Ilir Azemi
{{Short description|Kosovar footballer (born 1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ilir Azemi
| image = Ilir Azemi.jpeg
| upright = 1.1
| caption = Azemi with Greuther Fürth in 2012
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|2|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = Pristina, SFR Yugoslavia
| height = 1.91 m
| position = Forward
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2006 | youthclubs1 = Motor Gispersleben
| youthyears2 = 2006–2011 | youthclubs2 = Greuther Fürth
| years1 = 2011–2012 | clubs1 = Greuther Fürth II | caps1 = 69 | goals1 = 25
| years2 = 2012–2017 | clubs2 = Greuther Fürth | caps2 = 52 | goals2 = 15
| years3 = 2017 | clubs3 = → Holstein Kiel (loan) | caps3 = 10 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2017–2018 | clubs4 = Holstein Kiel | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2018 | clubs5 = Wacker Nordhausen | caps5 = 8 | goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2020 | clubs6 = SV Seligenporten | caps6 = 0 | goals6 = 0
| totalcaps = 139
| totalgoals = 41
| nationalyears1 = 2014 | nationalteam1 = Kosovo | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
Ilir Azemi (born 21 February 1992) is a Kosovar former professional footballer who played as a forward.
Club career
=Early career=
Azemi began his career at local side Motor Gispersleben as a child where he remained until he was spotted by Greuther Fürth scouts in 2007. He joined the Greuther Fürth youth setup in the summer of 2007, joining the under-17 squad a year later where he made 24 appearances, scoring four goals. He was then included in Jürgen Brandl's under-19 side, where he scored ten goals in 23 games, which earned him a call up to the under-23 team before the end of the 2010–11 season, where he made two appearances. The 2011–12 campaign in the under-23 squad (Greuther Fürth II) proved to be his best so far at the club, scoring 15 goals in 35 appearances, where he helped his side finish sixth and he ended the season as the Regionalliga Süd fifth top scorer.
=Greuther Fürth=
Following Greuther Fürth's promotion to the Bundesliga for the 2012–13 campaign. Azemi joined the senior team during pre-season where he impressed with his goal scoring ability. He finished pre-season as the top scorer of all the Bundesliga sides with 16 goals, five more than second places Vedad Ibišević of VfB Stuttgart. He managed to score six goals in a 14–0 win over amateur side TV 1912 Markt Weiltingen.{{cite web | url = http://www.greuther-fuerth.de/aktuell/aktuelle-news/news-detail/article/klare-sache-in-weiltingen.html | title = Klare Sache in Weiltingen SpVgg Greuther Fürth | publisher = SpVgg Greuther Fürth | date = 3 August 2012 | language = German | access-date = 14 May 2017 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052434/http://www.greuther-fuerth.de/aktuell/aktuelle-news/news-detail/article/klare-sache-in-weiltingen.html | archivedate = 4 March 2016 }}
He signed a long term contract keeping him at the club until 2015 with the option of an extension.{{cite web | url = http://www.greuther-fuerth.de/aktuell/aktuelle-news/news-detail/article/spvgg-bindet-ilir-azemi-langfristig.html | title = SpVgg bindet Ilir Azemi langfristig | language = German | publisher = SpVgg Greuther Fürth | date = 5 October 2011 | access-date = 14 May 2017 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140809232224/http://www.greuther-fuerth.de/aktuell/aktuelle-news/news-detail/article/spvgg-bindet-ilir-azemi-langfristig.html | archivedate = 9 August 2014 }}
=Holstein Kiel=
On 31 January 2017. Azemi was loaned out to 3. Liga side Holstein Kiel,{{cite web|url=http://www.90min.de/de/posts/4495105-offiziell-ilir-azemi-wechselt-zu-holstein-kiel|title=Offiziell: Ilir Azemi wechselt zu Holstein Kiel|language=German|publisher=90min.com|date=31 January 2017|access-date=14 May 2017|archive-date=7 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707085746/http://www.90min.de/de/posts/4495105-offiziell-ilir-azemi-wechselt-zu-holstein-kiel|url-status=dead}} playing 9 matches in the second half of the season.{{cite news|title=Wacker Nordhausen angelt sich Azemi aus Kiel|url=https://www.kicker.de/wacker-nordhausen-angelt-sich-azemi-aus-kiel-715248/artikel|access-date=18 January 2018|work=kicker Online|date=18 January 2018|language=German}} On 1 May 2017, he signed contract with Kiel, which entered into force upon termination of contract as loan from Greuther Fürth.{{cite web|url=http://telegrafi.com/zyrtare-ilir-azemi-behet-skuader-te-re/|title=Zyrtare: Ilir Azemi bëhet me skuadër të re |language=Albanian|publisher= Telegrafi|date= 4 May 2017 | access-date = 14 May 2017}} Having failed to make an appearance in Kiel's successful first half of the 2017–18 2. Bundesliga season, he left in January 2017 with the club placed second in the league.
