Meriton Korenica

Last updated

Meriton Korenica
Meriton Korenica.jpg
Korenica with CFR Cluj in 2025
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-12-15) 15 December 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth Rahovec, FR Yugoslavia
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position Winger
Team information
Current team
 CFR Cluj
Number 17
Youth career
–2015 Rahoveci
2015–2016 Shkëndija
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2015–2016 Shkëndija 1 (0)
2016 → Metalurg Skopje (loan) 8 (0)
2016–2018 Liria Prizren 23 (2)
2018–2020 Prishtina 51 (20)
2020–2023 Ballkani 94 (14)
2023–2024 Manisa 10 (0)
2024 → Ballkani (loan) 19 (1)
2024– CFR Cluj 62 (15)
International career‡
2017–2018 Kosovo U21 4 (0)
2023– Kosovo 6 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 January 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 9 June 2025

Meriton Korenica (born 15 December 1996) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga I club CFR Cluj and the Kosovo national team.

Contents

Club career

Early career

Korenica began his youth career at Rahoveci. In 2015, he joined the youth setup of Shkëndija, one of Macedonia's top clubs, and progressed quickly to the senior team. He made his professional debut during the 2015–16 season, appearing once for Shkëndija's first team. In 2016, he was sent on loan to Metalurg Skopje to gain more first-team experience, [1] making eight appearances during his spell.

Later that year, he returned to Kosovo and signed with Liria Prizren, [2] where he played until 2018, making 23 appearances and scoring his first two professional goals. His time at Liria marked an important stage in his development, helping him establish himself as a reliable senior-level player.

Ballkani

In 2020, Korenica joined FC Ballkani. During his time at the club, Ballkani won the Kosovo Superleague three consecutive times (2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24), as well as the Kosovar Cup (2023–24) and Kosovar Supercup (2022). Korenica was a regular starter and contributed with both goals and assists.

Manisa

On 3 September 2023, Korenica signed a two-year contract with TFF First League club Manisa with an option for a further year, [3] and received squad number 77. [4] Manisa reportedly paid a €200,000 transfer fee. [4] His debut with Manisa came fourteen days later against Giresunspor after coming on as a substitute at 57th minute in place of Kerim Frei. [5]

Return to Ballkani as loan

On 29 January 2024, Korenica returned to Kosovo Superleague side Ballkani, on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season. [6]

CFR Cluj

On 9 July 2024, Korenica transferred to CFR Cluj in Romania's Liga I. In the 2024–25 season, he made 39 league appearances, scored 9 goals, and provided 6 assists. He helped the club win the Cupa României and was awarded CFR Cluj's Player of the Month twice. He was later named to the Liga I Team of the Season.

International career

Korenica represented Kosovo U21 at 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifications and played in four matches as a substitute. On 22 January 2018, he received a call-up from Kosovo for the friendly match against Azerbaijan. [7] The match however was cancelled two days later, which prolonged his debut. [8]

On 31 August 2023, Korenica received again a call-up from Kosovo for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Switzerland and Romania. [9] His debut with Kosovo came nine days later in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match against Switzerland after coming on as a substitute in the 81st minute in place of Milot Rashica, [10] and assists in his side's second goal during a 2–2 home draw. [11]

Career statistics

International

As of match played 9 June 2025 [12]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Kosovo
202350
202400
202510
Total60

Honours

Prishtina
Ballkani
CFR Cluj
Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Meriton Korenica merr numrin 10 te Metalurgu (Foto)" [Meriton Korenica takes the number 10 at Metalurg (Photo)]. Rehoveci24.com (in Albanian). 10 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "Liria introduces the five reinforcements". Telegrafi. 7 July 2016.
  3. ↑ "Meriton Korenica Manisa FK'da" [Meriton Korenica at Manisa FK] (in Turkish). Manisa F.K. 3 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Manisa e prezanton Korenicën" [Manisa presents Korenica] (in Albanian). Gazeta Express. 3 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "Bitexen Giresunspor vs Manisa Futbol Kulübü" [Bitexen Giresunspor vs Manisa Football Club] (in Turkish). Manisa F.K. 17 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Ballkani zyrtarizon rikthimin e Meriton Korenicës" [Ballkani officializes the return of Meriton Korenica] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 29 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Lajmi i fundit: Lista e Kosovës kundër Azerbajxhanit" [Breaking news: List of Kosovo versus Azerbaijan] (in Albanian). Korneri. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Friendly match cancelled". Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "Përzgjedhësi Gliha publikon listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjet e shtatorit" [Selector Gliha publishes the list of footballers for the September matches] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 31 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "Kosova 2:2 Zvicra" [Kosovo 2:2 Switzerland] (in Albanian). Gazeta Express. 9 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Super Vedat Muriqi, Kosova merr barazim ndaj Zvicrës në kohën shtesë" [Super Vedat Muriqi, Kosovo gets a draw against Switzerland in extra time] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 9 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Meriton Korenica". European Football. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "Meriton Korenica (KF Ballkani) – Ylli i javës (9)" [Meriton Korenica (FC Ballkani) – Star of the Week (9)]. TopSporti (in Albanian). 3 October 2022.
  14. ↑ "SUPERLIGA – Echipa sezonului 2024-2025". lpf.ro.
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