Gerhard Progni

Progni began his career with Partizani as a child, where he played for the club's youth teams. During the 2004–05 season with Partizani's U-19 side, he won the national championship and caught the attention of the senior team, who invited him to train with them towards the end of the season. He was promoted from the U-19 side at the end of that season, and was loaned out to Albanian First Division side Kastrioti for the 2005–06 season in order to gain first team experience. During his year on loan, he became an integral part of the first team squad, and with his good performances and 3 league goals he even helped the club achieve promotion to the Albanian Superliga after a third-place finish.{{cite news|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/alba06.html|title=Albanian First Division 2006-06|website=RSSSF|accessdate=20 July 2015}}

Following the successful loan period at Kastrioti, Progni returned to his parent club Partizani and signed a three-year contract with the club. During the 2006–07 campaign, he became an important first team player, making 29 league appearances and scoring 2 goals, helping his side finish 4th in the league as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Albanian Cup, where they narrowly lost to beaten finalists Teuta on away goals.{{cite news|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/alba07.html|title=Albanian Superliga 2006-07|website=RSSSF|accessdate=20 July 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/alba07.html|title=Albanian Cup 2006-07|website=RSSSF|accessdate=20 July 2015}} The following season, he played for Partizani until January, making 11 league appearances, before leaving the club for Besa Kavajë.

Porgni signed for Besa in January 2008, and immediately became an important member of the first team, making 16 league appearances and scoring 1 goal, helping the club finish third in the league (behind his previous team Partizani).{{cite news|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/alba08.html|title=Albanian Superliga 2007-08|website=RSSSF|accessdate=20 July 2015}} He also scored a goal in the Albanian Cup with Besa, where the club reached the quarter-finals.{{cite news|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/albacup08.html|title=Albanian Cup 2007-08|website=RSSSF|accessdate=20 July 2015}}

The following season Porgni remained in Kavajë, and made his European debut in the Intertoto Cup against Cypriot club Ethnikos Achna, where he was in the starting lineup for both legs, helping Besa to a 1–1 aggregate win on an away goal. In the next round his side faced Swiss outfit Grasshopper Club Zürich, who beat Besa 5–1 on aggregate, with Progni playing the full 90 minutes in both games. Domestically, Besa did not have a successful season, finishing 7th in the league, just 2 places above the relegation play-off spots. Progni did however have a successful individual season, scoring 4 league goals in 28 games, and scoring 3 goals in 6 cup games.

Progni left Besa Kavajë at the end of the 2008–09 season and joined Dinamo Tirana in the summer transfer window. At Dinamo he had a difficult time attempting to break into the first team, as the squad had an array of talent in the midfield positions, including Emiljano Vila and Elis Bakaj, meaning Progni's chances were limited. He left the club in January and made just 5 league appearances during his short time at Dinamo, all of which were substitute appearances. His only goal for the club came in the Albanian Cup against Adriatiku.{{cite news|url=http://www.footballdatabase.eu/football.coupe.dinamo-tirana.adriatiku-mamurrasi.103583.en.html|title=Dinamo 2-0 Adriatiku|publisher=Football Database|accessdate=29 January 2017}}

After a less than fruitful short spell with Dinamo Tirana, Progni joined Flamurtari FC in January 2010 and immediately became an integral player, starting 16 league games in the second half of the season. In 2011, Progni rcontinued as a starter, scoring 6 goals in 30 league games, helping Flamurtari achieve a 2nd-place finish in the Albanian Superliga.{{cite news|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/alba2011.html|title=Albanian Superliga 2010-11|website=RSSSF|accessdate=3 January 2017}} At the end of the 2011 season, he went on trial with Romanian Liga I champions FC Oțelul Galați, accompanied by fellow Albanian and former ASC Oțelul Galați player, Arben Kokalari.{{cite news|url=http://www.otelul-galati.ro/stiri/Liga-1/1/Progni-in-teste/3247|title=Progni, in teste|publisher=Oțelul Galați|language=Romanian|date=22 June 2011|accessdate=3 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809033559/http://www.otelul-galati.ro/stiri/Liga-1/1/Progni-in-teste/3247|archive-date=9 August 2016|url-status=usurped}}{{cite news|url=http://www.ziare.com/galati/stiri-sport/otelul-testeaza-un-jucator-albanez-2290022|title=Otelul testeaza un jucator Albanez|publisher=Zaire.com|language=Romanian|date=22 June 2011|accessdate=3 January 2017}} His trial at the club was not successful, so he remained at Flamurtari for the following 2011–12 campaign. He featured in both Europa League games against Baumit Jablonec in the second qualifying round, which ended in a 7–1 aggregate loss for Flamurtari.{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/07/21/europe/uefa-cup/fk-jablonec-97/ks-flamurtari-vlore/1121611/|title=Jablonec vs. Flamurtari Vlorë|publisher=Soccerway|date=21 July 2011|accessdate=3 January 2017}} In the league campaign, Progni played in 28 league games and scored 8 goals, helping Flamurtari finish 4th in the Albanian Superliga. In the cup, Progni featured in 12 games and scored 1 goal as Flamurtari reached the semi-finals, losing out to eventual winners Tirana.

