Tefik Osmani

Tefik Osmani

Personal information
Date of birth	(1985-06-08) 8 June 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth	Korçë, Albania
Height	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Vllaznia Shkodër (sporting director)
Youth career
2000–2002	Skënderbeu Korçë
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2003	Skënderbeu Korçë	20	(1)
2003–2004	Tomori Berat	22	(1)
2004–2007	Elbasani	58	(4)
2005–2006	→ Metalurh Zaporizhzhia (loan)	5	(0)
2007–2008	Partizani Tirana	31	(3)
2008–2011	Tirana	77	(1)
2011–2012	Teuta Durrës	23	(2)
2012–2013	Vllaznia Shkodër	13	(1)
2013–2014	Teuta Durrës	39	(4)
2014–2018	Skënderbeu Korçë	91	(1)
2018–2019	Teuta Durrës	23	(0)
2019–2020	Tirana	18	(0)
International career
2002–2003	Albania U19	3	(0)
2003–2005	Albania U21	5	(0)
2005–2013	Albania	12	(0)
Managerial career
2020–2023	Tirana (sporting director)
2021	Tirana (caretaker)
2023–	Vllaznia Shkodër (sporting director)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Tefik Osmani (born 8 June 1985) is an Albanian professional football official and a former centre-back. He is the sporting director for Albanian club Tirana. ^[1]

Club career

Early career

Osmani started his career with his local club Skënderbeu Korçë as a teenager where he worked his way through the youth ranks and joined the first team prior to the 2002–03 season, where the club was competing in the Albanian Second Division, the third tier of Albanian football. He left the team after one season and joined Albanian First Division side Tomori Berat where he would stay for one year before leaving at the end of the season to join Albanian Superliga side Elbasani. Upon joining the club he became a key member of the squad and made 36 league appearances and scored twice to help the club finish as runners up in the league behind Tirana. ^[2]

Following a decent second season with Tirana, he was given offers from other clubs in Albania and abroad. Most notably two unnamed clubs from Switzerland, both in the top flight. However he needed to talk to his manager and the owner of KF Tirana Refik Halili to sort out his current contract with the club. ^[3]

Teuta Durrës

On 23 July 2011 he joined Teuta Durrës on a one-year contract. ^[4]

Vllaznia Shkodër

Osmani signed for Vllaznia Shkodër on 16 July 2012 and was presented to the media in the very same day. ^{[5] [6]} He was part of the team only in the first part of 2012–13 season, collecting 13 league matches and scoring one goal. Osmani left the club during the winter transfer window in controversial fashion. ^[7]

Teuta Durrës return

In January 2013, he returned to Teuta Durrës for the second part of 2012–13 season. ^[7] He made his return debut on 10 February in the matchday 14 against Shkumbini Peqin, netting his side second goal in an eventual 3–0 home win. ^[8]

Skënderbeu Korçë

On 29 May 2014, Osmani signed a one-year contract with his boyhood club Skënderbeu Korçë; he was presented along with Bernard Berisha, ^[9] and was handed squad number 17. Shortly after, he traveled with the team in Austria for the preparation phase ahead of UEFA Champions League tie against BATE Borisov. Osmani was included in the Mirel Josa's squad list. ^[10]

On 15 July, in the first leg of the second qualifying round, Osmani made an overall good performance, helping Skënderbeu Korçë to get a clean sheet at Borisov Arena. ^[11] In the returning leg one week later, Osmani was again in the starting lineup, with Skënderbeu who didn't get more than a 1–1 draw at home, eliminated thus from the competition due to away goal rule. ^[12]

Osmani started the domestic season by winning his first silverware with the club, the Albanian Supercup, as Skënderbeu Korçë defeated Flamurtari Vlorë at Qemal Stafa Stadium thanks to a Bakary Nimaga winner. ^[13]

On 23 February 2015, during the league match against Kukësi, Osmani suffered an injury and was substituted in the 15th minute for Leonit Abazi, with the match finishing 1–1. ^[14] Following the match, it was reported that he had suffered a strain injury in his right thigh that kept him outside the field for one month. ^[15] He returned in action on 13 April by playing the full-90 minutes during the 5–2 thrashing of Partizani Tirana at Skënderbeu Stadium. ^[16]

On 8 July 2015, Osmani agreed a contract extension with Skënderbeu Korçë, signing a contract until June 2016. ^[17] He renewed the contract in the airplane while he was traveling back to Albania with the rest of the squad, becoming the first player in history to do so. ^[17]

During 2016–17 season, Osmani made 26 league appearances, including 5 cup appearances and one in Albanian Supercup where the team was defeated by Kukësi. ^[18] On 20 May 2017, during the decisive match against Kukësi for the championship, Osmani along with other teammates were included in a massive brawl with referee Enea Jorgji which sent him off for unsportsmanlike conduct. ^[19] Everything started in the 59th minute when the referee didn't give a clear penalty to Skënderbeu after a foul inside the zone on Liridon Latifi, instead booking him for diving. ^[19] Skënderbeu eventually were defeated 2–0 at Zeqir Ymeri Stadium, meaning that they have failed to win the championship for the first time in six years. ^[20] Disciplinary Committee of AFA handed him an eight-game ban for all domestic competitions. ^[21]

