Drilon Cenaj
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 12 September 1997 | ||
Place of birth | Gjakova, FR Yugoslavia | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Fushë Kosova | ||
Number | 32 | ||
Youth career | |||
2001–2013 | Sarajevo | ||
2013–2015 | Puskás Akadémia | ||
2015–2016 | Chievo | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016–2017 | Salernitana | 0 | (0) |
2017 | Velež Mostar | 1 | (0) |
2017–2018 | Novigrad | 16 | (2) |
2018–2019 | Pandurii Târgu Jiu | 31 | (1) |
2019 | Botev Vratsa | 0 | (0) |
2019 | Viitorul Târgu Jiu | 13 | (0) |
2019–2020 | Nyíregyháza | 5 | (0) |
2020 | Čelik Zenica | 3 | (0) |
2020 | Tuzla City | 0 | (0) |
2020–2022 | Szentlőrinc | 32 | (1) |
2022–2023 | Prishtina | 2 | (0) |
2023– | Fushë Kosova | 1 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2013 | Albania U17 | 2 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 August 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 February 2013 |
Drilon Cenaj (born 12 September 1997) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kosovo Superleague club Fushë Kosova.
Club career
Early career and Salernitana
Cenaj is a product of youth team systems of the different Bosnian and Hungarian sides.[1] On 15 September 2015, he signed with under-19 team of Chievo after agreeing to a multiyear deal.[2]
On 2 August 2016, Cenaj signed his first professional contract with Serie B side Salernitana after agreeing to a one-year deal.[3] Five days later, he was named as a Salernitana substitute for the first time in the 2016–17 Coppa Italia second round against Benevento, but was an unused substitute in that match.[4]
Velež Mostar
On 10 March 2017, Cenaj joined First League of FBiH side Velež Mostar. On 8 April 2017, he made his debut in a 3–0 away defeat against Budućnost Banovići after being named in the starting line-up.
Novigrad
On 1 August 2017, Cenaj joined Croatian Second League side Novigrad. His debut with Novigrad came eighteen days later in a 1–1 home draw against Varaždin after coming on as a substitute at 56th minute in place of Nemanja Belaković.[5]
Pandurii Târgu Jiu
On 19 February 2018, Cenaj joined Romanian Liga II side Pandurii Târgu Jiu. On 10 March 2018, he made his debut in a 2–1 home win against Mioveni after coming on as a substitute at 83rd minute in place of Brian Lemac.[6]
Botev Vratsa and Viitorul Târgu Jiu
On 9 January 2019, Cenaj joined Bulgarian First Professional League side Botev Vratsa.[7] A month later, he joined Romanian Liga II side Viitorul Târgu Jiu. On 23 February 2019, he made his debut in a 0–2 away defeat against Universitatea Cluj after being named in the starting line-up.[8]
Nyíregyháza
On 12 July 2019, Cenaj joined Nemzeti Bajnokság II side Nyíregyháza.[9] On 18 August 2019, he made his debut in a 3–0 home win against Békéscsaba after being named in the starting line-up.[10]
Čelik Zenica
On 17 February 2020, Cenaj joined Bosnian Premier League side Čelik Zenica after agreeing to a one-and-a-half-year deal.[11] His debut with Čelik Zenica came six days later in a 0–2 away defeat against Zrinjski Mostar after coming on as a substitute at 46th minute in place of Marko Perišić.[12]
Tuzla City and Szentlőrinc
On 26 June 2020, Cenaj joined Bosnian Premier League side Tuzla City.[13] However, less than two months later, on 18 August, he suddenly left the club.[14] On 22 October 2020, he joined Nemzeti Bajnokság II side Szentlőrinc. His debut with Szentlőrinc came three days later in a 3–0 away win against Békéscsaba after coming on as a substitute at 72nd minute in place of Alexander Torvund.[15]
Prishtina
On 21 January 2022, Cenaj joined Kosovo Superleague side Prishtina after agreeing to a one-and-a-half-year deal.[16] On 7 April 2022, he was named as a Prishtina substitute for the first time in the 2021–22 Kosovar Cup semi-finals against Llapi.[17] His debut with Prishtina came on 4 May in a 5–0 home win against Feronikeli after being named in the starting line-up.[18]
Fushë Kosova
In August 2023, Cenaj joined Kosovo Superleague side Fushë Kosova.[19] His debut with Fushë Kosova came on 19 August in a 1–6 away defeat against Malisheva after being named in the starting line-up.[20]
International career
During the 2012–13 period, Cenaj represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the U15,[21] and U17 level.[22][23] In February 2013, he becomes part of Albania U17 with which he made his debut in a 1–1 away draw against Italy after being named in the starting line-up.[24] On 15 March 2014, Cenaj returned to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina again by accepting their call-up from the under-17 team for the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship elite round,[25] but due to injury, could not be part of the national team.[26] In addition to Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, he has the right to represent his homeland, Kosovo at the international level.
References
- ^ "Drilon Cenaj, ylli i ri 18 vjeçar shqiptar në Serie A" [Drilon Cenaj, the 18-year-old Albanian new star in Serie A] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 3 November 2015.