Progni signed for newly promoted side FK Kukësi in the summer of 2012, who under the guidance of the club president Safet Gjici had an ambitious project to be one of the best clubs in the country.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama-sport.com/gerhard-progni-zyrtarizohet-si-lojtar-i-kukesit/|title=Gerhard Progni zyrtarizohet si lojtar i Kukësit|trans-title=Gerhard Progni officialized as the new player of Kukësi|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=16 July 2012|accessdate=2 December 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama-sport.com/progni-firmos-me-kukesin-do-le-gjurme/|title=Progni firmos: Me Kukësin do lë gjurmë|trans-title=Progni sign: I'm gonna leave traces with Kukësi|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=17 July 2012|accessdate=2 December 2015}}

In October 2013, the club captain Rrahman Hallaçi gave up his duties, making Progni the club's captain for the remainder of the season.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama-sport.com/hallaci-dorezon-shiritin-gerhard-progni-kapiteni-i-ri/|title=Hallaçi dorëzon shiritin, Gerhard Progni kapiteni i ri|trans-title=Hallaçi hand over captaincy, Progni the new captain|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|author=Jonuz Hallaçi|date=23 October 2013|accessdate=2 December 2015}}

On 10 June 2014, reigning Albanian champions for the past four seasons KF Skënderbeu Korce announced the signing of Progni from FK Kukësi on a one-year contract. He was considered to be the replacement of Gjergji Muzaka, who had left the club in favour of a return to one of Progni's former sides, Flamurtari.{{cite news|url=http://www.sportishqiptar.com.al/newsite/2014/06/11/po-dje-eshte-zyrtarizuar-edhe-largimi-kroatit-pero-pejic/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613121801/http://www.sportishqiptar.com.al/newsite/2014/06/11/po-dje-eshte-zyrtarizuar-edhe-largimi-kroatit-pero-pejic/|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 June 2014|title=Po dje është zyrtarizuar edhe largimi i kroatit Pero Pejiç|date=11 June 2014|accessdate=11 June 2014|work=Gazeta e Sportit|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama-sport.com/elis-bakaj-te-skenderbeu-takaj-prisni-edhe-dy-blerje/|title=Firmosin Bakaj dhe Progni, rinovon edhe mesfushori Sabien Lilaj për Skënderbeun|trans-title=Bakaj and Progni signs, also midfielder Sabien Lilaj renew for Skënderbeu|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=11 June 2014|accessdate=6 August 2015}}

On 5 August 2015, in the returning match of the Third qualifying round of 2015–16 UEFA Champions League against Milsami Orhei, Progni scored the second goal of the match in the 55th minute to help the team to win the match at Elbasan Arena 2–0 and to qualify in Play-off round with the aggregate 4–0.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama-sport.com/2015/08/skenderbeu-historik-rekord-ne-europe-likuidojne-milsamin-dhe-shkojne-ne-play-off-video/|title=Skënderbeu historik, rekord në Europë, likuidojnë Milsamin dhe shkojnë në "play-off" (Video)|trans-title=Skënderbeu historical, record in Europe, liquidates Milsami and goes to "play-off" (Video)|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=5 August 2015|accessdate=6 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807172216/http://www.panorama-sport.com/2015/08/skenderbeu-historik-rekord-ne-europe-likuidojne-milsamin-dhe-shkojne-ne-play-off-video/|archive-date=7 August 2015|url-status=dead}}

On 23 June 2016, Progni moved abroad for the first time by signing a two-year contract with Zira FK of Azerbaijan Premier League.{{cite web|title="Zire" signed a contract with Gerhard Progni|url=http://fczire.az/index.php?options=news&news_id=135&id=38|website=fczire.az|publisher=Zira FK|language=English|date=23 June 2016}} Six months later, Progni left Zira by mutual consent on 9 January 2017.{{cite web|title=Zirə Gerhard Proqni ilə yollarını ayırdı|url=http://fczire.az/index.php?options=news&news_id=205&id=38|website=fczire.az|publisher=Zira FK|accessdate=9 January 2017|language=Azerbaijani|date=9 January 2017}}

