Labinot Harbuzi

Labinot Harbuzi

Personal information
Full name	Labinot Harbuzi
Date of birth	April 4, 1986 (1986-04-04)
Place of birth	Pristina, SFR Yugoslavia
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club	Manisaspor
Number	86
Youth career
1996–1998	Malmö BI
1999–2000	Falkenbergs FF
2000–2001	Malmö FF
2002–2004	Feyenoord
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–2006	Feyenoord	0	(0)
2004–2005	→ Excelsior (loan)	9	(0)
2006–2009	Malmö FF	50	(7)
2009–2012	Gençlerbirliği	40	(5)
2012–	Manisaspor	6	(0)
National team
2001–2002	Sweden U17	12	(3)
2003–2004	Sweden U19	13	(3)
2006–2009	Sweden U21	3	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 February 2012. † Appearances (Goals).

Labinot Harbuzi (born 4 April 1986) is a Swedish footballer of Kosovar-Albanian descent who is currently playing for Manisaspor.

Early life

Harbuzi migrated to Sweden with his family because of the Kosovo war. His father, Ismet, was a famous table tennis player in Kosovo.

Club career

Early career

Growing up in the Malmö-suburb Rosengård, he began his career with Malmö BI, the same club where Zlatan Ibrahimović began his career. Being a very hot prospect in his young years, he was spotted by Swedish Malmö FF.

Feyenoord

At 15 years old he was signed by Dutch club Feyenoord where he started playing professional football in the club's reserve team and youth team. In 2005 he was loaned to their satellite club Excelsior where he played 9 league games.

Malmö FF

In the spring of 2006 he returned to Malmö FF and made his Allsvenskan debut that same year. In 2009 he made history when he became the first goalscorer in the then newly built Swedbank Stadion.

Gençlerbirliği

On 11 July 2009, Harbuzi signed with the Turkish club Gençlerbirliği S.K. His contract with the side started in January 2010, when his contract with Malmö FF expired. He has since scored 5 goals, gaining 11 assists, a promising returning for a Bosman signing. He has received great praise from Gençlerbirliği fans and head coach, Fuat Çapa. He left Gençlerbirliği on 20 December 2011 after coming to a mutual agreement with the club to terminate his contract.

International career

He was a Swedish under-21 international, making his debut against Republic of Ireland on 28 February 2006. He also played in the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.