Zeli Ismail

Last updated

Zeli Ismail
Zeli Ismail 2019.jpg
Ismail in 2019
Personal information
Full name Zeli Ismail [1]
Date of birth (1993-12-12) 12 December 1993 (age 30)
Place of birth Kukës, Albania
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) [2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder/Winger
Team information
Current team
Newtown
Number 11
Youth career
2004–2012 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2012–2016 Wolverhampton Wanderers 9 (0)
2012–2013Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 7 (0)
2014Burton Albion (loan) 15 (3)
2014Notts County (loan) 14 (4)
2015–2016Burton Albion (loan) 3 (0)
2016Oxford United (loan) 5 (0)
2016Cambridge United (loan) 11 (1)
2016–2018 Bury 37 (3)
2017–2018Walsall (loan) 16 (1)
2018–2019 Walsall 32 (3)
2019–2021 Bradford City 14 (1)
2021–2022 Hereford 11 (0)
2022– Newtown 60 (10)
International career
2008 England U16 3 (0)
2009 England U17 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:50, 22 April 2024 (UTC)

Zeli Ismail (born 12 December 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a right midfielder for Cymru Premier club Newtown. Born in Albania, he has represented England at both under-16 and under-17 level.

Contents

Career

Born in Kukës, [3] Ismail is a product of Wolverhampton Wanderers' academy, which he joined at the age of 10. The midfielder signed his first professional contract in 2010, [4] and made his senior debut on 25 September 2012 as a substitute in a 6–0 defeat at Chelsea in the League Cup under Ståle Solbakken. [5]

In November 2012 he joined League One side Milton Keynes Dons on loan until 2 January 2013. [6] Here, he made his league debut on 24 November 2012 as a substitute in a 5–1 win over Colchester. [7] Upon the end of his initial loan period he was immediately re-loaned for the remainder of the campaign, [8] but this was ended after a month as Ismail failed to establish himself in their first team. [9]

Following Wolves' relegation to League One at the end of the 2012–13 campaign, Ismail was cited by new manager Kenny Jackett as being part of his plans for the first team. [10] He made his first league appearance for Wolves on 10 August 2013 when he started a 4–0 win against Gillingham, in what was the first of nine league appearances. [11]

Despite these games, Ismail did not hold down a regular place in the Wolves' team and, after not gaining any playing time at all during December 2013, he was loaned to League Two club Burton Albion in January 2014 in a one-month loan deal. [12] He scored his first senior goal on 8 February 2014 to earn a 1–0 victory at Morecambe. [13] His loan stay was subsequently extended until the end of the season, allowing Ismail to play in the League Two Play-off Final for the Brewers, where they lost 1–0 to Fleetwood.

In July 2014, Ismail signed a six-month loan deal with League One Notts County. [14] He scored four times in sixteen appearances before suffering a knee injury against Accrington in November 2014 that meant he had to return to his parent club and undergo surgery. [15]

On 29 July 2015, it was announced that Ismail would return to former club Burton Albion on loan until January. [16] This spell was however hampered by an ankle injury. [17] Having recovered, he joined Oxford United in February 2016 on a month's loan, [18] during which time he made 6 substitute appearances (5 of them in League matches). [19] Ismail was almost immediately loaned out again; this time joining another League Two side, Cambridge United, until the end of the 2015–16 season, [20] where he made 11 appearances, scoring once against Morecambe. [21]

At the conclusion of the campaign his parent club announced they would not be taking up the option of offering Ismail a new contract. [22] He made 12 appearances in total for the club, but none above League One level.

