Hair Zeqiri

Hair Zeqiri

Personal information
Full name	Hair Zeqiri
Date of birth	(1988-10-11) 11 October 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth	Vlorë, Albania
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
2000–2006	Flamurtari Vlorë
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2011	Flamurtari	97	(4)
2011–2012	Çaykur Rizespor	20	(0)
2012–2014	Flamurtari	35	(6)
2014–2015	Kukësi	33	(4)
2015–2017	Flamurtari	22	(1)
2017	Kukësi	5	(0)
2018	Kamza	0	(0)
International career‡
2006–2010	Albania U-21	6	(1)
2012	Albania	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 January 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 August 2012

Hair Zeqiri (born 11 October 1988) is an Albanian retired footballer who last played as a midfielder for Kamza in the Albanian Superliga. ^[1]

Club career

Flamurtari Vlorë

Zeqiri is a product of the Flamurtari Vlorë academy where he was promoted to the first team for the 2006–07 season. In total he made 92 Albanian Superliga appearances between 2006 and 2011 with Flamurtari Vlorë.

Çaykur Rizespor

Zeqiri signed a three-year contract with Çaykur Rizespor on 26 June 2011 worth €450,000 plus bonuses. ^{[2] [3]}

Kukësi

On 30 July 2014, Zeqiri joined fellow Albanian Superliga side Kukësi by penning a one-year contract worth €80,000. ^[4]

Second return to Flamurtari Vlorë

On 30 August 2015, Zeqiri completed a transfer to his first club Flamurtari Vlorë, returning for the second time. ^[5] On 1 February 2017, Zeqiri played 84 minutes in the returning leg of Albanian Cup quarter-final against Besëlidhja Lezhë, which ended in a 1–2 home shock loss, which brought the elimination from the competition. ^[6] After the match, while at dressing room, he had a clash with club administrator Sinan Idrizi, which resulted him being suspended. ^[7] It was raported by the media that Zeqiri accused Idrizi of treating players in double standards. ^[7] As the debate went on, Izridi told Zeqiri to leave the room, as he was no longer in his plans, but he (Zeqiri) refused, telling to send him a release note. ^{[7] [8]} On 3 February, he was also told that he was going to train with the youth time until a second decision. ^[9] On 11 February, he was officially released by the club, thus becoming a free agent. ^[10]

Return to Kukësi

On 17 June 2017, Zeqiri reached an agreement with his former side Kukësi for the next season. ^[11] Three days later, he transfer was made official and the player signed a two-year contract with the club, and was handed squad number 7. ^[12] He stated: "I'm very happy to be signing with Kukësi. Representation of northeastern team is a honour for me and I'm happy to cooperate again with the champions. I promise the fans that I will give my maximum. ^[12] He started the season by appearing in the two-legged match against Sheriff Tiraspol for the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, playing both matches as Kukësi were eliminated on away goal rule. ^[13] Zeqiri started the domestic season as Kukësi fell 0–1 to Tirana in the 2017 Albanian Supercup. ^[14] On 9 October, it was confirmed that Zeqiri will be sidelined for 3 weeks due to thigh injury. ^[15] On 21 November, Zeqiri parted company with Kukësi after handing a transfer request. ^[16]

Kamza

After two months unemployed, Zeqiri agreed personal terms and joined Kamza on a six-month contract, ^[17] only to force a departure from the club 3 weeks later. ^[18]

International career

Zeqiri was a member of the under-21 national team, where he earned six caps and scored one goal. He was first called up to the senior team in 2012 by Gianni De Biasi for a friendly against Georgia on 29 February. He featured in the game as a substitute in the 55th minute for Jahmir Hyka. ^[19] He earned a total of 4 caps, scoring no goals. His final international was an August 2012 friendly match against Moldova. ^[20]

Career statistics

Club

As of 16 November 2017 ^{[1] [21] [22]}

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Flamurtari Vlorë	2006–07	Albanian Superliga	9	0	0	0	—		—		9	0
	2007–08		26	1	0	0	—		—		26	1
	2008–09		11	0	3	1	—		—		14	1
	2009–10		26	3	0	0	2 [a]	0	1 [b]	0	29	3
	2010–11		25	0	1	0	—		—		26	0
	Total		97	4	4	1	2	0	1	0	104	5
Çaykur Rizespor	2011–12	TFF Second League	20	0	2	1	—		—		22	1
Flamurtari Vlorë	2012–13	Albanian Superliga	10	1	7	1	0	0	—		17	2
	2013–14		25	5	5	0	—		—		30	5
	2014–15		—		—		4 [a]	0	—		4	0
	Total		35	6	12	1	4	0	—		51	6
Kukësi	2014–15	Albanian Superliga	33	4	3	0	—		—		36	4
Flamurtari Vlorë	2015–16	Albanian Superliga	6	1	1	1	—		—		7	2
	2016–17		16	0	3	0	—		—		19	0
	Total		22	1	4	1	—		—		26	2
Kukësi	2017–18	Albanian Superliga	5	0	1	0	2 [c]	0	1 [b]	0	9	0
Career total			212	15	26	4	8	0	2	0	248	19

