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Renato Arapi
Personal information
Date of birth	28 September 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth	Sukth, Durrës, PSR Albania
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre back, Left back
Team information
Current team	Ohod Club (assistant coach)
Youth career
1993–2002	Teuta
2002–2003	Dinamo Tirana
Senior career*
Years	Team
2003–2005	Dinamo Tirana
2003–2004	→ Erzeni (loan)
2005–2010	Besa
2007–2009	→ Silkeborg (loan)
2009–2010	→ Shkumbini (loan)
2010–2016	Skënderbeu
2016–2018	Boluspor
2018–2019	Afjet Afyonspor
2019–2021	Teuta
Total
International career
2004–2005	Albania U18
2005–2006	Albania U19
2006–2008	Albania U21
2011–2015	Albania
Managerial career
2021–2022	Teuta
2022–	Ohod Club (assistant)
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Renato Arapi (born 28 August 1986) is an Albanian professional football coach and former left-back and centre-back. He is an assistant coach with the Saudi club Ohod Club.

Club career

Early career

Arapi first joined local club Teuta Durrës in 1993 as a young child, where he would remain for 9 years, playing for the different youth teams within the club before leaving in 2002 to join Dinamo Tirana. Following his move he was placed into the U19 side with Dinamo Tirana, where his impressive displays earned him a call up to the senior side towards the end of the 2002–03 season, where he made his professional debut against his first club Teuta Durrës on 3 May 2003 in a 2–0 loss for Arapi's side.^[1] He was loaned out to Albanian First Division side Erzeni Shijak for the 2003–04 season, where he failed to break through into the first team and only made 2 appearances for the club during his loan spell before returning to Dinamo Tirana. In the summer transfer window in 2005, Arapi left Dinamo Tirana after failing to establish himself in the first team at the club, and he joined newly promoted Albanian Superliga side Besa Kavajë.

Besa Kavajë

Arapi joined Besa Kavajë and quickly established himself as a first team regular, playing in 19 league games and scoring one goal in his first season with the club, helping them to a respectable mid table 5th finish.^[2] The following season Besa Kavajë continued their good performances in the league, finishing once again in mid table, 6th out of 12 teams. Arapi was also a key figure in the club's Albanian Cup campaign which saw him win his first major trophy after beating Teuta Durrës 3–2 in the final.^[3] The following season he played the first half of the season with Besa Kavajë before going on a trial with Danish side Silkeborg and eventually joining the club on loan in January 2008 after impressing the management.

Silkeborg

He joined newly relegated Danish 1st Division side Silkeborg as a 21-year-old on a one-year loan deal from Besa Kavajë in January 2008 after initially impressing the club on trial.^[4]^[5]^[6] He joined the club mid season and featured in 10 league games, helping his side to a 3rd-place finish at the end of the 2007–08 season, missing out on the second promotion place to SønderjyskE. The following season he struggled for playing time, and only featured in 13 league games, but his side had a successful season in which they finished as runners-up in the league and earned promotion to the Danish Superliga. His loan deal expired at the end of the 2008–09 season and Silkeborg did not take up the option to sign Arapi permanently, thus meaning that he returned to his parent club Besa Kavajë.

Return to Albania

After a spell away from Albanian football, Arapi returned to his homeland in the summer of 2009 and quickly became an important first team player once again at Besa Kavajë, who had one of their best seasons in their history, after they finished as runners-up in the Albanian Superliga and they won the Albanian Cup. Arapi played in 31 league games and was a key driving force in Besa Kavajë's cup success, and he scored in the cup final against Vllaznia Shkodër in the 85th minute to take it to extra time, which is when Besa won the cup 2–1 over 120 minutes.^[7]

Skënderbeu Korçë

On 12 June 2015, Arapi signed a new one-year extension to his contract, lengthening his Skënderbeu Korçë career to 6 seasons.^[8]

On 14 June 2016, Arapi officially announced his departure from the club after six years via an open later to the fans.^[9] He stated that the left the club for familial reasons.^[10] He, along with Bledi Shkëmbi and Orges Shehi were the only players that won six consecutive league titles for the club.^[9]

Partizani Tirana

On 17 June 2016, Arapi joined fellow Albanian Superliga side Partizani Tirana on free transfer, signing a one-year contract.^[11] He was given the squad number 3, and made his competitive debut on 28 June in 2016–17 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round against Slovan Bratislava, which ended in a goalless draw.^[12]

Back to Teuta Durrës

On 30 January 2019, Arapi moved back to his home country after over two years in Turkey, and joined Teuta Durrës.^[13] After helping them win 3 trophies as captain, he retired on 19 August 2021.^[14]

Post-playing career

After retiring from playing, on 20 August 2021, Teuta announced that Arapi would become their new sporting director.^[15]

International career

Arapi was selected by Josip Kuže for a friendly against Argentina on 20 June 2011, receiving thus his first call-up to the senior side.^[16] He made his debut in the game which ended in a 4–0 loss by entering as an 81st-minute substitute.^[17]^[18]

