Fatos Beciraj
Encyclopedia
Fatos Beqiraj is a Montenegrin
footballer of Albanian
ethnicity. He plays for Croatia
n side Dinamo Zagreb in the Prva HNL, having signed for them in August 2010 from Budućnost Podgorica
.
with the local club KF Shqiponja
at 17 years of age before joining their city rivals KF Besa
in July 2007. After spending the first half of the 2007–08 season with Besa his good performances in the Kosovar Superliga attracted attention from several clubs in the region, and in January 2008 he moved to the Montenegrin
side FK Budućnost Podgorica
.
He immediately established himself as a first team regular at Budućnost, scoring 9 goals in 15 appearances in the second half of the 2007–08 season, helping the club win the Montenegrin championship title and finish runners-up in the 2007–08 Montenegrin Cup. In the following two seasons Bećiraj scored 28 league goals in 62 matches for the club, becoming league top scorer in the 2008–09 season with 18 goals scored.
It was announced on 30 August 2010 that Bećiraj signed for Croatian powerhouse Dinamo Zagreb.
Bećiraj played very well during the 2010–2011 season and was regularly called up to the Montenegro national team
. He played in 22 matches and scored 8 goals, most notably a beautiful goal against NK Rijeka
and a fine header against Hajduk Split.
Bećiraj struggled to find his goalscoring form at the beginning of the 2011–12 season, finally scoring after eight matches without a goal, netting the fifth goal in a 5–0 win against NK Karlovac
. He then scored the last goal in a 4–1 win against Malmö FF
in the Champions League Play-off
.
Bećiraj then continued his goalscoring form, scoring against NK Varaždin, NK Istra
, NK Zadar
, NK Šibenik and RNK Split
in the 1. HNL.
On 23 November 2011, Bećiraj scored Dinamo's first goal in the 2011-12 Champions League, netting a header in Dinamo's 6-2 away loss to Real Madrid
at the Santiago Bernabéu
.
by coach Dušan Vlaisavljević in 2009, winning his first cap in a 2011 European Under-21 Championship qualifier
against Kazakhstan U21
on 7 June 2009. He went on to earn five caps for the U21 team before receiving his first call-up for the senior
team in March 2009, for a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Italy
. He had his international debut in the match, coming on as a substitute for Radomir Đalović in the 70th minute. He scored his first goal for Montenegro
on 17 November 2010 in a friendly match against Azerbaijan
.
Bećiraj said in an interview that should the Kosovo national football team
be allowed to play international events, he would consider leaving the Montenegro team to play for Kosovo.
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
footballer of 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...
ethnicity. He plays for Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n side Dinamo Zagreb in the Prva HNL, having signed for them in August 2010 from Budućnost Podgorica
FK Buducnost Podgorica
FK Budućnost is a football club from Podgorica, Montenegro, currently competing in the First League of Montenegro. Its colours are blue and white. FK Buducnost is a part of the Budućnost sport society.-History:...
.
Career
He began his career in PećPec
Peć or Pejë is a city and municipality in north-western Kosovo and Metohija - Serbia, and the administrative centre of the homonymous district. Governor of city is Ali Berisha....
with the local club KF Shqiponja
KF Shqiponja
Klubi Futbollistik Shqiponja Pejë was a football club based in Peć, Kosovo . The club was founded in 1999....
at 17 years of age before joining their city rivals KF Besa
KF Besa
Klubi Futbollistik Besa is an amateur football club based in Peć, Kosovo and plays in the top division of football in Kosovo, the Kosovar Superliga....
in July 2007. After spending the first half of the 2007–08 season with Besa his good performances in the Kosovar Superliga attracted attention from several clubs in the region, and in January 2008 he moved to the Montenegrin
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
side FK Budućnost Podgorica
FK Buducnost Podgorica
FK Budućnost is a football club from Podgorica, Montenegro, currently competing in the First League of Montenegro. Its colours are blue and white. FK Buducnost is a part of the Budućnost sport society.-History:...
.
He immediately established himself as a first team regular at Budućnost, scoring 9 goals in 15 appearances in the second half of the 2007–08 season, helping the club win the Montenegrin championship title and finish runners-up in the 2007–08 Montenegrin Cup. In the following two seasons Bećiraj scored 28 league goals in 62 matches for the club, becoming league top scorer in the 2008–09 season with 18 goals scored.
It was announced on 30 August 2010 that Bećiraj signed for Croatian powerhouse Dinamo Zagreb.
Bećiraj played very well during the 2010–2011 season and was regularly called up to the Montenegro national team
Montenegro national football team
The Montenegro national football team represents Montenegro in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro, the governing body for football in Montenegro...
