Andi Ribaj

Andi Ribaj

Personal information
Date of birth	(1989-11-21) 21 November 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth	Vlorë, Albania
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
2002–2008	Apolonia Fier
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2013	Apolonia	83	(12)
2013–2014	Skënderbeu	42	(8)
2015–2015	Apolonia	17	(6)
2015–2016	Maccabi Kiryat Gat	29	(1)
2016–2017	Teuta	26	(4)
2017–2018	Vllaznia	31	(5)
2018–2023	Flamurtari	74	(12)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 May 2023

Andi Ribaj (born 21 November 1989) is an retired Albanian professional footballer who played as a striker. ^[1]

Club career

In August 2013, Ribaj joined Skënderbeu on a two-year contract. ^[2]

In January 2015, Ribaj made his return to Apolonia after one-and-a-half season by signed a six-month contract. ^[3] He debuted for the first time after his return in the last day of the same month, starting and playing full-90 minutes in a 2–0 loss against Partizani. ^[4]

On 3 August 2015, Ribaj moved for the first time abroad as he signed a three-year deal with Liga Leumit side Maccabi Kiryat Gat. ^[5] He made his debut for the club on 21 August in the opening league match against Maccabi Ahi Nazareth, ^[6] and scored his first goal three weeks later during the 1–2 home defeat to Hapoël Rishon LeZion. ^[7] That was his only strike of the season, as he appeared in 29 league matches, in addition one cup match.

In September 2016, he was bought on trial by fellow Albanian Superliga club Partizani, ^[8] playing a friendly match for reserve team against Dinamo Tirana. ^[8] However, he was not offered a contract by the technical staff after failing impressing, ^[9] and eventually ended up by penning a one-year contract with other top flight club Teuta. ^[10]

Ribaj made his official debut on 12 October against his former side Skënderbeu, failing to score as Teuta slumped into a 1–0 away defeat. ^[11] He scored his maiden Teuta goal later on 30 November in the matchday 13 against Flamurtari, netting his team's only goal in an eventual 1–2 home defeat. ^[12] Then, he scored a brace in the 0–2 away win at Laçi to give Teuta three important points against the survival relegations rivals. ^[13] Ribaj finished the season with 4 goals in 26 league appearances, collecting 1300 on the field as Teuta secured another season in the Albanian Superliga. He left the team after the end of the season. ^[14]

In September 2017, Ribaj was close to a move to Kastrioti of Albanian First Division, ^[15] but eventually joined Vllaznia in top flight on a one-year contract. ^[16] He ended a barren run of 14 league games without a goal for Vllaznia on 16 December 2017, when he headed in against Kamza at Loro Boriçi Stadium to give the home side a 1–0 lead. The match finished 3–2 for Vllaznia. ^[17]

Ribaj concluded his first and only season in Shkodër by scoring 5 goals in 31 league appearances, as Vllaznia was relegated for the first time in 60 years, just one year before the club's 100 anniversary. ^[18]

In September 2018, Ribaj remained in top flight, signing a contract with Flamurtari. ^[19] He scored his first goal for the club later on 17 February 2019 in a 2–0 home win over Skënderbeu. ^[20]

Career statistics

As of 17 February 2019 ^{[1] [21] [22]}

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Apolonia	2009–10	Albanian Superliga	19	1	0	0	—		—		19	1
	2010–11	Albanian First Division	13	2	0	0	—		—		13	2
	2011–12	Albanian Superliga	25	1	5	4	—		1 [a]	2	31	7
	2012–13		26	8	3	2	—		—		27	10
	Total		83	12	8	6	—		1	2	92	20
Skënderbeu	2013–14	Albanian Superliga	31	8	6	0	2 [b]	1	1 [c]	0	40	9
	2014–15		11	0	4	4	2 [d]	0	1 [c]	0	18	4
	Total		42	8	10	4	4	1	2	0	58	13
Apolonia	2014–15	Albanian Superliga	17	6	2	1	—		—		19	7
Maccabi Kiryat Gat	2015–16	Liga Leumit	29	1	1	0	—		—		30	1
Teuta	2016–17	Albanian Superliga	26	4	5	0	—		—		31	4
Vllaznia	2017–18	Albanian Superliga	31	5	4	1	—		—		35	6
Flamurtari	2018–19	Albanian Superliga	10	1	1	0	—		—		11	1
Career total			238	37	31	12	4	1	3	2	276	52