=Wacker Nordhausen=
In January 2017, Azemi joined Regionalliga Nordost side Wacker Nordhausen.
International career
The Albanian media has reported that Azemi has been called up by the Albania U21, but Azemi has declined the invitation, in that he needs time to get himself established in his club first, however he has declared that he is looking forward to becoming part of the Albania senior team in the future{{cite web | url = http://www.sportishqiptar.com.al/newsite/2012/08/31/fshf-ilir-azemi-refuzon-kombetaren-lojtari-deklaron-te-kunderten/ | title = FSHF: Ilir Azemi refuzon Kombëtaren, lojtari deklaron të kundërtën | language = Albanian | publisher = Sporti Shqiptar | date = 31 August 2012 | first = Andi | last = Tanku | access-date = 14 May 2017 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120904172841/http://www.sportishqiptar.com.al/newsite/2012/08/31/fshf-ilir-azemi-refuzon-kombetaren-lojtari-deklaron-te-kunderten/ | archivedate = 4 September 2012 }} and that wearing the red-and-black jersey is one of his primary goals.{{cite web|last=Nikolli |first=Mario |url=http://www.sportekspres.com/contenti.aspx?id=521&idd=695&iddd=695&idjadok=26730 |title=Një 20-vjeçar mes 34 talenteve të Bundesligës |publisher=Sport Ekspres |date=10 August 2012 |page=4 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194228/http://www.sportekspres.com/contenti.aspx?id=521&idd=695&iddd=695&idjadok=26730 |archivedate=29 October 2013 }} On 8 October 2012, his club Greuther Fürth announced that he had accepted a recent call-up from the Albania U21.{{cite web |url=http://www.greuther-fuerth.de/aktuell/aktuelle-news/news-detail/article/heinrich-schmidtgal-muss-laenderspielreise-absagen.html |title=Heinrich Schmidtgal muss Länderspielreise absagen |publisher=SpVgg Greuther Fürth |date=8 October 2012 |language=German |access-date=14 May 2017 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405170158/http://www.greuther-fuerth.de/aktuell/aktuelle-news/news-detail/article/heinrich-schmidtgal-muss-laenderspielreise-absagen.html |archivedate=5 April 2017 }} In January 2013, he repeated to the Albanian media that he expects a call up from manager Gianni De Biasi, to which he will respond positively in order to play for Albania.{{cite web|url=http://www.infoalbania.org/sport-home/sport-futboll/50698--ilir-azemi-dua-te-luaj-per-shqiperine-po-pres-ftesen-e-de-biasit.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130704024859/http://www.infoalbania.org/sport-home/sport-futboll/50698--ilir-azemi-dua-te-luaj-per-shqiperine-po-pres-ftesen-e-de-biasit.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 July 2013 |title=Ilir Azemi: Dua te luaj per Shqiperine, po pres ftesen e De Biasit | website = InfoAlbania |date=18 January 2013 |language=Albanian}} In January 2014, he confirmed his intentions.{{cite web|url=http://sportekspres.com/?p=22305|title=Ilir Azemi "në sulm": S’e kam refuzuar Shqipërinë!|language=Albanian|publisher= Sport Ekspres|date= 27 January 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525022151/http://sportekspres.com/ilir-azemi-ne-sulm-se-kam-refuzuar-shqiperine/|archivedate= 25 May 2015}}
In June 2014, Azemi reiterated his interest in playing for Albania, since he wanted to be in the field against Serbia for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.{{cite web|url=http://www.gazetatribuna.com/?FaqeID=4&LajmID=70281|title=Azemi: Luaj me Shqipërinë për ta mposhtur Serbinë|language=Albanian|website=Gazeta Tribuna|date=4 June 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606204300/http://www.gazetatribuna.com/?FaqeID=4&LajmID=70281|archivedate=6 June 2014}}
=Kosovo=
On 2 March 2014. Azemi received a call-up from Kosovo for the country's first FIFA-permitted match against Haiti{{cite web|url=http://sport.albeu.com/sport/kosova-shpall-listen-anti-haiti/142997/|title=Kosova shpall listën anti-Haiti|language=Albanian|website=Albeu|date=2 March 2014|access-date=1 September 2017|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125439/http://sport.albeu.com/sport/kosova-shpall-listen-anti-haiti/142997/|url-status=dead}} and made his debut after being named in the starting line-up.
