Fatjon Tafaj

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Fatjon Tafaj

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Fatjon Tafaj

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|3|19|df=y}}

| birth_place = Tirana, PSR Albania

| height = 1.83 m

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub = Dinamo City (joint-assistant coach)

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1999–2001

| youthclubs1 = Partizani Tirana

| years1 = 2000–2004

| clubs1 = Partizani

| caps1 = 16

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2001–2002

| clubs2 = → Elbasani (loan)

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2003–2004

| clubs3 = → Lushnja (loan)

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 2004–2006

| clubs4 = Shkumbini

| caps4 = 64

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2006–2009

| clubs5 = Partizani

| caps5 = 74

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2009–2013

| clubs6 = Kamza

| caps6 = 59

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2010–2011

| clubs7 = → Laçi (loan)

| caps7 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2013

| clubs8 = Partizani

| caps8 = 13

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2013

| clubs9 = Dinamo Tirana

| caps9 = 8

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2014

| clubs10 = Kamza

| caps10 = 16

| goals10 = 0

| totalcaps = 250+

| totalgoals = 3+

| nationalyears1 = 2000

| nationalteam1 = Albania U18

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2002

| nationalteam2 = Albania U21

| nationalcaps2 = 1

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2016–2019

| managerclubs1 = Kukësi (co-assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2019–2021

| managerclubs2 = Shkëndija (co-assistant)

| manageryears3 = 2022–2023

| managerclubs3 = Partizani (co-assistant)

| manageryears4 = 2023–2025

| managerclubs4 = Dinamo City (co-assistant)

| manageryears5 = 2025–

| managerclubs5 = Kukësi

| club-update = 9 November 2019

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Fatjon Tafaj (born 19 March 1982) is an Albanian football coach and former player, who is currently the head coach of Kukësi.

Club career

In December 2012, Tafaj agreed personal terms and made a second return at his boyhood club Partizani Tirana, now in Albanian First Division, by signing until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/partizani-pa-cocllin-vjen-tafaj-dhe-ishka/|title=Partizani merr Tafajin dhe Ishkën|trans-title=Partizani takes Tafaj and Ishka|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=12 December 2013|accessdate=3 August 2018}} He started the second part of 2012–13 season by playing full-90 minutes in a 2–1 win at Butrinti Sarandë.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/02/16/albania/league-1/ks-butrinti-sarande/kf-partizani-tirana/1305856/|title=Butrinti Sarandë vs. Partizani Tirana 1 – 2|publisher=Soccerway|date=16 February 2013|accessdate=3 August 2018}}

On 13 August 2013, Tafaj joined fellow capital side Dinamo Tirana on a one-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/rikthehet-f-tafaj-te-dinamo-firmos-per-1-vit/|title=F.Tafaj te Dinamo, firmos 1 vit|trans-title=F.Tafaj at Dinamo, signs for 1 year|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=13 August 2013|accessdate=3 August 2018}} He made his official debut later that month by starting in the 3–2 away loss to Veleçiku Koplik in the opening week of 2013–14 Albanian First Division.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/08/31/albania/league-1/ks-veleciku-koplik/ks-dinamo-tirana/1560998/|title=Veleçiku Koplik vs. Dinamo Tirana 3 – 2|publisher=Soccerway|date=31 August 2013|accessdate=3 August 2018}}

In January 2014, Tafaj returned to Kamza as a player-coach.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/rikthehen-titullaret-pritet-edhe-fatjon-tafaj/|title=Rikthehen titullarët, pritet edhe Fatjon Tafaj|trans-title=The starters returns, Fatjon Tafaj expected|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=31 January 2014|accessdate=3 August 2018}}

International career

Tafaj has been a former member of Albania youth side, playing three matches for under-18 squad in 2000 and one match for under-21 in 2002.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=58619/profile/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804141112/https://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=58619/profile/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 August 2018|title=Fatjon Tafaj|publisher=UEFA|access-date=4 August 2018}}

Managerial career

On 31 July 2016, Tafaj was named as assistant coach of Ernest Gjoka at Kukësi.{{cite web|url=http://newsport.al/ndryshime-ne-stafin-e-kukesit-ndihmesit-e-gjokes-jane-dy-tafaj/|title=Ndryshime në stafin e Kukësit, ndihmësit e Gjokës janë dy Tafaj|trans-title=Changes in Kukësi's staff, Gjoka's assistants are two Tafajs|publisher=Newsport.al|language=Albanian|date=31 July 2014|accessdate=3 August 2018}}