Meritan Shabani
{{short description|German footballer (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Meritan Shabani
| image = 2019147183154 2019-05-27 Fussball 1.FC Kaiserslautern vs FC Bayern München - Sven - 1D X MK II - 0274 - B70I8573 (Shabani).jpg
| caption = Shabani with Bayern Munich in 2019
| full_name = Meritan Shabani{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/1697050 |title=Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists |publisher=Premier League |date=26 June 2020 |accessdate=12 July 2020}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|3|15|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/269463/meritan-shabani |title=Meritan Shabani: Overview |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=12 July 2020}}
| birth_place = Munich, Germany
| position = Attacking midfielder
| currentclub = Grasshoppers
| clubnumber = 37
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2006
| youthclubs1 = FC Phönix Schleißheim
| youthyears2 = 2006–2018
| youthclubs2 = Bayern Munich
| years1 = 2017–2019
| clubs1 = Bayern Munich II
| caps1 = 31
| goals1 = 6
| years2 = 2018–2019
| clubs2 = Bayern Munich
| caps2 = 2
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2019–2022
| clubs3 = Wolverhampton Wanderers
| caps3 = 0
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2021
| clubs4 = → VVV-Venlo (loan)
| caps4 = 5
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2022–2024
| clubs5 = Grasshoppers
| caps5 = 31
| goals5 = 3
| years6 = 2024–2025
| clubs6 = Gorica
| caps6 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2018
| nationalteam1 = Germany U20
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| pcupdate = 15 September 2024
| ntupdate = 09:02, 14 September 2020 (UTC)
}}
Meritan Shabani (born 15 March 1999) is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for HNL club HNK Gorica.
Club career
=Bayern Munich=
In the 2017–18 season, Shabani joined the squad of Bayern Munich II.{{cite web |title=Meritan Shabani » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/meritan-shabani/2/ |publisher=World Football |accessdate=10 September 2018}} On 27 October 2017, he made his debut in the Regionalliga Bayern in a 1–1 home draw against FV Illertissen after coming on as a substitute in the 82nd minute for Fabian Benko.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldfootball.net/report/regionalliga-bayern-2017-2018-bayern-muenchen-ii-fv-illertissen/ |title=Bayern München II – FV Illertissen 1:1 (Regionalliga Bayern 2017/2018, 18. Round) |website=WorldFootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |date=27 October 2017 |access-date=28 April 2018}}
On 28 April 2018, Shabani made his Bundesliga debut for the first team in a 4–1 home win against Eintracht Frankfurt, starting the match before being substituted off in the 56th minute for Thiago.{{cite web |url=https://telegrafi.com/bayern-munich-eintracht-frankfurt-formacionet-startuese-talent-shqiptari-starton-te-bavarezet/ |title=Bayern Munich – Eintracht Frankfurt: Formacionet startuese, talenti shqiptari starton te bavarezët |trans-title=Bayern Munich – Eintracht Frankfurt: Starting formations, Albanian talent starts with Bavarians |language=Albanian |publisher=Telegrafi |date=28 April 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://telegrafi.com/rezervistet-e-bayernit-mposhtin-thelle-eintracht-frankfurtin-shabani-luan-56-minuta-per-bavarezet/ |title='Rezervistët' e Bayernit mposhtin thellë Eintracht Frankfurtin, Shabani luan 56 minuta për Bavarezët |trans-title=The reservists of Bayern defeats Eintracht Frankfurt, Shabani plays 56 minutes for Bavarians |language=Albanian |publisher=Telegrafi |date=28 April 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.worldfootball.net/report/bundesliga-2017-2018-bayern-muenchen-eintracht-frankfurt/ |title=Bayern München – Eintracht Frankfurt 4:1 (Bundesliga 2017/2018, 32. Round) |website=WorldFootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |date=28 April 2018 |access-date=28 April 2018}} On 9 May 2018, Shabani signed his first professional contract with Bayern, lasting two years until 30 June 2020.{{cite news |url=https://fcbayern.com/de/news/2018/05/nachwuchsspieler-shabani-unterschreibt-profivertrag |title=Nachwuchsspieler Shabani unterschreibt Profivertrag |trans-title=Youth player Shabani signs professional contract |website=FCBayern.com |publisher=FC Bayern München AG |date=9 May 2018 |access-date=9 May 2018 |language=German}}
