Blerim Džemaili

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Blerim Džemaili
Džemaili with Switzerland at the 2018 World Cup
Personal information
Full name Blerim Džemaili[1]
Date of birth (1986-04-12) 12 April 1986 (age 38)[1]
Place of birth Tetovo, SR Macedonia, Yugoslavia
(now North Macedonia)
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1995–1996 Oerlikon Zürich
1996–2000 FC Unterstrass
2000–2001
YF Juventus
2001–2003 Zürich
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2007 Zürich 111 (9)
2007–2009 Bolton Wanderers 0 (0)
2008–2009 →
Torino
(loan)		 23 (0)
2009–2010
Torino
 7 (0)
2009–2010 → Parma (loan) 19 (1)
2010–2011 Parma 30 (1)
2011–2014
Napoli
 86 (16)
2014–2016 Galatasaray 11 (0)
2015–2016 →
Genoa
(loan)		 27 (3)
2016–2020
Bologna
 88 (11)
2017 →
Montreal Impact
(loan)		 22 (7)
2020 Shenzhen 0 (0)
2020–2023 Zürich 59 (6)
Total 483 (54)
International career
2004–2008 Switzerland U21 16 (4)
2006–2018 Switzerland 69 (10)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Blerim Džemaili (Albanian: Blerim Xhemaili, pronounced [blɛˈɾim dʒɛˈmaili]; Macedonian: Блерим Џемаили; born 12 April 1986) is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He began his career at

Bologna
.

Džemaili made his debut for the Switzerland national team in March 2006 and went on to make over 65 appearances. He was selected for their squads at the FIFA World Cup in 2006, 2014 and 2018, as well as UEFA Euro 2016.[2]

Childhood and early career

Džemaili was born to Fahrudin and Shemije Džemaili,

YF Juventus as a youth player before moving to FC Zürich
in 2001. While with Zürich, Džemaili rose through the ranks and made the senior team at age 17.

In 2021, he revealed that he has been a fan of AC Milan since childhood.[5]

Club career

Zürich

Džemaili began his senior career with Zürich. In his first season, he made 30 appearances for the club, scoring twice and creating three assists. Džemaili played either as a central or defensive midfielder. In the 2004–05 season, he helped the club win the Swiss Cup. Džemaili imposed a strong influence on the field as he possessed accurate passing capabilities as well as a fast and aggressive approach to the game.[6] This led Džemaili to taking the role of captain during the 2005–06. Džemaili was 19 when he was chosen captain and is one of the youngest captains in Swiss football history. Džemaili led his team to glory as Zürich won the Swiss Super League in the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons.

After winning the Swiss cup and league, Džemaili moved to Premier League side Bolton Wanderers.

Bolton Wanderers

Džemaili signed a preliminary contract agreement with Bolton on 9 February 2007, meaning that he would sign for the Premier League outfit once his contract expired in the summer of 2007.[7]

Former Bolton manager

Torino.[10]

Torino and Parma

Džemaili joined Torino on a season-long loan deal, with an option to purchase outright, on 1 September 2008,

relegation to Serie B in June.[14][15]

After having played just once for Torino at Coppa Italia,[16] Džemaili completed a loan move to Parma on 31 August 2009, with an option to sign the 50% registration rights of the player at the end of season. In exchange, Daniele Vantaggiato moved to Turin on loan.[17] first and second halves of Džemaili's registration rights were then bought by Parma in the summers of 2010 and 2011[18] for a total fee of €7 million.[19]

Napoli

On 25 June 2011, Džemaili was signed by

Catania.[23]

Džemaili had appeared regularly for the side in the

Juventus 2–0.[24]

On 30 March 2013, he scored a hat-trick described by Goal.com as "spectacular", in a 5–3 win away at

Genoa just a week later, making it four goals in two games. He also scored Napoli's third goal in a 3–0 win against Pescara on 27 April.[20]

Džemaili was an unused substitute as Napoli won the

2014 Coppa Italia Final 3–1 against Fiorentina.[26]

Galatasaray

Džemaili playing for Galatasaray in 2014

On 1 September 2014, Džemaili signed a three-year contract with Turkish Süper Lig team Galatasaray for a €2.35 million transfer fee.[27] He signed a three-year contract, worth €2.4 million, €2.1 million and €2.1 million respectively.[27]

On 30 August 2015, Džemaili returned to Serie A to join Genoa on loan from Galatasaray. Galatasaray also bore €1.3 million of Džemaili's €2.1 million salary.

