Idriz Batha

{{short description|Albanian professional footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Idriz Batha

| image = Idriz Batha01.jpg

| caption =

| fullname = Idriz Refik Batha

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|03|28|df=y}}

| birth_place = Gjirokastër, Albania

| height = {{convert|1.76|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| position = Central midfielder

| currentclub = Flamurtari Vlorë

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2005

| youthclubs1 = Partizani Tirana

| youthyears2 = 2005–2011

| youthclubs2 = Tirana{{Cite web|url=https://telesport.al/batha-te-tirana-dhe-puthjet-me-buze-te-bera|title = Batha te Tirana dhe puthjet me "buzë të bëra"!|date = 18 June 2019}}

| years1 = 2011–2012 | clubs1 = Partizani Tirana | caps1 = 23 | goals1 = 3

| years2 = 2012–2014 | clubs2 = Besa Kavajë | caps2 = 35 | goals2 = 3

| years3 = 2014 | clubs3 = → Teuta Durrës (loan) | caps3 = 14 | goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2014–2018 | clubs4 = Partizani Tirana | caps4 = 125 | goals4 = 16

| years5 = 2018–2019 | clubs5 = Flamurtari Vlorë | caps5 = 30 | goals5 = 4

| years6 = 2019–2021 | clubs6 = Tirana | caps6 = 63 | goals6 = 19

| years7 = 2021–2023 | clubs7 = UTA Arad | caps7 = 69 | goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2023 | clubs8 = Al-Najma | caps8 = 8 | goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2024– | clubs9 = Flamurtari Vlorë | caps9 = 22 | goals9 = 5

| nationalyears1 = 2012–2014

| nationalteam1 = Albania U21

| nationalcaps1 = 7

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| pcupdate = 1 June 2024

| ntupdate =

}}

Idriz 'Idi' Refik Batha (born 28 March 1992) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Kategoria e parë club Flamurtari Vlorë.[https://web.archive.org/web/20131215165511/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2014/clubs/player=250050627/profile/index.html UEFA]

Club career

=Early career=

Born in the southern city of Gjirokastër, Batha moved to the capital Tirana as a child where he joined the Partizani academy before moving to the academy of local rivals Tirana in 2005. He would remain at Tirana's academy until 2011, which is when he moved back to Partizani and signed his first professional contract at the age of 19. Partizani had been relegated to Kategoria e Dytë, the third-tier of Albanian football which is where Batha made his senior debut on 2 October 2011 in a 1–0 over Bilisht Sport.[https://fshf.org/garat/?query=info&match_id=134754 Partizani 1–0 Bilisht Sport] He scored his first senior goals on 18 March 2012 against Albpetrol, scoring twice in the first half in the 2–0 win.[https://fshf.org/garat/?query=info&match_id=134710 Partizani 2–0 Albpetrol] Batha helped Partizani finish top of the Kategoria e Dytë Group B table and achieve promotion back to Kategoria e Parë, before losing 3–1 to Group A winners Tërbuni in the Championship Final.[https://fshf.org/garat/?query=info&match_id=136407 Partizani 1–3 Tërbuni]

=Besa=

Following an impressive season with Partizani in the third tier, Batha joined newly promoted Kategoria Superiore side Besa in the summer of 2012, where he made his top-flight debut in the opening game against Laçi, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1–1 draw.[https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/08/25/albania/super-league/kf-laci/ks-besa-kavaje/1305966/ Laçi 1–1 Besa] He scored his first top-flight goal on 10 March 2013 in a 2–1 win over Tirana, scoring in injury time to win the game for Besa.[https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/03/10/albania/super-league/ks-besa-kavaje/kf-tirana/1306087/ Besa 2–1 Tirana]

=Teuta=

While at Besa in January 2014 Batha went to Teuta on a short-term loan as Besa were struggling

=Partizani=

In the summer of 2O14 Batha agreed to return to Partizani on a free. On 11 November 2015, Batha extended his contract with Partizani Tirana for another three seasons, keeping him at the club until 2018.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama-sport.com/pas-bardhit-e-trashit-rinovon-edhe-idi-batha/|title=Pas Bardhit e Trashit, rinovon edhe Idi Batha|trans-title=After Bardhi and Trashi, Idi Batha renew as well|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=11 November 2015|access-date=11 November 2015}}

