Fadil Vokrri

{{Short description|Kosovan football administrator and formerly Yugoslav footballer (1960–2018)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Fadil Vokrri

| image = FadilVokrri.jpg

| caption = Vokrri with Yugoslavia in 1987

| order = President of

| office = Football Federation of Kosovo

| term_start = 16 February 2008

| term_end = 9 June 2018

| vicepresident = Agim Ademi
Bekim Haxhiu
Predrag Jović

| predecessor = Sabri Hashani

| successor = Agim Ademi

| birth_name = Fadil Avdullah Vokrri

| birth_date = {{birth date|1960|7|23|df=y}}

| birth_place = Podujevë, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia (modern Kosovo)

| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|6|9|1960|6|23|df=y}}

| death_place = Pristina, Kosovo

| height =

| nationality = Kosovan
Albanian
Yugoslav (formerly)

| occupation = Footballer
Football administrator

| signature =

| signature_alt =

| module = {{Infobox football biography|embed=yes|header-color=lavender

| position = Striker

| youthyears1 = 1976–1979

| youthclubs1 = Llapi

| years1 = 1980–1986

| clubs1 = Prishtina

| caps1 = 172

| goals1 = 55

| years2 = 1986–1989

| clubs2 = Partizan

| caps2 = 55

| goals2 = 18

| years3 = 1989–1990

| clubs3 = Nîmes

| caps3 = 24

| goals3 = 13

| years4 = 1990–1992

| clubs4 = Fenerbahçe

| caps4 = 43

| goals4 = 13

| years5 = 1992–1993

| clubs5 = Bourges

| caps5 = 30

| goals5 = 10

| years6 = 1993–1995

| clubs6 = Montluçon

| caps6 = 39

| goals6 = 12

| totalcaps = 363

| totalgoals = 121

| nationalyears1 = 1984–1987

| nationalteam1 = Yugoslavia

| nationalcaps1 = 12

| nationalgoals1 = 6

}}

Fadil Avdullah Vokrri (23 July 1960 – 9 June 2018) was a Kosovan football administrator and formerly Yugoslav player.

Arguably one of the greatest Kosovan footballers, he was the president of the Football Federation of Kosovo from 16 February 2008 until his death on 9 June 2018.

Early life

Born in Podujevë, SFR Yugoslavia (modern Kosovo) to ethnic Albanian parents, Vokrri was known for his Diego Maradona-like approach with quick movement and strong shooting (where he established his strong shooting reputation at FC Prishtina). He won a number of international caps for the former Yugoslavia in the mid-1980s and was unlucky to not win more caps where he was one of Yugoslavia's favourite football talents. He played in a star-studded lineup that included Agim Cana, Edmond Rugova and Fadil Muriqi, as well as other Kosovan players who were part of the Golden Generation in the 1980s. Vokrri's FC Prishtina went on to beat Red Star Belgrade at the Red Star Stadium and record a historic away victory for the Kosovan team.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/si-fadili-vokrri-e-mundi-dy-here-beogradin/|title="Si Fadil Vokrri e mundi dy herë Beogradin"|trans-title=How Fadil Vokrri defeated Beograd two times|publisher=Sport Ekspres|language=sq|date=10 June 2018|access-date=11 June 2018}}

Club career

Vokrri scored a total of 121 goals and had 363 club appearances, he began his career at the age of 16 years old at Llapi. He then moved to Prishtina in 1980 and played there until 1986, scoring 55 goals and making 172 appearances. Vokrri was very successful with Partizan from Belgrade where he scored 18 goals and had 55 appearances.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/federata-e-kosoves-jep-lajmin-e-kobshem-ja-njoftimi-per-vdekjen-e-vokrrit/|title=Federata e Kosovës jep lajmin e kobshëm, ja njoftimi për vdekjen e Vokrrit|trans-title=Federation of Kosovo gives the sad news, here is the announcement for Vokrri's death|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=9 June 2018|access-date=11 June 2018}} He was key to both the team claiming the 1986–87 Yugoslav First League title, and their successful run in the 1988–89 Yugoslav Cup, notably scoring in the final as Partizan won 6–1 against Velež Mostar.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesj/joegcuphistfull.html|title=Yugoslavia - Cup Final Details 1947–2001|website=RSSSF|access-date=11 June 2018}}

In between the two trophy successes, Italian club Juventus showed interest in signing Vokrri. However, as he had not completed the then-compulsory two years' military service, he was unable to travel abroad, and so had to turn down the offer. He eventually completed the requirements for military service while playing for Partizan, fulfilling light tasks during the week around training and in between matches.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49625260|title=Kosovo's remarkable football rise|work=BBC Sport}}