Chievo
.

Bologna

On 17 August 2016, Džemaili returned to Italy again for

Atalanta
his last match.

Montreal Impact (loan)

On 9 December 2016, Montreal Impact president and Bologna chairman Joey Saputo announced that Džemaili would join the Major League Soccer (MLS) team on loan in the spring of 2017 as a Designated Player.[31] On 9 May 2017, the loan was officially announced.[32][33] On 19 January 2018, the Impact terminated the loan and Džemaili returned to Bologna. He had seven goals and 10 assists in 22 games for Montreal.[34]

Shenzhen

On 31 January 2020, he transferred to Chinese club Shenzhen.[35]

Zürich

In December 2020 Džemaili returned after 13 years to his youth club Zürich. He signed a contract for one and a half seasons.[36]

At the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, Džemaili decided to retire from professional football.[37]

International career

Džemaili marking Lionel Messi in a friendly against Argentina in 2012

Džemaili made his debut for the Switzerland national team in a friendly match against Scotland on 1 March 2006.[38] He was a member of the Swiss squad at the 2006 FIFA World Cup without making an appearance.[38]

On 6 September 2013, Džemaili scored his first international goal from a penalty kick in a 4–4 home draw in a World Cup qualifier against Iceland.[39]

On 2 June 2014, Džemaili was named in Switzerland's 2014 World Cup squad by national coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.[40] In the team's second match, against France, Džemaili came on at half-time for Valon Behrami and on the 81st minute, Džemaili fired a long-range, low free-kick which went through the three-man wall and beat France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.[41] He scored the first direct free-kick of the tournament in a 5–2 loss to France.[42][43]

Džemaili scored his third international goal against

Ricardo Rodríguez
's corner to give the Swiss a 3–0 lead in an eventual 4–0 victory.

Džemaili scored twice for Switzerland on 10 June 2015, the second of which came from a direct free-kick in a 3–0 friendly victory over Liechtenstein at Stockhorn Arena in Thun.[44]

Džemaili was part of the squad in Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup qualification. He was included in the Switzerland national football team 23 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[45]

Style of play

During his time in Serie A, Džemaili differed from most other players in the attacking midfield position due to his box-to-box approach to the role and hard-running style. Indeed, although he is effective as a ball-winner in front of the back-line who breaks down opposing plays, he is also capable of contributing to his team's offensive plays with goals and assists in a more advanced role, courtesy of his vision and eye for goal from midfield. He is also good at timing his runs, finding space, and getting into the box unmarked by making late attacking runs into the area from behind, and is a powerful and accurate striker of the ball from both inside and outside the area, which allows him to play as a mezzala; he is also an effective penalty taker. Otherwise, Džemaili is tidy in possession and also has great passing range, usually completing around 90% of passes per game; moreover, he is known for his ability to switch the play with long balls. A versatile, consistent, tenacious, and tactically intelligent right-footed player, he is capable of playing in several midfield roles, and can adapt to various systems; aside from his usual offensive and holding midfield roles, he has also been used as a central midfielder in either a two or three-man midfield, as a deep-lying playmaker, or even as a winger. In addition to his playing ability, he is also highly regarded for his leadership.[46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57]

Personal life

In 2015, Džemaili married

Shkoder-born Albanian model Erjona Sulejmani[58] who, in the same year, gave birth to their eldest son, Luan. By January 2018, they were divorced.[59]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 24 November 2019[60][61]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Zürich 2003–04 Swiss Super League 30 2 0 0 0 0 – 30 2
2004–05 Swiss Super League 26 1 1 0 0 0 – 27 1
2005–06 Swiss Super League 32 3 5 3 4 1 – 41 7
2006–07 Swiss Super League 23 3 1 0 2 0 – 26 3
Total 111 9 7 3 6 1 0 0 124 13
Bolton Wanderers 2007–08 Premier League 0 0 1 0 — – 1 0
Torino
 2008–09 Serie A 30 0 2 0 — – 32 0
2009–10 Serie A 0 0 1 0 — – 1 0
Total 30 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 33 0
Parma 2009–10 Serie A 19 1 2 0 — – 21 1
2010–11 Serie A 30 1 1 0 — – 31 1
Total 49 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 52 2
Napoli
 2011–12 Serie A 28 3 5 0 6 0 – 39 3
2012–13 Serie A 34 7 0 0 7 2 – 41 9
2013–14 Serie A 24 6 1 0 4 0 – 29 6
Total 86 16 6 0 17 2 0 0 109 18
Galatasaray 2014–15 Süper Lig 11 0 5 1 4 0 – 20 1
Genoa
(loan) 		2015–16 Serie A 27 3 0 0 0 0 – 27 3
Bologna
 2016–17 Serie A 31 8 2 1 0 0 – 33 9
2017–18 Serie A 15 1 0 0 0 0 – 15 1
2018–19 Serie A 28 1 2 1 0 0 – 30 2
2019–20 Serie A 11 1 0 0 0 0 – 11 1
Total 85 11 4 2 0 0 0 0 89 13
Montreal Impact
(loan) 		2017 MLS 22 7 0 0 0 0 3 1 25 8
Career total 421 48 29 6 27 3 3 1 480 58