On 25 June 2016 he signed for Bury. [23] He scored his first goal for Bury in an EFL Trophy tie against Morecambe on 30 August 2016. [24]

On 31 August 2017, Ismail joined fellow League One club Walsall on loan until January 2018. [25] Ismail scored his first goal for Walsall in an EFL Trophy tie against West Bromwich Albion Under-23s on 19 September 2017. [26]

He was released by Bury at the end of the 2017–18 season. [27]

After making sixteen league appearances on loan for the club, Ismail joined Walsall permanently on 26 June 2018, signing a one-year deal. [28] [29]

He was released by Walsall at the end of the 2018–19 season. [30]

In June 2019 it was announced that he would sign for Bradford City on 1 July 2019, after signing a one-year contract with the club. [31] He made his debut for the club on 3 September 2019 in an EFL Trophy match against Bolton Wanderers and made his league debut for the club on 7 September 2019 in a 2–1 win against Northampton Town, where he was also sent off. [32]

On 12 May 2021 he was one of nine players that Bradford City announced would leave the club on 30 June 2021 when their contracts expire. [33] [34] He subsequently joined National League North club Hereford. [35]

On 31 January 2022, Ismail signed for Cymru Premier side Newtown. [36]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 August 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup League Cup OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2012–13 [37] Championship 00001010
2013–14 [38] League One 90101000110
2014–15 [39] Championship000000
2015–16 [40] Championship00000000
Total90102000120
Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 2012–13 [37] League One70200090
Burton Albion (loan) 2013–14 [38] League Two 1532 [lower-alpha 1] 0173
Notts County (loan) 2014–15 [39] League One14410001 [lower-alpha 2] 0164
Burton Albion (loan) 2015–16 [40] League One30000030
Oxford United (loan) 2015–16 [40] League Two5000001 [lower-alpha 2] 060
Cambridge United (loan) 2015–16 [40] League Two1110000111
Bury 2016–17 [41] League One16310101 [lower-alpha 3] 1194
2017–18 [42] League One21010220
Total373102011414
Walsall (loan) 2017–18 [42] League One161103 [lower-alpha 3] 2203
Walsall 2018–19 [43] League One32320113 [lower-alpha 3] 0384
Total484301162587
Bradford City 2019–20 [44] League Two11100001 [lower-alpha 3] 0121
Newtown 2021-22 Cymru Premier120000000120
Career total17216805112319720
  1. Appearances in League Two play-offs
  2. 1 2 Appearance in Football League Trophy
  3. 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl Henry</span> English footballer

Karl Levi Daniel Henry is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Boldmere St. Michaels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyel Reid</span> English footballer

Kyel Romane Reid is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Rayners Lane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris O'Grady</span> English footballer

Christopher James O'Grady is an English football striker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Kightly</span> English footballer

Michael John Kightly is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Murphy</span> English footballer

Luke John Murphy is an English professional footballer who most recently played as a midfielder for Northern Premier League Division One West side Macclesfield.

Ashley Josiah Hemmings is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for National League North club Kidderminster Harriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Marshall (footballer)</span> English footballer

Ben Marshall is an English footballer who plays for North West Counties League side Darwen. He normally plays as a winger or right back.

Sam Thomas Winnall is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Forde (footballer)</span> Irish footballer

Anthony Michael Forde is an Irish professional footballer who plays for EFL League One club Wrexham. He has represented the Republic of Ireland at numerous youth levels.

The 2012–13 season was the 114th season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club competed in the second tier of the English football system, the Football League Championship. They had returned to the second level having been relegated from the Premier League after three seasons during the previous season.

Ethan Reid Ebanks-Landell is a professional footballer who plays as a defender and captains National League club Rochdale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liam McAlinden</span> Irish footballer (born 1993)

Liam James McAlinden is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for National League North club Rushall Olympic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Evans (footballer)</span> Welsh footballer

Lee Evans is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Blackpool and the Wales national football team.

Jordan Tyler Graham is a professional footballer who plays as a right winger for EFL League One club Leyton Orient.

William Randall-Hurren is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League club Ebbsfleet United.

The 2015–16 season was Shrewsbury Town's 130th year in existence and their first season back in League One after gaining promotion the previous season. Much of the season was spent fighting relegation, with safety only secured following the final home match of the season where despite losing to Peterborough United, same day defeats for Blackpool and Doncaster Rovers ensured another season of League One football with one game to spare.