He also played for Nîmes Olympique, Fenerbahçe where he played for the successful coach Guus Hiddink. Vokrri was a favourite of Fenerbahçe fans but was not as productive as he was with FC Prishtina and Partizan because of his older age.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/vdekja-e-papritur-kush-ishte-fadil-vokrri-maradona-i-shqiptareve-te-kosoves/|title=Vdekja e papritur, kush ishte Fadil Vokrri, Maradona i shqiptarëve të Kosovës…|trans-title=Unexpected death, who was Fadil Vokrri, Maradona of Albanians of Kosovo…|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=9 June 2018|access-date=11 June 2018}}

Post-retirement

{{quote box|width=30%|quote="For me the idol of all time is Johan Cruyff. His philosophy in the football game has laid the foundations of the Barcelona game that plays that way. Barcelona is art, it's a pleasure to see when it plays. There is Messi."|source=—Fadil Vokrri in an interview for Telegrafi in December 2017{{cite web|url=https://telegrafi.com/fadil-vokrri-dhe-jeta-e-tij-larg-fushes-se-futbollit/|title=Fadil Vokrri dhe jeta e tij larg fushës së futbollit|trans-title=Fadil Vokrri and his life outside the football field|publisher=Telegrafi|language=sq|author=Gazmend Kajtazi|date=29 December 2017|access-date=11 June 2018}}}}

After the Kosovo War ended, Vokrri returned to his country and became the sporting director of Prishtina. On 16 February 2008, he was elected as the president of the Football Federation of Kosovo for a four-year mandate.{{cite news|url=http://www.ffk-kosova.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=2|title=Fadil Vokrri, kryetar i ri i FFK-së|trans-title=Fadil Vokrri, new chairman of FFK|quote=Fadil Vokrri është kryetari i ri i Federatës së Futbollit të Kosovës dhe nga 53 deleagtë të pranishëm 42 kanë votuar për Vokrrin, 10 për Brojën dhe 1 fletëvotim është shpallur i pavlefshëm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710235749/http://www.ffk-kosova.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=2|publisher=Football Federation of Kosovo|language=sq|date=16 February 2008|archive-date=10 July 2011}}

Personal life

Vokrri and his wife Edita had two sons, Gramozi and Albert, and a daughter named Albana.{{cite web|url=http://www.botasot.info/aktuale-lajme/902914/kjo-eshte-familja-e-fadil-vokrrit-bashkeshortja-djemte-dhe-vajza/|title=Kjo është familja e Fadil Vokrrit, bashkëshortja, djemtë dhe vajza|trans-title=This is the family of Fadil Vokrri, the wife, sons and daughter|publisher=Bota Sot|language=sq|date=9 June 2018|access-date=11 June 2018}} He had a degree in the Faculty of Management and Business. Apart from his native Albanian, he was also fluent in French, Serbian and Turkish. On 17 May 2018, he earned his Albanian passport.{{cite web|url=http://www.qbz.gov.al/Botime/Akteindividuale/Janar%202018/Fletore%2075/DEKRET%20nr.%2010783,%20date%2017.5.2018.pdf|title=Dekret Nr. 10783, datë 17.5.2018 për dhënie të shtetësisë shqiptare|trans-title=Decree No. 10783, dated 17.5.2018 for granting of Albanian citizenship|website=Qendra e Botimeve Zyrtare|language=sq|date=17 May 2018|access-date=17 May 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://sportekspres.com/pasaporta-shqiptare-per-te-tere-nga-qaka-e-vokrri-deri-te-sportiste-amerikane-qe-nuk-e-dine-ku-eshte-shqiperia/|title=Pasaporta shqiptare për të tërë, nga Qaka e Vokrri deri te sportiste amerikane që nuk e dinë ku është Shqipëria|trans-title=Albanian passports for all, from Qaka and Vokrri to American sportsman who doesn't know were Albania is|publisher=Sport Ekspres|language=sq|date=25 May 2018|access-date=11 June 2018}}

