Olger Merkaj (born 23 July 1997) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a right winger or forward for Italian Serie D club Vado.

Club career

Early life and Youth career

Merkaj was born in Vlorë, Albania and moved to Italy aged 8. He started his youth career at Sampdoria in 2012.[2][3]

Tuttocuoio

On 26 June 2016 Merkaj was loaned to Lega Pro side Tuttocuoio.[4] He made it his club debut on 31 July 2016 in the 2015–16 Coppa Italia match against Casertana coming on as a substitute in the 83rd minute in place of Irakli Shekiladze.[5]

Chieri

On 2 December 2017 Casale announced that Merkaj moved to fellow Serie D side Chieri.[6] Four days later Merkaj debuted for Chieri with a goal in the Coppa Italia Serie D 3 round against Unione Sanremo. Merkaj's goal came in the 31st minute, 4 minutes after the opening goal of the match scored by Unione Sanremo and served to end the match in the 1–1, where then advanced in the penalty shoot-out where Merkaj's side was defeated 4–2.[7]

Foggia

On 9 July 2021, he signed with Serie C club Foggia.[8]

Campobasso

On 21 January 2022, he moved to Campobasso.[9]

Trapani

On 14 September 2022, he joined Trapani.[10]

Luparense

On 5 December 2022, Merkaj left Trapani to join Luparense.[11]

International career

Merkaj received his first international call up at the Albania national under-17 football team by coach Džemal Mustedanagić for the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship elite round.[12] However, due to health problems he was sent to a hospital in Czech Republic and was unable to participate in the tournament. He was visited at hospital by 4 Captains of all Group 4 youth national teams, Keidi Bare of Albania U17, Ryan Ledson of England U17, Filippo Romagna of Italy U17 and David Záleský of Czech Republic U17.[13]

Following a good season with Tuttocuoio in the 2016–17 Lega Pro's first-half he received his first call-up at the Albania national under-21 football team by coach Alban Bushi for a gathering from 21 to 28 January 2017.[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 24 April 2022 [3]
Club statistics
Club Season League National cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tuttocuoio 2016–17 Lega Pro 10 2 1 0 1[a] 0 12 2
Casale 2017–18 Serie D 16 2 — — 16 2
Chieri 2017–18 Serie D 17 6 — 2[b] 0 19 6
2018–19 Serie D 31 5 1 0 — 32 5
Total 48 11 1 0 2 0 51 11
US Breno 2019–20 Serie D 20 7 — — 20 7
Bra 2020–21 Serie D 37 18 — 1[b] 0 38 18
Foggia 2021–22 Serie C 17 2 — — 17 2
Campobasso 2021–22 Serie C 16 1 — — 16 1
Career total 164 43 2 0 4 0 170 43
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Relegation Playoffs
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Promotion Playoffs

References

  1. ^ Olger Merkaj at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ "Olger Merkaj, shqiptari i radhës që synon Serinë A" [Olger Merkaj, the next Albanian who intends the Serie A] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  3. ^ a b Olger Merkaj at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  4. ^ Olger Merkaj huazohet në Lega Pro Archived 2017-05-10 at the Wayback Machine aSport.al
  5. ^ Casertana vs. Tuttocuoio - 31 July 2016 Soccerway
  6. ^ "Casale, è tornato Andrea Cardini!" [Casale, is returned back Andrea Cardini!] (in Italian). Casale News. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Rigori beffardi, il Chieri saluta la Coppa Italia" [Penalties mocking the Chieri salutes the Italian Cup.] (in Italian). Chieri. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Merkaj Olger è il primo acquisto rossonero" (in Italian). Foggia. 9 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Olger Merkaj nuovo attaccante rossoblù" (in Italian). Campobasso. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  10. ^ "UFFICIALE, nuovo attaccante per il Trapani". www.trapanigranata.it (in Italian). 14 September 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  11. ^ "UFFICIALE: Merkaj lascia il Trapani". www.trapanigranata.it (in Italian). 5 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  12. ^ Kombëtarja U17 niset drejt Çekisë (orari i ndeshjeve) aSport.al
  13. ^ Operohet në Çeki i riu Merkaj, merr përkrahje nga kapitenët e “Elite Round” Sport Ekspres
  14. ^ Talenti shqiptar i Samdorias ftohet me Shqipërinë Shqiperia.ch
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olger_Merkaj
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