Personal life
Azemi was born in Pristina, SFR Yugoslavia, but moved to Germany when he was just three years old, because of the Yugoslav Wars. Following the death of his father, Azemi has been providing for his mother and three sisters through his footballing income.{{cite web | url = http://www.nordbayern.de/nuernberger-zeitung/nz-sport/ilir-azemi-das-kuken-im-further-sturm-1.2285398 | title = Ilir Azemi: Das Küken im Fürther Sturm | language = German | publisher = Nürnberger Zeitung | date = 16 August 2012 | access-date = 14 May 2017 | first = Florian | last = Pöhlmann}}
On 7 August 2014, he had a car crash and was heavily injured.{{cite web | url = http://www.greuther-fuerth.de/aktuell/aktuelle-news/news-detail/article/schwere-verletzungen-nach-unfall-azemi-mit-lungenquetschung-und-knochenbruechen.html | title = Schwere Verletzungen nach Unfall – Azemi mit Lungenquetschung und Knochenbrüchen | language = de | publisher = SpVgg Greuther Fürth | date = 7 August 2014 | access-date = 14 May 2017 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140810042416/http://www.greuther-fuerth.de/aktuell/aktuelle-news/news-detail/article/schwere-verletzungen-nach-unfall-azemi-mit-lungenquetschung-und-knochenbruechen.html | archivedate = 10 August 2014 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/germany-bundesliga/377392.html|title=Ilir Azemi seriously injured in car crash, not life threatening says Hack|publisher= Vavel|date= 7 August 2014 | access-date = 14 May 2017 | first = Jonathan | last = Walsh}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 17 December 2017|{{soccerway|ilir-azemi/131827|accessdate=39 January 2018}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|DFB-Pokal !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="7"|Greuther Fürth II
|rowspan="3"|Regionalliga Süd |2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11
|5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12
|34 | 15 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 15 | |||
| 2012–13
|rowspan="3"|Regionalliga Bayern |8 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 5 | |||
| 2015–16
|11 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 1 | |||
| 2016–17
|9 | 4 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 4 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!69 | 25 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 69 | 25 | ||
| rowspan="6"|Greuther Fürth
|21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2013–14
|rowspan="4"|2. Bundesliga |28 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 2Appearances in the 2. Bundesliga promotion play-offs | 0 | 32 | 14 | |
| 2014–15
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!52 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 15 | |
| Holstein Kiel (loan)
|9 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 0 | |||
| Wacker Nordhausen
|0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!121 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 125 | 40 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Fussballdaten|azemiilir|Ilir Azemi}}
- {{Soccerway|ilir-azemi/131827}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Azemi, Ilir}}
Category:Footballers from Pristina
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Kosovan men's footballers
Category:21st-century Kosovan sportsmen
Category:Kosovo men's international footballers
Category:SpVgg Greuther Fürth players
Category:Holstein Kiel players
Category:FSV Wacker 90 Nordhausen players
Category:2. Bundesliga players
Category:Kosovan expatriate men's footballers