Gentian Muça

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Gentian Muça
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Personal information
Full name Gentian Muça
Date of birth (1987-05-13) 13 May 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Tiranë, Albania
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Tirana
Number 4
Youth career
–2006 Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006 Bonner SC 0 (0)
2007 SC Vahr-Blockdiek 0 (0)
2008 Osterholz-Scharmbeck 9 (0)
2008–2011 Tirana 14 (0)
2008–2009 → Bylis Ballsh (loan) 28 (2)
2009–2010 → Dinamo Tirana (loan) 19 (3)
2011 Vllaznia Shkodër 13 (0)
2012 Flamurtari Vlorë 10 (1)
2012– Tirana 90 (12)
International career‡
2005 Albania U19 3 (1)
2009 Albania 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 January 2016
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 August 2015

Gentian Muça (born 13 May 1987 in Tirana) is an Albanian footballer who plays for KF Tirana in the Albanian Superliga. A product of the KF Tirana academy, he spent much of his early career in the lower leagues of Germany before returning to Albania, and indeed KF Tirana in 2008.

Following his return to Tirana, Muça spend one season on loan at Bylis Ballsh and another one at Dinamo Tirana, where he won the league for the first time in his career. After his successful spell at Dinamo Tirana, Muça returned to Tirana where he played during the 2010–11 season. Then, his contract was not extended so he decided to sign with Vllaznia Shkodër where he played only in the first part of 2011–12 season before spending the other part at Flamurtari Vlorë. Then Tirana brought him back and even since that he become a regular member in the starting lineup, making more than 100 appearances in all competitions. During the summer of 2015, he was loaned to Kukësi for its European campaign, where Muça made a decent performance.

Muça represented Albania at youth level, playing for the under-19 in 2005. In 2009 he was called up for the first in the senior team where he made his unofficial debut against Kosovo.

Club career

Dinamo Tirana

Muça was transferred to Dinamo Tirana in loan during 2009–10 season. On 9 July 2009, he made his Europa League debut in the returning left of the first qualifying round against the Finnish club Lahti, playing full-90 minutes in a 2–0 home win at Qemal Stafa Stadium.[1] However, despite winning 2–0 at home, Dinamo was eliminated from the competition after losing the first match 4–1. Muça debuted in league on 23 August in the opening match against Kastrioti Krujë, helping his side with a goal in an eventual 3–1 win.[2] He scored in the 68th minute with a corner kick.[3] Until the end of the season, he would play another 18 matches, with Dinamo who were crowned the Champions of Albania for the 18th time in history. That was also Muça's first major trophy as a professional footballer.

Vllaznia Shkodër

Muça made his competitive debut with Vllaznia Shkodër on 10 September 2011 against Laçi at home, playing full-90 minutes in a 3–1 win.[4] He terminated his contract with Vllaznia Shkodër on 14 January 2012 after falling out of favour with the coach Rudi Vata.[5] He ended his short spell with the club by playing 16 matches between league and cup, failing to score in the process. Following his departure, Muça expressed his disappointing for the way Vllaznia released him, after he had decided to remain at the club until the end of the season.[6]

Flamurtari Vlorë

Muça joined Flamurtari Vlorë on a free transfer in January 2012, signing an initial 6-month contract with the option of a further one year.[7] He completed the remainder of the 2011–12 season, featuring in 10 league games. Muça left the club following the end of the season.[8]

Tirana

In July 2012 he began negotiating with his former club Tirana about a possible return to the capital. On 14 August 2012, Muça was transferred to Tirana after he left Flamurtari a month earlier.[8]

2012–13 season

Muça made his return debut with the club on 6 October 2012 in the matchday six of Albanian Superliga against his former club Flamurtari Vlorë, playing in the last four minutes of the 1–1 draw.[9] He would feature in another two minutes of a 1–0 away win over Vllaznia Shkodër on 10 November,[10] finishing the first part of the season with only six minutes on the field.