The 2015–16 season was the 117th season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club are competing in the second tier of the English football system, the Football League Championship for a second consecutive year having finished 7th in the previous season following their promotion from League One.

The 2016–17 season was the 139th year in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club competed in the second tier of the English football system, the Football League Championship for a third consecutive year.

Niall Nathan Michael Ennis is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Stoke City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elliot Watt</span> English footballer (born 2000)

Elliot William Watt is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Burton Albion.

References

  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Bradford City" (PDF). English Football League. p. 11. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  2. Zeli Ismail at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  3. "Zeli Ismail". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  4. "Wolves sign up Zeli Ismail and Liam McAlinden". Express & Star. 15 December 2010.
  5. "Chelsea 6–0 Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 September 2012.
  6. "Zeli Ismail joins MK Dons from Wolves on loan". BBC Sport. 23 November 2012.
  7. "MK Dons 5–1 Colchester". BBC Sport. 24 November 2012.
  8. "MK Dons re-sign Zeli Ismail from Wolves". BBC Sport. 4 January 2013.
  9. "Ismail returns to Wolves". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 8 February 2013.
  10. "The Potential of Youth". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 26 June 2013.
  11. "Wolves 4–0 Gillingham". BBC Sport. 10 August 2013.
  12. "Zeli Ismail joins Burton from Wolves". BBC Sport. 8 January 2014.
  13. "Morecambe 0–1 Burton". BBC Sport. 8 February 2014.
  14. "Zeli Ismail: Notts County sign Wolves winger on loan". BBC Sport. 18 July 2014.
  15. "Knee injury rules Wolves winger Zeli Ismail out for six months". Express & Star. 1 December 2014.
  16. "ZELI ISMAIL RETURNS TO BURTON ALBION". Burton Albion FC. 29 July 2015.
  17. "Fresh injury blow for Burton's Zeli Ismail". Eurosport. 28 October 2015.
  18. "Oxford United sign Zeli Ismail". 1 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  19. Pritchard, David (3 March 2016). "Oxford United send Zeli Ismail back to Wolverhampton Wanderers". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  20. "Cambridge: Wolves loan out winger Zeli Ismail until end of season after Oxford loan". BBC Sport. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  21. "Cambridge 7-0 Morecambe". BBC Sport. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  22. "Contract decisions revealed". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 9 May 2016.
  23. "Bury: Ben Williams, Zeli Ismail & Niall Maher join League One side". BBC Sport. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  24. "Report: Bury 4 Morecambe 1". buryfc.co.uk. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  25. "Walsall: Burnley forward Daniel Agyei and Bury winger Zeli Ismail on loan". BBC Sport. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  26. "Walsall 3-1 West Brom U21s". saddlers.co.uk. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  27. "Neil Danns: Bury offer new contract to veteran midfielder". BBC Sport. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  28. Briggs, Daniel. "Zeli Ismail re-signs!". Walsall FC. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  29. "Zeli Ismail: Walsall re-sign former Wolves winger from Bury". BBC Sport. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  30. "Walsall: New Saddlers boss releases 11 players following relegation to League Two". BBC Sport. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  31. "Bradford City sign former Walsall winger Zeli Ismael". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  32. "Bradford City 2 -1 Northampton Town". bbc.co.uk. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  33. "NINE BANTAMS TO DEPART". www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk.
  34. "City wave goodbye to nine - including long-serving defensive duo". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  35. "NEWS Bulls Bring in Zeli Ismail". Hereford FC. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  36. Drury, Jonny (31 January 2022). "Former Wolves starlet Zeli Ismail signs for Cymru Premier side Newtown". Express & Star. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  37. 1 2 "Games played by Zeli Ismail in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  38. 1 2 "Games played by Zeli Ismail in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  39. 1 2 "Games played by Zeli Ismail in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  40. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Zeli Ismail in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  41. "Games played by Zeli Ismail in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  42. 1 2 "Games played by Zeli Ismail in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  43. "Games played by Zeli Ismail in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  44. "Games played by Zeli Ismail in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 September 2019.