Erion Hoxhallari

Erion Hoxhallari

Personal information
Date of birth	(1995-10-15) 15 October 1995 (age 28)
Place of birth	Korçë, Albania
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Left-back
Team information
Current team	Tirana
Number	28
Youth career
2007–2013	Tirana
2011	→ Grazer AK (loan)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2022	Tirana	229	(10)
2014–2015	→ Teuta Durrës (loan)	26	(0)
2018	→ Laçi (loan)	0	(0)
2022–2023	UTA Arad	26	(1)
2023–	Tirana	29	(1)
International career‡
2009	Albania U15	2	(0)
2011	Albania U17	2	(0)
2013	Albania U19	4	(0)
2013	Albania U20	5	(0)
2014–2016	Albania U21	12	(0)
2020–	Albania	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 October 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 June 2022

Erion Hoxhallari (born 15 October 1995) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Kategoria Superiore club Tirana.

Club career

Early career

Hoxhallari started his youth career at Tirana. On 1 July 2011 he was loaned out at Austrian side Grazer AK for a half season. ^[1]

Tirana

Hoxhallari made his professional debut for Tirana on 23 November 2011 in the cup tie against Apolonia, playing full-90 minutes in a 3–0 home win. ^[2] That was his first and only appearance of the 2011–12 season. Hoxhallari found more opportunities in the 2012–13 season, making his league debut on 13 April 2013 in a 2–1 deficit at Kukësi. ^[3] In the 2013–14 season, Hoxhallari continued to get limited opportunities, as he made only nine league appearances, eight of them as starter.

Loan to Teuta

On 29 August 2014, Hoxhallari was transferred to Teuta on a long season loan from Tirana along with Ardit Peposhi. ^[4] Initially Hoxhallari struggled to play as he did not leave the bench for the first four league matches. On 1 October, he made his debut by scoring the team's first goal of the 2–0 away win against Besëlidhja in the first leg of 2014–15 Albanian Cup first round. ^[5] Four days later Hoxhallari made his league debut in a 1–0 away defeat to Kukësi, playing full-90 minutes. ^[6] Following the debut, Hoxhallari established himself in the starting lineup, and went to play another 25 league matches until the end of the season as Teuta barely avoided the relegation to Kategoria e Parë. ^[7]

2015–16 season

On 1 June 2015, he returned in training with Tirana after the end of loan. ^[8] He made his first appearance of the season on 29 August in team's second league match of the season against Laçi, where he entered in the pitch on the last 15 minutes as Tirana found the equalizer in the very last moments. ^[9] With Shkëlqim Muça in charge, Hoxhallari was used mostly as a substitute, and during his tenure at the club, Hoxhallari played only one league match as a starter, the 2–0 home win against his previous side Teuta on 26 September. ^[10] With the arrival of the new coach Ilir Daja, ^[11] Hoxhallari become an undisputed starter and went to play as a started in every league game until the end of the season, as Tirana remained out of European competitions for the fourth straight season. ^[12] He was praised for his performances on the back and on 31 May was named one of the talents of the year. ^[13]

2016–17 season

On 14 July 2016, Hoxhallari agreed a contract extension with the club, signing until June 2018. ^[14] He scored his first league goal for Tirana on 6 November in the matchday 10 against his former side Teuta, contributing in a 3–1 home win. ^[15] Later on 10 March 2017, he scored a free kick as Tirana denied Skënderbeu the win. ^[16] During the course of 2016–17 season, he made 34 league appearances, scoring twice, and Tirana was relegated for the first time in history, finishing 9th. ^[17] He also scored once in 7 cup appearances in team's successful campaign, which saw them win the trophy for the 16th time, setting a new record. ^[18]

2017–18 season

Hoxhallari kicked off 2017–18 season by playing in the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round against Maccabi Tel Aviv. He played in both legs, also making his European debut in the process, as Tirana was eliminated 5–0 on aggregate. ^[19] Hoxhallari started the domestic season by playing in the 2017 Albanian Supercup against Kukësi on 6 September 2017, netting a 90th-minute winner via a shot outside the box as Tirana clinched their 11th Albanian Supercup trophy. ^[20] Tirana also set a record by becoming the Albanian First Division side to win the Supercup. ^[20]