Shabani scored his first goal for the reserve team on 5 August 2018, scoring the second goal of the match in the 45th minute of the 2–0 home win against FV Illertissen.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldfootball.net/report/regionalliga-bayern-2018-2019-bayern-muenchen-ii-fv-illertissen/ |title=Bayern München II – FV Illertissen 2:0 (Regionalliga Bayern 2018/2019, 5. Round) |website=WorldFootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |date=5 August 2018 |access-date=5 August 2018}}
=Wolverhampton Wanderers=
On 8 August 2019, Shabani signed a three-year contract with Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolves reportedly paid a €1.5 million transfer fee.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49286811|title=Wolves: Bayern Munich midfielder Shabani arrives at Molineux|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 August 2019|access-date=9 August 2019}} He made his Wolves debut as a substitute on 25 September 2019 against Reading in the 2019–20 EFL Cup third round but was stretchered off injured after less than ten minutes being on the pitch.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49736851|title=Wolves 1–1 Reading (4–2 pens): Home side win dramatic penalty shootout|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 September 2019|access-date=26 September 2019}} On 27 September 2019, it was confirmed that Shabani had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, requiring surgery and lengthy rehabilitation, and was therefore likely to miss the rest of the 2019–20 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/09/27/wolves-boss-nuno-confirms-meritan-shabani-acl-injury-before-watford-test/|title=Wolves boss Nuno confirms Meritan Shabani ACL injury before Watford test|publisher=Express & Star|date=27 September 2019}}
==Loan at VVV-Venlo==
On 1 February 2021, Shabani signed for Eredivisie side VVV-Venlo for the remainder of the season,{{cite web|url=https://www.vvv-venlo.nl/nl/vvv-venlo/nieuws/middenvelder_shabani_van_wolves_naar_venlo|title=Shabani van 'Wolves' naar VVV|publisher=VVV-Venlo|date=1 February 2021|language=nl}} and a possible extension for the next season.{{cite web|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/under-23/20210201-shabani-heads-out-on-loan/|title=Shabani heads out on loan|publisher=Wolves|date=1 February 2021}}
=Grasshoppers=
On 7 July 2022, Shabani signed a two-year contract with Swiss Super League club Grasshoppers, along with his Wolves teammate Renat Dadashov.{{Cite web |title=GC Zurich sign Shabani and Dadashov |url=https://www.gcz.ch/en/news/news/article/gc-zurich-sign-shabani-and-dadashov/ |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=www.gcz.ch |language=en}} He made his debut on 24 July 2022, Grasshopper's first game of the season, coming on in the last minute of regular time.{{Cite web |publisher=Grasshopper Club Zurich |title=GC - LUG (24.07.2022) |url=https://www.gcz.ch/saison/spielplaene/credit-suisse-super-league/spieldetail/action/report/match/3917/ |date=2022-07-24 |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=www.gcz.ch |language=en}} He received his first starting lineup nomination on 13 August 2023, in a 2–2 away draw against FC Sion.{{Soccerway}} He did not have an easy start at his new club, being allowed to only start in one more game before the winter break. After the break, he began to start more regularly, being nominated four times in a row. He repaid this trust with his first goal on 18 March 2023, scoring the opener in a 1–2 away victory against FC Sion.{{Cite web |publisher=Grasshopper Club Zurich |title=SIEG IM WALLIS |url=https://www.gcz.ch/news/artikel/1/sieg-im-wallis/ |date=2023-03-18 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=www.gcz.ch |language=de}}
On 7 October 2023, during a match against Yverdon-Sport, he suffered an injury to his cruciate ligament just nine minutes after coming on, effectively sidelining him for the remainder of the season.{{cite web|publisher=Grasshopper Club Zürich|url=https://www.gcz.ch/en/news/article/17/end-of-the-season-for-meritan-shabani/|title=End of season for Meritan Shabani|date=10 October 2023|access-date=11 October 2023}} Having played just five games in the 2023–24 season, he departed Grasshoppers following the end of his contract.{{cite news|url=https://www.gcz.ch/en/news/article/1/first-sessions-in-crans-montana/|title=First Sessions in Crans-Montana|language=en|publisher=Grasshopper Club Zürich|date=2 July 2024|access-date=2 July 2024}}
=HNK Gorica=