Career statistics

Club

As of 6 August 2015^[19]^[20]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Dinamo Tirana	2002–03	Albanian Superliga	1	0	?	?	—		—		1	0
	2003–04		0	0	?	?	—		—		0	0
	2004–05		0	0	?	?	—		—		0	0
	Total		1	0	?	?	—		—		1	0
Erzeni Shijak	2003–04	Albanian First Division	2	0	?	?	—		—		2	0
Erzeni Shijak	Total		2	0	?	?	—		—		2	0
Besa Kavajë	2005–06	Albanian Superliga	19	1	?	?	—		—		19	1
	2006–07		27	1	?	?	—		—		27	1
	2007–08		15	1	?	?	3^[a]	0	1^[b]	0	19	1
	2009–10		31	0	6	1	—		—		37	1
	Total		92	3	6	1	3	0	1	0	102	4
Silkeborg IF	2007–08	Danish 1st Division	10	0	?	?	—		—		10	0
	2008–09	Danish 1st Division	13	0	?	?	—		—		13	0
	Total		23	0	?	?	—		—		23	0
Shkumbini Peqin	2010–11	Albanian Superliga	16	0	?	?	—		—		16	0
Shkumbini Peqin	Total		16	0	?	?	—		—		16	0
KF Skënderbeu Korçë	2010–11	Albanian Superliga	15	0	2	0	—		—		17	0
	2011–12		23	0	10	0	2^[c]	0	1^[b]	0	36	0
	2012–13		15	1	3	1	2^[c]	0	1^[b]	0	21	2
	2013–14		30	3	7	0	5^[c]	0	1^[b]	0	42	3
	2014–15		33	0	3	0	2^[c]	0	1^[b]	0	39	0
	2015–16		34	1	8	0	8^[d]	0	1^[b]	0	43	1
	Total		150	5	33	1	19	0	5	0	198	6
Partizani Tirana	2016–17	Albanian Superliga	—		—		6^[d]	0	—		6	0
Partizani Tirana	Total		—		—		6	0	—		6	0
Boluspor	2016–17	Turkish First League	19	0	3	0	—		—		22	0
	2017–18	Turkish First League	29	1	1	0	—		—		30	1
	Total		48	1	4	0	—		—		52	1
Afyonspor	2018–19	Turkish First League	8	0	2	0	—		—		10	0
Afyonspor	Total		8	0	2	0	—		—		10	0
Teuta Durrës	2018–19	Albanian Superliga	15	1	2	0	—		—		17	1
	2019–20		30	1	5	1	2^[a]	0	—		37	2
	2020–21		33	1	3	1	2^[a]	0	1^[b]	0	39	2
	2021–22		—		—		6	0	—		6	0
	Total		78	3	10	2	10	0	1	0	99	5
Career total			418	12	55	4	38	0	7	0	516	16

^ ^a ^b ^c All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Appearance in Albanian Supercup
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
^ ^a ^b Appearance(s) in both UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League

International

As of 15 June 2016^[21]^[22]

Albania national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2011	1	0
2012	1	0
2013	2	0
Total	4	0

Honours

Club

Besa Kavajë^[19]

Albanian Cup (2): 2006–07, 2009–10

Silkeborg^[19]

Danish 1st Division runner-up (1): 2008–09

Skënderbeu Korçë^[19]

Albanian Superliga (6): 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
Albanian Supercup (2): 2013, 2014

Teuta Durrës^[19]

Albanian Superliga (1): 2020–21
Albanian Supercup (1): 2020

Individual

Albanian Superliga Team of the Year: 2013–14

References

^ "Teuta 2-0 Dinamo" (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 3 May 2003. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ "Albania 2005-06". RSSF.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ "Besa fiton kupën e Shqiperisë" (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ "De nye i Silkeborg imponerer" (in Swedish). Tips Bladet. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ "Silkeborg henter albaner" (in Swedish). Bold. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ "Albaner på kontrakt i Silkeborg" (in Swedish). Ekstrabladet.dk. Archived from the original on 15 June 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ "Albania 2009-10". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ "Renato Arapi, edhe një vit i Skënderbeut" (in Albanian). Telesport.al. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ ^a ^b Sotir Kora (14 June 2016). "Zyrtare, Arapi largohet nga Skënderbeu" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ "Arapi largohet nga Skënderbeu" (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ "Arapi zyrtarisht i Partizanit" (in Albanian). Minuta90.al. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
^ "Europa League, Partizani barazon me Slovan Bratislavën" (in Albanian). Gazeta Shqip. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
^ Zyrtare, Teuta firmos me Renato Arapin, balkanweb.com, 30 January 2019
^ "Teuta njofton tërheqjen e Arapit: Kjo është një mirupafshim, ka një derë të hapur për…" [Teuta announce Arapi's retirement: This is a goodbye, he has a door open for] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
^ "U tërhoq nga futbolli, zbulohet posti që Renato Arapi merr tek Teuta" [He retired from football, Renato Arapi's new position at Teuta is announced] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
^ Roger Gonzalez (19 June 2011). "Argentina vs Albania Preview". Goal. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
^ "l'Argentina travolge l'Albania in un'amichevole di preparazione" (in Italian). Sport Live. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
^ "Draugiškose rungtynėse Argentina sutriuškino Albaniją" (in Lithuanian). Sportas Delfi. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Albania – R. Arapi – Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ "Football : Renato Arapi". Football Database. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ "Football PLAYER: Renato Arapi". EU-Football.info. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
^ "name=Renato Arapi". National-Football-Teams.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.