1. Appearance in Albanian Superliga play-offs
2. All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
3. Appearance in Albanian Supercup
4. All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Club

Skënderbeu Korçë ^[1]

• Albanian Superliga: 2013–14
• Albanian Supercup: 2013, 2014

References

1. "Albania - A. Ribaj - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
2. "Firmos Muzaka, por largohet Kërçiku. Andi Ribaj zyrtarizon kontratën me Skënderbeun" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
3. "Apolonia, tripletë në merkato" [Apolonia, treble in transfer market] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
4. "Apolonia Fier vs. Partizani Tirana 0 – 2". Soccerway. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
5. "החלוץ האלבני אנדי ריבאז' חתם בקרית גת" (in Hebrew). Sport5.co.il. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
6. "Ironi Kiryat Gat vs. Maccabi Ahi Nazareth 1 – 2". Soccerway. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
7. "Ironi Kiryat Gat vs. Hapoel Rishon LeZion 1 – 2". Soccerway. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
8. "Andi Ribaj në provë te Partizani, në lojë edhe Mazrekaj" [Andi Ribaj on trial at Partizani, on game even Mazrekaj] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
9. "Andi Ribaj si meteor, provohet e largohet nga Partizani" [Andi Ribaj like an meteor, comes on trial and leaves] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
10. "U bashkua me Partizanin, përfundon te Teuta" [Joined Partizani, ends up at Teuta] (in Albanian). Newsport.al. 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
11. "Teuta me përforcim të ri në sulm, Ribaj debuton ndaj ish-ekipit në Korçë" [Teuta with a new inforcment on attack, Ribaj debuted against his former team in Korçë] (in Albanian). Newsport.al. 13 October 2016. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
12. "Teuta Durrës vs. Flamurtari Vlorë 1 – 2". Soccerway. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
13. "Dy herë Ribaj, Teuta mund Laçin dhe del nga zona e ftohtë (Video)" [Ribaj twice, Teuta beats Laçi and gets out of the cold zone] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
14. "Lëvizje te Teuta, largohet dyshja e sulmit" [Movements at Teuta, the forward duo leaves] (in Albanian). Sportal.al. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
15. Bujar Balliu (4 September 2017). "Kastrioti nuk ndalet, Ribaj goditja e merkatos" [Kastrioti doesn't stop, Ribaj the mercato hit] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
16. "Afrimi që mbylli merkaton, Ribaj: Nuk e refuzoja dot Vllazninë" [The approach that ended mercato, Ribaj: I couldn't refuse Vllaznia] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
17. "Vuajtje pa fund, por Vllaznia ringjallet" [Endless suffering, but Vllaznia resurrected] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
18. "Goleada më e hidhur në histori, Vllaznia bie nga kategoria!" [The bitterest goal fest in history, Vllaznia relegated!] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
19. "EKSKLUZIVE/ Flamurtari godet në merkato, ish-sulmuesi i VLLAZNISË firmos në Vlorë" [Exclusive/ Flamurtari strikes in transfer market, ex-Vllaznia forward signs in Vlora] (in Albanian). Newsport.al. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
20. "VIDEO/ Flamurtari triumfon ndaj Skënderbeut, Oto Xhon "djeg" korçarët" [Video/ Flamurtari prevails versus Skënderbeu, Otto John “burns” korçarët] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
21. "Andi Ribaj : Football Database". Football Database. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
22. "Andi Ribaj FSHF". FSHF.org. Retrieved 17 December 2017.

External links

• Andi Ribaj at the Albanian Football Association (in Albanian and English)
• Andi Ribaj at Soccerway