Besian Idrizaj
Encyclopedia
Besian Idrizaj was an Austrian professional football player who last played as a striker for Swansea City
. He was ethnic Albanian
.
He died of a suspected heart attack on 15 May 2010 at the age of 22.
in the summer of 2005 on a two year contract, following a trial spell. He was Austria's young player of the year in 2004–05.
At the time he declared "I have always been a Liverpool fan and it is a dream come true to play for them. If you get a chance to go to Liverpool on trial then you have to take it. You cannot ignore a trial with the reigning Champions League winners. I would even have swum across the channel just to take part."
His 2005–06 season was interrupted by injuries. However Idrizaj was expected to be a regular member of Gary Ablett and Hughie McAuley
's reserve squad for the 2006–07 season. He made his debut for the first team in a pre-season friendly against Wrexham
on 15 July 2006, playing for the first 45 minutes upfront as a striker, alongside fellow debutant Craig Bellamy
.
After going on loan to Luton Town
in 2007 he returned to Liverpool for the close season. On 7 July 2007, Idrizaj scored a hat trick in a friendly for the Reds against Wrexham in a period of 26 minutes. All three goals were set up by Jermaine Pennant
.
team Luton Town
, until the end of the 2006/07
season. He made his English league debut with them the day after, but was substituted after 49 minutes. He went on to play six more times for the club, scoring one goal against Southend United
.
on a 12 month loan deal.
Idrizaj made his debut for Crystal Palace against Charlton Athletic
on 1 September 2007 in the South London derby as a 72nd minute replacement for Clinton Morrison
.
However, Idrizaj failed to establish himself at Crystal Palace and in January 2008 Manager Neil Warnock
demanded that Liverpool take Idrizaj back during the January transfer window as Idrizaj would see no further action during his remaining time on loan with Crystal Palace. On 31 January 2008, Idrizaj of his own accord agreed to a loan move to Oldham Athletic for the remainder of the 2007/08 season after cancelling the remainder of the loan deal with Crystal Palace
. However, after interference from his agent Idrizaj backtracked on the deal and decided not to join The Latics.
. However, after undergoing medical tests, he was cleared to resume his football career, after the tests indicated the collapse was a result of a virus rather than a heart problem.
for FC Eilenburg
and received a red card in his second game.
took Idrizaj on trial on the 18 August 2009 and he signed for the club on 22 August 2009. He was hailed by Swans manager Paulo Sousa
"He's not quite a striker but he is an attacking player, I know a lot about him and he is the sort of player that could fit into our squad." He signed after impressing The Swans boss in training. He was given permission to train on field during the Reading
and Coventry City
games. It was reported he was offered the contract during the Coventry City game on 22 August. He accepted the contract at half time. He played three games for the Swans that season as they narrowly missed out of the Football League Championship
playoffs and the chance of Premier League football. Swansea have since retired Idrizaj's number 40 shirt.
win over Reading on 30 May 2011, the Swansea players all wore t-shirts with Idrizaj's photo and name on them.
Swansea also decided to retire Besian Idrizaj's number 40 shirt.
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
. He was ethnic Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
.
He died of a suspected heart attack on 15 May 2010 at the age of 22.
Liverpool
He signed for Liverpool FC from LASK LinzLASK Linz
LASK Linz is an Austrian association football club, from the Upper-Austrian state capital Linz. It is the oldest football club hailing from that region, and currently plays in the Austrian Football First League. The club's colours are black and white...
in the summer of 2005 on a two year contract, following a trial spell. He was Austria's young player of the year in 2004–05.
At the time he declared "I have always been a Liverpool fan and it is a dream come true to play for them. If you get a chance to go to Liverpool on trial then you have to take it. You cannot ignore a trial with the reigning Champions League winners. I would even have swum across the channel just to take part."
His 2005–06 season was interrupted by injuries. However Idrizaj was expected to be a regular member of Gary Ablett and Hughie McAuley
Hughie McAuley
Hughie McAuley was the Liverpool F.C. Reserves team manager from 2003-2009, and for the 2005/06 season worked closely with Paco Herrera....
's reserve squad for the 2006–07 season. He made his debut for the first team in a pre-season friendly against Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
on 15 July 2006, playing for the first 45 minutes upfront as a striker, alongside fellow debutant Craig Bellamy
Craig Bellamy
Craig Douglas Bellamy is a Welsh footballer who plays as a striker for Liverpool and the Welsh national team. Born in Cardiff, Bellamy was the captain of the Welsh national side for four years after taking over from Ryan Giggs in 2007, but stood down in January 2011 due to constant injuries...
.
After going on loan to Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in 2007 he returned to Liverpool for the close season. On 7 July 2007, Idrizaj scored a hat trick in a friendly for the Reds against Wrexham in a period of 26 minutes. All three goals were set up by Jermaine Pennant
Jermaine Pennant
Jermaine Lloyd Pennant is a footballer who plays for Stoke City in the Premier League.Born in Nottingham, Pennant played for his local side Notts County as a youngster. He earned promising reviews in the youth team at County and Arsenal signed him in 1999...