On 15 September 2024, he signed with HNK Gorica, in the Croatian Football League.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}
International career
In November 2016, Shabani received a call-up from Germany national under-18 team for a training camp with two friendly matches against the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands, remaining unused on the bench in both matches.{{cite web |url=https://fcbayern.com/de/news/2016/11/sechs-fcb-talente-beim-dfb-021116 |title=Sechs FCB-Talente für DFB-Teams nominiert |trans-title=Six FCB talents nominated for DFB teams |website=FCBayern.com |publisher=FC Bayern München AG |date=2 November 2016 |access-date=9 May 2018 |language=German}} In 2018, Shabani played twice in the 2018–19 Under 20 Elite League for Germany U20s.{{DFB}}
Personal life
Shabani was born in Munich, Bavaria, Germany to Kosovar parents from Shtime.{{cite news |url=http://www.albinfo.ch/meritan-shabani-vazhdon-kontraten-me-bayern-munich/ |title=Meritan Shabani vazhdon kontratën me Bayern Munich |trans-title=Meritan Shabani continues contract with Bayern Munich |quote=I lindur më 15 mars të vitit 1999 në Munih nga prindër kosovarë nga qyteti i Shtimes |language=Albanian |website=AlbInfo |date=9 May 2018 |access-date=9 May 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://gazetablic.com/e-jashtezakonshme-super-talenti-kosovar-ne-banken-rezerve-sot-tek-bayerni-foto/ |title=E jashtëzakonshme: Super talenti kosovar në bankën rezervë sot tek Bayerni (Foto) |trans-title=Extraordinary: Kosovan super talent at reserve bench today at Bayern (Photo) |quote=Talenti nga fshati Vojnoc i Komunës së Shtimes |language=Albanian |website=Gazeta Blic |date=18 March 2018 |access-date=28 April 2018}}
Career statistics
{{updated|15 September 2024|}}
| 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 !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Bayern Munich II
|rowspan="2"|Regionalliga Bayern |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="4"|— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19
|26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance in the 2018–19 Regionalliga promotion play-offs}} | 0 | 27 | 6 | ||
| 2019–20
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="4"|— | 3 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!31 | 6 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 32 | 6 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Bayern Munich
|rowspan="2"|Bundesliga |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="4"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19
|1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="4"|— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="4"|— | 3 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="4" |Wolverhampton Wanderers
| rowspan="3" |Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in the EFL Cup}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2020–21
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|Appearances in EFL Trophy with Wolverhampton Wanderers U23}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2021–22
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="2" |Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| VVV-Venlo (loan)
|5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | colspan="4"|— | 7 | 1 | ||||
| rowspan=3|Grasshoppers
|rowspan=2|Swiss Super League |26 | 3 | 3 | 0 | colspan="4"|— | 29 | 3 | ||||
| 2023–24 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=4|— | 5 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2" |Total
!31 | 3 | 3 | 0 | colspan="4" |— | 34 | 3 | ||||
| Gorica
|HNL |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="4"|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!72 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 87 | 11 |
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway}}
- {{DFB}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shabani, Meritan}}
Category:Footballers from Munich
Category:German men's footballers
Category:Germany men's youth international footballers
Category:German people of Kosovan descent
Category:German expatriate men's footballers
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland
Category:Kosovan men's footballers
Category:Kosovan expatriate men's footballers
Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:FC Bayern Munich II players
Category:FC Bayern Munich footballers
Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:Swiss Super League players
Category:Grasshopper Club Zurich players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands