Arbër Avni Zeneli (born 25 February 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or left winger for Allsvenskan club IF Elfsborg and the Kosovo national team. Born in Sweden, he previously represented the country at the international youth level and was part of the Sweden U21 team that won the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
 Zeneli with Reims in 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Arbër Avni Zeneli | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 25 February 1995 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Säter, Sweden | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Left winger | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | IF Elfsborg | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2007 | Hälsinggårdens AIK | ||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2013 | IF Elfsborg | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | IF Elfsborg | 46 | (11) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2019 | Heerenveen | 88 | (17) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–2023 | Reims | 76 | (8) | ||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Adana Demirspor | 12 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024– | IF Elfsborg | 27 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2012 | Sweden U17 | 7 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | Sweden U19 | 17 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 2014–2016 | Sweden U21 | 11 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016– | Kosovo | 33 | (9) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 March 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
Club career
editIF Elfsborg
edit
Youth teams
editZeneli started playing football for Hälsinggården, but left as a 12-year old for IF Elfsborg's youth academy. On 29 October 2011, he scored a late winning goal in the final of Swedish Under-17 Championships against Brommapojkarna.[1] The following year he helped his team reach the final in the same competition and he scored another goal, although this time IF Elfsborg lost to Malmö.[2] On 5 November 2013, he won the Allsvenskan U21 with IF Elfsborg against Häcken after coming on as a substitute at 63rd minute in place of Arjan Mostafa.[3]
First team
edit"Zeneli is one of the greatest talents I have ever seen."
Having been promoted to the senior team in December 2013.[5] On 1 March 2014, he made his debut with IF Elfsborg in the group stage of 2013–14 Svenska Cupen against Östersunds after being named in the starting line-up[6] and he went on to play a total of three games in the competition which IF Elfsborg later won beating Helsingborg in the final.[7]
Zeneli made his first Allsvenskan appearance on 31 March after coming on as a substitute at 75th minute in place of injured Simon Hedlund in a 2–1 away defeat against Åtvidabergs.[8] He played 16 games during the 2014 season and finished the season by scoring his first senior goal that subsequently sealed the win for his team against Brommapojkarna and he dedicated the goal to his former coach Klas Ingesson who had died a couple of days earlier.[9]
Heerenveen
editOn 10 November 2015, Zeneli signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Eredivisie club Heerenveen.[10] Heerenveen reportedly paid a €2 million transfer fee.[10] On 16 January 2016, he made his debut in a 5–2 home win against PEC Zwolle after being named in the starting line-up.[11] On 23 January 2016, Zeneli scored his first goal for Heerenveen in a 3–1 win against Willem II in Matchday 19 of 2015–16 Eredivisie,[12] and his performance earned him the man of the match award.[13]
Reims
edit2018–19 season
editOn 25 January 2019, Heerenveen announced for the contract negotiations between Zeneli and Reims.[14] A day later, he joined Ligue 1 side Reims after agreeing to a five-year deal.[15] Reims reportedly paid a €4 million transfer fee.[16] On 2 February 2019, he made his debut in a 2–1 home win against Marseille after coming on as a substitute at 73rd minute in place of injured Mathieu Cafaro.[17]
2019–20 season
editDuring international duties in June 2019, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and was sidelined for most of the 2019–20 season.[18] After returning from injury, the Ligue 1 season was suspended indefinitely and since cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19][20]
2020–21 season
editZeneli returned to the pitch for the 2020–21 season, and made a total of 36 appearances in which he scored three goals.[21] He also featured in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers with Reims, who were eventually knocked out by Fehérvár in the third round.[22]
In August 2021, Zeneli tore his anterior cruciate ligament again, sidelining him for another extended period of time.[23]
International career
editSweden
edit
From 2010, until 2016, Zeneli has been part of Sweden at youth international level, respectively has been part of the U17, U19 and U21 teams and he with these teams played 35 matches and scored 7 goals. On 2 June 2015, he was named as part of the Sweden U21's 23-man squad for the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Czech Republic,[24] where was declared the champion even though he was an unused substitute in those matches.
