Mirlind Daku

Mirlind Daku

Personal information
Date of birth	(1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Gjilan, Kosovo, FR Yugoslavia
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Rubin Kazan
Number	44
Youth career
0000–2017	Hajvalia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017	Hajvalia	3	(0)
2017–2018	Llapi	45	(23)
2018–2021	Osijek II	15	(2)
2019–2020	→ Kukësi (loan)	13	(1)
2020–2021	→ Ballkani (loan)	42	(35)
2021–2023	Osijek	12	(3)
2022–2023	→ Mura (loan)	49	(24)
2023–	Rubin Kazan	23	(6)
International career‡
2017–2020	Kosovo U21	12	(3)
2020–2021	Kosovo	5	(0)
2023–	Albania	5	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 November 2023

Mirlind Daku (born 1 January 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Russian Premier League club Rubin Kazan. At international level, he played for the Kosovo national team in 2020 and 2021, before switching his national allegiance to Albania in 2023. Born in Gjilan to a family from a village in Gjilan known as Përlepnica, his family live on the mountainous part of Përlepnica.

Club career

Llapi

On 24 January 2017, Daku signed a five-year contract with Football Superleague of Kosovo club Llapi. ^[1] On 18 February 2017, he made his debut with Llapi in the 2016–17 Kosovar Cup fifth round against Feronikeli after coming on as a 95th-minute substitute in place of Berat Hyseni and scoring his side's second goal during a 4–2 away win after penalties. ^[2]

Osijek

First season at second team

On 20 July 2018, Daku joined Croatian Second League side Osijek II, ^[3] on a four-year contract. ^[4] On 25 August 2018, he made his debut in a 2–2 away draw against Šibenik after being named in the starting line-up. ^[5] Eight days later, he scored his first goal for Osijek II in his second appearance for the club in a 1–0 home win over Sesvete in Croatian Second League. ^[6]

Loan at Kukësi

On 24 July 2019, Daku joined Kategoria Superiore side Kukësi, on a season-long loan. ^[7] On 18 August 2019, he made his debut with Kukësi in the 2019 Albanian Supercup against Partizani Tirana after coming on as a 66th-minute substitute in place of Vasil Shkurtaj. ^[8] A month later, Daku scored his first goal for Kukësi in his sixth appearance for the club in a 3–1 away win over Shkumbini in Albanian Cup. ^[9]

Loan at Ballkani

On 11 January 2020, Daku was loaned out to Football Superleague of Kosovo club Ballkani until the end of the 2019–20 season. ^[10] On 29 February 2020, he made his debut in a 0–0 away draw against Prishtina after coming on as a 59th-minute substitute in place of Artur Magani. ^[11]

Return from loan as first team player

On 24 June 2021, Daku returned to Croatian First League side Osijek. ^[12] On 8 August 2021, he made his debut in a 2–1 away win against Hrvatski Dragovoljac after coming on as a 78th-minute substitute in place of Antonio Mance. ^[13] A day after debut, he signed a four-year contract extension with Osijek. ^[14] Three days later, Daku made his continental debut in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round against Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia after coming on as a second-half substitute in place of Yevhen Cheberko. ^[15] On 15 September 2021, he scored his first goal for Osijek in his fifth appearance for the club in a 3–0 away win over Bednja Beletinec in Croatian Cup. ^[16]

Loan at Mura

On 7 February 2022, Daku was loaned out to Slovenian PrvaLiga club Mura until the end of the 2021–22 season. ^[17] Six days later, he made his debut against Bravo after being named in the starting line-up, and assisted his side's two goals during a 2–2 home draw. ^[18]

After scoring 5 goals in 16 league appearances, ^[19] his loan was extended for another season in June 2022. ^[20]

Rubin Kazan

On 11 July 2023, Daku signed a three-year contract with Russian Premier League club Rubin Kazan. ^{[21] [22]}

International career

Kosovo

On 21 March 2017, Daku received a call-up from the Kosovo national under-21 team for a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against the Republic of Ireland. ^[23] He made his debut for the side on 9 November, in a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Israel, coming on as a 54th-minute substitute in place of Ardit Gashi. ^[24]

