Nijaz Lena

Nijaz Lena
Personal information
Full name Nijaz Lena
Date of birth (1986-06-25) 25 June 1986
Place of birth Struga, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Kukësi
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2010 Makedonija 32 (8)
2010–2016 Flamurtari Vlorë 145 (18)
2016 Teuta Durrës 18 (1)
2016– Kukësi 0 (0)
National team‡
2005–2006 Macedonia U19 5 (1)
2014 Macedonia 2 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 May 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22 June 2014

Nijaz Lena (Macedonian: Нијаз Лена) (born 25 June 1986 in Struga) is an ethnic Albanian Macedonian footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Kukësi in the Albanian Superliga.

Club career

Flamurtari Vlorë

On 20 February 2013, Lena recorded his 100th appearance with Flamurtari in all competitions during the 2–3 away win against Bylis Ballsh, match vaild for the Group B of 2012–13 Albanian Cup.[1][2]

In July 2013, Lena signed a new one-year deal with the club, keeping him at the club until 2014.[3]

On 18 May 2014, Lena won his first trophy with Flamurtari, the Albanian Cup, where played as a starter as Flamurtari prevail 1–0 over Kukësi in the final held at Qemal Stafa Stadium.[4][5]

In June 2014, due to his international dutys, Lena missed pre-season preparations for the 2014–15 season.[6]

It was reported that Lena left the team after refusing to be a backup for the new signing Nderim Nexhipi. This report was strengthened by Lena itself, who refused to travel with the team to Slovenia, for pre-season preparations.[7] He extended his contract with Flamurtari Vlorë for another season, however, on 23 August 2015.[8]

On 5 January 2016, Lena eventually left the team after six years, which was confirmed by Lena itself on his Facebook profile.[9]

Teuta Durrës

On 15 January 2016, Lena signed a contract until the end of 2015–16 season with Teuta Durrës, joined former Flamurtari boss Magani.[10] He was presented four days later, where he was assigned the vacant number 10.[11]

His Teuta Durrës debut came on 23 January 2016 during the first leg of 2015–16 Albanian Cup quarter-final clash against Kukësi, where he appeared as a second-half substitute for Eri Lamçja.[12] He made his league debut eight days later against his former club Flamurtari Vlorë in a 1–0 away loss, playing over 75 minutes.[13] Since that, Lena was able to established himself in the starting lineup, helping the club in its bid to achieve a European spot for the next season. He scored his first goal on 8 May against Skënderbeu Korçë with e penalty kick, with a Panenka style penalty, in an eventual 1–1 home draw.[14]

Lena ended the 2015–16 season by making 20 appearances between league and cup, scoring once in the process, as Teuta Durrës clinched the fourth spot to return in the European competitions for the 2016–17 season.[15] On 30 June, Lena made his European debut for the club by playing 65 minutes in the 1–0 home defeat to Kairat in the Europa League first qualifying round.[16] In the returning leg one week later, Lena played full-90 minutes as Teuta was humbled 5–0 at Central Stadium.[17]

On 2 August, Lena decided to part ways with the club after not finding a way for the new deal.[18]

Kukësi

On 3 August 2016, Lena signed with Kukësi as a free agent, rejoining his former Flamurtari Vlorë boss Ernest Gjoka and was presented on the same day.[19] He was also a target of Vllaznia Shkodër and Laçi.[20]

International career

In June 2014, Lena received a call-up for the first time from Macedonia senior team for the friendlies against China.[21] In the first match on 18th, Lena was able to make his debut by playing as a starter before being substituted in 71th minute for Besmir Bojku, as Macedonia lost 2–0.[22]

He won his second cap four days later, playing again as a starter, but this time in a goalless draw.[23]

Career statistics

Club

As of 10 May 2016[24][25][26]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Makedonija 2009–10 First League 82—1[lower-alpha 3]0—92
Total 82—10—92
Flamurtari Vlorë 2009–10 Albanian Superliga 133———133
2010–11 303———303
2011–12 2341004[lower-alpha 4]0—374
2012–13 204912[lower-alpha 4]0—315
2013–14 28240——322
2014–15 210204[lower-alpha 4]11[lower-alpha 5]0281
2015–16 10230——132
Total 145182811011018420
Teuta Durrës 2015–16 Albanian Superliga 18120——201
2015–16 ——2[lower-alpha 4]0—20
Total 1812020—221
Career total 171213011311021523
  1. ↑ Including cup competitions, such as Albanian Cup
  2. ↑ Including other competitions, such as Albanian Supercup
  3. ↑ All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  4. 1 2 3 4 All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  5. ↑ Appearance in Albanian Supercup

International

As of 17 November 2015[27]
Macedonia national team
YearAppsGoals
201420
Total20

Honours

Club

Flamurtari Vlorë

References

  1. ↑ "Bylis Ballsh vs. Flamurtari Vlorë 2 – 3". Soccerway. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  2. ↑ "100 ndeshje me vlonjatët, Lena ëndërron një trofe: Të dytët në kampionat, fitojmë kupën" (in Albanian). Panorana Sport. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Firmos Lena, edhe një vit me vlonjatët" (in Albanian). Panorana Sport. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Flamurtari fiton Kupën e Shqipërisë" (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Flamurtari fiton Kupën e Shqipërisë, vlonjatët mundin Kukësin "fluturojnë" drejt Europës" (in Albanian). Ora News. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Nijaz Lena humbet fazën përgatitore me Flamurtarin" (in Albanian). Panorana Sport. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Refuzoi stolin, Lena largohet nga Flamurtari, vendin ia zë Nexhipi" (in Albanian). Panorana Sport. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "Lena edhe një vit tek Flamurtari" (in Albanian). Panorana Sport. 23 August 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Flamurtari zyrtarizon dy brazilianë, ikën Lena" (in Albanian). Panorana Sport. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "Teuta merr Nijaz Lenën" (in Albanian). Panorana Sport. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Nijaz Lena prezantohet te Teuta, do mbajë numrin 10" (in Albanian). Panorana Sport. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "VIDEO/ Teuta thyen Kukësin, takimin e mbyll goli i Hilës" (in Albanian). Panorana Sport. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  13. ↑ Erald Kodheli (31 January 2016). "Flamurtari mposht Teutën 1-0, vendos Greca" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  14. ↑ Sotir Kora (8 May 2016). "Skënderbeu, titulli është 1 pikë larg" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  15. ↑ "Edhe Teuta në Europa League" (in Albanian). Lapsi.al. 22 May 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  16. ↑ Andi Tanku (30 June 2016). "Teuta e pëson nga Arshavin, mposhtet në sfidën e parë" (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  17. ↑ "Teuta shkatërrohet nga Kairat" (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  18. ↑ "Teuta përforcohet me boshnjakun Cmajcanin, largohet Nijaz Lena" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  19. ↑ "Vazhdon seria e afrimeve të Kukësi, goditja e radhës është Lena" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  20. ↑ Armand Halili (3 August 2016). "Vllaznia-Laçi, duel në merkato për të siguruar Nijaz Lenën" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  21. ↑ "Nijaz Lena grrumbullohet me Maqedoninë" (in Albanian). Aktuale. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  22. ↑ "China vs. FYR Macedonia 2 – 3". Soccerway. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  23. ↑ "Barazim pa gola mes Kinës dhe Maqedonisë" (in Albanian). Aktuale. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  24. ↑ "Macedonia - N. Lena - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  25. ↑ "Profile of Nijaz Lena at Scoresway". Scoresway. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  26. ↑ "Football : Nijaz Lena". Football DataBase. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  27. ↑ "Nijaz Lena". National Football Teams. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
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