Kosovo
editOn 24 August 2016, Zeneli decided to represent Kosovo at senior international level.[25] On 2 October 2016, he received a call-up from Kosovo for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Croatia and Ukraine.[26] On 6 October 2016, Zeneli made his debut with Kosovo in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Croatia after being named in the starting line-up.[27][28]
Personal life
editZeneli was born in Säter, Sweden to Albanian parents[29] from Selac, a village near Mitrovica,[30] but grew up in Falun, before moving to Borås with his family when he was 11 years old.[31][32] Zeneli has named his father Avni as his greatest role model in life.[33] He is the older brother of the Kosovan footballer Besfort Zeneli.[34]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 14 July 2024[35]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| IF Elfsborg | 2014 | Allsvenskan | 16 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1[a] | 0 | 21 | 2 |
| 2015 | Allsvenskan | 30 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 5[a] | 0 | 41 | 12 | |
| Total | 46 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 62 | 14 | ||
| Heerenveen | 2015–16 | Eredivisie | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 4 | |
| 2016–17 | Eredivisie | 32 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2[a] | 0 | 38 | 7 | |
| 2017–18 | Eredivisie | 22 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2[a] | 0 | 25 | 6 | |
| 2018–19 | Eredivisie | 17 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 20 | 4 | ||
| Total | 88 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 100 | 21 | ||
| Reims | 2018–19 | Ligue 1 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 3 | |
| 2019–20 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Ligue 1 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 31 | 3 | |
| 2021–22 | Ligue 1 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 26 | 1 | ||
| Total | 76 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 82 | 9 | ||
| Adana Demirspor | 2023–24 | Süper Lig | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |
| IF Elfsborg | 2024 | Allsvenskan | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 16 | 4 |
| Career total | 237 | 40 | 23 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 273 | 48 | ||
International
edit- As of match played 28 March 2023[36]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kosovo | 2016 | 3 | 0 |
| 2017 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 9 | 6 | |
| 2019 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 33 | 9 | |
- International goals
- As of 24 March 2021[36]
Scores and results list Kosovo's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 29 May 2018 | Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland |  Albania
|
1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 2. | 2–0 | |||||
| 3. | 10 September 2018 | Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo |  Faroe Islands
|
1–0 | 2–0 | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D |
| 4. | 20 November 2018 | Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo |  Azerbaijan
|
1–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| 5. | 2–0 | |||||
| 6. | 4–0 | |||||
| 7. | 25 March 2019 | Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo |  Bulgaria
|
1–1 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| 8. | 24 March 2021 | Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo |  Lithuania
|
1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 9. | 3–0 |
Honours
editIF Elfsborg
Sweden U21
References
edit- ^ "Elfsborg mästare i pojk-SM" [Elfsborg, champions in boys-SM] (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 29 October 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
Målen: 1-0 (5) Viktor Nilsson, 1-1 (8) Isak Nyhlén, 2-1 (85) Arber Zeneli
- ^ "Malmö FF Svenska Mästare 2012" [Malmö FF, Swedish Master 2012] (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 28 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
Målen: 0-1 (27) Petar Petrovic, 0-2 (45) Petar Petrovic, 1-2 (48) Philip Olofsson, 2-2 (51) Arber Zeneli, 2-3 (59) Jesper Rindemo
- ^ "Elfsborgs U21-lag vann SM" [Elfsborg's U21 team won the SM] (in Swedish). Sveriges Radio. 5 November 2013.
- ^ "Anders Svensson tokhyllar: "En av de största talangerna jag sett"" [Anders Svensson says: "One of the greatest talents I have seen"]. FotbollDirekt (in Swedish). 20 May 2014.
- ^ "Elfsborg slår rekord i "U-uppflyttning"" [Elfsborg beats the record in "U-move"] (in Swedish). Swedish Elite Football. 18 December 2013.
- ^ "IF Elfsborg 3–0 Östersunds FK" (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 1 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016.
- ^ "Elfsborg cupmästare 2014" [Elfsborg, Cup Champion 2014] (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 18 May 2014.
- ^ "Åtvidaberg vs. Elfsborg 2–1". Soccerway. 31 March 2014.
- ^ "Zeneli rörd efter sitt första Allsvenska mål" [Zeneli moved after her first Allsvenskan goal] (in Swedish). Borås Tidning. 1 November 2014.
- ^ a b "sc Heerenveen versterkt zich in winterstop met Arber Zeneli" [sc Heerenveen strengthens Arber Zeneli in winter break] (in Dutch). SC Heerenveen. 10 November 2015.
- ^ "Arbër Zeneli debuton me humbje te Heerenveeni" [Arbër Zeneli debuts with defeat at Heerenveen] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 16 January 2016.
- ^ "Svensksuccé när Heerenveen vände och vann" [Swedish success when Heerenveen turned and won]. Fotbollskanalen (in Swedish). 23 January 2016.
- ^ SC Heerenveen [@scHeerenveen] (23 January 2016). "Man of the match is Arber Zeneli! #heewil" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Arber Zeneli voor contractonderhandelingen naar Frankrijk" [Arber Zeneli for contract negotiations to France] (in Dutch). SC Heerenveen. 25 January 2019.
Arber Zeneli zet zijn voetbalcarrière mogelijk voort in de Ligue 1. De 23-jarige aanvaller heeft toestemming gekregen om vrijdag af te reizen naar Frankrijk en te onderhandelen over een contract met Stade de Reims. Wanneer club en speler tot een akkoord komen, vertrekt Zeneli deze winter uit Friesland
- ^ "Arber Zeneli, un dynamiteur au SDR!" [Arber Zeneli, a blaster at the SDR!] (in French). Stade de Reims. 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Zyrtare: Zeneli i bashkohet Stade de Reims" [Official: Zeneli joins Stade de Reims] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 26 January 2019.