On 23 January 2017, Progni returned to Albanian Superliga by signing a six-month contract with Teuta, taking the squad number 77.{{cite news|url=http://www.supersport.al/progni-rikthehet-dhe-firmos-me-teuten/|title=Progni rikthehet dhe firmos me Teutën|trans-title=Progni returns and sign with Teuta|publisher=SuperSport Albanian|language=Albanian|author=Sotir Kora|date=23 January 2017|accessdate=29 January 2017}} In an interview two days later, he said he returned to Albania to stay closer to his family.{{cite news|url=http://sportal.al/progni-zbulon-pse-braktisi-azerbajxhanin-per-teuten/|title=Progni zbulon pse braktisi Azerbajxhanin për Teutën|trans-title=Progni unveils why he left Azerbaijan for Teuta|publisher=Sportal.al|language=Albanian|date=25 January 2017|accessdate=29 January 2017}} He made his debut on 29 January against Tirana at home, contributing in a 1–0 win in the team's first competitive match of 2017.{{cite news|url=http://www.supersport.al/tirana-e-pergjumur-e-mposht-teuta-1-0/|title=Tirana e përgjumur, e mposht Teuta 1-0|trans-title=Tirana sleepy, beaten by Teuta 1-0|publisher=SuperSport Albania|language=Albanian|author=Rinald Bregasi|date=28 January 2017|accessdate=29 January 2017}}

During the second part of 2016–17 season, Progni contributed with 15 league matches, scoring 2 times, including the winner against Vllaznia in the penultimate matchday which assured Teuta another season in the top flight.{{cite news|url=http://www.supersport.al/teuta-zhyt-vllaznine-ne-durres-vendos-progni/|title=Teuta "zhyt" Vllaznine, në Durrës vendos Progni|trans-title=Teuta “plunge” Vllaznia, Progni decides in Durrës|publisher=SuperSport Albania|language=Albanian|author=Olsi Karagjozi|date=20 May 2017|accessdate=14 June 2017}} He also played 4 matches and scored once in team's unsuccessful run in the Albanian Cup, which ended at the hands of Skënderbeu.{{cite news|url=http://gazeta-shqip.com/lajme/2017/04/19/kupa-tirana-skenderbeu-ne-finale/|title=Kupa, Tirana-Skënderbeu në finale|trans-title=The cup, Tirana-Skënderbeu in the final|publisher=Gazeta Shqip|language=Albanian|date=19 April 2017|accessdate=14 June 2017}} Following the end of the season, Progni's contract expired and he became a free agent.

On 14 June 2017, Progni completed a transfer to Partizani, returning to his first club after nine years.{{cite news|url=https://partizani.al/sq/zyrtare-gerhard-progni-rikthehet-ne-familjen-e-kuqe/|title=ZYRTARE: GERHARD PROGNI RIKTHEHET NE FAMILJEN E KUQE|trans-title=OFFICIAL: GERHARD PROGNI RETURNS TO THE RED FAMILY|publisher=Partizani.al|language=Albanian|date=14 June 2017|accessdate=14 June 2017}} He was presented the same day where he penned a two-year contract with an option of a further one and was allocated squad number 77, the same he held during his last season with Teuta.{{cite news|url=http://sportekspres.com/zyrtare-progni-eshte-i-partizanit/|title=Zyrtare/ Progni është i Partizanit|trans-title=Official/ Progni is Partizani's|publisher=Sport Ekspres|language=Albanian|date=14 June 2017|accessdate=14 June 2017}}

Progni started the domestic season on 10 September by playing full-90 minutes in the opening championship match versus Laçi, ended in a 0–2 loss.{{cite news|url=http://www.tiranaobserver.al/iuliano-debuton-me-humbje-laci-mund-partizanin-me-10-vete/|title=Iuliano debuton me humbje, Laçi mund Partizanin me 10 vetë|trans-title=Iuliano debutes with a loss, Laçi defeats Partizani with 10 man|publisher=Tirana Observer|language=Albanian|date=10 September 2017|accessdate=11 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910224755/http://www.tiranaobserver.al/iuliano-debuton-me-humbje-laci-mund-partizanin-me-10-vete/|archive-date=10 September 2017|url-status=dead}} Progni was given a new role under Italian manager Mark Iuliano, playing as a right-back in the 4–3–3 lineup.{{cite news|url=http://sportekspres.com/bardhi-djeg-sukajn-progni-si-mbrojtes/|title=Bardhi "djeg" Sukajn, Progni si mbrojtës|trans-title=Bardhi “buries” Sukaj, Progni as defender|publisher=Sport Ekspres|language=Albanian|date=2 October 2017|accessdate=2 October 2017}} Progni's first score-sheet contributions came later on 20 November by netting the second of the 2–1 win at Kukësi.{{cite news|url=http://www.oranews.tv/article/mbyllen-pjeset-e-para-partizani-permbys-kukesin-luftetari-udheheq-ne-gjirokaster|title=Partizani kthehet tek fitorja, mposht Kukësin. "Paqe" mes Laçit dhe Luftëtarit|trans-title=Partizani returns to victory, defeats Kukësi. “Peace” between Laçi and Luftëtari|publisher=Ora News|language=Albanian|date=20 November 2017|accessdate=20 November 2017}}

