Naim Krieziu
Encyclopedia
Naim Kryeziu (4 January 1918 – 20 March 2010) was an Albanian football player famous in Italy
in 1940s and 1950s.
Born in Đakovica (known in Albanian language
as Gjakove), Kingdom of Serbia
, Kryeziu was a particularly quick right wing able to run a time of 11 seconds in the 100 m
. He left his town in Kosovo as a youngster to join his brother in Tirana
, and making his footballing debut in the domestic top flight at the age of 15, and entering the national team
only one year later. Following the 1939 Italian invasion of Albania
, he was noted by an Italian sports professor who suggested him to AS Roma
. As he was considered an Italian following the annexion of Albania, he was allowed to enroll the Rome
ISEF (Italian sports university) and contemporarily play for AS Roma, where he won an Italian title in 1941-42
. He played for the giallorossi until 1948, when he joined A.C. Napoli
; he finally retired in 1953.
He later started an unimpressive coaching career, serving also as AS Roma head coach for a short time during the 1964-65 season as a replacement for Juan Carlos Lorenzo. He then became a scout for AS Roma, for which he discovered a young Giuseppe Giannini
when played in loca club Frattocchie Marino.
Krieziu died in Rome
at the age of 92. He was the last living player of the first historical AS Roma scudetto. AS Roma, who was scheduled to play a evening game against Udinese
on that day, played the game with black armbands to honour him.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1940s and 1950s.
Born in Đakovica (known in Albanian language
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
as Gjakove), Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
, Kryeziu was a particularly quick right wing able to run a time of 11 seconds in the 100 m
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
. He left his town in Kosovo as a youngster to join his brother in Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
, and making his footballing debut in the domestic top flight at the age of 15, and entering the 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...
only one year later. Following the 1939 Italian invasion of Albania
Italian invasion of Albania
The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign by the Kingdom of Italy against the Albanian Kingdom. The conflict was a result of the imperialist policies of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini...
, he was noted by an Italian sports professor who suggested him to AS Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
. As he was considered an Italian following the annexion of Albania, he was allowed to enroll the Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
ISEF (Italian sports university) and contemporarily play for AS Roma, where he won an Italian title in 1941-42
Serie A 1941-42
-Final classification:-Results:...
. He played for the giallorossi until 1948, when he joined A.C. Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
; he finally retired in 1953.
He later started an unimpressive coaching career, serving also as AS Roma head coach for a short time during the 1964-65 season as a replacement for Juan Carlos Lorenzo. He then became a scout for AS Roma, for which he discovered a young Giuseppe Giannini
Giuseppe Giannini
Giuseppe Giannini is a former Italian international footballer, who currently serves as head coach of Serie B side Grosseto. He spent the majority of his 16-year playing career with A.S...
when played in loca club Frattocchie Marino.
Krieziu died in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
at the age of 92. He was the last living player of the first historical AS Roma scudetto. AS Roma, who was scheduled to play a evening game against Udinese
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
on that day, played the game with black armbands to honour him.