Later on 13 December, in the second leg of 2017–18 Albanian Cup second round versus Vllaznia, Hoxhallari was sent-off with a direct red card following a brawl with Ardit Krymi who was sent off as well. Tirana lost 0–1 but progressed to quarter-finals after having won the first leg 2–0. ^[21] Two days later, he was suspended for the next two games by AFA. ^[22]

He concluded the season by making 21 league appearances as Tirana won the championship and gained promotion back to Kategoria Superiore. ^[23]

2018–19 season

On 6 June 2018, Hoxhallari signed a new two-year contract with the club. ^[24]

Five days after signing the new contract with Tirana, Hoxhallari was sent on loan at Laçi for the two Europa League matches versus Anorthosis Famagusta. ^[25] He took squad number 2, and made his debut in the first leg at Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium on 12 July, netting a first-half header to make it 1–0 for Laçi but in an eventual 1–2 defeat. ^[26] In the second leg, Hoxhallari earned praise for his performance as Laçi won 1–0 thanks to a late winner to ensure the progression to next round through away goal rule. ^[27] On 22 July, Laçi reached the agreement with Tirana to keep Hoxhallari for the next two Europa League matches. ^[28] He featured in both matches versus Norway's Molde as Laçi was knocked out of the competition 5–0 on aggregate. ^{[29] [30]}

International career

He has been a former Albania youth international, playing with under-15, U-17, U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels.

Albania U15

Hoxhallari received his first international level call-up aged 14 by coach Sulejman Demollari of the Albania under-15 squad, which were just founded in 2009 for participating in the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics (Football). ^{[31] [32]}

He made his under-15 debut on 17 October by featuring full-90 minutes in the match against Liechtenstein which ended in a 2–0 win. ^[33] Then the team advanced to the final where they faced Montenegro two days later, losing 1–2 as Hoxhallari played another full-90 minute match, missing their participation in the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics finals. ^[34]

Albania U20

Hoxhallari was called up at Albania national under-20 football team by coach Skënder Gega to participate in the 2013 Mediterranean Games football tournament which began on 19 June 2013 in Mersin, Turkey. ^{[35] [36]} Hoxhallari played in all 5 Albania U20s matches as full 90-minutes. Albania U20 was ranked in the last place out of 8 teams. ^{[37] [38] [39] [40] [41]}

Albania U21

Hoxhallari was called up for the first time in under-21 squad by the coach Skënder Gega for the qualifiers of the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where Albania was placed in the Group 4. ^[42] He made his competitive debut with the under-21 side on 28 March 2015 in team's first group match against Liechtenstein, playing in the second half in an eventual 2–0 away win. ^[43] Hoxhallari was called up by a new appointed coach, Redi Jupi, for the next qualifying matches against Israel and Portugal on 3 and 8 September 2015. ^[44] He played full-90 minutes in the 1–1 home draw against Israel, and was benched in the 1–6 home defeat against Portugal. ^{[45] [46]} On 28 March 2016, during the match against Hungary, Hoxhallari made a high-profile error which resulted in Hungary's only goal of the match, but Albania bounced back and scored twice inside of 10 minutes for a 2–1 home win. ^[47]

Albania national team

Hoxhallari made his international debut for Albania on 11 November 2020 in a friendly match against Kosovo. ^[48]