In January 2018, Progni switched his kit number from 77 to his preferred 7, last worn by the departed Realdo Fili.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/buzeqesh-progni-klubi-i-ploteson-deshiren-qe-kishte-prej-kohesh/|title=Buzëqesh Progni, klubi i plotëson dëshirën që kishte prej kohësh|trans-title=Porgni smiles, the club grant his long-time wish|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=1 February 2018|accessdate=1 February 2018}} He wore the number 7 for the first time on 31 January, in the cup match against former club Flamurtari. Progni finished the 2017–18 season as Partizani's top scorer with 9 goals, including 8 in league, his highest tally since the 2011–12 season.

In July 2018, he played in both matches of 2018–19 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round against NK Maribor, unable to avoid the elimination.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2024661--partizani-vs-maribor/index.html|title=Partizani 0-1 Maribor|publisher=UEFA|date=12 July 2018|access-date=3 September 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2024708--maribor-vs-partizani|title=Maribor 2-0 Partizani|publisher=UEFA|date=19 July 2018|access-date=3 September 2018}} Progni left the club in a surprise move on 30 August, after having collected 43 matches and scoring 9 goals in all competitions.{{cite news|url=http://sportekspres.com/progni-largohet-nga-partizani-qendron-ne-superiore/|title=Progni largohet nga Partizani, qëndron në Superiore|trans-title=Progni flees from Partizani, stays in Albanian Superliga|publisher=Sport Ekspres|language=Albanian|date=30 August 2018|accessdate=3 September 2018}} Partizani Tirana terminated the player's contract by mutual consent due to being more focused on youngster players, while Progni's place in the starting lineup was not secure after collecting only 86 minutes in the first two league matches.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/zbulohe-prapaskenat-ja-pse-progni-u-largua-nga-partizani/|title=Zbulohen prapaskenat, ja pse Progni u largua nga Partizani|trans-title=The background is unveiled, here's why Progni left Partizani|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|author=Drilon Xhepollari|date=31 August 2018|accessdate=3 September 2018}} Manager Skënder Gega, speaking on Progni's departure, stated that the player was in his plans, but he [Progni] left with the aim of a new challenge.{{cite news|url=http://sportekspres.com/gega-prognin-e-kishim-ne-plane-ja-pse-nuk-kane-ardhur-ato-lojtare-qe-doja/|title=Gega: Prognin e kishim në plane, ja pse nuk kanë ardhur ato lojtarë që doja|trans-title=Gega: We had Progni in our plans, where's why the players i wanted didn't come|publisher=Sport Ekspres|language=Albanian|date=31 August 2018|accessdate=3 September 2018}}

On 31 August 2018, Progni was presented as Teuta s' newest player, signing a contract until the end of the season and taking squad number 11.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/prezantohet-gerhard-progni-mund-te-luaje-serish-ndaj-kamzes/|title=Prezantohet Gerhard Progni, mund të luajë sërish ndaj Kamzës|trans-title=Gerhard Progni presented, he can play again versus Kamza|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=Albanian|date=31 August 2018|accessdate=3 September 2018}}

On 26 July 2019, Progni joined SC Gjilani.[https://ballkani.info/zyrtare-gjilani-firmos-me-prognin/ Zyrtare: Gjilani firmos me Prognin], ballkani.info, 26 July 2019

Progni has presented Albania at youth level, making 3 appearances for under-19 side and 10 for under-21.

{{updated|2 September 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/gerhard-progni/57355/|title=Albania - G. Progni - Profile with news, career statistics and history|publisher=Soccerway|accessdate=3 January 2017}}

{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

;Skënderbeu Korçë

• Albanian Superliga: 2014–15
• Albanian Supercup: 2014

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Progni, Gerhard}}

Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Tropojë

Category:Sportspeople from Kukës County

Category:Albanian men's footballers

Category:Albania men's under-21 international footballers

Category:Albania men's youth international footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:FK Partizani Tirana players

Category:KF Besa Kavajë players

Category:FC Dinamo City players

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Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Azerbaijan

Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Azerbaijan

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Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Kosovo

Category:21st-century Albanian sportsmen