Besian Idrizaj
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Besian Idrizaj | ||
Date of birth | 12 October 1987 | ||
Place of birth | Baden bei Wien, Austria | ||
Date of death | 15 May 2010 | (aged 22)||
Place of death | Linz, Austria | ||
Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Youth career | |||
1998–2003 | Admira Linz | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2003–2004 | Admira Linz | 0 | (0) |
2003–2005 |
LASK Linz | 35 | (4) |
2005–2008 | Liverpool | 0 | (0) |
2007 | → Luton Town (loan) | 7 | (1) |
2007–2008 | → Crystal Palace (loan) | 7 | (0) |
2008 |
→ Wacker Innsbruck (loan) | 2 | (0) |
2009 | FC Eilenburg | 5 | (0) |
2009–2010 | Swansea City | 3 | (0) |
Total | 59 | (5) | |
International career | |||
2007–2009 | Austria U21 | 12 | (3) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Besian Idrizaj (12 October 1987 – 15 May 2010) was an Austrian professional
Career
Beginnings
Idrizaj started his career with Admira Linz and
Liverpool
He signed for Liverpool from LASK in the summer of 2005 on a two-year contract, following a trial spell.[3]
At the time, he declared "I have always been a Liverpool fan and it is a dream come true to play for them. If you get a chance to go to Liverpool on trial then you have to take it. You cannot ignore a trial with the reigning Champions League winners. I would even have swum across the channel just to take part."
His 2005–06 season was interrupted by injuries. However, Idrizaj was expected to be a regular member of
Luton Town
On 16 March 2007, Idrizaj went on loan to
Crystal Palace
On 30 August 2007 he signed for Crystal Palace on a 12-month loan deal.[7]
Idrizaj made his debut for Crystal Palace against
Return to Austria
On 31 January 2008 he signed for Austrian club Wacker Innsbruck on loan, from Liverpool, until the end of the 2007–08 football season, when his contract at Liverpool was terminated.[3] While at Innsbruck, he collapsed on the pitch during a game against Sturm Graz.[11] However, after undergoing medical tests, he was cleared to resume his football career after the tests indicated the collapse was a result of a virus rather than a heart problem.[12]
FC Eilenburg
Idrizaj played five games in the German NOFV-Oberliga Süd for FC Eilenburg and received a red card in his second game.[13]
Swansea City
Death
Idrizaj died on 15 May 2010 at the age of 22, barely two weeks after the end of the Championship campaign.[3] Reports suggest he suffered a heart attack in his sleep.[16] It was also reported that Idrizaj had previously collapsed on two separate occasions while playing football: once during a trial with his former club LASK Linz in November 2008 and also during a match for Wacker Innsbruck in February 2008.[17][18]
Tribute
As a mark of respect following Swansea City's 4–2 Championship play-off
Statistics
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup
|
Europe | Others | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
Admira Linz | 2003–04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
LASK Linz
|
2003–04 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
2004–05 | 27 | 3 | 1? | 1? | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 4 | ||
2005–06 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
Liverpool | 2005–06 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2006–07 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2007–08 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Luton Town (loan) | 2006–07 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
Crystal Palace (loan) | 2007–08 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Fußballclub Wacker Innsbruck (loan)
|
2007–08 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
FC Eilenburg | 2008–09 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Swansea City | 2009–10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Total | 59 | 4 | 1? | 1? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 5 |
References
- ^ "Austria striker dies at parents' home aged 22". goal.com. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ "Former Liverpool striker dies of heart-attack aged just 22". The Daily Mirror. UK. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Swansea striker Idrizaj dies at 22". The Independent. 16 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Idrizaj gives Reds win at Wrexham". BBC News. 7 July 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ^ "Idrizaj sent on loan to Luton". Liverpoolfc.tv. 16 March 2006. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ "Luton 0–2 Ipswich". Match report on BBC Sport. 17 March 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2007.
- ^ "Besian Idrizaj profile". cpfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ "Palace Sign Reds Striker". cpfc.premiumtv.co.uk. 31 August 2007. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ "Club insist US meeting is not about Benitez as defender prepares to sign". 9 January 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ "IDRIZAJ LOAN DEAL OFF". Oldham Athletic. 31 January 2008. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ Swansea City manager Paulo Sousa pays tribute to Besian Idrizaj, The Guardian (16 May 2010). Retrieved on 18 October 2013.
- ^ Besian hopes to repay faith after fearing for pro career Archived 29 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine, South Wales Evening Post (13 March 2010). Retrieved on 18 October 2013.
- ^ "Keine Punkte auf der Müllerwiese" (in German). FC Eilenburg. 4 May 2009. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ "Swans take Idrizaj on trial". Swansea City Football Club. 18 August 2009. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ "Swansea recruit Austrian Idrizaj". BBC Sport. 24 August 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- ^ "Swansea player Besian Idrizaj dies at 22". BBC News. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
- ^ "Swansea striker Besian Idrizaj dies of suspected heart attack aged 22". The Guardian. UK. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ "Besian Idrizaj stirbt mit 22 Jahren". 15 May 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ "Swansea tribute to ex-Red". Liverpool FC. 30 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ "Swans to retire Besian's shirt". Swansea Official website. 18 May 2010. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ^ Besian Idrizaj UK at Soccerbase