Art Smakaj

Art Smakaj
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-02-04) 4 February 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Zagreb, Croatia
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Lokomotiva
Number 15
Youth career
–2013 Dinamo Zagreb
2013–2016 Trnje
2016–2022 Lokomotiva
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Lokomotiva 42 (1)
International career‡
2021 Kosovo U19 2 (0)
2022– Kosovo U21 11 (0)
2024– Kosovo 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 June 2024

Art Smakaj (born 4 February 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Croatian League club Lokomotiva. Born in Croatia, he represents Kosovo at international level.

Club career

On 11 December 2021, Smakaj was named as a Lokomotiva substitute for the first time in a Croatian First League match against Hajduk Split.[2] His debut with Lokomotiva came on 26 February 2022 in a 2–0 home win against Gorica after being named in the starting line-up.[3]

International career

Under-19

On 30 September 2021, Smakaj was named as part of the Kosovo U19 squad for UEFA Euro 2022 qualifications.[4] Six days later, he made his debut with Kosovo U19 in the match against Norway U19 after being named in the starting line-up.[5]

Under-21

On 30 May 2022, Smakaj received a call-up from Kosovo U21 for the UEFA Euro 2023 qualification matches against Andorra U21, England U21 and Albania U21.[6] His debut with Kosovo U21 came on 4 June in the UEFA Euro 2023 qualification match against Andorra after coming on as a substitute at 74th minute in place of Qëndrim Zyba.[7]

Senior

On 30 May 2024, Smakaj received a call-up from Kosovo for a friendly match against Norway,[8] and made his debut after coming on as a substitute at 78th minute in place of Lindon Emërllahu.[9]

References

  1. ^ Art Smakaj at WorldFootball.net Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Lokomotiva Zagreb vs. Hajduk Split 3–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Lokomotiva–Gorica 2:0" (in Croatian). NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. 26 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Lista e futbollistëve të Kombëtares U19 për kualifikimet e Evropianit" [List of footballers of the national U19 team for the European qualifications] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Norway U19 vs. Kosovo U19 3–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  6. ^ Kosovan Football [@kosovanfooty_EN] (30 May 2022). "This is Albert Bunjaku's #Kosova U21 squad for the upcoming #EuroU21 qualifiers!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Andorra U21 vs. Kosovo U21 0–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Smakaj dhe Abdullahu – Kush janë dy futbollistët e ftuar për herë të parë te Përfaqësuesja e Kosovës" [Smakaj and Abdullahu – Who are the two footballers invited for the first time to the Kosovo national team] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 30 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Smakaj debuton te Kosova" [Smakaj debuts in Kosovo] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 5 June 2024.


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