Artim Šakiri
Encyclopedia
Artim Šakiri (born 23 September 1973 in Struga
, SFR Yugoslavia) is a football midfielder
from the Republic of Macedonia
of Albanian ethnicity
, who most recently played for FK Karabakh
in Azerbijan.
, a team that won the Swedish premier league Allsvenskan
the same year. Playing alongside developing star Fredrik Ljungberg
.
In 2003, he moved from Bulgaria
n club CSKA Sofia to West Bromwich Albion
in England
. He made his debut in a 4-1 defeat away at local rivals Walsall
. In his first home league match for Albion
, Šakiri scored a spectacular long-range goal, helping his team to a 4-1 win over Burnley F.C.
. It was, however, his only goal for the club. He made 30 appearances during 2003–04, but the next season he only played three games and left the club. He was set to move to Burnley F.C.
, but the move fell through as his work permit
wasn't renewed. Instead, Šakiri went to AaB
in Denmark
. He was released by AaB
in 2006. In autumn 2006 Šakiri signed for Finnish
club FC Inter. He made five Veikkausliiga
appearances and scored three times, but his contract was not renewed. In 2007 he signed for FC Vaduz
. At the beginning of the season 2008 he has signed for Azeri side FK Karabakh
.
, coming on as a late sub for Sašo Miloševski
, and has been capped 75 times. He has been captain of the team for many of those years. In 2002, he scored a goal directly from a corner kick against England
.
Struga
Struga is a town and popular tourist destination situated in the south-western region of the Republic of Macedonia, lying on the shore of Lake Ohrid. The town of Struga is the seat of Struga Municipality.-Etymology:...
, SFR Yugoslavia) is a football midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
from the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
of Albanian ethnicity
Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia
Albanians are the largest ethnic minority in the Republic of Macedonia. Of the 2,022,547 citizens of Macedonia, 509,083, or 25%, are Albanian according to the latest national census in 2002. The Albanian minority lives mostly in the north-western part of the country...
, who most recently played for FK Karabakh
FK Karabakh
FK Qarabağ Ağdam , also known as FK Karabakh Aghdam, is an Azerbaijani football club from Agdam, playing in Azerbaijan Premier League and three times Azerbaijan Cup holders....
in Azerbijan.
Club career
In 1997 he moved from Vardar to Swedish side Halmstads BKHalmstads BK
Halmstads Bollklubb, also called HBK or just Halmstad, is a Swedish football club located in Halmstad in the southwest of Sweden. The club, formed 6 March 1914, competes in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan, and has won 4 national championship titles and 1 national cup title...
, a team that won the Swedish premier league Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
the same year. Playing alongside developing star Fredrik Ljungberg
Fredrik Ljungberg
Karl Fredrik "Freddie" Ljungberg is a Swedish footballer who currently plays as a right winger for Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan. Ljungberg was captain of the Swedish national team until he announced his international retirement after UEFA Euro 2008.Ljungberg was a model for Calvin Klein underwear...
.
In 2003, he moved from Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n club CSKA Sofia to West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He made his debut in a 4-1 defeat away at local rivals Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
. In his first home league match for Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, Šakiri scored a spectacular long-range goal, helping his team to a 4-1 win over Burnley F.C.
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
. It was, however, his only goal for the club. He made 30 appearances during 2003–04, but the next season he only played three games and left the club. He was set to move to Burnley F.C.
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, but the move fell through as his work permit
Work permit
Work permit is a generic term for a legal authorization which allows a person to take employment.It is most often used in reference to instances where a person is given permission to work in a country where one does not hold citizenship, but is also used in reference to minors, who in some...
wasn't renewed. Instead, Šakiri went to AaB
Aalborg Boldspilklub
Aalborg Boldspilklub is a Danish professional sports club based in the city of Aalborg. The club is also known as Aalborg BK or AaB for short. Through time the club has had branches in cricket, tennis and basketball, but currently controls teams in football, American football, ice hockey,...
in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. He was released by AaB
Aalborg Boldspilklub
Aalborg Boldspilklub is a Danish professional sports club based in the city of Aalborg. The club is also known as Aalborg BK or AaB for short. Through time the club has had branches in cricket, tennis and basketball, but currently controls teams in football, American football, ice hockey,...
in 2006. In autumn 2006 Šakiri signed for Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
club FC Inter. He made five Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
appearances and scored three times, but his contract was not renewed. In 2007 he signed for FC Vaduz
FC Vaduz
FC Vaduz is a Liechtenstein football club from Vaduz, that play in the Swiss Football League. The club plays at the national Rheinpark Stadion, which has a capacity of 6,127 when all seated but has additional standing places in the North and South ends of the ground, giving a total stadium capacity...
. At the beginning of the season 2008 he has signed for Azeri side FK Karabakh
FK Karabakh
FK Qarabağ Ağdam , also known as FK Karabakh Aghdam, is an Azerbaijani football club from Agdam, playing in Azerbaijan Premier League and three times Azerbaijan Cup holders....
.
International career
Šakiri made his debut for Macedonia in a March 1996 friendly match against MaltaMalta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
, coming on as a late sub for Sašo Miloševski
Sašo Miloševski
Sašo Miloševski is a retired Macedonian international football player. He used to play as a Midfielder.- Club career :...
, and has been capped 75 times. He has been captain of the team for many of those years. In 2002, he scored a goal directly from a corner kick against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.