In the second part of the season, Muça would find more space to play, collecting 900 minutes on the field. He would play 10 consecutive matches as a starter, as Tirana finished the league in the fifth position with 43 points, thus failing to qualifying in the European competitions.[11]

2013–14 season

For the 2013–14 season, Muça cemented his place as a starter, forming a duo in the center of defense along with former international player Endrit Vrapi. He played his first match of the season on 1 September 2013 in a goalless draw against Laçi. He scored his first goal of the season from a penalty kick two weeks later in a 1–0 home win against Lushnja.[12]

In the first part of the season, Tirana would experience its worst period of all time, finishing it with just three wins in sixteen matches. Muça played only ten of these matches as a centre-back. Also during this period, Tirana hired three coaches, starting with Nevil Dede, Alpin Gallo and later Gugash Magani.[13][14] Until December, Tirana was ranked in the last position with only 10 points in 13 matches, 7 points less than the eighth place Flamurtari Vlorë. However, with Magani in charge, Tirana changed completely by winning three of four matches in February, including the derby against Partizani Tirana thanks to the winner of Gilberto.[15] Muça played as a starter in all four matches.

He scored his second goal of the season again from the penalty spot in a 3–2 away win against Kastrioti Krujë on 30 April 2014.[16] Tirana assured mathematical survival on 3 May 2014 in the penultimate week of the league after a 2–2 away draw against Flamurtari Vlorë, in a match where Muça played 90 minutes.[17][18] He ended his second season with Tirana by playing 26 matches, 25 of them in league and 1 in cup.

2014–15 season

After the arrival of international player Ervin Bulku, Muça become the 3rd captain of the team, with the midfielder Karabeci who handed his captaincy to Bulku as a sign of respect of the veteran, and became the vice-captain instead.[19]

Muça debuted in the new season on 24 August in the match of the first week against Apolonia Fier, playing full-90 minutes in a 3–0 home success.[20][21] On 18 October, in a 3–1 win over Kukësi in Qemal Stafa Stadium, Muça conceded a penalty kick in the 81st minute for touching the ball with his hand, but the Croatian striker Pero Pejić missed it by hitting the crossbar.[22]

On 29 October, he netted his first goal of the season in first match of the second part of the season against Apolonia Fier, helping the team to get a 0–3 away win at Loni Papuçiu Stadium.[23] In this match, he came on as a second-half substitute for the midfielder Meddie Kagere.[24] Muça scored his second goal of the season against Elbasani at the newly renovated Elbasan Arena, heading home an Elis Bakaj cross in the 27th minute, reducing the difference from 2–0 to 2–1, with Tirana winning the match in the 99th minute thanks to a late winner goal of Burundi international player Selemani Ndikumana.[25]

On 12 April 2015, in a home match against Vllaznia Shkodër, valid for the 30th week of the league, Muça scored his first career brace, helping the team to overcome the disadvantage of the first half to win the game 2–1.[26] After the match, he dedicated the goals to the Tirana ultras, Geri Allkaj, who died in a car accident two days before.[27] He ended the season with 38 appearances in all competitions, including 32 in league, with Tirana who finished it in the fourth place and was eliminated in semi-finals of 2014–15 Albanian Cup against Laçi with the 1–0 aggregate.[28]

Loan to Kukësi

On 12 June 2015, Tirana and Kukësi reached an agreement for the loan of Muça at Kukësi for the club's Europa League matches.[29] However, on 29 June 2015, it was the president Safet Gjici confirmed that Muça with play with Kukësi for the entire 2015–16 season.[30] Later Muça flew out to Austria to link up with the rest of the squad where he made several appearances in friendly matches, showing a good form ahead of Europa League matches.[31][32][33]

Kukësi begun their European campaign in the first qualifying round where they met the Belarusian side Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino. On 2 July, in the first leg at Qemal Stafa Stadium, Muça was on starting linuep and assisted the goal of Jean Carioca in 9th minute, also helping Dmitri Stajila to keep his goal intact in an eventual 2–0 success.[34] In the returning leg, Muça produced another solid appearance as he helped the team to get a goalless draw and to progress in the next round with the aggregate 2–0.[35]

In the next round, Kukësi was shorted with Mladost Podgorica of Montenegrin First League. In the first leg, Muça was not able to avoid the 0–1 home defeat,[36] but in the returning leg, he had a crucial role as his team thrashed Mladost 4–2 at Podgorica City Stadium to qualifying in the next round with the aggregate 4–3.[37]

In the first leg of the third qualifying round at Qemal Stafa Stadium, Muça was in the starting lineup against Legia Warsaw; the match was abandoned in 52th minute where the result was 1–2, after a Legia Warsaw player was hit in the head by an object thrown from the crowd. Following that incident, UEFA awarded Legia Warsaw with a 3–0 win.[38][39] In the second leg, Muça played again full-90 minutes as Kukësi suffered another defeat, this time 1–0 thanks to the lone goal of Kucharczyk.[40]

Following the end of club's European campaign, Muça decided to return at Tirana, saying that the fans were a strong reason of his return.[41] He dubbed his spell at Kukësi as "summer love".[42] His performances was praised by the Albania national team coach, Gianni De Biasi, who suggested that the club president Safet Gjici keep him for the entire season.[43]

2015–16 season

File:Players in action.jpg
Muça (4#) in action during the inaugural match of Selman Stërmasi Stadium against Skënderbeu Korçë.

After the European campaign with Kukësi, Muça returned to Tirana.[44] On 24 August 2015, Muça made his 100th competitive appearance for Tirana in team's opening match of 2015–16 season against the newcomers of Tërbuni Pukë, helping the team to win the match 1–2.[45] He later scored his first goal of the season, heading home from an Elis Bakaj free kick in a 2–0 home win against Teuta Durrës, helping Tirana to return in winning ways after three matches.[46] On 23 December, in the last match of the year, Muça netted the winner as Tirana defeated 1–0 Kukësi away, earning the first ever victory at Zeqir Ymeri Stadium.[47]

On 24 January 2016, in the 2015–16 Albanian Cup quarter-final first leg against Flamurtari Vlorë, Muça was yellow-carded during the first half meaning that he would miss the returning leg at Selman Stërmasi Stadium.[48] In the first league match of 2016 against Tërbuni Pukë, Muça sealed the victory by scoring the third goal of the match in an eventual 1–3 away win.[49]

On 13 February, Muça was an unused substitute in the 2–0 home victory over Bylis Ballsh, the first win at the newly renovated Selman Stërmasi Stadium.[50][51] He did not play due to his constant knee issues, that begun shortly after the match against Laçi. Three days later, Muça flew out to Salzburg, Austria to further diagnose his knee injury.[52][53] On 19 February, he successfully underwent surgery that would rule him out for almost two months.[54]

Muça made his return in the league match against Laçi where he was an unused substitute in team's 1–0 home victory.[55] One week later, Muça made his on-field return by playing full-90 minutes in a goalless away draw against Bylis Ballsh.[56]

In the fourth derby of the season against Partizani Tirana on 4 May, Muça netted his fifth goal of the season with a header in the 28th minute, levelling the figures.[57] In the second half, he was send-off in the 56th minute after receiving a second yellow-card for a foul on Emiljano Vila.[57] The match ended in a 2–2 draw, as Partizani lost further ground in the title race.[58] It was Muça's first red card after six-and-a-half year and his second overall. Muça was banned for the league match against Flamurtari Vlorë,[59] which ended in a 2–1 away defeat,[60] leaving Tirana mathematically out of European competitions for the fourth consecutive season.[61]

International career

He earned a surprise call-up to the full national side in November 2009 by Josip Kuže for a friendly against Estonia.[62] However, knee ligament damage in April 2010 whilst at Dinamo Tirana meant that he was unable to play for Albania, as he underwent surgery on his knee in Austria at the start of May, keeping out of action for over four months.[63] On 17 February 2010, Muça played his first match with senior side, a friendly against Kosovo, where he played a full 90 minutes in a 2–3 away win.[64][65]

Style of play

Muça can play in different positions, while his natural position is Centre-back. He can adapt well as a left-back or Defensive midfielder.[66] In several matches during the 2014–15 season, he played as a defensive midfielder, switching the positions with the veteran midfielder Ervin Bulku, who formed a partnership in defence with fellow international player Debatik Curri. Muça is a strong player with a great heading ability. He his also a great penalty taker, scoring several times with Tirana. Muça is powerful in aerial duels, from which he scored five times in the 2014–15 season. During his time at Dinamo, he was used even as a center-midfielder by then coach Shkëlqim Muça. With the arrival of Ilir Daja, Muça begun to play as a central midfielder.

Controversies

On 4 May 2016, 20 minutes after the end of the league match against Partizani Tirana, Muça, who is widely known as a "Tirona Fanatics" member, took the megaphone and begun singing with the home crowd.[67] His choirs had contents against Partizani and communism, also comparing Partizani to Partizan Belgrade,[67] which created many controversies in the country.[68] One week later, Muça was accused of public incitement of hatred, and was banned for one year from all competitions by the Disciplinary Committee of AFA, effective immediately.[69] Via an official statement, Tirana stated that the club would appeal the decision that harms the club a lot.[70] Muça also become the first player in the history of Albanian football to be banned for public incitement of hatred.[71]

One day later, on a press conference, Muça defended his actions saying that he was singing with the home crowd as a fan, not as a player.[72] He cited: "Yesterday during the preparations i heard about the decision. I didn't take it well. I'm a footballer not a criminel. During my career i've received only two red cards and i'd never been subject to judgment on disciplinary committees. I practice the religion and have not been in any way intended to incite violence, hatred or using racist expression. I am a Tirana fan, and as such, twenty minutes after the match had finished, i singed with the fans. The songs are only fans expression which sung always in the stadiums. The match referee has not interrupted the match when they song were sung during the game. I belive that the Appeals Committee will review the decision and I will return to playing football. I'm at the peak of my career and this decision is killing me. I thank the fans for the support they give me. I am one of them."[72] It was also raported that when Muça first heard about the decision, he interrupted the training and that his teammates were shocked.[73]

Personal life

Muça is a practising Muslim.[74] He was the only football player that agreed to participate in the project "The game of friendship" between Albania and Serbia.[75] He is known as a big fan of Albanian club Tirana, his boyhood club, and is also member of Tirona Fanatics, club's main supporters group.[76] Muça also attend the Economic Technical School.[77]

Career statistics

Club

As of 31 January 2016[78][79][80]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other[lower-alpha 1] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Osterholz 2007–08 Oberliga 9 0 — — — 9 0
Total 9 0 — — — 9 0
Bylis Ballsh 2008–09 Albanian Superliga 28 2 4 0 — — 32 2
Total 28 2 4 0 — — 32 2
Dinamo Tirana 2009–10 Albanian Superliga 19 3 5 1 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 — 25 4
Total 19 3 5 1 1 0 — 25 4
Tirana 2010–11 Albanian Superliga 14 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 19 1
2011–11 — — — 1 0 1 0
Total 14 0 5 1 0 0 1 0 20 1
Vllaznia Shkodër 2011–12 Albanian Superliga 13 0 3 0 — — 16 0
Total 13 0 3 0 — — 16 0
Flamurtari Vlorë 2011–12 Albanian Superliga 10 1 6 0 — — 16 1
Total 10 1 6 0 — — 16 1
Tirana 2012–13 Albanian Superliga 12 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
2013–14 25 2 1 0 — — 26 2
2014–15 33 6 6 0 — — 39 6
2015–16 21 4 4 0 — — 25 4
Total 91 12 13 0 0 0 0 0 104 12
Kukësi[lower-alpha 3] 2015–16 Albanian Superliga — — 6[lower-alpha 2] 0 — 6 0
Total — — 6 0 — 6 0
Career total 184 18 36 2 7 0 1 0 228 20
  1. ↑ Including other competitions, such as Albanian Supercup
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  3. ↑ Only for the UEFA Europa League campaign

International

As of 31 January 2016[81]
Albania national team
Year Apps Goals
2009 0 0
Total 0 0

Honours

Club

Dinamo Tirana
Tirana

Individual

References

  1. ↑ KS Dinamo Tirana 2 – 0 FC Lahti UEFA, 12 June 2015
  2. ↑ Kastrioti Krujë vs. Dinamo Tirana 1–3 Soccerway, 12 June 2015
  3. ↑ Kastrioti 1-3 Dinamo DINAMOTIRANA, 12 June 2015
  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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 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.
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  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  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.
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  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  60. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  65. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  66. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  68. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  69. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  70. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  71. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  73. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  74. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  75. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  76. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links

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