. He played in 22 matches and scored 8 goals, most notably a beautiful goal against NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
and a fine header against Hajduk Split.
Bećiraj struggled to find his goalscoring form at the beginning of the 2011–12 season, finally scoring after eight matches without a goal, netting the fifth goal in a 5–0 win against NK Karlovac
NK Karlovac
NK Karlovac is a Croatian football club based in the town of Karlovac. They play in the Prva HNL, the country's top division, having been promoted to top level at the end of the 2008–09 season...
. He then scored the last goal in a 4–1 win against Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
in the Champions League Play-off
2011–12 UEFA Champions League
The 2011–12 UEFA Champions League is the 57th season of the European Cup, Europe's premier football tournament, and the 20th season in its current Champions League format. The final venue will be the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany...
.
Bećiraj then continued his goalscoring form, scoring against NK Varaždin, NK Istra
NK Istra
NK Istra is a Croatian football club, from city of Pula. The club currently plays in the Treća HNL but Istra has also played in Prva HNL .Istra was found in 1961 from a merger of NK Pula and NK Uljanik.-Seasons:...
, NK Zadar
NK Zadar
NK Zadar is a Croatian football club based in Zadar, a city on the Adriatic coast. The club was founded in 1945.Josip Skoblar, Đovani Roso, Dado Pršo and Luka Modrić, are among their most notable former players....
, NK Šibenik and RNK Split
RNK Split
RNK Split is a Croatian football club based in the city of Split.-History:Radnički nogometni klub means "Workers' football club".The club was known as workers' club. The club had a strong fanbase in the Split's shipyard...
in the 1. HNL.
On 23 November 2011, Bećiraj scored Dinamo's first goal in the 2011-12 Champions League, netting a header in Dinamo's 6-2 away loss to Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
at the Santiago Bernabéu
Santiago Bernabéu
Santiago Bernabéu may refer to:*Santiago Bernabéu Yeste - the former Real Madrid footballer and president*Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - the football stadium in Madrid named after the above...
.
International career
Bećiraj was first called up for the Montenegro U21Montenegro national under-21 football team
The Montenegro national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Montenegro and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro...
by coach Dušan Vlaisavljević in 2009, winning his first cap in a 2011 European Under-21 Championship qualifier
2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
The 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship started with a qualifying competition which began on 27 March 2009 and finished on 13 October 2010. The final tournament is being held in Denmark between 11–25 June 2011....
against Kazakhstan U21
Kazakhstan national under-21 football team
The Kazakhstan national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Kazakhstan and is controlled by the Football Federation of Kazakhstan...
on 7 June 2009. He went on to earn five caps for the U21 team before receiving his first call-up for the senior
Montenegro national football team
The Montenegro national football team represents Montenegro in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro, the governing body for football in Montenegro...
team in March 2009, for a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
. He had his international debut in the match, coming on as a substitute for Radomir Đalović in the 70th minute. He scored his first goal for Montenegro
Montenegro national football team
The Montenegro national football team represents Montenegro in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro, the governing body for football in Montenegro...
on 17 November 2010 in a friendly match against Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan national football team
The Azerbaijan national football team is the national football team of Azerbaijan and is controlled by Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan...
.
Bećiraj said in an interview that should the Kosovo national football team
Kosovo national football team
The Kosovo national football team represents Republic of Kosovo in international men's football. Controlled by the Football Federation of Kosovo, the governing body for football in Kosovo, they are not a member of FIFA or UEFA....
be allowed to play international events, he would consider leaving the Montenegro team to play for Kosovo.
Honours
- Montenegrin First LeagueMontenegrin First LeagueThe First League of Montenegro is the top football league in Montenegro. It is headed by the Football Association of Montenegro. 12 teams participate in this league. The winner of the Montenegrin First League starts the qualifications for the UEFA Champions League from the second round...
(1): 2007–08 - Croatian First League (1): 2010–112010–11 Prva HNLThe 2010–11 Prva HNL season was the twentieth season of the Prva HNL since its establishment in 1992. It began on 23 July 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011...
- Croatian CupCroatian CupThe Croatian Cup is an annually held football tournament for Croatian football clubs and is the second most important competition in Croatian football after the Prva HNL league championship. It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation and usually runs from late August to May...
(1): 2010–112010–11 Croatian CupThe 2010–11 Croatian Cup is the twentieth season of Croatia's football knockout competition.The defending champions are Hajduk Split, having won their 5th title the previous year by defeating Šibenik in the final....
External links
- Fatos Bećiraj at Transfermarkt.de