=Flamurtari=

He ran down his contract with Partizani but hadn't found a club yet so Partizani gave him a special 9-extra-day contract to find a club. He joined Flamurtari

=Tirana=

On 18 June 2019, Batha was unveiled as the new player of KF Tirana, signing a one-year contract with an option of a further one, worth €5,000 a month.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/zyrtare-tirana-prezanton-ish-kapitenin-e-partizanit-zbulohen-detajet-e-kontrates/|title=ZYRTARE/ Tirana prezanton ish-kapitenin e Partizanit, zbulohen detajet e kontratës|trans-title=Official/ Tirana presents the former captain of Partizani, the contract's details are unveiled|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=18 June 2019|access-date=20 June 2019}} On 27 October, during the 3–0 win at Luftëtari Gjirokastër, Batha missed his first career penalty; his attempt was saved by Panagiotis Paiteris.{{cite news|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/penalltia-e-pare-qe-humbas-ne-karriere-batha-thjesht-rreshqita-kam-nostalgji-per-luftetarin/|title="Penalltia e parë që humbas në karrierë", Batha: Thjesht rrëshqita, kam nostalgji për… Luftëtarin|trans-title="The first career penalty that I miss", Batha: I just slipped, I have nostalgy for… Luftëtari|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=28 October 2019|access-date=23 December 2019}} During the match against title rivals Kukësi at Arena Kombëtare, Batha scored a free-kick in the 85th minute that served as a temporarily equalizer in an eventual 2–1 win, sending Tirana top of the table for the first time this season.{{cite web|url=http://top-channel.tv/2020/02/21/ndeshje-e-cmendur-ne-air-albania-tirana-permbys-kukesin-me-dy-gola-ne-fund-dhe-merr-kreun/|title=Ndeshje e çmendur në "Air Albania", Tirana përmbys Kukësin me dy gola në fund dhe merr kreun|trans-title=Crazy match at "Air Albania", Tirana overturns Kukësi with two late goals and takes the lead|publisher=Top-Channel.tv|language=sq|date=21 February 2020|access-date=29 February 2020}} The following week, Batha scored two penalties against his ex team Partizani in a 5–1 home win, helping Tirana record their biggest win over their city rivals since 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/video-kryeveper-bardheblu-ne-derbi-tirana-shkermoq-partizanin-dhe-shkon-9-nga-kampionet/|title=VIDEO/ Kryevepër bardheblu në derbi, Tirana shkërmoq Partizanin dhe shkon +9 nga kampionët|trans-title=Video/ Whiteblue masterpiece in derby, Tirana destroys Partizani and goes +9 from the champions|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=29 February 2020|access-date=29 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/histori-shuplake-qe-pervelon-nga-tirana-bardheblute-turperonin-dy-here-brenda-nje-sezoni-partizanin-me-manita-dhe-4-gola-diference/|title=HISTORI/ "Shuplakë që përvëlon" nga Tirana, bardheblutë turpëronin dy herë brenda një sezoni Partizanin me "manita" dhe 4 gola diferencë|trans-title=History/ "A slap that burns" from Tirana, once the whiteblues embarrassed Partizani twice in a season with a "manita" and a 4 goal difference|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=28 February 2020|access-date=29 February 2020}}