International

As of 3 July 2018[62]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Switzerland 2006 5 0
2007 2 0
2008 1 0
2009 2 0
2010 0 0
2011 7 0
2012 7 0
2013 7 1
2014 9 2
2015 5 2
2016 10 1
2017 6 1
2018 8 3
Total 69 10
As of 27 June 2018[63]
Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Džemaili goal.
List of international goals scored by Blerim Džemaili
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 6 September 2013
Stade de Suisse, Bern
, Switzerland		 27  Iceland 4–1 4–4 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 20 June 2014
Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
, Brazil		 35  France 1–5 2–5 2014 FIFA World Cup
3 14 October 2014
Serravalle
, San Marino		 39  San Marino 3–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
4 10 June 2015 Stockhorn Arena, Thun, Switzerland 41  Liechtenstein 1–0 3–0
Friendly
5 3–0
6 28 May 2016 Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland 47  Belgium 1–0 1–2 Friendly
7 3 September 2017 Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia 58  Latvia 2–0 3–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 23 March 2018 Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece 62  Greece 1–0 1–0 Friendly
9 27 March 2018 Swissporarena, Lucerne, Switzerland 63  Panama 1–0 6–0 Friendly
10 27 June 2018 Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia 68  Costa Rica 1–0 2–2 2018 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Zürich

