Full name Bledi Shkembi 1990–1997 Skenderbeu Korce Current team KF Skenderbeu Korce Number 10 Height 1.84 m | Role Footballer Place of birth Korce, Albania Name Bledi Shkembi Position Midfielder | |
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Date of birth (1979-08-13) 13 August 1979 (age 36) | ||
Playing position | ||
Bledi shk mbi i thot lamtumir futbollit
Bledi Shkëmbi (born 13 August 1979 in Korçë) is a former Albanian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder for Skënderbeu Korçë in the Albanian Superliga. A former Albanian international, he has previously played for Ethnikos Asteras in Greece, HNK Rijeka and Kamen Ingrad in Croatia, Metalurh Zaporizhzhya and FC Kryvbas in Ukraine as well as Teuta Durrës, Partizani Tirana and Besa Kavajë in Albania.
Contents
- Bledi shk mbi i thot lamtumir futbollit
- Early career
- Besa Kavaj
- Sknderbeu Kor
- International career
- Club
- International
- Individual
- References
Early career
Shkëmbi joined his local side Skënderbeu Korçë as an 11 year old and progressed through the youth ranks before eventually being promoted to the senior side ahead of the 1997–98 season. He immediately became a first team player as an 18-year-old, featuring in 31 league games out of a possible 34, and scoring one goal in the process to help his side finish 11th in the league out of 18 teams. The following season was similar for Shkëmbi as he was an important player in the club's midfield as they finished just 2 points above the relegation zone as he played 24 league games and scored twice. He then made 25 appearances out of a possible 26 in the league during the 1999–00 season and scored once in a 7–0 thrashing of Apolonia Fier. He was then allowed to search for a new club and leave on a free transfer.
He joined Teuta Durrës ahead of the 2000–01 season, and his first game for the club was the 2000 Albanian Supercup against KF Tirana, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1–0 loss. In the league he made 21 appearances and scored once, against Tomori Berat, as his side finished 6th with his former side Skënderbeu Korçë finishing bottom and being relegated to the Albanian First Division. He was part of the Teuta Durrës side that reached the final of the Albanian Cup during the 2000–01 season, as he scored against Naftëtari Kuçovë in the first round, before starting the final against KF Tirana who beat Teuta Durrës as they had done before the season started in the Albanian Supercup, this time 5–0. He made his European debut with Teuta Durrës on 10 August 2001 in a UEFA Cup second qualifying round game against Rapid Vienna, starting in the 2–0 loss as he was substituted in the 82nd minute for Erion Matraku. He also started the return leg but his side lost 4–0. He then left the club following their short lived UEFA Cup run, as his contract ran out.
Besa Kavajë
In January 2010, Shkembi signed with Besa Kavajë on an 18 months contract with an option to renew for another year after the expiration of it. During the second part of 2009–10 season, he played 12 matches, scoring twice in the process. He left the club after the end of the season, he and Alban Dragusha were excluded from the coach Shpëtim Duro ahead of Europan clash against Olympiacos.
Skënderbeu Korçë
In July 2010, he and Alban Dragusha were signed by Skënderbeu Korçë. His return was strongly required by the club's fans.
On 19 August 2015, in the first leg of play-off round of 2015–16 UEFA Champions League against Dinamo Zagreb at Elbasan Arena, Shkëmbi scored the opener in the 37th minute with a free kick, but it was not enough as Dinamo Zagreb reacted and won the match 2–1.
On 18 May, Shkëmbi officially retired from professional football at the age of 36, ending his nineteen-year career by lifting the club's six consecutive league title.
International career
He has been a former international player of Albania from 2001 to 2006, during which he collected 14 matches without scoring a goal. He was called by the coach of that time Sulejman Demollari to participate at Tournament Bahrain where he made 3 appearances, all of them as a substitute.
Club
As of 20 May 2016International
As of 1 August 2015