin}}
- {{WorldFootball.net|ervin-skela}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skela, Ervin}}
Category:Footballers from Vlorë
Category:Albanian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Albania men's international footballers
Category:Flamurtari FC players
Category:1. FC Union Berlin players
Category:FC Erzgebirge Aue players
Category:Chemnitzer FC players
Category:SV Waldhof Mannheim players
Category:Eintracht Frankfurt players
Category:Arminia Bielefeld players
Category:1. FC Kaiserslautern players
Category:Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC players
Category:FC Energie Cottbus players
Category:Kategoria Superiore players
Category:2. Bundesliga players
Category:Albanian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Italy