Afrim Taku

Afrim Taku
Personal information
Full name Afrim Taku
Date of birth (1989-08-04) 4 August 1989
Place of birth Tiranë, Albania
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Tirana
Number 26
Youth career
2004–2008 Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2015 Tirana 111 (4)
2008–2009 → Skrapari (loan) 11 (0)
2016– Tirana 4 (3)
National team‡
2015– Albania 0 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 October 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 June 2015

Afrim Taku (born 4 August 1989 in Tiranë) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Albanian club Tirana in the Albanian Superliga. He made his debut for the club in 2010 and has since become an integral part of the first team, which led to an international call up by Albania head coach Gianni De Biasi for a friendly match against France on 13 June 2015.[1]

Club career

Early career

Taku began his football career as a 13 year old when he joined the KF Tirana academy, where he progressed through the ranks before eventually being loaned out to Albanian First Division side Skrapari for the 2008–09 campaign in order to gain first team experience. He made his professional debut in the First Division with Skrapari, where he featured in 11 league games as he helped the side narrowly avoid the relegation playoff places by a single point.[2]

He returned to his parent club Tirana but did not feature at all in the club's 2009–10 campaign, but he was promoted to the first team by head coach Nevil Dede ahead of the 2010–11 season, and he made his debut for the club in the Albanian Cup against his former side Skrapari on 20 October 2010 in a 1–0 away win in which Taku played the full 90 minutes of.[3] He made his Albanian Superliga debut on 20 November 2010 in a 3–1 home win over Elbasani, where he came on as a 76th-minute substitute for Mladen Žižović.[4] Dede left the club soon after and Mišo Krstičević took charge of the team, and the Croatian coach handed Taku his first Superliga start on 30 April 2011 in a 2–1 loss to Flamurtari Vlorë.[5] He made 5 league appearances in his debut season with Tirana as the club finished in a disappointing 5th place, and he made 4 cup appearances as Tirana went on to beat local rivals Dinamo Tirana in the final to win the trophy, which was the first major trophy of Taku's career.

Breakthrough

When Spanish coach Julián Rubio took charge of Tirana in June 2011, he placed his faith in the 21 year-old Taku, and he was handed his European debut in the club's season opener in the UEFA Europa League qualifier against Slovakian side Spartak Trnava, which ended in a goalless draw as Taku played the full 90 minutes.[6] He also played the full game in the second leg, which Tirana ultimately ended up losing 3–1 on aggregate, as they were knocked out of the competition.[7] He then played in his first ever Albanian Supercup against Skënderbeu Korçë on 18 August 2011, where he was substituted off in the second half of the 1–0 win as he won the second trophy of his career.[8]

Taku’s career took off when coach Julián Rubio came in charge of Tirana on June 2011. He was part of the senior squad almost on every game of the Albanian Superliga for the 2011–12 season except for two matches. Taku’s best performance was in the Albanian Supercup for 2011–12 season, a match where the two best football teams in Albania compete to win the ultimate trophy. He scored his first official goal in this decisive match which he dedicated to his coach and the national coach Gianni De Biasi.[9]

On 11 August 2014, Taku agreed a contract extension with the club, signing a contract for the 2014–15 season.[10] Following the end of the 2014–15 season, Taku moved to the United States to live with his wife, but he did not join a football club during his time there.[11]

The return

On 5 July 2016, after a year abroad he returned to Albania as he agreed play for Tirana, signing a one-year contract.[12] He was presented three days later along with Ansi Nika, and was handed his old squad number 26.[13] He made his return debut on 7 September in the opening league match against Teuta Durrës, playing full-90 minutes in a goalless draw.[14] Under the coach Ilir Daja, Taku was placed as a right-winger, moving him closed to the goal. He scored his first goal ten days later in the matchday 3 against Kukësi, helping his side to earn the third consecutive draw.[15] On 2 October, Taku scored two goals in the 3–0 home win against Flamurtari Vlorë; it was the first win of the season after four draws in the first four matches.[16][17]

International career

On 7 June 2015, after his good season with Tirana, Taku received his first call up from the coach Gianni De Biasi for the friendly match against France on 13 June 2015.[18] He was an unused substitute during the entire match, as Albania beat France 1–0 at Elbasan Arena to receive a historic result.[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of 14 August 2015[20]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
KF Skrapari 2008–09 Albanian First Division 11010——120
Total 11010——120
KF Tirana 2009–10 Albanian Superliga 0000——00
2010–11 504000—90
2011–12 2501402010420
2012–13 251404011342
2013–14 22241——263
2014–15 34173——414
2016–17 0000——00
Total 111433460211529
Career total 122434460211649

References

  1. ↑ "De Biazi shpall listën anti-Francë, mungojnë Agolli, Kukeli, Xhaka dhe Shkëlzen Gashi" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "2008–09 Albanian First Division". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "KF Skrapari 0–1 KF Tirana". Footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "Tirana vs. Elbasani 3 – 1". Soccerway. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2015y.
  5. ↑ "Flamurtari Vlorë vs. Tirana 3 – 1". Soccerway. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Tirana vs. Spartak Trnava 0 – 0". Soccerway. 14 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "Spartak Trnava vs. Tirana". Soccerway. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  8. ↑ Fation Shehu (19 August 2011). ""Luftë" në Korçë, Tirana fiton Superkupën" (in Albanian). Panorama. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "Tirana fiton Superkupën" (in Albanian). Shqipëria.com. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  10. ↑ Adela Merko (11 August 2014). "Arrihet akordi, Taku: Edhe për një vit te Tirana. Nuk është pak që tifozët të të duan" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  11. ↑ Adela Merko (21 June 2015). "Nga Kombëtarja drejt Amerikës, Taku: Kam oferta nga SHBA, dua t'i bashkohem të fejuarës" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Tirana zyrtarizon Afrim Takun" (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  13. ↑ "Ditë prezantimesh te Tirana, firmosin Afrim Taku dhe Ansi Nika" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  14. ↑ "Teuta-Tirana, start me barazim" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "S'ka fitues në "Selman Stërmasi", Tirana-Kukësi 2-2" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "Tirana e bukur, vjen fitorja e parë" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  17. ↑ "Tirana kthehet 5 dekada pas, start i dobët si në vitet '60" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "De Biazi shpall listën anti-Francë, mungojnë Agolli, Kukeli, Xhaka dhe Shkëlzen Gashi" (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  19. ↑ "Kaçe free-kick gives Albania win against France". UEFA.com. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  20. ↑ "Afrim Taku Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 August 2015.

External links

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