Second Teuta Durrës return

On 4 August 2018, after weeks of speculation about his future, Osmani decided to return to Teuta Durrës by signing a one-year contract. ^[22] The manager Bledi Shkëmbi, who was also his former teammate at Skënderbeu and Partizani, decided to make Osmani the team captain for the 2018–19 season. ^[23] Osmani begun the season on 19 August by playing full-90 minutes and helping the team get a clean-sheet in the goalless draw against Flamurtari Vlorë. ^[24]

Osmani left Teuta in July 2019 after his side was eliminated from 2019–20 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round by Ventspils. ^[25]

Tirana return

On 20 July 2019, Tirana announced to have signed Osmani on a deal until 2020, with the player marking his return to the capital side for the first time since 2011. ^[26]

International career

Osmani has represented Albania national team in 12 occasions, making his debut in a February 2005 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Ukraine. His final international was a June 2013 World Cup qualification match against Norway. ^[27]

Style of play

Osmani main position is centre-back. ^[28] Since the beginning of 2017, under manager Ilir Daja, Osmani begun utilised as a defensive midfielder. ^{[29] [30]}

Career statistics

Club

As of 19 August 2018 ^{[1] [31]}

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Skënderbeu Korçë	2002–03	Albanian First Division	20	1	0	0	—		—		20	1
Tomori Berat	2003–04	Albanian First Division	22	1	0	0	—		—		22	1
Teuta Durrës	2004–05	Albanian Superliga	—		—		2 [a]	0	—		2	0
Partizani Tirana	2004–05	Albanian Superliga	—		—		1 [b]	0	—		1	0
Elbasani	2004–05	Albanian Superliga	36	2	0	0	—		—		36	2
	2006–07		22	2	0	0	—		—		22	2
	Total		58	4	0	0	—		—		58	4
Metalurh Zaporizhzhia (loan)	2005–06	Ukrainian Premier League	5	0	2	0	—		—		7	0
Partizani Tirana	2007–08	Albanian Superliga	31	3	0	0	—		—		31	3
	2008–09		—		—		2	0	—		2	0
	Total		31	3	0	0	2	0	—		34	3
Tirana	2008–09	Albanian Superliga	24	0	5	0	—		—		29	0
	2009–10		26	0	2	0	2 [c]	0	0	0	30	0
	2010–11		27	1	5	0	4 [d]	0	1 [e]	0	37	1
	2011–12		—		—		1 [d]	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		77	1	12	0	7	0	1	0	97	1
Teuta Durrës	2011–12	Albanian Superliga	23	2	4	1	—		—		27	3
	2012–13		—		—		2 [d]	0	—		2	0
	Total		23	2	4	1	2	0	—		31	3
Vllaznia Shkodër	2012–13	Albanian Superliga	13	1	3	1	—		—		16	1
Teuta Durrës	2012–13	Albanian Superliga	12	2	2	0	—		—		14	2
	2013–14		27	2	4	1	2 [d]	0	—		33	3
	Total		39	4	6	1	2	0	—		47	5
Skënderbeu Korçë	2014–15	Albanian Superliga	22	1	3	1	2 [c]	0	1 [e]	0	28	2
	2015–16		22	0	7	0	2 [f]	0	0	0	31	0
	2016–17		26	0	5	1	—		1 [e]	0	32	1
	2017–18		21	0	4	0	12 [d]	0	—		37	0
	Total		91	1	19	2	16	0	2	0	128	3
Teuta Durrës	2018–19	Albanian Superliga	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
Career total			380	18	46	5	32	0	3	0	461	23

1. All appearance(s) in UEFA Intertoto Cup
2. All appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
3. All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
4. All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
5. Appearance in Albanian Supercup
6. One appearance in UEFA Champions League, one in UEFA Europa League

International

As of 7 June 2013 ^[32]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Albania	2005	6	0
	2012	3	0
	2013	3	0
Total		12	0

Honours

Elbasani ^[1]

• Albanian Superliga: 2005–06

Tirana ^[1]

• Albanian Superliga: 2008–09, 2019–20
• Albanian Cup: 2010–11

Skënderbeu Korçë ^[1]

• Albanian Superliga: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18
• Albanian Cup: 2017–18
• Albanian Supercup: 2014

