Rezart Rama
{{short description|Albanian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Rezart Rama
| fullname =
| image = File:Rezart Rama.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Rama in 2025
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|12|4|df=y}}
| birth_place = Athens, Greece
| height = 1.85m
| position = Centre-back, Right-back
| currentclub = Forge FC
| clubnumber = 24
| youthyears1 = 2010–2019
| youthclubs1 = Olympiacos
| youthyears2 = 2019–2021
| youthclubs2 = Nottingham Forest
| years1 = 2021–2022
| clubs1 = Nottingham Forest
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2021
| clubs2 = → Truro City (loan)
| caps2 = 1
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2022–2023
| clubs3 = Forge FC
| caps3 = 45
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2024
| clubs4 = Egnatia
| caps4 = 18
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2025–
| clubs5 = Forge FC
| caps5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2015–2016
| nationalteam1 = Albania U17
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2017–2018
| nationalteam2 = Albania U19
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| medaltemplates =
| pcupdate = 28 January 2025
| ntupdate = 20 May 2022
}}
Rezart Rama (born 4 December 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Canadian club Forge FC. Born in Greece, he has represented Albania at youth international levels.
Early life
Rama was born in Athens, Greece, and grew up in neighbouring Piraeus.{{Cite web|url=https://diasporashqiptare.al/2022/05/31/futbollisti-shqiptar-debuton-kete-te-shtune-ne-ligen-kanadeze/|title=Futbollisti shqiptar debuton këtë të shtunë në ligën kanadeze|trans-title=The Albanian footballer debuts this Saturday in the Canadian league|language=Albanian|date=31 May 2022|work=Diaspora Shqiptare}} He developed in the academy of Olympiacos from 2010 to 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insauga.com/forge-fc-bring-former-nottingham-forest-defender-rezart-rama-to-hamilton/|title=Forge FC bring former Nottingham Forest defender Rezart Rama to Hamilton|date=19 May 2022|work=InSauga}} where he scored two goals in 23 appearances for the Olympiacos U19 in 2018–19.{{Cite web|url=https://southern-football-league.co.uk/news/129253/Forest-Defender-Loaned-to-Truro/|title=Forest Defender Loaned to Truro|date=14 September 2019|first=Steve|last=Whitney|work=Southern Football League}}
Club career
=Nottingham Forest=
In 2019, Rama joined the Nottingham Forest youth system,{{cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.news/2022/04/27/nottingham-forest-talent-rezi-rama-hints-at-city-ground-departure/|title='Last dance': Nottingham Forest youngster suggests he's leaving the CG on Instagram|date=27 April 2022|first=Lee|last=Clarke|work=Nottingham Forest News}} featuring extensively with the U19 team in 2019,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.news/2019/10/23/nottingham-forest-rezart-rama/|title=Could academy ace Rezart Rama earn Nottingham Forest chance during 2019/20?|date=23 October 2019|first=Lee|last=Clarke|work=Nottingham Forest News}} before moving up to the U23 team in the Premier League 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/09/13/do-is-rezart-rama-set-to-make-his-nottingham-forest-debut/|title=Is Rezart Rama set to make his Nottingham Forest debut?|first=Danny|last=Owen|work=HITC|date=13 September 2019}} He made his first team debut for Nottingham Forest in a 2021 pre-season friendly on 10 July against Alfreton Town.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thecityground.com/player.php?player_name=Rezart%20Rama|title=Rezart Rama profile|work=The City Ground}} In September 2021, he went on loan to Southern Premier League South side Truro City.{{cite web |title=Defender Rama Joins on Loan |url=https://www.trurocityfc.net/news/defender-rama-joins-on-loan-2647605.html |publisher=Truro City F.C. |access-date=21 May 2022 |date=14 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.football-addict.com/en/article/non-league/forest-defender-rama-heads-to-truro-city/6141d07cc976e80008b11765|title=Forest defender Rama heads to Truro City|date=15 September 2021|work=Football Addict}} After returning to Forest that season, he went on to make fifteen appearances in Premier League 2, before being released.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.news/2022/05/22/nottingham-forest-youngster-rezart-rama-signs-for-canadian-outfit/|title=Released Nottingham Forest 21-year-old wins contract miles away from the City Ground|date=22 May 2022|first=Lee|last=Clarke|work=Nottingham Forest News}}
=First spell at Forge FC=
On 19 May 2022, Rama signed with Canadian Premier League side Forge FC.{{cite web |title=Forge FC Sign Defender Rezart Rama |url=https://forgefc.canpl.ca/article/forge-fc-sign-defender-rezart-rama |publisher=Forge FC |access-date=20 May 2022 |date=19 May 2022}} He made his professional debut as a starter the following day in a 4–0 win over HFX Wanderers.{{cite web|url=https://forgefc.canpl.ca/article/forge-fc-hands-hfx-an-historic-loss-at-wanderers-grounds|title=Forge FC hands HFX an historic loss at Wanderers Grounds|date=20 May 2022|work=Forge FC}}
