Altin Lala
 |
| Personal information |
| Date of birth |
18 November 1975 (1975-11-18) (age 36) |
| Place of birth |
Kavajë, Albania |
| Height |
1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in) |
| Playing position |
Defensive Midfielder |
| Club information |
| Current club |
Hannover 96 |
| Number |
8 |
| Senior career* |
| Years |
Team |
Apps† |
(Gls)† |
| 1993–1996 |
Dinamo Tirana |
|
|
| 1996–1998 |
Borussia Fulda |
56 |
(6) |
| 1998– |
Hannover 96 |
290 |
(10) |
| National team‡ |
| 1996– |
Albania |
78 |
(3) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 June 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 September 2011 |
Altin Lala (born 18 November 1975) is an Albanian footballer, currently playing for German Bundesliga team Hannover 96. He currently reached the highest caps (78) in the Albania national football team.
[edit] Club career
The defensive midfielder began his football career as a youth at SK Tirana before moving to Germany with the third flight side Borussia Fulda in January 1994.
[edit] Hannover 96
On 21 July 1998, he joined newly-promoted 2. Bundesliga team Hannover 96; making his debut on 30 July 1998, in a 1–0 victory over Karlsruher SC. Here, he helped the club win the promotion to the Bundesliga in 2001–02 and since has played over 149 Bundesliga games, becoming the longest-serving player within their squad. In all his time at Hannover 96 Lala has only scored one Bundesliga goal. In 2004, he became team captain and remained so until the 2007/08 season, being popular both within the team and with fans (who have nicknamed him "The Battle Dwarf" (German: Kampfzwerg) due to his combative style of play).[1] In the 2007–08 season, he made 28 league appearances without scoring a goal. Lala has not made a great start to the 2008-09 season, he has only managed to start in five of the opening games and has only managed to come on as a substitute in some of the other games. Hannover 96 have not made a good sat either as they have only managed seven wins this season.
He has also enjoyed a long international career, making 78 appearances for his country since 1998, the second highest in Albania's international history. He has also scored three goals for his country.[2] His first international goal came in March 2003 in a European Qualifying match against Russia in the 79th minute. The match ended 3–1 for Albania and became one of Albania's greatest ever achievements in football. His second goal came just three months later in the 22nd minute of a thrilling 3–2 loss to Switzerland. Lala has been the captain of his country since Igli Tare was no longer capped by former manager Otto Baric.
[edit] National team statistics
[3]
| Albania national team |
| Year |
Apps |
Goals |
| 1998 |
7 |
0 |
| 1999 |
6 |
0 |
| 2000 |
3 |
0 |
| 2001 |
6 |
0 |
| 2002 |
4 |
0 |
| 2003 |
5 |
2 |
| 2004 |
7 |
0 |
| 2005 |
9 |
0 |
| 2006 |
6 |
1 |
| 2007 |
9 |
0 |
| 2008 |
6 |
0 |
| 2009 |
1 |
0 |
| 2010 |
|
|
| Total |
78 |
3 |
[edit] International goals
[edit] Honours
[edit] Career stats
As of: 17 October 2008
[edit] References
| Persondata |
| Name |
Lala, Altin |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
Footballer |
| Date of birth |
18 November 1975 |
| Place of birth |
Kavajë, Albania |
| Date of death |
|
| Place of death |
|
Russia
Switzerland
San Marino
Albania
Germany
