Benjamin Kololli

Benjamin Kololli

Kololli with Zürich in 2019
Personal information
Date of birth	(1992-05-15) 15 May 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Aigle, Switzerland
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Sion
Number	23
Youth career
0000	Bex
0000–2009	Monthey
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2011	Monthey	11	(6)
2011–2014	Sion U21	45	(11)
2013–2015	Sion	16	(2)
2014–2015	→ Le Mont (loan)	28	(6)
2015–2016	Biel-Bienne	17	(6)
2016	→ Young Boys (loan)	1	(0)
2016–2018	Lausanne-Sport	55	(18)
2018–2021	Zürich	78	(22)
2021–2024	Shimizu S-Pulse	28	(3)
2024	Basel	19	(2)
2025–	Sion	0	(0)
International career‡
2016–	Kosovo	23	(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 March 2021

Benjamin Kololli (born 15 May 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Swiss Super League club Sion. Born in Switzerland, he represents Kosovo national team.

Club career

Zürich

On 21 July 2018, Kololli signed a three-year contract with Swiss Super League club Zürich. ^[1] Seven days later, he made his debut in a 0–2 away win against Grasshoppers after coming on as a substitute at 70th minute in place of Marco Schönbächler. ^[2]

Shimizu S-Pulse

On 14 July 2021, Kololli signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with J1 League club Shimizu S-Pulse. ^[3] Nine days later, the club confirmed that Kololli's transfer was permanent and he received squad number 32. ^[4] On 18 August 2021, he made his debut with Shimizu S-Pulse in the 2021 Emperor's Cup fourth round against Kawasaki Frontale after coming on as a substitute at 46th minute in place of Keita Nakamura. ^[5]

At the end of the 2022 season, he and the club were relegated to the second division as second to last in the league table.

Basel

On 26 December 2023, FC Basel announced that they had signed Kololli on a free transfer and that he had signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, which contained an option for another year. ^[6]

Sion

On 27 December 2024, FC Sion announced the signing of Kololli, starting from 1 January 2025. ^[7]

International career

On 30 August 2016, Kololli received a call-up from Kosovo for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Finland. ^[8] On 12 November 2016, he made his debut with Kosovo in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification against Turkey after being named in the starting line-up. ^[9]

Personal life

Kololli was born in Aigle, Switzerland from Kosovan parents from Lipjan. ^[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of 18 August 2021 ^[11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Monthey	2011–12	Swiss 1. Liga	11	6	1	0	—		12	6
Sion U21			8	1	0	0	—		8	1
	2012–13	Swiss Promotion League	26	3	0	0	—		26	3
	2013–14		11	7	0	0	—		11	7
	Total		56	17	1	0	—		57	17
Sion	2012–13	Swiss Super League	7	2	0	0	—		7	2
	2013–14		9	0	2	0	—		11	0
Le Mont (loan)	2014–15	Swiss Challenge League	28	6	1	0	—		29	6
	Total		44	8	3	0	—		47	8
Biel-Bienne	2015–16	Swiss Challenge League	17	6	2	4	—		19	10
Young Boys (loan)	2015–16	Swiss Super League	1	0	0	0	—		1	0
	Total		18	6	2	4	—		20	10
Lausanne-Sport	2016–17	Swiss Super League	26	8	1	0	—		27	8
	2017–18		29	10	3	2	—		32	12
	Total		55	18	4	2	—		59	20
Zürich	2018–19	Swiss Super League	30	10	4	2	7	2	41	14
	2019–20		27	6	2	0	—		29	6
	2020–21		21	6	1	0	—		22	6
	Total		78	22	7	2	7	2	92	26
Shimizu S-Pulse	2021	J1 League	8	0	1	0	—		9	0
Career total			251	71	18	8	7	2	276	81

International

As of 31 March 2021 ^[12]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Kosovo
	2016	1	0
	2017	2	0
	2018	6	3
	2019	7	0
	2020	4	1
	2021	3	0
Total		23	4

International goals

As of 3 September 2020 ^[13]

Scores and results list Kosovo's goal tally first. ^[13]

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1.	11 October 2018 (2018-10-11)	Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo	Malta	1–0	3–1	2018–19 UEFA Nations League D	[14]
2.				3–1
3.	17 November 2018 (2018-11-17)	National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta		2–0	5–0		[15]
4.	3 September 2020 (2020-09-03)	Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma, Italy	Moldova	1–1	1–1	2020–21 UEFA Nations League C	[16]

Honours

Individual

• Swiss Super League Team of the Year: 2018–19, ^[17] 2020–21, ^[18]

References

1. "Der FC Zürich verpflichtet Benjamin Kololli" [FC Zurich commits Benjamin Kololli] (in German). FC Zürich. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
2. "Der FCZ gewinnt das Derby gegen GC mit 2:0" [The FCZ wins the derby against GC with 2:0] (in German). FC Zürich. 28 July 2017. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
3. David Barras [@david_barras] (14 July 2021). "Benjamin Kololli retrouve de l'embauche (et c'est plutôt original!): à 29 ans, l'offensif vaudois signe au... Japon à Shimizu S-Pulse, actuel 13e après 21 matchs. Contrat de 2 ans et demi. Il s'y rendra dès l'obtention de son visa (retardé avec le Covid)" [Benjamin Kololli is hiring again (and this is rather original!): At 29, the Vaudois offensive sign in... Japan at Shimizu S-Pulse, currently 13th after 21 games. 2.5 year contract. He will go there as soon as he obtains his visa (delayed with the Covid)] (Tweet) (in French) – via Twitter.
4. "ベンジャミン コロリ選手(FCチューリッヒ)　 完全移籍にて加入内定のお知らせ" [Benjamin Kololli (FC Zurich) announcement of official decision to join with complete transfer] (in Japanese). Shimizu S-Pulse. 23 July 2021.
5. "Kawasaki Frontale vs. Shimizu S-Pulse 2–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
6. FC Basel 1893 (26 December 2023). "Benjamin Kololli wechselt ablösefrei ans Rheinknie" [Benjamin Kololli is moving to the Rhine knee on a free transfer] (in Swiss High German). FC Basel 1893 AG. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
7. "Benjamin Kololli fait son retour au FC Sion" [Benjamin Kololli returns to FC Sion] (in French). FC Sion. 29 December 2024.
8. "Bunjaki publikoi listën e lojtarëve për ndeshjen me Finlandën" [Bunjaki published the list of players for the match with Finland] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 August 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
9. "Kosova pëson humbje nga Turqia, por shënon progres në lojë" [Kosovo suffered losses from Turkey, but marks progress in the game] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 12 November 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
10. "Benjamin Kololli nderohet nga kryetari i Lipjanit (FOTO)" [Benjamin Kololli is honored by the mayor of Lipjan (PHOTO)]. Gazeta Infokus (in Albanian). 28 August 2017.
11. Benjamin Kololli at Soccerway
12. "Benjamin Kololli". eu-football.info. 31 March 2021.
13. "Kololli, Benjamin". National Football Teams. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
14. "Kosovo (3–1) Malta". eu-football.info. 11 October 2018.
15. "Malta (0–5) Kosovo". eu-football.info. 17 November 2018.
16. "Moldova (1–1) Kosova". eu-football.info. 3 September 2020.
17. "Super League: Kevin Mbabu élu joueur de l'année". RTSSport.ch (in French). 28 January 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
18. "SAFP Golden 11 Winners 2020". Golden11. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2022.

External links

• Benjamin Kololli at Soccerway
• Benjamin Kololli at J.League ( archive ) (in Japanese)