Vasillaq Zëri
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vasillaq Zëri | ||
| Date of birth | 4 August 1952 | ||
| Place of birth | Tirana, Albania | ||
| Date of death | 25 January 2019 (aged 66) | ||
| Place of death | Albania | ||
| Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1967-1970 | Shkëndija | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1970–1973 | Shkëndija | ||
| 1973–1984 | Dinamo Tirana | ||
| International career | |||
| 1976–1982 | Albania | 6 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1994 | Dinamo Tirana | ||
| 2001 | Albania U-21 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Vasillaq Zëri (4 August 1952 – 25 January 2019) was an Albanian footballer of Greek origin,[1] who played as a striker.
Club career
[edit]Born in Tirana,[2] Zëri started his career with hometown club Shkëndija[3] and was part of the 'Golden Age' of Dinamo Tirana between 1974 and 1988, where under the guidance of Skënder Jareci the club dominated Albanian football, winning five championships and three Albanian Cups. Known for his dribbling skills[4] and being able to play the ball with both feet, Zëri formed a successful offensive partnership with Ilir Përnaska and Shyqyri Ballgjini, which is considered to be the best offensive trio in Dinamo's history.[5] Zëri impressed Ajax during Dinamo's 1980–81 European Cup clash with the Dutch giants and the latter insisted on buying him but they were told Albanian players were not allowed to move abroad.[6]
International career
[edit]He made his debut for Albania on 3 November 1976 in the 3–0 friendly win versus Algeria[7] and earned a total of 6 caps, scoring no goals. His final international was a September 1982 European Championship qualification match against Austria.[8]
International statistics
[edit]| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 6 | 0 | |
Personal life
[edit]Zëri later worked for the Albanian Football Association. He was married to Vilma and they had two children, Julian and Inna.[9]
Death
[edit]He died in January 2019 after a long illness.[10]
Honours
[edit]- Albanian Cup: 3
References
[edit]- ^ President of Albania, Ilir Meta (2 August 2020). "(1/2) Σαν σήμερα, πριν από 54 χρόνια, στην αγαπημένη Δερβιτσανη γεννήθηκε μια από τις εικόνες του αλβανικού ποδοσφαίρου, ο κεντρικός μέσος του Luftetari, του Partizani και της εθνικής ομάδας, Lefter Millo, τον οποίο θα θυμόμαστε πάντα με σεβασμό και ευγνωμοσύνη". Twitter. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ Legjendat e Dinamos, si u vidhnin biçikletat dhe flisnin greqisht në fushë - Panorama (in Albanian)
- ^ Lamtumira/ Vasillaq Zëri, fantazisti që futbollin e ktheu në art - Telegraf (in Albanian)
- ^ VIDEO/ Rikthimi në kohë, kur legjenda Vasillaq Zëri i dhuronte Kupën Dinamos - Panorama (in Albanian)
- ^ "Legjendat e Dinamos, si u vidhnin biçikletat dhe flisnin greqisht në fushë" [Dinamo's legends, how we used to steal bicycles and talk Greece in the field] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Vasillaq Zëri: “Shqipëria, me të ardhme” - Telegraf (in Albanian)
- ^ "Football MATCH: 03.11.1976 Albania v Algeria". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ "Vasillaq Zëri - national football team player". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ a b Vasillaq Zëri, etaloni i teknikës që “loton” për Dinamon - Time (in Albanian)
- ^ Ndërron jetë ish-futbollisti i Kombëtares Vasillaq Zëri - Time (in Albanian)
- ^ Albania - Championship Winning Teams - RSSSF
External links
[edit]- Vasillaq Zëri at National-Football-Teams.com
- Vasillaq Zëri at WorldFootball.net
- 1952 births
- 2019 deaths
- Footballers from Tirana
- Albanian men's footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- Albania men's international footballers
- Shkëndija Tiranë players
- FC Dinamo City players
- Kategoria Superiore players
- Albanian football managers
- FC Dinamo City managers
- Albania national under-21 football team managers