Max Rugova

Max Rugova

Personal information
Full name	Edmond Max Rugova Jr.
Date of birth	(2000-02-17) 17 February 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Overland Park, Kansas, United States
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Dukagjini
Number	17
Youth career
2013–2018	Sporting Kansas City
2018–2019	1. FC Nürnberg
2019–	Prishtina
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2018	Sporting Kansas City	0	(0)
2017	→ Swope Park Rangers (loan)	8	(1)
2019	Prishtina	1	(0)
2023	Gold Star FC	9	(2)
2023	Savannah Clovers FC	7	(2)
2024–	Dukagjini	8	(1)
International career‡
2018	Kosovo U19	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 14, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 October 2018

Edmond Max Rugova Jr. (born 17 February 2000), commonly known as Max Rugova or Max Rugova Jr. is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Dukagjini. ^[1] Born in the United States, he has represented Kosovo at youth level.

Club career

Early career

Rugova joined the academy ahead of the 2013–14 season and has played for both the Under-16 and Under-18 groups, he had 14 goals in 27 games while splitting time between the two teams in the 2015–16 season, while the winger has five goals in nine games for the U16s so far in the 2016–17 season. He has spent significant time training with the Swope Park Rangers since the start of 2016 and won a penalty in a friendly match against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, on 16 April 2016. ^[2]

1. FC Nürnberg

Under-19

On 25 August 2018, Rugova joined Under 19 Bundesliga side 1. FC Nürnberg U19. ^[3] On 16 September 2018, he made his debut in a 1–4 home defeat against Mainz 05 U19, starting the match before being substituted off in the 74th minute for Thomas Schmidt.

Prishtina

On 14 August 2019, Rugova joined Football Superleague of Kosovo side Prishtina. ^[4] On 7 October 2019, he made his debut in a 1–0 away defeat against Ballkani after coming on as a substitute at 73rd minute in place of Kreshnik Uka. ^[5]

International career

United States

Under-17

In May 2016, Rugova received a call-up from United States U17 for a training camp at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. ^{[2] [6]}

Kosovo

Under-19

On 18 May 2018, Rugova received a call-up from Kosovo U19 for the friendly matches against Albania U19. ^[7] On 24 May 2018, he made his debut with Kosovo U19 in first match against Albania U19 after being named in the starting line-up. ^[8]

2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifications

On 2 October 2018, Rugova was named as part of the Kosovo U19 squad for 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifications. ^[9] On 10 October 2018, he made his debut with Kosovo U19 in a match against Austria U19 after being named in the starting line-up.

Personal life

His father Edmond ^[10] played for FC Pristina and Kansas City Comets and managed the Kosovo national football team in its early years.

References

1. "Max Rugova at Flashscore.com".
2. "Max Rugova". Sporting Kansas City.
3. "Rugova nënshkruan me FC Nurnbergun" [Rugova signed with FC Nürnberg] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 25 August 2018. Ai ka nënshkruar me ekipin U19 të Nurnbergut ndërsa ende nuk dihen detajet e marrëveshjes. Kalimin e tij në Bundesligë, Max Rugova, që është i biri i fubollistit të njohur Edmond Rugova, e ka bërë të ditur vetë ai nëpërmes një postimi në llogarinë e tij personale në Instagram
4. "Mirë se vjen Max në klubin e zemrës!" [Welcome Max to the heart club!] (in Albanian). FC Prishtina. 14 August 2019.
5. "Java IX: Ballkani – Prishtina 1-0" [Week IX: Ballkani – Prishtina 1-0] (in Albanian). FC Prishtina. 7 October 2019. Prishtinën e lë larg kjo humbje 7 pikë larg kreut që e udhëheq Ballkani (dhe një ndeshje më pak të zhvilluar), ndërsa skuadra ishte e hendikepuar edhe pa 4 futbollistë titullar – të lënduar Januzi, Mankenda dhe Haliti, ndërsa Korenica i suspenduar për shkak kartonëve për çka sot debutoi edhe i riu, Max Rugova, kurse paraqitjen e dytë regjistroi edhe Trimror Selimi
6. "SKC Academy's Grayson Barber and Max Rugova selected to U.S. U-17 training camp". Sporting Kansas City. 17 May 2016.
7. "Krasniqi publikon listën e futbollistëve për miqësoret me Shqipërinë" [Krasniqi publishes the list of footballers for the friendlies with Albania] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 18 May 2018.
8. "Shqipëria fiton miqësoren e parë të Kombëtareve U19" [Albania wins the first friendly of the U19 nationals] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 24 May 2018.
9. "Kombëtarja U-19 grumbullohet më 5 tetor për ndeshjet kualifikuese" [National U19 team gathering with 5 October for qualifying matches] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 2 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
10. Rugova working his way up the ladder - Top drawer soccer

External links

• Max Rugova at Soccerway