Cenaj filloj te luaj prej moshes 4 vjeqare ne shkollen e futbollit te Sarajeves, aty u stervit per 9 vite radhazi dhe ne vitin 2013 u largua nga klubi i Sarajeves dhe u bashkua me akademinë e Puskas, dhe qe nga atehere u hetua nga klubet e lartepermendura italiane si talent i madh
- ^ "Drilon Cenaj signed for Chievo Verona". SarajevoTimes. 15 September 2015.
- ^ "Një tjetër shqiptar luan në Itali, Cenaj firmos për Salernitanën" [Another Albanian plays in Italy, Cenaj signs for Salernitana] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 2 August 2016.
- ^ "Benevento vs. Salernitana 0–0". Soccerway. 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Novigrad vs. Varaždin 1–1". Soccerway. 19 August 2017.
- ^ "Pandurii Târgu Jiu vs. Mioveni 2–1". Soccerway. 10 March 2018.
- ^ "Bivši igrač Sarajeva karijeru nastavlja u Bugarskoj" [The former Sarajevo player continues his career in Bulgaria]. life.ba (in Bosnian). 10 January 2019.
- ^ "Viitorul P. Târgu Jiu vs. Universitatea Cluj 0–2". Soccerway. 10 March 2018.
- ^ "Iz Rumunije u Mađarsku: Drilon Cenaj potpisao za Nyíregyháza Spartacus" [From Romania to Hungary: Drilon Cenaj signs for Nyíregyháza Spartacus]. SCSport.ba (in Bosnian). 12 July 2019.
- ^ "Nyíregyháza Spartacus vs. Békéscsaba 3–0". Soccerway. 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Drilon Cenaj narednu godinu i po stanovnik Bilinog polja" [Drilon Cenaj is a resident of Bilino Polje for the next year and a half]. SportSport.ba (in Bosnian). 17 February 2020.
- ^ "NK Čelik - HŠK Zrinjski (0:1) 0:2" (in Bosnian). Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 23 February 2020.
- ^ "Cenaj potpisao za Tuzla City" [Cenaj signed for Tuzla City]. SportSport.ba (in Bosnian). 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Drilon Cenaj napustio Tuzla City" [Cenaj left Tuzla City]. Klix.ba (in Bosnian). 18 August 2020.
- ^ "Békéscsaba vs. Szentlőrinc SE 0–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ "Zyrtare: Prishtina nënshkruan me Drilon Cenaj" [Official: Prishtina signed Drilon Cenaj] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 21 January 2022.
- ^ FC Prishtina [@fcprishtinaofficial] (7 April 2022). "FC Prishtina VS FC Llapi" – via Instagram.
- ^ "Formacionet zyrtare: Prishtina – Feronikeli" [Official lineups: Prishtina – Feronikeli]. TopSporti (in Albanian). 4 May 2022.
- ^ "Fushë Kosova afër transferimit të Drilon Cenajt, mungon vetëm firma" [Fushë Kosova is close to the transfer of Drilon Cenaj, only the signature is missing]. Gazeta Blic (in Albanian). August 2022.
- ^ "Malisheva – Fushë Kosova, 11-shet startuese" [Malisheva – Fushë Kosova, the starting 11]. TopSporti. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ "Od sutra selekcija U-15 u kampu" [Starting tomorrow, the U-15 selection is in the camp] (in Bosnian). Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ "Prijateljske utakmice "U-17" reprezentacije" [Friendly matches of the "U-17" national team] (in Bosnian). Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- ^ "Zimski kamp "U-17" i "U-15" reprezentacija" [Winter camp "U-17" and "U-15" national team] (in Bosnian). Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ "Miqësorja, Shqipëria U-17 "shtanget" në limit nga sllovenët" [The friendly, Albania U-17 "stunned" in the limit by the Slovenians] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 20 February 2013.
- ^ ""U-17" reprezentacija" ["U-17" national team] (in Bosnian). Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
- ^ "Okupila se "U-17" reprezentacija" [The "U-17" national team gathered] (in Bosnian). Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
External links
- Drilon Cenaj at Soccerway
- 1997 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Gjakova
- Men's association football midfielders
- Kosovan men's footballers
- US Salernitana 1919 players
- FK Velež Mostar players
- NK Novigrad players
- CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu players
- POFC Botev Vratsa players
- ACS Viitorul Târgu Jiu players
- Nyíregyháza Spartacus FC players
- NK Čelik Zenica players
- FK Tuzla City players
- Szentlőrinci SE footballers
- FC Prishtina players
- First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina players
- First Football League (Croatia) players
- Liga II players
- Nemzeti Bajnokság II players
- Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina players
- Kosovan expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
- Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Italy
- Expatriate men's footballers in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Expatriate men's footballers in Croatia
- Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Croatia
- Expatriate men's footballers in Romania
- Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Romania
- Expatriate men's footballers in Bulgaria
- Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Bulgaria
- Expatriate men's footballers in Hungary
- Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Hungary