Death

File:VokrriStadiumKosovo.jpg

On 9 June 2018, Vokrri suffered a heart attack while he was exercising and died on his way to the emergency room.{{cite news|title=Head of Kosovo soccer federation Fadil Vokrri dies|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kosovo-soccer-death/head-of-kosovo-soccer-federation-fadil-vokrri-dies-idUSKCN1J50FZ|publisher=Reuters|date=9 June 2018|access-date=9 June 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.koha.net/sport/98297/vdiq-fadil-vokrri/|title=Vdiq Fadil Vokrri|quote=Legjenda e futbollit të Kosovës dhe kryetari i Federatës së Futbollit të Kosovës, Fadil Vokrri ka vdekur sot në moshën 57-vjeçare. Vokrri ka vdekur si pasojë e një sulmi në zemër. Sulmi në zemër ndaj Vokrrit ka ndodhur rreth orës 9:30 të mëngjesit derisa po bënte fitnes|publisher=Koha Ditore|language=sq|date=9 June 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/zyrtari-eulexit-dha-ndihmen-e-pare-vokrri-ishte-pa-ndjenja-kur-nderhyra/|title=Zyrtari i EULEX-it që i dha ndihmën e parë Vokrrit: Ishte pa ndjenja kur ndërhyra|quote=Zyrtari policor i Eulexit kishte qëlluar rastësisht në qendrën e fitnesit kur kishte parë se Vokrrit i ishte vështirësuar gjendja. Fillova ta ndihmoj dhe më pas nisi të marr frymë. Pasi u duk se po i përmirësohej gjendja, unë e lash në duart e stafit mjekësor të cilët e transportuan në spital. Sinqerisht, më vije shumë keq. Ndihem i trishtuar ka thënë Persson|publisher=Telegrafi|language=sq|date=9 June 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://klankosova.tv/doktoret-vokrri-erdhi-pa-shenja-jete/|title=Doktorët: Vokrri erdhi pa shenja jete|quote=Specialisti i mjekësisë emergjente, Avdush Bajgora, ka thënë për Klan Kosovën se legjenda e futbollit kosovar Fadil Vokrri ishte pa shenja jete kur kishte arritur në Qendrën Klinike Universitare të Kosovës. Vokrri ishte dërguar me urgjencë në qendrën kryesore spitalore të vendit pas një sulmi në zemër, të cilit nuk ka mundur t’i mbijetojë, duke ndërruar akoma pa mbërritur në QKUK|publisher=Klan Kosova|language=sq|date=9 June 2018}} Later that day, the Prishtina City Stadium was renamed to the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in his honor.{{cite tweet|user=ShpendA|author=Shpend Ahmeti|author-link=Shpend Ahmeti|number=1005412181666619392|language=Albanian|date=9 June 2018|title=Stadiumi i qytetit me nder do ta mbaj emrin e tij Fadil Vokrri|trans-title=The city stadium with honorably will keep his name Fadil Vokrri}}{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/kryetari-prishtines-shpend-ahmeti-stadiumi-qytetit-nder-ta-mbaje-emrin-e-fadil-vokrrit/|title=Kryetari i Prishtinës, Shpend Ahmeti: Stadiumi i qytetit me nder do ta mbajë emrin e Fadil Vokrrit|trans-title=Mayor of Prishtina, Shpend Ahmeti: The city stadium with honorably will keep his name Fadil Vokrri|quote=Kryetari i kryeqytetit të Kosovës, ai i Prishtinës, Shpend Ahmeti, ka konfirmuar se stadiumi i qytetit të Prishtinës do të mbajë emrin e ikonës së futbollit shqiptar të Kosovës, Fadil Vokrri|publisher=Telegrafi|language=sq|date=9 June 2018}}