On 22 January 2018, Daku received his first call-up from the Kosovo national senior team for a friendly match against Azerbaijan. ^[25] The match, however, was cancelled two days later. ^[26] He won his first cap for Kosovo on 11 November 2020, in a friendly match against Albania, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute in place of Florent Hadergjonaj. ^[27]

Albania

In June 2023, Daku obtained the Albanian passport, making him eligible to play for the Albania national team. ^[28] On 1 September 2023, he received a call-up from Albania for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Czech Republic and Poland. ^[29] He made his debut against the former on 7 September, coming on as a second-half substitution in a 1–1 draw. ^{[30] [31]}

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 20 April 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hajvalia	2016–17	Kosovo Superleague	3	0	—		—		—		3	0
Llapi	2016–17	Kosovo Superleague	15	6	4	1	—		—		19	7
	2017–18	Kosovo Superleague	30	17	3	3	—		—		33	20
	Total		45	23	7	4	—		—		52	27
Osijek II	2018–19	Croatian Second League	15	2	—		—		—		15	2
Kukësi (loan)	2019–20	Kategoria Superiore	13	1	2	1	—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	16	2
Ballkani (loan)	2019–20	Kosovo Superleague	8	4	3	1	—		—		11	5
	2020–21	Kosovo Superleague	34	31	1	0	—		—		35	31
	Total		42	35	4	1	—		—		46	36
Osijek	2021–22	Croatian First League	12	3	3	1	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	—		16	4
Mura	2021–22	Slovenian PrvaLiga	16	5	0	0	—		—		16	5
	2022–23	Slovenian PrvaLiga	33	19	2	2	3 [lower-alpha 2]	2	—		38	23
	Total		49	24	2	2	3	2	—		54	28
Rubin Kazan	2023–24	Russian Premier League	22	5	5	0	—		—		27	5
Career total			201	93	23	9	4	2	1	0	229	104

1. Appearance in Albanian Supercup
2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

As of match played 17 November 2023

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Kosovo
	2020	1	0
	2021	4	0
	Total	5	0
Albania
	2023	4	1
	Total	4	1
Career total		9	1

Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Daku goal.

List of international goals scored by Mirlind Daku

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	10 September 2023	Arena Kombëtare, Tirana, Albania	Poland	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying

References

1. "Zyrtare: Llapi transferon tre futbollistë (Foto)" [Official: Llapi transfers three footballers] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 31 January 2017. Skuadra nga Podujeva ka afruar një qendërsulmues dhe dy mesfushor me tipare sulmuese si Mirlind Daku qe vjen nga Hajvalia, Qëndrim Dautaj nga Gjilani dhe Alban Mavriqi nga Drita e Gjilanit
2. "Penalltitë vendosin, Llapi në çerekfinale!" [Penalties decide, Llapi in the quarterfinals!]. TopSporti (in Albanian). 18 February 2017. Në kohën shtesë, përsëri të parët në epërsi kaluan llapjanët me golin e Mirlind Dakut, i cili me dinakëri e shfrytëzoi gabimin e Ardian Limanit në mbrojtjen vendase
3. "Daku prezantohet te Osijeku: Hap i madh për mua" [Daku is presented to Osijek: Great step for me] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 20 July 2018.
4. "Zyrtare: Daku transferohet te Osijek, nënshkruan kontratë afatgjate" [Official: Daku transferred to Osijek, signs a long-term contract]. Futbolli Kosovar (in Albanian). 19 July 2018. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. 20-vjeçari ka arritur marrëveshje me skuadrën e Osijekut dhe ka nënshkruar për 4 vite me skuadrën kroate, ka konfirmuar për Sportin në KTV, drejtori për transferime të jashtme në skuadrën e Llapit, Afrim Ajeti
5. "Šibenik vs. Osijek II 2–2". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
6. "Osijek II vs. Sesvete 1–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
7. "Njoftim i Klubit/Futbollisti i përfaqësueses U-21 së Kosovës huazohet te Kukësi!" [Club Announcement/Footballer of Kosovo national U-21 team is loan to Kukësi!] (in Albanian). FK Kukësi. 24 July 2019.
8. "Super Brajan Braun, Partizani fiton Superkupën e Shqipërisë" [Super Brian Brown, Partizan wins the Albanian Supercup]. BalkanWeb (in Albanian). 18 August 2019.
9. "Shkumbini Peqin vs. Kukësi 1–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
10. "Ballkani kryen goditjen e madhe, zyrtarizon sulmuesin Mirlind Daku" [Ballkani performs the big blow, officiates the attacker Mirlind Daku] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 11 January 2020.
11. "Futbollisti i Kombëtares së Kosovës debuton në takimin, Prishtina – Ballkani" [The footballer of the Kosovo national team debuts in the match, Prishtina – Ballkani]. Gazeta inFokus (in Albanian). 29 February 2020. Në minutën e 59' në lojë për Ballkanin ka hyrë sulmuesi i Kombëtares së Kosovës U-21, Mirlind Daku. Daku ka hyrë në vend të Artur Maganit dhe ka bërë debutimin me fanellën e Ballkanit
12. "Mirlind Daku nis stërvitjet me Osijek" [Mirlind Daku starts training with Osijek]. Insporti (in Albanian). 24 June 2021.
13. "Hrvatski Dragovoljac vs. Osijek 1–2". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
14. "Daku produžio ugovor" [Daku extended his contract] (in Croatian). NK Osijek. 9 August 2021.
15. "Osijek vs. CSKA Sofia 1–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
16. "Bednja vs. Osijek 0–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
17. "Mirlind Daku je čarno-bejli!" [Mirlind Daku is black and white!] (in Slovenian). NŠ Mura. 7 February 2022.
18. "Končnica tekme odnesla dva gola prednosti in zmago" [The final minutes of the match took away two goals advantage and a victory] (in Slovenian). NŠ Mura. 13 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
19. "Mirlind Daku » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
20. R. Š. (21 June 2022). "Daku ponovno v črno-belem, iz Fazanerije strupene puščice uperili proti Koutru". Slovenski nogometni portal (in Slovenian). Retrieved 24 June 2022.
21. ""Рубин" объявил о переходе Мирлинда Даку". sport.tatar-inform.ru (in Russian). 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
22. "Новичок "Рубина" Даку выберет игровой номер по результатам голосования болельщиков". sport.business-gazeta.ru (in Russian). 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
23. "Lista e futbollistëve të Përfaqësueses U21" [List of the players of national U21 team] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 21 March 2017.
24. "Kosovo U21 vs. Israel U21 0–4". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
25. "Lajmi i fundit: Lista e Kosovës kundër Azerbajxhanit" [Breaking news: List of Kosovo versus Azerbaijan]. Korneri (in Albanian). 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
26. "Friendly match canceled". Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. 25 January 2018. According to the results of the UEFA Nations League's draws held in Lausanne, Switzerland today, it was defined that Azerbaijan and Kosovo national teams will compete in the same group. Thereby the match planned to be held between these teams in Antalya, Turkey on February 2 was canceled. The both football federations' officials met after the draw ceremony and reached a mutual agreement in this regard
27. "Mirlind Daku realizon ëndrrën, debuton me Kosovën kundër Shqipërisë" [Mirlind Daku realizes the dream, debuts with Kosovo against Albania]. Zeri.info (in Albanian). 22 January 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
28. "FOTO/ Një alternativë më shumë për Sylvinhon, lojtari dardan merr pasaportën shqiptare" [Another alternative for Sylvinho, the dardanian player obtains the Albanian passport] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
29. "Kualifikueset e Euro 2024 / Sylvinho zbardh listën me emrat e 25 lojtarëve për sfidat me Çekinë & Poloninë" [Euro 2024 Qualifiers / Sylvinho releases the list of the 25 players for the matches against Czechia and Poland] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
30. "Czech Republic vs Albania, 7 September 2023". eu-football.info. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
31. "EURO 2024/ Shqipëria barazon me Çekinë në Pragë" (in Albanian). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.

External links

• Mirlind Daku at Soccerway