Arlind Kalaja

Arlind Kalaja

Personal information
Full name	Arlind Kalaja
Date of birth	(1995-12-27) 27 December 1995 (age 28)
Place of birth	Shkodër, Albania
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Ljungskile
Number	7
Youth career
0000–2014	Vllaznia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2018	Vllaznia	118	(12)
2018–2019	Kukësi	15	(0)
2019	→ Kastrioti (loan)	12	(0)
2019–2020	Teuta	18	(3)
2020–2022	Vllaznia	29	(1)
2022–2023	Ljungskile	25	(0)
2023	Panelefsiniakos
2023–2024	Fostiras	13	(1)
2024–	Panionios	0	(0)
International career
2009	Albania U15	1	(0)
2011–2012	Albania U17	5	(0)
2013	Albania U19	5	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 December 2023

Arlind Kalaja (born 27 December 1995) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a winger ^[1] for Swedish club Ljungskile in the Ettan. ^[2]

Club career

Vllaznia Shkodër

Kalaja was promoted to Vllaznia's senior squad during the 2012–13 season, making his professional debut on 27 April 2013 by playing in the second half of the match lost at the hands of Besa Kavajë. ^[3]

Later in the next season, Kalaja did not play any match, featuring only once as an unused substitute in the 1–1 draw versus Tirana at Qemal Stafa Stadium. ^[4]

In March 2015, Kalaja underwent surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) by doctor Fausto Zanelli. ^[5] He remained sidelined for the next five months, only returning in action at the end of September, playing as substitute in the 1–0 home loss to Laçi in the 2015–16 Albanian Superliga matchday 5. ^[6]

On 26 July 2017, Kalaja agreed another contract extension, signing for the upcoming season. ^[7]

In the 2017–18 season, he made 30 league appearances, starting only 7, collecting 973 minutes, scoring 4 goals as Vllaznia was relegated for the first time in 60 years. ^[8] He went on saying that he was "persecuted" within the group, adding that he was left aside and was not given regular playing time. ^[9]

On 3 June 2018, Kalaja announced his departure from the club once his contract expired, finishing his spell with more than 100 appearances in all competitions. ^[10]

Kukësi

On 6 June 2018, Kalaja agreed personal terms and completed a transfer to Kukësi, penning a contract until June 2020. ^[11]

On 31 January 2019, on deadline day, Kalaja was loaned to Kastrioti Krujë until the end of 2018–19 season. ^[12]

Teuta Durrës

Ahead of the 2019/20 season, Kalaja joined KF Teuta Durrës on a two-year deal. ^[13]

International career

Kalaja has been a former Albania youth international, representing his country at under-15, -17 and -19 level.

Career statistics

As of 9 February 2019 ^[2]

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Vllaznia Shkodër	2012–13	Albanian Superliga	1	0	1	0	—		—		2	0
	2013–14		0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2014–15		20	2	6	0	—		—		26	2
	2015–16		29	4	4	1	—		—		33	5
	2016–17		23	0	4	0	—		—		27	0
	2017–18		30	4	4	1	—		—		34	5
	Total		103	10	19	2	—		—		122	12
Vllaznia Shkodër B	2017–18	Albanian First Division	0	0	0	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	1	0
Kukësi	2018–19	Albanian Superliga	12	0	3	0	0	0	—		15	0
Kastrioti Krujë (loan)	2018–19	Albanian Superliga	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
Career total			117	10	23	2	0	0	0	0	140	12

1. All appearance(s) in Albanian First Division play-out

References

1. Arlind Kalaja at WorldFootball.net
2. Arlind Kalaja at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
3. "Vllaznia Shkodër vs. Besa Kavajë 0 – 1". Soccerway. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
4. Adela Merko (8 December 2013). "Tirana dhe Vllaznia, barazim mes tensionit. Nikaj: Barazimi ishte rezultati më i drejtë" [Tirana and Vllaznia, a draw between tension. Nikaj: The draw was a fair result] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
5. "Kalaja përfundon në bisturi, 5 muaj jashtë fushave" [Kalaja ends up in scalpel, 5 months outside the fields] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
6. "Vllaznia Shkodër vs. Laçi 0 – 1". Soccerway. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
7. "Zyrtare, Kalaja rinovon me Vllazninë" [Official, Kalaja renew with Vllaznia] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
8. "Vllaznia bie nga Superiorja, mbijeton Kamza, Partizani pa Evropë (Video)" [Vllaznia relegated from Superliga, Kamza survives, Partizani without Europe (Video)] (in Albanian). Konica.al. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
9. "Kalaja: Sot firmos me Kukësin, Vllaznia më bllokoi të ardhmen" [Kalaja: Today I sign with Kukësi, Vllaznia blocked me the future] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
10. "Kalaja konfirmon ndarjen nga Vllaznia, këtë radhë pa polemika" [Kalaja confirms the separation from Vllaznia, this time without controversies] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
11. Alfred Lleshi (6 June 2018). "Arlind Kalaja firmos zyrtarisht për 2 vite me Kukësin" [Arlind Kalaja officially signs for 2 years with Kukësi] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
12. "Kastrioti "i vjedh" Kalajën Kukësit" [Kastrioti "steals" Kalaja from Kukësi] (in Albanian). Ora News. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
13. Një shkodran ikën, një vjen tek Teuta. Firmos Arlind Kalaja, shkodrasport.com, 15 June 2019

External links

• Arlind Kalaja at the Albanian Football Association (in Albanian and English)
• Arlind Kalaja – UEFA competition record ( archive )