Napoli

Galatasaray

References

Notes

Citations

  1. ^ a b c "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Balkan imports hitting big time as Switzerland establish themselves as World Cup regulars". The National. 15 June 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  3. ^ Džemaili, Blerim. "Blerim Dzemaili". Skyrock. Archived from the original on 18 August 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Die Schönen und das Biest". schweizer-illustrierte (in German). 17 April 2009. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  5. ^ "Dzemaili: "Quando giocavo non potevo dirlo, spero che il Milan vinca"". milannews24.com (in Italian). 21 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Blerim Dzemaili". Goal.com. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Bolton swoop for Dzemaili and Cid". BBC Sport. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
  8. ^ "Bolton swoop for Dzemaili and Cid". FIFA. AFP. 9 February 2007. Archived from the original on 18 September 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  9. SkySports
    . British Sky Broadcasting. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  10. SkySports
    . British Sky Broadcasting. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
  11. ^ "Genoa: Milito e Jankovic". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). RCS MediaGroup. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  12. ^ Torino to take up Dzemaili option 8 April 2009
  13. C.C.I.A.A.
    (in Italian)
  14. ^ "Džemaili quits Bolton for Torino". BBC Sport. The British Broadcasting Corporation. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  15. ^ "Džemaili signs for Torino". Sky Sports. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  16. ^ "Torino vs Figline 1–0" (in Italian). Torino F.C. 9 August 2009. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  17. ^ Carminati, Nadia (31 August 2009). "Parma pounce for Dzemaili". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  18. ^ "Movimenti di mercato e compartecipazioni" [Market movements and co-ownerships]. Parma F.C. official site. 24 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ^
    C.C.I.A.A.
    (in Italian)
  20. ^ a b c d "Blerim Dzemaili Stats". ESPN soccernet. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Cavani at the double". ESPN soccernet. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ "Dzemaili levels late on". ESPN soccernet. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ "Napoli Catania 2012 Highlights Video Goals Napoli Catania 2–2". www.thesoccerblog.org.
  24. ^ Graffeo, Vito (20 May 2012). "Coppa Italia, finale Juventus-Napoli: tabellino, risultato, video". Sport Live. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  25. ^ Caferoglu, Livio (30 March 2013). "Serie A Round 30 Results: Lazio prosper on Klose return as Roma & Fiorentina fall flat in top-three race". Goal.com. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  26. ^ "Partenopei come out on top in Coppa Italia final". Goal.com. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  27. ^ a b "Profesyonel Futbolcu Blerim Dzemaili'nin Transferi Hakkında". Galatasaray (in Turkish). Turkish Public Disclosure Platform (KAP). 1 September 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  28. ^ Galatasaray (1 September 2015). "Blerim Dzemaili – Geçici Transfer" (in Turkish). Turkish Public Disclosure Platform (KAP). Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  29. ^ "Blerim Džemaili signs for Bologna". Bologna F.C. 1909. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  30. ^ "Results or Ending of Transfer Meetings". Galatasaray (in Turkish). Turkish Public Disclosure Platform (KAP). 17 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  31. Montreal Impact
    . Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  32. ^ "UFFICIALE Montreal: preso Dzemaili".
  33. ^ "Impact acquires Swiss international midfielder Blerim Dzemaili". 9 May 2017.
  34. ^ "Impact DP Dzemaili seals return to Bologna". ESPN. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  35. Bologna
    . 31 January 2020.
  36. ^ "Blerim Dzemaili kehrt zum FCZ zurück". FCZ.ch (in German). FC Zürich. 18 December 2020. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  37. ^ "Blerim Dzemaili Ends His Football Career". FCZ.ch. FC Zürich. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  38. ^ a b "Blerim DZEMAILI". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  39. ^ "Switzerland 4–4 Iceland". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  40. ^ "Switzerland World Cup 2014 squad". The Telegraph. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  41. ^ "(Roundup) Costa Rica beat Italy to advance, England eliminated". globalpost. 20 June 2014. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  42. ^ "Switzerland 2–5 France". BBC. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  43. ^ "Blerim Džemaili scores the first direct free kick of the World Cup". SBNation. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  44. ^ "Fifa hands computer data to Swiss investigators". thelocal.ch. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  45. ^ The Washington Post[dead link]
  46. ^ Jiang, Allan (2 July 2014). "Scouting Report: Can Blerim Dzemaili Be Arsenal's Michu?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  47. ^ Rosario Carraffa (14 July 2009). "Palermo, Demaili sembra vicino" (in Italian). www.tuttopalermo.net. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  48. ^ "Dzemaili: "Bologna è una grande piazza, fisicamente sto bene e sono pronto per giocare"" (in Italian). www.tuttobolognaweb.it. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  49. ^ Flavio Fusi (31 January 2018). "Calciomercato, 6 acquisti di cui si è parlato poco" (in Italian). sport.sky.it. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  50. ^ "Dzemaili: "La fascia? Un onore ma abbiamo tanti leader"" (in Italian). Bologna FC. 12 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  51. ^ Federico Lanza (24 October 2013). "Toro, fai attenzione a Dzemaili" (in Italian). Toro News. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  52. ^ "Carlino: c'era una volta Dzemaili" (in Italian). www.tuttobolognaweb.it. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  53. ^ "Dzemaili rigorista, ma non l'unico: Inzaghi svela le gerarchie" (in Italian). www.tuttobolognaweb.it. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  54. ^ Italo Battagliese (20 June 2011). "Marino: "Demaili ideale per Mazzarri, ha lancio e visione di gioco"" (in Italian). www.tuttonapoli.net. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  55. ^ "Blerim Dzemaili" (in Italian). Bologna FC. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  56. ^ "Di Francesco ancora in dubbio, Dzemaili nel tridente d'attacco?" (in Italian). www.tuttobolognaweb.it. 17 December 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  57. ^ "Dzemaili, dubbi sul ruolo: mezz'ala o trequartista?" (in Italian). Tutto Bologna Web. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  58. ^ "Erjona Sulejmani: Martesë përrallore me Blerim Xhemailin, ju tregoj si u njohëm". Panorama. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  59. ^ "Dzemaili, Erjona Sulejmani si difende: "Ho lasciato io Blerim, ma non mi ha tolto il cognome"" [Džemaili, Erjona Sulejmani defends herself: "I left Blerim, but he did not take my surname away"] (in Italian). Sky Sport. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  60. ^ "Blerim Džemaili » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  61. ^ "B. Džemaili". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  62. ^ "Blerim Džemaili". European Football. 24 June 2018.
  63. ^ Blerim Džemaili at Soccerway

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