.
Luton Town
On 16 March 2007, Idrizaj went on loan to ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
team Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, until the end of the 2006/07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season. He made his English league debut with them the day after, but was substituted after 49 minutes. He went on to play six more times for the club, scoring one goal against Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
.
Crystal Palace
On 30 August 2007 he signed for Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
on a 12 month loan deal.
Idrizaj made his debut for Crystal Palace against Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
on 1 September 2007 in the South London derby as a 72nd minute replacement for Clinton Morrison
Clinton Morrison
Clinton Hubert Morrison is an English-born professional footballer who plays for Milton Keynes Dons, on loan from Sheffield Wednesday...
.
However, Idrizaj failed to establish himself at Crystal Palace and in January 2008 Manager Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
demanded that Liverpool take Idrizaj back during the January transfer window as Idrizaj would see no further action during his remaining time on loan with Crystal Palace. On 31 January 2008, Idrizaj of his own accord agreed to a loan move to Oldham Athletic for the remainder of the 2007/08 season after cancelling the remainder of the loan deal with Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
. However, after interference from his agent Idrizaj backtracked on the deal and decided not to join The Latics.
Return to Austria
On 31 January 2008 he signed for Austrian club Wacker Innsbruck on loan, from Liverpool, until the end of the 2007/08 football season, when his contract at Liverpool was terminated. While at Innsbruck, he collapsed on the pitch during a game against Sturm GrazSK Sturm Graz
SK Sturm Graz is an Austrian association football club, based in Graz, Styria, playing in the Austrian Bundesliga. The club was founded in 1909 and the club colours are black and white....
. However, after undergoing medical tests, he was cleared to resume his football career, after the tests indicated the collapse was a result of a virus rather than a heart problem.
FC Eilenburg
Idrizaj played five games in the German NOFV-Oberliga SüdNOFV-Oberliga Süd
The NOFV-Oberliga Süd is the fifth tier of the German football league system in the southern states of former East Germany. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008, it was the fourth tier of the league system. It covers the German states of Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Saxony...
for FC Eilenburg
FC Eilenburg
FC Eilenburg is a German association football club from the city of Eilenburg, Saxony.The association was created 1 January 1994 as the successor side to Sportverein Mörtitz. The new club joined the Landesliga Sachsen on the strength of SVs Bezirksliga Sachsen title...
and received a red card in his second game.
Swansea City
Swansea CitySwansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
took Idrizaj on trial on the 18 August 2009 and he signed for the club on 22 August 2009. He was hailed by Swans manager Paulo Sousa
Paulo Sousa
Paulo Manuel Carvalho de Sousa, CavIH is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and a current manager.He was a member of the “Portuguese Golden Generation”...
"He's not quite a striker but he is an attacking player, I know a lot about him and he is the sort of player that could fit into our squad." He signed after impressing The Swans boss in training. He was given permission to train on field during the Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
and Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
games. It was reported he was offered the contract during the Coventry City game on 22 August. He accepted the contract at half time. He played three games for the Swans that season as they narrowly missed out of the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
playoffs and the chance of Premier League football. Swansea have since retired Idrizaj's number 40 shirt.
Death
Idrizaj died on 15 May 2010 at the age of 22, barely two weeks after the end of the Championship campaign. Reports suggest he suffered a heart attack in his sleep. It was also reported that Idrizaj had previously collapsed on two separate occasions while playing football: once during a trial with his former club LASK Linz in November 2008 and also during a match for Wacker Innsbruck in February 2008.Tribute
As a mark of respect following Swansea City's 4–2 Championship Play Off Final2011 Football League Championship play-off Final
The 2011 Football League Championship play-off final was a football match contested by Reading and Swansea City on 30 May 2011 at Wembley Stadium to decide the third team to be promoted from the Championship to the Premier League for the 2011–12 season....
win over Reading on 30 May 2011, the Swansea players all wore t-shirts with Idrizaj's photo and name on them.
Swansea also decided to retire Besian Idrizaj's number 40 shirt.
Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... |
Europe | Others | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Swansea City | 2009/10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Fußballclub Wacker Innsbruck | 2007/08 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C. Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in... |
2007/08 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
2007/08 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was... |
2006/07 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
2006/07 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005/06 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| LASK Linz LASK Linz LASK Linz is an Austrian association football club, from the Upper-Austrian state capital Linz. It is the oldest football club hailing from that region, and currently plays in the Austrian Football First League. The club's colours are black and white... |
2005/06 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2004/05 | 27 | 3 | 1? | 1? | |||||||||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 4 | ||||||||
| 2003/04 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||
| Admira Linz | 2003/04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Total | 55 | 4 | 1? | 1? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 5 | |