Career statistics

Club

As of 3 October 2023 ^{[49] [50]}

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Tirana	2011–12	Kategoria Superiore	0	0	1	0	—		—		1	0
	2012–13		5	0	0	0	—		—		5	0
	2013–14		9	0	0	0	—		—		9	0
	2015–16		32	0	5	0	—		—		37	0
	2016–17		34	2	7	1	—		—		41	3
	2017–18	Kategoria e Parë	21	1	5	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	1	29	2
	2018–19	Kategoria Superiore	32	0	8	1	—		—		40	1
	2019–20		30	1	5	1	—		—		35	2
	2020–21		33	5	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 3]	0	—		36	5
	2021–22		33	1	1	0	—		—		34	1
	Total		229	10	33	3	4	0	1	1	267	14
Teuta (loan)	2014–15	Kategoria Superiore	26	0	3	1	—		—		29	1
Laçi (loan)	2018–19	Kategoria Superiore	—		—		4 [lower-alpha 1]	1	—		4	1
UTA Arad	2022–23	Liga I	26	1	6	1	—		2 [lower-alpha 4]	0	34	2
Tirana	2023–24	Kategoria Superiore	6	0	0	0	4	0	—		10	0
Career total			287	11	42	5	12	1	3	1	344	18

1. All appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa League
2. All appearance(s) in the Albanian Supercup
3. One appearance in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
4. All appearances in Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs

International

As of 13 June 2022 ^[51]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Albania	2020	1	0
	2021	2	0
	2022	1	0
Total		4	0

Honours

Club

Tirana ^[49]

• Kategoria Superiore: 2019–20, 2021–22
• Kategoria e Parë: 2017–18
• Albanian Cup: 2011–12, 2016–17
• Albanian Supercup: 2012, 2017

Individual

• Kategoria Superiore Talent of the Season: 3rd in 2015–16 ^[13]
• Kategoria Superiore Team of the Season : 2020–21