On 23 September 2023, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 victory over Pacific FC.{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/forge-fc-hop-pacific-to-move-into-second-place|title=Match Analysis: Forge FC hop Pacific to move into second place; gain key ground in playoff seeding race|date=23 September 2023|first=Mitchell|last=Tierney|work=Canadian Premier League}} In October of the same year, he helped Forge win their fourth league title, following a 2–1 win over Cavalry FC in the play-off final.{{cite web |last1=Wharnsby |first1=Tim |date=28 October 2023 |title=Borges scores 'Olimpico' goal as Forge FC completes comeback to win 4th CPL title |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/cpl/canadian-premier-league-final-recap-forge-fc-cavalry-fc-oct-28-1.7011859 |access-date=29 October 2023 |website=CBC}}{{Cite web |last=Tierney |first=Mitchell |date=28 October 2023 |title=Highlights + Analysis: Forge wins 2023 North Star Cup, defeating Cavalry to lift fourth playoff crown (Oct. 28, 2023) |url=https://onesoccer.ca/a/highlights-analysis-forge-wins-2023-north-star-cup-defeating-cavalry-to-lift-fourth-playoff-crown-oct-28-2023 |access-date=29 October 2023 |website=OneSoccer}}
=Egnatia=
On 17 January 2024, Rama joined Albanian side Egnatia on a free transfer, signing a two-year-and-a-half contract with the club.{{Cite web |last=Jacques |first=John |date=17 January 2024 |title=Forge Re-Signs Trio Of Sigma Grads, But Rama's Out |url=https://northerntribune.ca/forge-fc-trio-sign-rama-depart/ |access-date=18 January 2024 |website=Northern Tribune}}{{Cite web |date=17 January 2024 |title=Egnatia nënshkruan me ish-mbrojtësin e Nottingham Forest |url=https://kosovapress.com/admin/egnatia-nenshkruan-me-ish-mbrojtesin-e-nottingham-forest/|trans-title=Egnatia signed the former Nottingham Forest defender|access-date=18 January 2024 |website=Kosova Press |language=sq}}
=Second spell at Forge FC=
On 28 January 2025, Rama returned to Canada, signing a multi-year contract with Forge FC.{{cite web |title=Two-time CPL champion Rezart Rama returns to Forge FC on multi-year deal |url=https://canpl.ca/article/two-time-cpl-champion-rezart-rama-returns-to-forge-fc-on-multi-year-deal |publisher=Canadian Premier League |access-date=28 January 2025 |date=28 January 2025}}
International career
Rama played for the Albanian U17 team in 2015 and 2016 and the U19 team in 2017 and 2018.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/forge-fc-rezart-rama/|title=Forge Adds Albanian-Greek Defender Rezart Rama|date=19 May 2022|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} He also served as captain of both teams.{{cite web|url=https://insporti.com/zyrtare-talenti-shqiptar-nenshkruan-me-klubin-e-njohur-anglez-foto/|title=Zyrtare: Talenti shqiptar nënshkruan me klubin e njohur anglez|trans-title=Official: Albanian talent signs with the famous English club|date=23 August 2019|language=Albanian|work=Insporti}}
Career statistics
{{updated|28 January 2025}}{{Soccerway|rezart-rama/427014}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Club statistics | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|Domestic Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Nottingham Forest
|0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| Truro City (loan)
|1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan=3|Forge FC
|2022 |rowspan=2|Canadian Premier League |19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2Includes appearance(s) in both the 2020 Canadian Championship, which was held in 2022, and the 2022 Canadian Championship | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2023
|26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!45 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 1 | |
| rowspan=3|Egnatia
|rowspan=2|Kategoria Superiore |11 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25
|7 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!64 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 78 | 1 |
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
;Forge FC
;Egnatia
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|rezart-rama/427014}}
{{Forge FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rama, Rezart}}
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Albanian men's footballers
Category:Greek men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Piraeus
Category:Albanian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Greek expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Greek expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Canada
Category:Greek expatriate sportspeople in Canada
Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players
Category:Truro City F.C. players
Category:KF Egnatia Rrogozhinë players
Category:Southern Football League players
Category:Canadian Premier League players
Category:Kategoria Superiore players
Category:Albania men's youth international footballers