_(Lila).jpg) Lila with Albania in March 2016. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 February 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Kavajë, Albania | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2003 | Besa Kavajë | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2007 | Besa Kavajë | 72 | (1) |
| 2007 | Iraklis | 3 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Besa Kavajë | 29 | (0) |
| 2008–2011 | Tirana | 78 | (11) |
| 2011–2019 | PAS Giannina | 167 | (8) |
| 2015 | → Parma (loan) | 13 | (2) |
| 2019–2020 | Tirana | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 362 | (22) | |
| International career | |||
| 2002–2003 | Albania U17 | 9 | (0) |
| 2003–2005 | Albania U19 | 4 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Albania U21 | 9 | (0) |
| 2007–2019 | Albania | 70 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Andi Lila (born 12 February 1986) is a former Albanian professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He was a versatile player, having spent his early career as a full-back.
Lila began his career with local side Besa Kavajë, where he made his debut in 2002 as a 16-year-old and soon became a regular first team player, which earned him a move to Greek club Iraklis in January 2007. He soon returned to Besa Kavajë after failing to settle at Iraklis, and he shortly became the club captain, guiding them to a third-place finish in the Albanian Superliga before moving to KF Tirana after just one year back in Kavajë. He was a fan favourite at KF Tirana as during his three years at the club, and he won the Albanian Superliga title in his first season there, as well as helping his side reach the Albanian Cup final which he missed and his side lost in. His last game with the club came in the 2011 Albanian Cup final which his side lost on penalties after extra time, before moving to Greece for a second stint, this time with PAS Giannina.
He quickly established himself in the first team at PAS Giannina and helped his side achieve a mid table finish in his first season back in Greece, and then reach the Superleague playoffs in his second season at the club before a bottom half finish in his third season. He joined struggling Serie A side Parma on loan for the second half of the 2014–15 campaign, but he could not help the club escape relegation and returned to his parent club PAS Giannina following the bankruptcy of Parma. Since his return he has struggled to recapture his place in the first team, and has been limited to mostly substitute appearances in the league.
Lila has represented Albania at under-17, under-19, under-21 and senior levels. He made his senior international debut in 2007 against Romania and has since earned 59 caps but has yet to score a senior international goal. He became Albania's first choice right back in 2010 under Josip Kuže, and he also began to play in the defensive midfield position. Under Gianni De Biasi he has primarily played as a right midfielder or right winger since 2014, and he has helped Albania qualify for its first major international tournament as they reached Euro 2016. He was also heavily involved in the infamous Serbia v Albania match on 14 October 2014, which resulted in the match being abandoned and Albania eventually being awarded a walkover victory over Serbia.