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Samir Ujkani
	Ujkani with Novara in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth	5 July 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth	Vučitrn, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Kosovo (sports director)
Youth career
2001–2006	Ingelmunster
2006–2007	Anderlecht
2007–2008	Palermo
Senior career*
Years	Team
2007–2015	Palermo
2009–2012	→ Novara (loan)
2013	→ Chievo (loan)
2015–2017	Genoa
2016	→ Latina (loan)
2016–2017	→ Pisa (loan)
2017–2018	Cremonese
2018–2019	Çaykur Rizespor
2019–2021	Torino
2021–2023	Empoli
Total
International career
2007–2009	Albania U21
2008–2014	Albania
2014–2022	Kosovo
Managerial career
2023–	Kosovo (sports director)
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Samir Ujkani (born 5 July 1988) is a former Kosovan professional footballer who is the current sports director of the Kosovo national team.

Early life

Ujkani was born in Resnik, a village near Vushtrri, SAP Kosovo, SR Serbia, at the time part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. His family then moved to Belgium six years after his birth.^[2]

Club career

Youth clubs

At the age of thirteen, Ujkani enrolled into Ingelmunster, spending six years there before moving to Anderlecht. The Anderlecht football academy has a reputation of producing talented goalkeepers such as Jacky Munaron.^[3] Ujkani played until June 2007 for the Anderlecht Under-19s, and made also ten appearances with their reserves team. In June 2007, he agreed to sign a five-year contract with Palermo of Italy's Serie A.^[2]

Palermo

Since then, Ujkani served as unused substitute in two UEFA Cup matches for Palermo, and several Serie A matches as well. He was confirmed as third-choice goalkeeper for the Rosanero's 2008–09 season, and later promoted as second goalkeeper after the club chose to transfer-list veteran goalkeeper Alberto Fontana.

On 26 April 2009, Ujkani made his professional debut with Palermo, replacing injured Marco Amelia during a Serie A match against Milan at the San Siro.^[4] His performance was congratulated from Kaká at the end of the match.^[5] In July 2009, he was loaned out to Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Novara in exchange with Giacomo Brichetto, also in order to gain first team experience.^[6]

On 14 June 2012, Palermo owner Maurizio Zamparini confirmed that Ujkani will be playing on Palermo for the 2012–13 season.^[7]^[8] On 22 June 2012, Palermo announced from their website to have re-acquired the full transfer rights of Ujkani and fellow Novara player Michel Morganella.^[9]

For Palermo's 2013–14 season, spent in Serie B after its previous season's relegation, he was used as a second-choice goalkeeper – receiving playing time – and being praised for his development relative to his previous stint with Palermo. During December and January 2014, he became temporary first-choice to cover for the injured Stefano Sorrentino. His contract with Palermo expired 30 June 2015.

Loan at Novara

He was loaned to Novara, and the loan was extended in 2010.^[10]

On 31 January 2011, Palermo announced it had part of Ujkani's transfer rights to Novara as part of a bid involving striker Pablo González^[11] (€5 million).^[12]

Loan at Chievo

After the arrival of goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino at Palermo, Ujkani moved on loan to Chievo on 29 January 2013.^[13] In his short stint there, he did not play a single game, serving as back-up to Christian Puggioni, and was not acquired by the Verona-based club, thus making his return to Palermo by the end of season.

Genoa

On 19 July 2015, Genoa announced the signing of Ujkani on a free transfer,^[14]^[15] he did not play a single game.

Loan at Latina

On 8 January 2016, Ujkani joined Serie B side Latina on loan.^[16] On 16 January 2016, he made his debut in a 1–0 home defeat against former club Novara after being named in the starting line-up.

Loan at Pisa

On 11 July 2016, Ujkani joined Serie B side Pisa on loan. On 7 August 2016, he made his debut with Pisa in the second round of 2016–17 Coppa Italia against Brescia after being named in the starting line-up.

Cremonese

On 14 July 2017. Ujkani signed with the newly promoted team of Serie B side Cremonese.^[17] On 6 August 2017, he made his debut with Cremonese in the second round of 2017–18 Coppa Italia against Virtus Entella after being named in the starting line-up.

Çaykur Rizespor

On 18 July 2018. Ujkani signed with the newly promoted team of Süper Lig side Çaykur Rizespor, on a three-year contract.^[18] On 26 September 2018, he made his debut for Çaykur Rizespor in the third round of the 2018–19 Turkish Cup against Tarsus Idman Yurdu after being named in the starting line-up.^[19]

From the beginning of 2019, Ujkani was excluded from the first team squad alongside 4 other foreign players and moved down to the U21 squad.^[20]^[21]

Retirement

On 1 November 2023 he announced his retirements from playing after 4 months being unattached since contract expiration with Empoli.^[22]

International career

Albania

Ujkani received an Albanian passport in May 2007,^[23] and started playing for the Albania U21. He made his debut on 1 June in a European qualification match against Italy U21. On 6 October 2008, he received his first senior call-up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification qualifying matches with Hungary and Portugal.^[24] He made his full senior debut on 10 June 2009 in a 1–1 draw with Georgia in Albania.^[25] Ujkani lost his starting place to Etrit Berisha during the 2014 World Cup qualification.

