Justin Ferizaj
{{Short description|Irish footballer (born 2005)}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Justin Ferizaj
|image =
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|1|13|df=y}}
|birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
|height =
|currentclub = Frosinone
|clubnumber = 19
|position = Midfielder
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = Shamrock Rovers
|years1 = 2022–2023 |clubs1 = Shamrock Rovers |caps1 = 9 |goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2023– |clubs2 = Frosinone |caps2 = 0 |goals2 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2019–2020
|nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U15
|nationalcaps1 = 3
|nationalgoals1 = 0
|nationalyears2 = 2021–2022
|nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U17
|nationalcaps2 = 7
|nationalgoals2 = 2
|nationalyears3 = 2021
|nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland U18
|nationalcaps3 = 5
|nationalgoals3 = 0
|nationalyears4 = 2022–
|nationalteam4 = Republic of Ireland U19
|nationalcaps4 = 9
|nationalgoals4 = 1
|club-update = 15:33, 22 August 2023 (UTC)
|nationalteam-update = 13:06, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
}}
Justin Ferizaj (born 13 January 2005) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Italian {{Italian football updater|Frosinone}} club Frosinone.
Club career
=Early career=
Born in Dublin to Albanian parents, Ferizaj joined Tallaght-based club Shamrock Rovers as a child.{{cite web|url=https://www.buzz.ie/sport/soccer/justin-ferizaj-shamrock-rovers-midfielder-27425043|title=Highly-rated Ireland underage star Justin Ferizaj turns down Serie A move|first=Ruairi|last=Scott Byrne|date=7 July 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=buzz.ie}}
=Shamrock Rovers=
Having progressed through the academy, he made his league debut in the 2022 season, in a 2–1 win over St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/shamrock-rovers-close-to-professional-deal-for-teenage-star-justin-ferizaj-41833185.html|title=Shamrock Rovers close to professional deal for teenage star Justin Ferizaj|first=Aidan|last=Fitzmaurice|date=12 July 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=independent.ie}} The same year, he went on trial with German side Hamburg, before turning down a contract offer from Italian side Sampdoria.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/article/justin-ferizaj-the-latest-irish-talent-to-catch-eye-of-european-elite-79ckvtctp|title=Justin Ferizaj the latest Irish talent to catch eye of European elite|first=Paul|last=Rowan|date=20 February 2022|access-date=23 October 2022|website=The Times}} {{subscription required}} After impressive performances, being lauded for his ability to step up to senior level,{{cite web |last=Fenton |first=James |date=9 September 2022 |title=Stephen Bradley hails 17-year-old Justin Ferizaj after Europa Conference League performance |url=https://punditarena.com/football/james-fenton/justin-ferizaj-praise-stephen-bradley/ |accessdate=23 October 2022 |website=punditarena.com}} he signed a new contract with Shamrock Rovers in July 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/0912/1322029-how-ferizaj-has-propelled-himself-onto-the-big-stage/|title=How Justin Ferizaj has propelled himself onto the big stage for Shamrock Rovers - Graham Gartland|first=Raf|last=Diallo|date=12 September 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=rte.ie}}{{cite web|url=https://punditarena.com/football/ronan-calvert/justin-ferizaj-contract-extension-shamrock-rovers/|title=Exclusive: Justin Ferizaj signs 16-month contract extension with Shamrock Rovers|first=Ronan|last=Calvert|date=28 July 2022|accessdate=23 October 2022|website=punditarena.com}} Ferizaj spent time on trial at Tottenham Hotspur during the off season from Rovers, after receiving permission from the club.{{Cite web |last=Fennessy |first=Paul |date=11 March 2023 |title=Stephen Bradley coy on Tottenham-linked youngster's absence |url=https://www.the42.ie/stephen-bradley-coy-on-tottenham-linked-youngsters-absence-6016368-Mar2023/ |website=The42}} He scored his first goal at senior level on 13 March 2023, in a 2–1 Leinster Senior Cup defeat away to Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.{{Cite web |date=13 March 2023 |title=Bray Wanderers dump Shamrock Rovers out of the Leinster Senior Cup |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/sport/bray-wanderers-dump-shamrock-rovers-out-of-the-leinster-senior-cup-42384651.html |website=independent}}
=Frosinone=
On 22 August 2023, Ferizaj officially joined Serie A club Frosinone for an undisclosed fee.{{Cite web |last=Donovan |first=Shane |date=August 22, 2023 |title=Shamrock Rover's starlet Justin Ferizaj completes switch to Serie A outfit Frosinone Calcio |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41210239.html |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=Irish Examiner}}{{Cite web |last=Consalvi |first=Fabrizio |date=22 August 2023 |title=Frosinone: ufficiale l'arrivo del centrocampista Justin Ferizaj |url=https://www.gazzettaregionale.it/primavera-e-berretti/2023/08/22/news/frosinone-ufficiale-l-arrivo-del-centrocampista-justin-ferizaj-149460/ |access-date=22 August 2023 |website=Gazzetta Regionale |language=it-IT}} He was initially assigned to their Under-19 (Primavera) squad.
International career
Ferizaj is eligible to represent either the Republic of Ireland or Albania.{{Cite web |date=22 August 2023 |title=Frosinone: arriva il centrocampista 18enne Ferizaj |url=https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/sport/calcio/2023/08/22/frosinone-arriva-il-centrocampista-18enne-ferizaj_81b280b1-cf4f-477d-bf52-eeb08c7adebd.html |access-date=22 August 2023 |website=ANSA |language=it-IT}} He has represented the Republic of Ireland at youth international level.{{WorldFootball|justin-ferizaj}}
Career statistics
{{updated|matches played 5 June 2023}}{{Soccerway|justin-ferizaj/793066}}
| 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|National Cup {{efn|Includes FAI Cup & Coppa Italia}} !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Shamrock Rovers
|2022 |5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League qualification, two appearances in UEFA Europa League qualification, and five appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| 2023
|LOI Premier Division |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0{{efn|Appearances in the UEFA Champions League & UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Leinster Senior Cup}} | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 1 | |
| Frosinone
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan=3|Career total
!9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 1 |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Frosinone Calcio squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferizaj, Justin}}
Category:Association footballers from Dublin (city)
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:Irish people of Albanian descent
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. players
Category:Frosinone Calcio players
Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy