Sokol Cikalleshi

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Sokol Cikalleshi
Personal information
Full name Sokol Cikalleshi
Date of birth (1990-07-27) 27 July 1990 (age 33)
Place of birth Kavajë, Albania
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Istanbul Basaksehir
Number 99
Youth career
2004–2007 Besa Kavajë
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2013 Besa Kavajë 56 (11)
2011 → Skënderbeu (loan) 4 (0)
2012 → KF Tirana (loan) 13 (2)
2012 → Incheon United (loan) 6 (0)
2013–2014 FK Kukësi 30 (17)
2014–2015 RNK Split 32 (10)
2015– Istanbul Basaksehir 14 (8)
International career‡
2008–2009 Albania U19 6 (2)
2009 Albania U20 2 (0)
2009–2011 Albania U21 3 (1)
2014– Albania 15 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 August 2015
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 November 2015

Sokol Cikalleshi (Albanian pronunciation: ['sɔkɔl 'tsikaɫɛʃi]; born 27 July 1990 in Kavajë) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as forward for Turkish Süper Lig club Istanbul Basaksehir and the Albania national team. He is a versatile attacking plater who is known for his goalscoring ability and his arial prowess.

He made his professional debut in 2007 as a 17 year old with his hometown club Besa Kavajë, and would then go on loan to Skënderbeu Korçë, KF Tirana and South Korean side Incheon United between 2011 and 2012. He joined FK Kukësi in 2013 and scored 22 goals in all competitions during the 2013–14 campaign, where he gained the attention of the Albania national team setup as well as Croatian side RNK Split who signed the player in 2014 for a reported fee of €100,000. He was the club's top goalscorer during the 2014–15 campaign, netting 13 times in all competitions before joining Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir for a €1.8 million fee in 2015.

He was first called up to the Albania national team by Gianni De Biasi and he made his debut on 31 May 2014 against Romania. Since making his debut he has been a regular member of the national side, and he has earned 9 caps since 2014 and is yet to score his first senior international goal.

Career

Besa Kavajë

Cikalleshi joined his hometown club Besa Kavajë in 2004 as a 14 year old and he progressed through the youth ranks at the club, until he made his professional debut at the age of 17 on the final day of the 2007–08 Albanian Superliga against local rivals Teuta Durrës, a match in which he came on as a half time substitute in a 5–3 win.[1] In the following season he was an important member of the club's under-19s, as he captained the side to the national championship title in a season where he also made 10 league appearances for the senior side, including 2 starts. Under Shpëtim Duro, Cikalleshi became a regular first team member during the 2009–10 campaign, where he was part of strike force that included Daniel Xhafaj and Vioresin Sinani, who are two of the most prolific strikers in Albanian football history. He made 27 league appearances and scored twice, with his first professional goal coming against Shkumbini Peqin on 29 August 2011 in the Albanian Superliga,[2] and he also went on to score against Vllaznia Shkodër later in the season.[3] The 2009–10 campaign proved to be one of the club's most successful ever season, as they finished runners-up in the Albanian Superliga behind Dinamo Tirana and won the Albanian Cup for only the second time in history. Cikalleshi played a significant role in the club's cup winning run, as he made 8 appearances and scored twice, including the winning goal in the semi final against Shkumbini Peqin.[4] that sent Besa Kavajë to the final, which was won against Vllaznia Shkodër.

Skënderbeu Korçë

He agreed to joined KF Skënderbeu Korçë on a 6-month loan deal ahead of the opening of the January 1transfer window, and travelled with the rest of the squad to Antalya, Turkey for their mid season training camp.

KF Tirana

Cikalleshi joined KF Tirana on loan until the end of the 2011–12 season on 27 January 2012 following a successful trial at the club, claiming it to be the "chance of a lifetime" to have the chance to play for the club.[5] He made his debut for the club in the Albanian Cup against KS Bylis Ballsh on 29 January, where he came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute for Klodian Duro in the goalless draw.[6]

Incheon United

In July 2012, Cikalleshi joined South Korean K-League club Incheon United FC on a 6-month loan deal.[7] During his time at Blue-Blacks, Cikalleshi made six appearances, only two of them as a starter, collecting 193 minutes in the process.

FK Kukësi

In August 2013, Cikalleshi joined FK Kukësi club on a 1-year deal. He made his debut with the club on 4 September 2013 during the 1–0 shock lose against the newcomers of KF Lushnja.[8] He opened his scoring account eight weeks later where he scored during the 2–1 away lose against Flamurtari Vlorë, which was followed by another goal in the next week against KF Laçi, where Kukësi won in Laç in the very last seconds thanks to a penalty.[9] On 6 November 2013, in the returning leg of the first round of 2013–14 Albanian Cup, Cikalleshi scored in a 5–0 thrashing of Naftëtari Kuçovë, helping Kukësi to advance in the next round with the aggregate 6–0.[10] He scored for the fourth consecutive match, this time against his former side KF Tirana helping Kukësi to prevail 2–1 at Zeqir Ymeri Stadium; he was later selected "Man of the Match".[11]

RNK Split

Following FK Kukësi's elimination in the Europa League, on 17 July 2014 Cikalleshi signed for Croatian side RNK Split on a three-year contract and RNK Split paid to Kukësi a fee of €100.000.[12][13][14] On August 19 he scored his first goal with RNK Split in a match against NK Hrvace, valid for the 2014–15 Croatian Football Cup.[15]

İstanbul Başakşehir F.K.

On 6 June 2015 RNK Split accepted the €1.8 million bid of Turkish side İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. to transfer Cikalleshi to the Süper Lig club.[16] Ten days later Cikalleshi was presented to the club where he signed a 4-years contract.[17]

International career

After his good performances with FK Kukësi in 2013–14 season, he received his first call up to the Albanian national team by Gianni De Biasi for friendlies against Romania, Hungary and San Marino. He made his debut with Albania on 31 May in a 1–0 loss against Romania, in where he started the match and was substituted in the start of the second-half by Shkëlzen Gashi.[18]

On 16 November 2015, Cikalleshi came off the bench to score his first international goal for Albania in the 94th minute of a 2–2 friendly home draw against Georgia, in the last international match at Qemal Stafa Stadium.[19]

International goals

Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 November 2015 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania  Georgia 2–2 2–2 Friendly match

Style of Play

Çikalleshi is a very strong player on the ball who is capable with both feet. In addition to that, Cikalleshi is also a great player in the air and considered as an aerial threat.

Career statistics

Club

As of 13 January 2016[20][21][22]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental[lower-alpha 2] Other[lower-alpha 3] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Besa Kavajë 2007–08 Albanian Superliga 1 0 — — — 1 0
2008–09 10 0 — — — 10 0
2009–10 27 2 6 2 — — 33 4
2010–11 15 6 1 1 2 0 1 0 19 7
Total 53 8 7 3 2 0 1 0 63 11
Skënderbeu Korçë 2010–11 Albanian Superliga 4 0 1 0 — — 5 0
Total 4 0 1 0 — — 5 0
Besa Kavajë 2011–12 Albanian Superliga 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Tirana 2011–12 Albanian Superliga 13 2 9 3 — — 22 5
Total 13 2 9 3 — — 22 5
Incheon United 2012 K-League 6 0 0 0 — — 6 0
Total 6 0 0 0 — — 6 0
Besa Kavajë 2012–13 Albanian Superliga 4 3 0 0 — — 4 3
Total 4 3 0 0 — — 4 3
Kukësi 2013–14 Albanian Superliga 30 17 9 4 2 0 — 41 22
2014–15 — — 2 0 — 2 0
Total 30 17 9 5 4 0 — 43 22
RNK Split 2014–15 Prva Liga 32 10 7 3 — — 39 13
Total 32 10 7 3 — — 39 13
İstanbul Başakşehir 2015–16 Süper Lig 15 2 4 6 2 0 — 21 8
Total 15 2 4 6 2 0 — 21 8
Career total 157 42 37 20 8 0 1 0 203 62
  1. ↑ Including cup competitions, such as Albanian Cup, Korean League Cup, Croatian Football Cup and Turkish Cup
  2. ↑ Including continental competitions, such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup/Europa League
  3. ↑ Including other competitions, such as Albanian Supercup

International

As of 16 November 2015[23]
Albania national team
Year Apps Goals
2014 8 0
2015 7 1
Total 15 1

Honours

Besa Kavajë
Skënderbeu Korçë
Kukësi

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Bylis Ballsh 0-0 KF Tirana Soccerway
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Cikalleshi nga Kukësi ne Split Borozani.com
  13. ↑ Cikalleshi firmos tre vite te Split, Kukësi e kërcënon Panorama Sport
  14. ↑ Cikalleshi prezantohet te RNK Split City FM
  15. ↑ Cikalleshi, gol dhe asist te Spliti Panorama Sport
  16. ↑ Cikalleshi, tek Istanbul në Turqi Panorama Sport
  17. ↑ Prezantohet Sokol Cikalleshi Sportal.al
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

External links

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