He was instrumental for his side in midfield during the 2019–20 Albanian Superliga season, scoring 10 goals in 33 appearances, a personal best, as Tirana won the championship title for the 25th time in their 100th anniversary.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/nga-egbo-te-ngo-ja-notat-e-sezonit-te-kampionet-e-tiranes/|title=Nga Egbo te Ngo, ja notat e sezonit te kampionët e Tiranës|trans-title=From Ebgo to Ngoo, here are the season's grades for the champions of Tirana|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=21 July 2020|access-date=5 August 2020}} In 2019–20 Albanian Cup, where Tirana reached the final,{{cite web|url=https://fshf.org/sq/teuta-eshte-fituesja-e-kupes-se-shqiperise-per-edicionin-2019-2020/|title=Teuta është fituesja e Kupës së Shqipërisë për edicionin 2019-2020|trans-title=Teuta is the winner of Albanian Cup for the 2019-2020 edition|website=fshf.org|publisher=Albanian Football Association|language=sq|date=2 August 2020|access-date=8 August 2020}} Batha scored once in five appearances, collecting in total 38 appearances and 11 goals. On 8 August 2020, Tirana announced to have signed Batha on a new one-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://kftirana.al/tirana-njofton-rinovimin-e-kontrates-me-lojtarin-idriz-batha/|title=Tirana njofton rinovimin e kontratës me lojtarin Idriz Batha|trans-title=Tirana announces the contract renewal with the player Idriz Batha|website=kftirana.al|publisher=KF Tirana|language=sq|date=8 August 2020|access-date=8 August 2020}}

Batha took squad number 10 ahead of the 2020–21 season, which was last worn by Edon Hasani who departed the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/rita-ora-egbo-qe-falet-dhe-numri-i-bathes-ja-pikantet-e-dinamo-tbilis-tirana/|title=Rita Ora, Egbo që falet dhe numri i Bathës, ja pikantet e Dinamo Tbilis-Tirana|trans-title=Rita Ora, Egbo which prays and Batha's number, here are the spicy from Dinamo Tbilisi-Tirana|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=20 August 2020|access-date=22 August 2020}} On 19 August, he captained Tirana for the first time in their UEFA Champions League first qualifying round match against Dinamo Tbilisi, which ended in a 2–0 away win.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2030242--dinamo-tbilisi-vs-tirana/|title=Dinamo Tbilisi 0–2 Tirana|publisher=UEFA|date=19 August 2020|access-date=20 August 2020}}

=UTA Arad=

Batha joined UTA Arad of Romania in the summer of 2021 and due to UTA Arad's Albanian shareholders former Tirana teammate Erjon Hoxhallari joined him a year later. Both Batha and Hoxhallari left in the summer of 2023

=Al-Najma=

On 9 July 2023, Batha joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Najma.{{cite web |title=" Idriz Batha" نجماوي |url=https://twitter.com/alnajmahfc/status/1678099217271644160}}

Career statistics

{{updated|2 October 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/idriz-batha/246984/|title=Idriz Batha|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=16 August 2015}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|OtherIncludes the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Champions League and Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Partizani \|2011–12 \|Kategoria e Dytë \|23	3	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	23	3
rowspan="3" valign="center"\|Besa \|2012–13 \|rowspan="2" valign="center"\|Kategoria Superiore \|20	1	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	22	1
2013–14 \|15	2	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	16	2
colspan="2"\|Total !35	3	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	38	3
Teuta Durrës (loan) \|2013–14 \|Kategoria Superiore \|14	2	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	17	2
rowspan="5" valign="center"\|Partizani Tirana \|2014–15 \|rowspan="4" valign="center"\|Kategoria Superiore \|31	1	3	1	colspan="2"\|—	34	2
2015–16 \|32	2	1	0	2	0	35	2
2016–17 \|31	8	2	1	7	0	40	9
2017–18 \|31	5	5	2	2	0	38	7
colspan="2"\|Total !125	16	11	4	11	0	147	20
Flamurtari \|2018–19 \|Kategoria Superiore \|30	4	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	33	4
rowspan="3" valign="center"\|Tirana \|2019–20 \|rowspan="2" valign="center"\|Kategoria Superiore \|33	10	5	1	colspan="2" \|—	38	11
2020–21 \|30	9	1	0	3	0	34	9
colspan="2"\|Total !63	19	6	1	3	0	72	20
rowspan="3" valign="center"\|UTA Arad \|2021–22 \|rowspan="2" valign="center"\|Liga I \|35	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	35	0
2022–23 \|34	1	6	0	2{{efn\|All appearances in Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs}}	0	42	1
colspan="2"\|Total !69	1	6	0	2	0	77	1
Al-Najma \|2023–24 \|Saudi First Division League \|7	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	8	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !366	48	33	5	16	0	415	53