Art Smakaj

Art Smakaj

Personal information
Date of birth	(2003-02-04) 4 February 2003 (age 22)
Place of birth	Zagreb, Croatia
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) [1]
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	LASK
Number	5
Youth career
0000–2013	Dinamo Zagreb
2013–2016	Trnje
2016–2022	Lokomotiva
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2025	Lokomotiva	74	(3)
2025–	LASK	6	(0)
International career‡
2021	Kosovo U19	2	(0)
2022–	Kosovo U21	11	(0)
2024–	Kosovo	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13 September 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 5 June 2024

Art Smakaj (born 4 February 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Austrian Bundesliga club LASK. Born in Croatia, he represents Kosovo at international level.

Club career

On 11 December 2021, Smakaj was named as a Lokomotiva substitute for the first time in a Croatian First League match against Hajduk Split. ^[2] His debut with Lokomotiva came on 26 February 2022 in a 2–0 home win against Gorica after being named in the starting line-up. ^[3]

International career

Under-19

On 30 September 2021, Smakaj was named as part of the Kosovo U19 squad for UEFA Euro 2022 qualifications. ^[4] Six days later, he made his debut with Kosovo U19 in the match against Norway U19 after being named in the starting line-up. ^[5]

Under-21

On 30 May 2022, Smakaj received a call-up from Kosovo U21 for the UEFA Euro 2023 qualification matches against Andorra U21, England U21 and Albania U21. ^[6] His debut with Kosovo U21 came on 4 June in the UEFA Euro 2023 qualification match against Andorra after coming on as a substitute at 74th minute in place of Qëndrim Zyba. ^[7]

Senior

On 30 May 2024, Smakaj received a call-up from Kosovo for a friendly match against Norway, ^[8] and made his debut after coming on as a substitute at 78th minute in place of Lindon Emërllahu. ^[9]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 13 September 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Lokomotiva	2021–22	Croatian Football League	3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
	2022–23	Croatian Football League	13	0	1	0	—		—		14	0
	2023–24	Croatian Football League	26	1	4	0	—		—		30	1
	2024–25	Croatian Football League	32	2	2	0	—		—		34	2
	Total		74	3	7	0	—		—		81	3
LASK	2025–26	Austrian Bundesliga	6	0	2	1	0	0	—		8	1
Career total			80	3	9	1	0	0	0	0	89	4

International

As of match played 5 June 2024

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Kosovo	2024	1	0
Total		1	0

References

1. Art Smakaj at WorldFootball.net
2. "Lokomotiva Zagreb vs. Hajduk Split 3–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
3. "Lokomotiva–Gorica 2:0" (in Croatian). NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. 26 February 2022.
4. "Lista e futbollistëve të Kombëtares U19 për kualifikimet e Evropianit" [List of footballers of the national U19 team for the European qualifications] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 September 2021.
5. "Norway U19 vs. Kosovo U19 3–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
6. Kosovan Football [@kosovanfooty_EN] (30 May 2022). "This is Albert Bunjaku's #Kosova U21 squad for the upcoming #EuroU21 qualifiers!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
7. "Andorra U21 vs. Kosovo U21 0–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
8. "Smakaj dhe Abdullahu – Kush janë dy futbollistët e ftuar për herë të parë te Përfaqësuesja e Kosovës" [Smakaj and Abdullahu – Who are the two footballers invited for the first time to the Kosovo national team] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 30 May 2024.
9. "Smakaj debuton te Kosova" [Smakaj debuts in Kosovo] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 5 June 2024.

External links

• Art Smakaj at Soccerway.com
• Art Smakaj at WorldFootball.net
• Art Smakaj at kicker (in German)