Kosovo

On 2 March 2014. Ujkani received a call-up from Kosovo for the first permitted by FIFA match against Haiti^[26] and made his debut after being named in the starting line-up.

Career statistics

Club

As of 22 June 2022^[21]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other^[a]		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Palermo	2007–08	Serie A	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2008–09		1	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2012–13		19	0	1	0	—		20	0
	2013–14	Serie B	11	0	0	0	—		11	0
	2014–15	Serie A	3	0	1	0	—		4	0
	Total		34	0	2	0	—		36	0
Novara (loan)	2009–10	Lega Pro Prima Divisione	23	0	3	0	1	0	27	0
	2010–11	Serie B	39	0	1	0	—		40	0
	2011–12	Serie A	24	0	2	0	—		26	0
	Total		86	0	6	0	1	0	93	0
Chievo (loan)	2012–13	Serie A	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Genoa	2015–16	Serie A	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Latina (loan)	2015–16	Serie B	21	0	0	0	—		21	0
Pisa (loan)	2016–17	Serie B	35	0	3	0	—		38	0
Cremonese	2017–18	Serie B	37	0	1	0	—		38	0
Çaykur Rizespor	2018–19	Süper Lig	1	0	4	0	—		5	0
Torino	2019–20	Serie A	1	0	0	0	—		1	0
	2020–21	Serie A	1	0	0	0	—		1	0
	Total		2	0	0	0	—		2	0
Empoli	2021–22	Serie A	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
	2022–23	Serie A	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	1	0	—		1	0
Career total			216	0	17	0	1	0	235	0

^ Including other competitions, such as Supercoppa di Serie C

International

As of match played 27 September 2022^[27]

National team	Year	Apps
Albania	2009	4
	2010	1
	2011	8
	2012	5
	2013	2
Total		20
Kosovo	2014	2
	2015	2
	2016	5
	2017	7
	2018	8
	2019	2
	2020	2
	2021	4
	2022	4
Total		36

References

^ Samir Ujkani at WorldFootball.net
^ ^a ^b "Migliaccio e Ujkani i primi acquisti del Palermo". US Città di Palermo. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
^ Jean-Paul Bonomi (6 February 2010). "Ujkani: "Novara? Città molto tranquilla, super-organizzata e… la società di calcio è fantastica!"". oknovara.it. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
^ "Esordio di Ujkani in Serie A". US Città di Palermo. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
^ http://news.al/lajme/artikull/iden/236101/titulli/Ujkani-Kaka-me-pergezoi Ujkani : Kaka me pergezoi ne fund te ndeshjes
^ "NEWS: ARRIVA SAMIR UJKANI" (in Italian). Novara Calcio. 24 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
^ "Zamparini e konfirmon: Ujkani portier i ri i Palermos" (in Albanian). asport. 14 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
^ "Samir Ujkani happy to be staying with Palermo". tribalfootball. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
^ "MOVIMENTI DI MERCATO" [MARKET MOVEMENTS] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
^ "MOVIMENTI IN USCITA DEL PALERMO" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
^ "Bilancio Palermo 2010/11: utile grazie a Cavani e Kjaer" (in Italian). ju29ro.com. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
^ "ACQUISTATO PABLO ANDRES GONZALEZ" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
^ "UJKANI CEDUTO AL CHIEVO, CETTO SI TRASFERISCE AL SAN LORENZO" [UJKANI SOLD AT CHIEVO, CETTO MOVES IN SAN LORENZO] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
^ "IL GRIFONE PRENDE SAMIR UJKANI" (in Italian). Genoa C.F.C. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
^ "Serie A TIM – Calcio mercato". legaseriea.it. Lega Nazionale Professionisti. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015.
^ "Ujkani è nerazzurro" (in Italian). U.S. Latina Calcio. January 2016. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
^ "Croce e Ujkani nuovi innesti grigiorossi" (in Italian). Cremonese. 14 July 2017.
^ "Ujkani Çaykur Rizespor'da" [Ujkani in Çaykur Rizespor] (in Turkish). Çaykur Rizespor. 18 July 2017.
^ "Çaykur Rizespor 2-0 Tarsus İdman Yurdu" (in Turkish). Çaykur Rizespor. 26 September 2018.
^ Okan Buruk: Emin adımlarla yolumuza devam etmek istiyoruz, fanatik.com.tr, 31 January 2019
^ ^a ^b "Samir Ujkani". Soccerway.
^ "Ujkani annuncia l'addio al calcio: "Non potevo immaginarmi questo cammino"" [Ujkani announces his retiremetns:"Could not immagine such a path"]. tuttomercatoweb.com (in Italian). 1 November 2023.
^ "PËR DHËNIE TË SHTETËSISË SHQIPTARE" [FOR GIVING THE ALBANIAN CITIZENSHIP] (in Albanian). Qendra e Botimeve Zyrtare. 23 May 2007.
^ "Albania: Ujkani convocato nazionale "A"" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
^ "Albania vs. Georgia". soccerway.com. Perform Group. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
^ "Kosova shpall listën anti-Haiti". Albeu (in Albanian). 2 March 2014.
^ "Samir Ujkani". EU-football.info.