Jahmir Hyka

Jahmir Hyka

Personal information
Date of birth	(1988-03-08) 8 March 1988
Place of birth	Tirana, Albania
Height
Position(s)	Left Midfielder, Central Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Luzern
Number	8
Youth career
2000–2005	Dinamo Tirana
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2006	Rosenborg	0	(0)
2007–2008	KF Tirana	32	(2)
2008–2010	Mainz 05	15	(0)
2010–2011	Panionios	9	(0)
2011	KF Tirana	11	(4)
2011–	Luzern	111	(8)
International career‡
2005–2006	Albania U-17	3	(1)
2005–2006	Albania U-19	6	(1)
2007-2009	Albania U-21	7	(1)
2007–	Albania	38	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:59, 22 May 2015 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 March 2014

Jahmir Hyka (born 8 March 1988) is an Albanian footballer who plays as a midfielder for FC Luzern in the Swiss Super League and the Albanian national team.

Club career

Early Career and Norway

Hyka joined local side Dinamo Tirana at the age of 12, where he played for the youth teams for four years, until he entered on the first team at 2004. He was being tracked by a number of European clubs despite never having made a competitive appearance for Dinamo Tirana before joining Norwegian side Rosenborg BK in 2005 on loan. At Rosenborg, Hyka did not manage to break through into the first team, failing to make a single league appearance, only featuring twice as an unused substitute in August and September 2006.

Greece and return to Albania

In 2007, Hyka left Dinamo Tirana to sign with Greek club Olympiacos for a fee of €600,000. At Olympiakos, he found opportunities in the first team limited and so he moved on loan to KF Tirana, the then champions of the 2006–07 Albanian Superliga in time for the 2007–08 season.

Germany

Back in Tirana, Hyka played 32 games, scoring two goals and his good form did not go unnoticed. Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb showed interest and Hyka was close to the move but eventually he signed a four-year deal with German side 1. FSV Mainz 05.

In 2010, after just 13 appearances with the German team, most of them as a substitute, Hyka was once again on the move, this time back to Greece, transferring to Greek team, Panionios, for a €120,000 fee.

Return to Albania

After a difficult time in Greece, he returned to Albania, returning to former side KF Tirana where he had previously had a loan spell. The deal was completed on 29 January 2011, while Hyka was still in Greece. Tirana president Refik Halili had previously expressed his desire to sign the young national team winger at the unveiling of new signing Bekim Bala.

Switzerland

In the summer of 2011, Hyka was transferred to FC Luzern, in the Swiss Super League. He scored his first goal with Luzern in a draw with BSC Young Boys after he came in as a substitute. Luzern fans have named him as "the Messi of Albania."

Albania national team

Hyka made his debut with the Albanian national football team in an international match against Romania. He scored his first goal for Albania football national team against Lichtenstein on 20 August. His goal came in just 46 seconds after the game had begun, making the quickest goal to be scored by Albania in their history.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	20 August 2008	Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania	Liechtenstein	2–0	Win	Friendly
2.	10 August 2011	Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër, Albania	Montenegro	3–2	Win	Friendly
Correct as of 13 January 2013

International statistics

As of 21 October 2014

Albania national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2007	4	0
2008	5	1
2009	5	0
2010	7	0
2011	7	1
2012	6	0
2013	3	0
2014	1	0
Total	38	2

Personal life

Hyka has four siblings, two sisters and two brothers who live in his hometown of Tirane. He practices the faith of Islam, praying five times daily and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, which he has done so since the age of 12. He attends Mosque when possible around his football schedule, and at his former club 1. FSV Mainz 05 he would attend with team mate Chadli Amri.

External links

• Jahmir Hyka at National-Football-Teams.com