References

1. Tefik Osmani at Soccerway
2. "Albania 2005-06". RSSF.com. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
3. "Osmani, dy oferta zvicerane!" [Osmani, two offers from Switzerland] (in Albanian). Futbolli Shqiptar. 21 May 2010. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
4. "Surpriza, Tefik Osmani kalon te Teuta e Durrësit" [The surprise, Tefik Osmani goes to Teuta Durrës] (in Albanian). Arkiva Shqiptare e Lajmeve. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
5. Gjergj Kola (16 July 2012). "Vllaznia, firmos edhe mbrojtësi Tefik Osmani" [Vllaznia, defender Tefik Osmani signs] (in Albanian). Shkodra Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
6. Admir Uruçi (16 July 2012). "Tefik Osmani firmos dhe prezantohet me fanellën kuqeblu" [Tefik Osmani signs and gets presented with red&blu jersey] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
7. "Tefik Osmani mund Vllazninë në gjygj. Tashmë kalon te Teuta" [Tefik Osmani defeats Vllaznia in court. Now passes to Teuta] (in Albanian). Shkodra Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
8. "Teuta Durrës vs. Shkumbini Peqin 3 – 0". Soccerway. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
9. "Skënderbeu "godet" sërish në merkato, Takaj siguron Tefik Osmanin dhe B.Berishën" [Skënderbeu "strikes" again in mercato, Takaj secures Tefik Osmani and B.Berisha] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
10. Llazi Saro; Leonard Karaj (24 June 2014). ""Ngrin" Skënderbeu, sfidon BATE Borisovin, Takaj: Nuk u trembemi, do të kualifikohemi" [Skënderbeu "freeze", challenges BATE Borisov, Takaj: We're not afraid of them, we will qualify] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
11. "Honours even as Skënderbeu hold on against BATE". UEFA.com. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
12. "BATE eke out Skënderbeu success". UEFA.com. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
13. Fatmir Ahmeti (17 August 2014). "Skënderbeu e nis me trofe, fiton Superkupën e Shqipërisë" [Skënderbeu starts with trophy, wins Albanian Supercup] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
14. "Korçarët të pafat, Kukësi merr një pikë me penallti, veriorët asnjë gjuajtje në portë" [Korçarët unlucky, Kukësi takes one point with penalty, northerners zero shots on goal] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
15. "Tefik Osmani, një muaj jashtë fushe" [Tefik Osmani, one month sidelined] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
16. "Spektakël në Korçë, Skënderbeu shkatërron 5-2 Partizanin dhe merr kreun" [Show in Korçë, Skënderbeu destroys 5-2 Partizani and takes the lead] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
17. Alfred Lleshi (8 July 2015). "Osmani, futbollisti i parë në botë që rinovon në avion" [Osmani, the first footballer in the world to renew on airplane] (in Albanian). Telesport.al. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
18. Rinald Bregasi (24 August 2016). "Kukësi fiton Superkupën e Shqipërisë" [Kukësi wins Albanian Supercup] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
19. Rinald Bregasi (21 May 2017). "Kur fatin e vendos arbitri" [When the referee decides the fate] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
20. "Kukësi, kampion për herë të parë në histori" [Kukësi, champion for the first time in history] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. 20 May 2017. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
21. "Salihi pezullohet me 10 ndeshje, Osmani me 8" [Salihi suspended with 10 matches, Osmani with 8] (in Albanian). Kosova Press. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
22. "Tefik Osmani firmos me Teutën" [Tefik Osmani signs with Teuta] (in Albanian). Durrës Lajm. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
23. "EKSKLUZIVE/ Shkëmbi: Teuta për Europë, ja pse e bëra kapiten Osmanin" [EXCLUSIVE/ Shkëmbi: Teuta for Europe, here's why I made Osmani captain] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
24. "Nuk ka fitues në "Niko Dovana", Teuta dhe Flamurtari barazim pa gola" [There is no winner at “Niko Dovana”, Teuta and Flamurtari a goalless draw] (in Albanian). Gazeta Tema. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
25. "ZYRTARE/ Tjetër largim nga Teuta, Tefik Osmani përfundon aventurën te durrsakët" [Official/ Another departure from Teuta, Tefik Osmani ends his spell at Durrës] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
26. "ZYRTARE/ Tefik Osmani i bashkohet Tiranës, menjëherë nën urdhrat e Memës" [Official/ Osmani joins Tirana, immediately under Mema's orders] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
27. "Tefik Osmani - national football team player". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
28. "Osmani dhe Vangjeli, siguria e mbrojtjes korçare" [Osmani and Vangjeli, security of Korça defence] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
29. "FOTO/ Daja e bën Osmanin mesfushor, Shkëmbi: Do vi të ta vesh me dhunë bluzën me number 10 në mes të fushës" [PHOTO/ Daja makes Osmani a midfielder, Shkëmbi: I'll come to wear you violently the number 10 jersey in the middle of the field] (in Albanian). Newsport.al. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
30. Sotir Kora (31 May 2017). "Osmani: Sezon jo pozitiv për Skënderbeun" [Osmani: A no positive season for Skënderbeu] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
31. "Football : Tefik Osmani". Football Database. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
32. "Tefik Osmani". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 16 August 2018.

External links

• Tefik Osmani – UEFA competition record ( archive )
• Tefik Osmani at National-Football-Teams.com
• Tefik Osmani at UAF and archived FFU page (in Ukrainian)