Foto Strakosha
Encyclopedia
Fotaq "Foto" Strakosha is a retired Albania
n goalkeeper. Strakosha is one of Albania's most popular and greatest goalkeepers who captained the national team for a number of years before his retirement in 2005. He became Albania's most ever capped player having 73 caps to his name for the Albanian national team from 1990 to 2005.
, Albania
Strakosha was Albania's national team
goalkeeper from 1990 to 2004. He made his debut on 30 May 1990 and retired on 13 October 2004.
Strakosha played first for Minatori (now SK Tepelena
) and then Albanian majors Dinamo before Greek
clubs Giannina
, both Ethnikos -Piraeus
& Asteras-, Olympiacos, Panionios, Ionikos, and Kallithea
.
After his retirement, he became a goalkeeping coach. Until 2007
he was the Olympiakos goalkeeping coach, when he signed for the Cypriot champions APOEL FC
.
by coach Agron Sulaj for a Euro 1992 qualifier against Iceland
in May 1990.
On the day of his first international game, he was already 25 years and 62 days old. The reason for such a late debut on the international stage was a surplus of qualified keepers in the Albanian international squads like the veteran Perlat Musta and the very promising youngster Blendi Nallbani
Due to Albania's staunch communist rule, despite his talent, Strakosha was playing in his country's domestic league as every single player in the international squad .
In his debut, Albania lost the game in Reykjavik
2–0 which added to their miserable run of 19 games without a single win. The game itself was not to be a special one for the rookie goalkeeper as he conceded 2 goals, which kept him aside for the following games.
Strakosha had to wait more than a year for his next shot at international football, with the departure of Agron Sulaj as the national manager and the introduction of Bejkush Birce.
This game was played after the fall of Communism in Albania which meant that from there on, players would be allowed to play abroad for the first time in 45 years.
A notable impact like this, struck directly to the national team since nine players – notably Sulejman Demollari
and Edmond Abazi
– would be playing in foreign leagues, the majority choosing neighbour Greece
, the same way Strakosha did.
His second international cap would be coincidentally in a friendly against these cross-border rivals which ended in a 2–0 win after striker Sokol Kushta
scored twice.
Strakosha's career would follow up to the point to become Albania's most capped player, and achieving an extense career under the Eagle's
goalposts.
Although living in Greece, and being considered as a Northern Epirot by the Greek media, Strakosha always publicly expressed his pride for being in the Albanian National Team.
His mediatic exposition recahed up levels up to being aired in the Greek TV on behalf of mis-treatment to Albanian immigrants in Greece, as well as hoping for friendship and understanding between the two neighbour countries.
|1990||1||0
|-
|1991||2||0
|-
|1992||4||0
|-
|1993||2||0
|-
|1994||4||0
|-
|1995||6||0
|-
|1996||2||0
|-
|1997||6||0
|-
|1998||6||0
|-
|1999||7||0
|-
|2000||5||0
|-
|2001||6||0
|-
|2002||2||0
|-
|2003||11||0
|-
|2004||8||0
|-
|2005||1||0
|-
!Total||73||0
|}
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n goalkeeper. Strakosha is one of Albania's most popular and greatest goalkeepers who captained the national team for a number of years before his retirement in 2005. He became Albania's most ever capped player having 73 caps to his name for the Albanian national team from 1990 to 2005.
Career
Born in MemaliajMemaliaj
Memaliaj in the district of Tepelenë in southern Albania is a small industrial town established in 1946 to support the mining activity in the area. In 1990 the production of coal was around 500,000 tons per year. After the fall of communism and introduction of a free market economy the mine closed...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
Strakosha was Albania's national team
Albania national football team
The Albania national association football team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
goalkeeper from 1990 to 2004. He made his debut on 30 May 1990 and retired on 13 October 2004.
Strakosha played first for Minatori (now SK Tepelena
SK Tepelena
Sportklub Tepelena is an Albanian football club based on Tepelenë, founded in 1945. Their home ground is "Karafil Muço Stadium" .The team currently played in Albanian Second Division Group B.-Current squad:...
) and then Albanian majors Dinamo before Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
clubs Giannina
PAS Giannina
PAS Giannina , the Panepirotic Athletic Association Giannina, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Ioannina, the capital of Greece’s Epirus region.Following the 2010–11 season, PAS was promoted to Greece’s Super League division...
, both Ethnikos -Piraeus
Ethnikos Piraeus
Ethnikos Piraeus F.C. is a Greek professional football club based in Piraeus, currently competing in Football League 2, the Greek third division .-Background:...
& Asteras-, Olympiacos, Panionios, Ionikos, and Kallithea
Kallithea FC
Kallithea F.C. is a Greek professional football club based in Kallithea, currently competing in the Football League .-Background:...
.