Besohet se klubit francez i ka kushtuar ky transferim rreth katër milionë euro, kurse lojtari ka nënshkruar kontratë pesë vjeçare
- ^ "Zeneli debuton për klubin e tij të ri, ja nota me të cilën u vlerësua paraqitja e tij" [Zeneli debuts for his new club, the rating with which his appearance was evaluated] (in Albanian). Gazeta Express. 2 February 2019.
Ylli i Kosovës, Arbër Zeneli, debutoi sonte për klubin e tij të ri, Stade de Reims, ku për 17 minutat që i luajti, u vlerësua me notë 5.9. Zeneli e filloi ndeshjen në stol, mirëpo në minutën e 73-të, trajneri David Guion vendosi ta inkuadrojë kosovarin në ndeshje
- ^ Rosenlund, Alexander; Pavlidis, Frederic (10 June 2019). "Mardröm för Zeneli - blir borta runt åtta månader efter knäskada". fotbollskanalen (in Swedish).
- ^ "Communiqué de la LFP". LFP (in French). 13 March 2020.
- ^ Andersson, Fredrik (6 October 2020). "Zeneli kom tillbaka från korsbandsskadan - sedan blåstes ligan av: Det var tufft för mig". fotbollskanalen (in Swedish).
- ^ "Arber Zeneli | Football Stats | Stade de Reims | Season 2020/2021 | Soccer Base". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "Fehérvár-Reims 2021 History | UEFA Europa League". UEFA.com. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "Reims: Arber Zeneli out with ACL injury". Ligue 1. 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Zeneli med i Ericsons EM-trupp" [Zeneli joins Ericson's EM squad] (in Swedish). Swedish Football Association. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
- ^ "Zeneli väljer Kosovo - här är U21-truppen" [Zeneli chooses Kosovo - here is the U21 squad]. Fotbollskanalen (in Swedish). 24 August 2016.
- ^ "Përzgjedhësi Bunjaki shpalli listën për ndeshjet me Kroacinë e Ukrainën" [Bunjaki announces the list of players for the matches with Croatia and Ukraine] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 2 October 2016. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "Formacionet zyrtare: Kosovë – Kroaci" [Official line-ups: Kosovo – Croatia] (in Albanian). Klan Kosova. 6 October 2016.
Kosova: Ujkani; Paqarada, Pepa, Pnishi, Përdedaj; V. Berisha, Kryeziu; B. Berisha, Zeneli, Rashica; Celina
- ^ "Formacionet zyrtare, Kosovë – Kroaci" [Official line-ups, Kosovo – Croatia] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 6 October 2016.
Kosova: Ujkani; Paqarada, Pepa, Pnishi, Përdedaj; V. Berisha, Kryeziu; B. Berisha, Zeneli, Rashica; Celina
- ^ "Europeiskt intresse för Elfsborgs Zeneli" [European interest in Elfsborg's Zeneli] (in Swedish). Sveriges Radio. 15 June 2015.
Arber Zeneli, född 25 februari 1995, är en svensk mittfältare med albanskt ursprung som spelar för IF Elfsborg i Allsvenskan
- ^ "Arbër Zeneli, djaloshi me origjinë nga Mitrovica që po bën krenarë të gjithë (FOTO)" [Arbër Zeneli, the boy with origin from Mitrovica that is making everyone proud (PHOTO)] (in Albanian). Kallxo. 21 November 2018.
I lindur më 25 shkurt të vitit 1995, në qytetin Säter të Suedisë, Arbëri i ka prindërit nga Kosova, konkretisht nga Selaci i Mitrovicës
- ^ "Elfsborgs Arber Zeneli om Ingesson och barndomen i Falun" [Elfsborg's Arber Zeneli about Ingesson and childhood in Falun] (in Swedish). Dala-Demokraten. 8 April 2015.
- ^ "Zeneli – en bollkonstnär i skulpturstaden" [Zeneli – a ball artist in the sculpture town] (in Swedish). Borås Tidning. 17 December 2017.
- ^ "Supertalangen peppas av Anders Svensson" [The super talent is peppered by Anders Svensson] (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Njihuni me Besfortin, vëllain e Arbër Zenelit që pritet ta 'pushtojë' botën e futbollit" [Meet Besfort, the brother of Arbër Zeneli who is expected to 'conquer' the world of football]. korrespodenti.com (in Albanian). 13 October 2019.
- ^ Arbër Zeneli at Soccerway
- ^ a b "Arbër Zeneli". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
External links
edit- Arbër Zeneli at Soccerway
- Arbër Zeneli at WorldFootball.net
- Arbër Zeneli – UEFA competition record (archive)
- Arbër Zeneli at the Swedish Football Association (in Swedish)
- Arbër Zeneli club team profile at SvFF (in Swedish) (archived)
- Arbër Zeneli national team profile at SvFF (in Swedish) (archived)