Erjon Bogdani

Erjon Bogdani
Personal information
Full name Erjon Bogdani
Date of birth (1977-04-14) 14 April 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Tirana, PSR Albania
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1987–1994 Partizani Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1997 Partizani Tirana 62 (21)
1997–1998 Gençlerbirliği 11 (1)
1998–2000 NK Zagreb 25 (8)
2000–2004 Reggina 67 (11)
2003–2004 → Salernitana (loan) 38 (8)
2004–2005 Verona 38 (17)
2005–2007 Siena 49 (13)
2007–2010 Chievo 61 (8)
2007–2008 → Livorno (loan) 17 (2)
2010–2012 Cesena 49 (8)
2012–2013 Siena 29 (6)
Total 466 (103)
International career
1996–1998 Albania U21 8 (2)
1997 Albania U23 1 (1)
1996–2013 Albania 75 (18)
Managerial career
2015–2016 Albania (assistant)
2016–2018 Albania U19
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Erjon Bogdani (born 14 April 1977) is an Albanian professional football coach and former player. He is nicknamed "Bogu" or "Er-Bomber".[1][2]

Regarded as one of the most successful Albanian players of all time,[3] Bogdani began his career at Partizani Tirana in 1994 where he debuted at the age of 16. He left the club in January 1998 to sign with Gençlerbirliği.[4] That summer, Bogdani moved in Croatia to play for Zagreb,[4] before traveling to Italy where he enjoyed the best years of his career.[4]

Bogdani played in the following years in Serie A and B, representing Reggina, Salernitana, Verona, Siena, Chievo, Livorno and Cesena.[4] He became a free agent in May 2013 after his contract with Siena ran out, and retired from the sport in February 2014.[4]

Bogdani has 74 caps for Albania national team, making his debut in 1996 and scoring his first goal three years later.[5] With 18 goals, he is Albania's all-time top goalscorer, overtaking his former teammate Alban Bushi in 2011 by netting his 15th goal.[6] He holds numerous Albanian records, including most goals as substitute and oldest goalscoring in history, and has been dubbed as the best striker to play for the Red and Black.[7]

Following his retirement, Bogdani was initially appointed by Albanian Football Association as a youth talents scouter, starting the job in September 2014.[8] He began his managerial career by being named Gianni De Biasi assistant in August 2015.[9] In December 2016, he was named manager of Albania under-19 team.[10]

  1. ^ “Receta” e Bogdanit: Ja si mund ta mundim Danimarkën Panorama Sport
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Er-Bomber was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Partizani fton Bogdanin: Është nder të vish te ne. Lika: Lojtarëve po u mësojmë derbin" [Partizani invites Bogdani: It's an honor to come to us. Lika: We are teaching the derby to players] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Erjon Bogdani mund të lërë futbollin" [Erjon Bogdani can leave football] (in Albanian). Ora News. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference First goal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Record was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Records was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Scout was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Assistant was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference U19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).