After his retirement, he became a goalkeeping coach. Until 2007
2007 in football (soccer)
The following are the association football events of the year 2007 throughout the world.-Events:* February 13-April 26 - CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2007....
he was the Olympiakos goalkeeping coach, when he signed for the Cypriot champions APOEL FC
APOEL FC
APOEL F.C. is a professional football club based in Lefkosia , Cyprus and they are one of the founding members of the Cyprus Football Association. APOEL is one of the most popular football teams in Cyprus and they are the most successful with an overall tally of 21 championships, 19 cups and 12...
.
International career
Strakosha was first called up in the Albanian national teamAlbania national football team
The Albania national association football team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
by coach Agron Sulaj for a Euro 1992 qualifier against Iceland
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
in May 1990.
On the day of his first international game, he was already 25 years and 62 days old. The reason for such a late debut on the international stage was a surplus of qualified keepers in the Albanian international squads like the veteran Perlat Musta and the very promising youngster Blendi Nallbani
Blendi Nallbani
Blendi Nallbani also known as Tata is an Albanian goalkeeper who currently for KF Tirana in the Albanian Superliga. He is the club's vice captain under Devis Mukaj...
Due to Albania's staunch communist rule, despite his talent, Strakosha was playing in his country's domestic league as every single player in the international squad .
In his debut, Albania lost the game in Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
2–0 which added to their miserable run of 19 games without a single win. The game itself was not to be a special one for the rookie goalkeeper as he conceded 2 goals, which kept him aside for the following games.
Strakosha had to wait more than a year for his next shot at international football, with the departure of Agron Sulaj as the national manager and the introduction of Bejkush Birce.
This game was played after the fall of Communism in Albania which meant that from there on, players would be allowed to play abroad for the first time in 45 years.
A notable impact like this, struck directly to the national team since nine players – notably Sulejman Demollari
Sulejman Demollari
Sulejman Demollari also known as Sul Demollari is a former football player and later on the coach for the Albania national football team. He made 45 appearances for Albania, the eleventh highest in the teams history. From 1983 to 1995 he made played 45 matches and scored one goal for Albania...
and Edmond Abazi
Edmond Abazi
Edmond Abazi is a former Albanian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.-Club career:Abazi made his league debut for Dinamo Tirana in 1985. He was one of the first players to move abroad after Albania's borders opened up in 1990 and he played for clubs such as Hajduk Split, S.L....
– would be playing in foreign leagues, the majority choosing neighbour Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, the same way Strakosha did.
His second international cap would be coincidentally in a friendly against these cross-border rivals which ended in a 2–0 win after striker Sokol Kushta
Sokol Kushta
Sokol Kushta was an Albanian football player. Kushta was a striker who made 31 caps for Albania and scored 10 goals for the national team. He played in Greece for Iraklis Thessaloniki and Apollon Kalamarias, in Cyprus for Ethnikos Achnas and Olympiakos Nicosia and in Albania for Flamurtari Vlorë...
scored twice.
Strakosha's career would follow up to the point to become Albania's most capped player, and achieving an extense career under the Eagle's
Flag of Albania
The national flag of Albania is a red flag with a silhouetted black double-headed eagle in the centre. It is the only red and black flag of a recognised sovereign state....
goalposts.
Although living in Greece, and being considered as a Northern Epirot by the Greek media, Strakosha always publicly expressed his pride for being in the Albanian National Team.
His mediatic exposition recahed up levels up to being aired in the Greek TV on behalf of mis-treatment to Albanian immigrants in Greece, as well as hoping for friendship and understanding between the two neighbour countries.
National team statistics
|-|1990||1||0
|-
|1991||2||0
|-
|1992||4||0
|-
|1993||2||0
|-
|1994||4||0
|-
|1995||6||0
|-
|1996||2||0
|-
|1997||6||0
|-
|1998||6||0
|-
|1999||7||0
|-
|2000||5||0
|-
|2001||6||0
|-
|2002||2||0
|-
|2003||11||0
|-
|2004||8||0
|-
|2005||1||0
|-
!Total||73||0
|}
Dinamo Tirana
- Kategoria superioreKategoria superioreThe Albanian Superliga , the highest level of association football in Albania, was founded in 1930 under the name Kategoria e Parë ....
: 1989–90 - Kupa e shqipërisëKupa e shqipërisëThe Albanian football Cup is the main "knockout" competition in Albanian football. The competition started in 1939 as "Kupa e Mbretit" . Just after a year the cup was suspended as the Second World War started. It started again in 1948 as "Kupa e Republikes"...
(2): 1988–89, 1989–90 - Superkupa e shqipërisëAlbanian SupercupThe Albanian Supercup of football has been played since 1989. It is a single match at the beginning of the season between the winners of the Albanian First Division and Albanian Cup. Every match has been played in the National Stadium of Tirana....
: 1990