Vokrri was given a state funeral on 10 June 2018 and was buried at the Pristina City Cemetery.{{cite news|url=https://indeksonline.net/varroset-legjenda-fadil-vokrri-video-foto/|title=Varroset legjenda Fadil Vokrri (Video/Foto)|trans-title=The legend Fadil Vokrri is buried (Video/Photo)|website=IndeksOnline|language=sq|date=10 June 2018}} President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi marked the day as a national day of mourning, with all flags lowered at half mast across Kosovo, and at embassies all over the world.{{cite news|url=https://lajmi.net/sot-dite-zie-ne-kosove-varroset-legjenda-fadil-vokrri/|title=Sot ditë zie në Kosovë, varroset legjenda Fadil Vokrri|trans-title=Today is a day of mourning in Kosovo, the legend Fadil Vokrri is buried|website=Lajmi.net|language=sq|date=10 June 2018}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|CupCup appearances are missing !colspan="2"\|EuropeIncluding continental competitions, such as UEFA Cup !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{cite news\|url=http://www.reprezentacija.rs/vokri-fadil/\|title=Vokri Fadil\|publisher=Football Association of Serbia\|language=sr}}
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="7"\|Prishtina \|1980–81 \|rowspan="3"\|Yugoslav Second League \|25	5	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	25	5
1981–82 \|27	13	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	27	13
1982–83 \|32	15	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	32	15
1983–84 \|rowspan="3"\|Yugoslav First League \|31	9	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	31	9
1984–85 \|30	8	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	30	8
1985–86 \|27	5	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	27	5
colspan="2"\|Total !172	55	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	172	55
rowspan="4"\|Partizan \|1986–87 \|rowspan="3"\|Yugoslav First League \|28	5	0	0	2	0	30	5
1987–88 \|11	6	0	0	2	1	13	7
1988–89 \|16	7	1	1	4	2	20	9
colspan="2"\|Total !55	18	1	1	8	3	63	21
Nîmes \|1989–90 \|French Division 2 \|24	13	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	24	13
rowspan="3"\|Fenerbahçe \|1990–91 \|rowspan="2"\|1.Lig \|21	6	2	1	4	2	27	9
1991–92 \|22	7	1	0	0	0	23	7
colspan="2"\|Total !43	13	3	1	4	2	50	16
Bourges \|1992–93 \|French Division 2 \|30	10	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	30	10
rowspan="3"\|Montluçon \|1993–94 \|rowspan="2"\|Championnat National 2 \|26	11	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	23	11
1994–95 \|13	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	13	1
colspan="2"\|Total !39	12	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	39	12
colspan="3"\|Career total !363	121	4	2	12	5	379	128

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{cite news\|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=22338\|title=Fadil Vokrri - national football team player\|website=EU-Football.info}}
rowspan="4"\|Yugoslavia \|1984	3	2
1985	6	2
1986	0	0
1987	3	2
colspan="2"\|Total	12	6

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

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Fadil Vokrri
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1 \|12 September 1984 \|Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland \|{{fb\|SCO}} \|align="center"\|1–0 \|align="center"\|1–6 \|Friendly
align="center"\|2 \|20 October 1984 \|Zentralstadion, Leipzig, East Germany \|{{fb\|GDR}} \|align="center"\|2–2 \|align="center"\|3–2 \|1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
align="center"\|3 \|1 February 1985 \|Maharaja's College Stadium, Kochi, India \|{{fb\|KOR}} \|align="center"\|1–0 \|align="center"\|3–1 \|1985 Nehru Cup
align="center"\|4 \|1 May 1985 \|Stade Municipal, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg \|{{fb\|LUX}} \|align="center"\|1–0 \|align="center"\|1–0 \|1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
align="center"\|5 \|rowspan=2\|14 October 1987 \|rowspan=2\|Grbavica Stadium, Sarajevo, SFR Yugoslavia \|rowspan=2\|{{fb\|NIR}} \|align="center"\|1–0 \|rowspan=2 align="center"\|3–0 \|rowspan=2\|UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying
align="center"\|6 \|align="center"\|2–0

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Fadil Vokrri

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

|12 September 1984

|Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland

|{{fb|SCO}}

|align="center"|1–0

|align="center"|1–6

|Friendly

align="center"|2

|20 October 1984

|Zentralstadion, Leipzig, East Germany

|{{fb|GDR}}

|align="center"|2–2

|align="center"|3–2

|1986 FIFA World Cup qualification

align="center"|3

|1 February 1985

|Maharaja's College Stadium, Kochi, India

|{{fb|KOR}}

|align="center"|1–0

|align="center"|3–1

|1985 Nehru Cup

align="center"|4

|1 May 1985

|Stade Municipal, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

|{{fb|LUX}}

|align="center"|1–0

|1986 FIFA World Cup qualification

align="center"|5

|rowspan=2|14 October 1987

|rowspan=2|Grbavica Stadium, Sarajevo, SFR Yugoslavia

|rowspan=2|{{fb|NIR}}

|align="center"|1–0

|rowspan=2 align="center"|3–0

|rowspan=2|UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying

align="center"|6

|align="center"|2–0

Honors

Partizan{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/20087/Fadil_Vokrri.html|title=Fadil Vokrri|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=11 June 2018}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141522/http://www.ffk-kosova.com/en/?page_id=10409 Profile] at Football Federation of Kosovo {{in lang|en}}
{{Reprezentacija|vokri-fadil}}

Category:1960 births

Category:2018 deaths

Category:Sportspeople from Podujevë

Category:Footballers from the District of Pristina

Category:Yugoslav men's footballers

Category:Yugoslavia men's international footballers

Category:Albanian men's footballers

Category:Kosovan men's footballers

Category:Yugoslav expatriate men's footballers

Category:Kosovan expatriate men's footballers

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France

Category:Yugoslav expatriate sportspeople in France