References

1. "Erion Hoxhallari" (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
2. "Tirana vs. Apolonia Fier 3 – 0". Soccerway. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
3. "Kukësi vs. Tirana 2 – 1". Soccerway. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
4. "Teuta bën 5 goditje brenda ditës, Lika ka gati skarcimet" [Teuta makes 5 hits within the day] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
5. "Besëlidhja Lezhë vs. Teuta Durrës 0 – 2". Soccerway. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
6. "Kukësi mposht Teutën dhe merr kryesimin" [Kukësi defeats Teuta and takes the lead] (in Albanian). Illyria Press. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
7. "Teuta siguron mbiejtesën në fund të një prej sezoneve më të vështira të durrsakëve" [Teuta secures the survival at the end in one of the most difficult seasons for them] (in Albanian). Bulevardi Online. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
8. "Tirana nis sezonin e ri" [Tirana starts the new season] (in Albanian). Sportal.al. 22 June 2015. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
9. "Perla e Karabecit i jep një pikë Tiranës, ndaj Laçit mbyllet 1-1" [Karabeci's pearl gives Tirana one point, against Laçi it ends 1-1] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
10. "Tirana – Teuta 2–0" (in Albanian). KF Tirana. 26 September 2015. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
11. "Ilir Daja merr drejtimin e skuadrës së Tiranës" [Ilir Daja takes charge of Tirana team] (in Albanian). Gazeta Tema. 28 October 2015. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
12. "Katër sezone pa Europë, ja dështimet e Tiranës" [Four seasons without Europe, here are the Tirana failures] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
13. Olsi Karagjazi (31 May 2016). "Liridon Latifi shpallet "Talenti i Vitit"" [Liridon Latifi names “Talent of the Year”] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
14. "Erion Hoxhallari rinovon kontratën me dy sezone të tjera bardheblu" (in Albanian). KF Tirana. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
15. Sotir Kora (6 November 2016). "Josa e nis me fitore, Tirana mposht Teutën" [Josa starts with a win, Tirana defeats Teuta] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
16. Sotir Kora (6 November 2016). "VIDEO / Spektakël pa fitues, Tirana ndal Skënderbeun, "asist" Kukësit e Partizanit" [VIDEO / Spectacle without a winner, Tirana stops Skënderbeu, “assist” to Kukësi and Partizani] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
17. "Tragjike, Tirana bie nga kategoria" [Tragical, Tirana relegated from superliga] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. 27 May 2017. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
18. "Tirana fiton Kupën e Shqipërisë, sezoni 2016-2017" [Tirana wins Albanian Cup, 2016-2017 season] (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
19. "Tirana eliminohet nga Europa League" [Tirana eliminated from Europa League] (in Albanian). TV Klan. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
20. "Finalja e Superkupës, Tirana godet në fund" [Supercup final, Tirana strikes at the end] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
21. "Tirana kualifikohet në Shkodër për kupën" [Tirana qualifies in Shkodër for the cup]. ABC News (in Albanian). 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
22. "Erjon Hoxhallari denohet me dy ndeshje pezullim nga Disiplina" [Ejon Hoxhallari is suspended for two matches from Discipline] (in Albanian). kftirana.al. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
23. "VIDEO/ Dopieta e Grecës, Tirana mposht Kastriotin dhe shpallet kampione e Kategorisë së Parë" [VIDEO/ Greca's double, Tirana defeats Kastrioti and named Albanian First Division champion] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
24. "Erjon Hoxhallari rinovon kontraten bardheblu" [Erjon Hoxhallari renew the whiteblue contract] (in Albanian). kftirana.al. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
25. "Laçi gjen shpëtim te Tirana për krahun e majtë, është Hoxhallari" [Laçi find salvation at Tirana for the left flank, its Hoxhallari] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
26. "Laçi mban ende gjallë shpresat e kualifikimit, Bakaj shënon me ekipin bjellrus" [Laçi keeps the qualification hopes alive, Bakaj scores with Belarus team] (in Albanian). Lajme Sportive. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
27. "Laçi kualifikohet në Europa League, mposht Anorthosis" [Laçi qualifies in Europa League, defeats Anorthosis] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
28. "Konfirmohet, Erjon Hoxhallari mbetet bardhezi" [Confirmed, Erion Hoxhallari remains whiteblack] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
29. "Laçi thyhet keqazi në Norvegji, kualifikimi thuajse i pamundur" [Laçi loses badly in Norway, the qualification almost impossibile] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
30. "Laçi kapitullon pa kushte, mundet edhe në shtëpi" [Laçi capitulates without conditions, loses even at home] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
31. "FSHF krijon kombetaren U15" [AFA creates national team under-15] (in Albanian). Top Channel. 22 July 2009. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
32. "Kombetarja U-15 ne Zvicer per Lojrat Olimpike" [National team U15 in Switzerland for Olympic Games] (in Albanian). Futbolli Shqiptar. 16 October 2009. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
33. "Shqiperi-Lihtenshtein 2-0" [Albania-Liechtenstein 2-0] (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
34. "U-15 / Shqiperi - Mali i Zi 1-2" [U15 / Albania - Montenegro 1-2] (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
35. Lojërat Mesdhetare: Shqipëria merr pjesë me 75 sportistë (Lista e plotë) Archived 2016-05-13 at the Wayback Machine aSport.al
36. "Lojërat Mesdhetare, Shqipëria debuton me futbollin" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
37. Info Mersin 2013 Wayback Machine
38. Info Mersin 2013 Wayback Machine
39. Info Mersin 2013 Wayback Machine
40. Info Mersin 2013 Wayback Machine
41. Info Mersin 2013 Wayback Machine
42. "Under-21 - Group 4". UEFA.com. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
43. "U21, Shqipëria thyen 2-0 Lihtenshtejnin, vendosin golat e Latifit dhe Rei Manajt" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
44. "Grumbullohet kombetarja U-21" (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 28 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
45. "Shpresat barazojnë me 10 lojtarë ndaj Izraelit, Jupi: I kënaqur me reagimin e skuadrës" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
46. "Albania U21 vs. Portugal U21 1 – 6". Soccerway. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
47. Elvis Rexha (28 March 2016). "Shqipëria U-21 përmbys Hungarezët, spektakël kuqezi në Elbasan Arena" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
48. Albania v Kosovo
49. Erion Hoxhallari at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
50. "Football : Eion Hoxhallari". Football Database. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
51. "Erion Hoxhallari- national football team player". EU-football.info. Retrieved 21 December 2022.

External links

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