1. All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
2. Appearance in Albanian Supercup
3. All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played 15 August 2012 ^[23]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Albania	2012	4	0
Total		4	0

Honours

Club

Flamurtari Vlorë ^[1]

• Albanian Cup: 2008–09, 2013–14

Individual

• Albanian Superliga Player of the Month: September 2010, ^[24] November 2013

References

1. "Albania - H. Zeqiri - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
2. Klevis Bejkolli (26 June 2011). "Hair Zeqiri firmos per tre vjet me Caykur Rizespor" [Hair Zeqiri signs for three years with Caykur Rizespor] (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
3. "Hair Zeqiri firmos per Rizerspor" [Hair Zeqiri signs for Rizerspor] (in Albanian). Albania Sport. 27 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
4. "Zeqiri firmos për 80 mijë euro te Kukësi. Gjici: Kjo blerje, dhuratë ekipit dhe tifozëve" [Zeqiri signs for 80,000 euro at Kukësi. Gjici: This purchase, a gift to the team and fans] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
5. Alfred Lleshi (30 August 2015). "Hair Zeqiri rikthehet në "fole", i bashkohet Flamurtarit" [Hair Zeqiri returns to "nest", joins Flamurtari] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
6. "Besëlidhja në historinë e Kupës, eleminon edhe Flamurtarin!" [Besëlidhja in cup's history, eliminates Flamurtari!] (in Albanian). Sfidanti.al. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
7. "Plas në Vlorë pas humbjes, Idrizi pezullon Zeqirin: Suksese në jetë!" [Plunk in Vlorë after the defeat, Idrizi suspends Zeqiri: Successes in life!] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
8. "Idrizi i uroi "suksese në jetë", Flamurtari pezullon Hair Zeqirin" [Idrizi wishes him "successes in life", Flamurtari suspends Hair Zeqiri] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
9. "E çojnë te të rinjtë, Hair Zeqiri lamtumirë Flamurtarit" [They send him to the youths, Hair Zeqiri goodbye to Flamurtari] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
10. "U përplas me Idrizin, Flamurtari lë të lirë mesfushorin Hair Zeqiri" [Collided with Idrizi, Flamurtari releases the midfielder Hair Zeqiri] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
11. "Zyrtare, Zeqiri kthehet te Kukësi" [Official, Zeqiri returns to Kukësi] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
12. "Kukësi prezanton dy goditjet e para në merkato, firmosin Zeqiri dhe Hoxha" [Kukësi presentes the first two signings of the season, Zeqiri and Hoxha signs] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
13. "Champions, "dinjiteti" i Kukësit nuk mjafton. Fati favorizon Tiraspol" [Champions, “dignity” of Kukësi is not enough. The fate favours Tiraspol] (in Albanian). Top Channel. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
14. "Tirana fiton për herë të 11 Superkupën e Shqipërisë" [Tirana wins Albanian Supercup for the 11th time] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. 6 September 2017. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
15. "Zeqiri 3 javë jashtë, Shameti ende pa afat" [Zeqiri 3 week out, Shameti without a date] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
16. "Kukësi zyrtarizon largimin e Zeqirit dhe vendos ultimatum" [Kukësi formalizes the departure of Zeqiri and sets the ultimatum] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
17. "Tashmë zyrtare, Zeqiri i Kamzës" [Now it's official, Zeqiri is of Kamza] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
18. "Kamza në hall, mesfushori Hair Zeqiri kërkon "divorcin"" [Kamza in trouble, midfielder Hair Zeqiri looks for departure] (in Albanian). Panorama. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
19. "Georgia vs. Albania 2 – 1". Soccerway. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
20. "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
21. "Football : Hair Zeqiri". Football Database. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
22. "Stats and profile". Scoresway. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
23. "Zeqiri, Hair". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
24. "Hair Zeqiri futbollisti i shtatorit" [Hair Zeqiri player of september] (in Albanian). Arkiva Shqiptare e Lajmeve. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2015.

External links

• Hair Zeqiri – UEFA competition record ( archive )
• Hair Zeqiri at National-Football-Teams.com
• Hair Zeqiri at the Turkish Football Federation
• Hair Zeqiri at the Albanian Football Association (in Albanian and English)