Lirim Kastrati (footballer, born February 1999)

Lirim Kastrati

Personal information
Date of birth	(1999-02-02) 2 February 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Malishevë, FR Yugoslavia
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Widzew Łódź
Number	62
Youth career
0000–2013	San Paolo Padova
2013–2018	Roma
2018–2020	Bologna
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2024	Újpest	82	(3)
2024–	Widzew Łódź	5	(0)
International career^‡
2015	Albania U17	3	(1)
2018	Kosovo U19	1	(0)
2019–2020	Kosovo U21	4	(0)
2017–	Kosovo	15	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 June 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 January 2024

Lirim Kastrati (born 2 February 1999), also known as Lirim R. Kastrati, is a Kosovar Albanian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Polish club Widzew Łódź and the Kosovo national team.

Club career

Youth career

Bologna

On 23 July 2018, Kastrati signed a three-year contract with Campionato Primavera 2 club Bologna.[1][2] On 15 September 2018, he made his debut in a 1–1 home draw against SPAL after being named in the starting line-up.[3]

Újpest

On 22 July 2020, Kastrati signed his first professional contract with Nemzeti Bajnokság I side Újpest after agreeing to a four-year deal and receiving squad number 62.[4] On 15 August 2020, he was named as a Újpest substitute for the first time in a Nemzeti Bajnokság I match against Paksi.[5] His debut with Újpest came eight days later against Budafoki MTE after being named in the starting line-up,[6] and assists in his side's only goal during a 1–1 home draw.[7]

Widzew Łódź

On 28 January 2024, Kastrati signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Polish Ekstraklasa club Widzew Łódź.[8] He made his debut on 11 February, in a 1–3 loss with Jagiellonia Białystok.[9]

International career

Albania

Under-17

On 16 October 2015, Kastrati was named as part of the Albania U17 squad for 2016 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification.[10] On 22 October 2015, he made his debut with Albania U17 in a match against Switzerland after being named in the starting line-up.[11]

Kosovo

First call-up

On 21 March 2017, Kastrati received his first call-up from Kosovo U21 for a 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Republic of Ireland,[12] he was an unused substitute in that match.

Promotion to the senior team

On 5 June 2017, Kastrati received a call-up from Kosovo for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Turkey.[13] On 9 October 2017, he made his debut with Kosovo in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Iceland after coming on as a substitute at 78th minute in place of Besar Halimi.[14]

Return to youth teams

Under-19

On 17 March 2018, Kastrati was named as part of the Kosovo U19 squad for 2018 UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite qualifications.[15] On 21 March 2018, he made his debut with Kosovo U19 in a match against Portugal after being named in the starting line-up.[16]

Under-21

On 27 May 2019, Kastrati returned to the Kosovo U21 and was called up for 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Andorra and Turkey.[17] On 6 June 2019, he made his under-21 debut against Andorra after being named in the starting line-up.[18]

Honours

Újpest

• Magyar Kupa: 2020–21[19]

References

1. "ESCLUSIVA TMW - Bologna, fatta per Kastrati. Accordo triennale" [TMW EXCLUSIVE - Bologna, made for Kastrati. Three-year agreement]. TUTTOmercatoWEB.com (in Italian). 23 July 2018.
2. "Preso il kosovaro Kastrati: per il difensore contratto triennale" [Taken the Kosovar Kastrati: three-year contract for the defender]. TUTTOmercatoWEB.com (in Italian). 23 July 2018.
3. "Campionato Primavera 2, Bologna – Spal 1–1". ZONACALCIOFAIDATE.it (in Italian). 15 September 2018. Bologna: Fantoni, Kastrati, Visconti (69' Farinelli), Mazza, Busi, Padovan, Portanova (62' Mantovani), Cassandro, Rabbi (84' Uhunamure), Cossalter (69′ Koutsoupias), Krastev
4. "Koszovói válogatott hátvéd az új igazolásunk" [Kosovo national team defender our new player] (in Hungarian). Újpest FC. 22 July 2020.
5. "Paksi SE vs. Újpest 1–2". Soccerway. 15 August 2020.
6. "Újpest FC – Budafoki MTE – 1:1" (in Hungarian). Hungarian Football Federation. 23 August 2020.
7. "Újpest FC – Budafoki MTE 1:1 (NB I 2020/2021, 2. Round)". WorldFootball.net. 23 August 2020.
8. "Lirim Kastrati dołączył do Widzewa!" (in Polish). Widzew Łódź. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
9. "PKO Ekstraklasa: Widzew 1-3 Jagiellonia". www.90minut.pl. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
10. "Kombëtarja U-17, vazhdon përgatitjet" [The U-17 national team continues preparations] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 16 October 2015.
11. "Shqipëria U17 mposhtet nga...shqiptarët" [Albania U17 defeated by...Albanians] (in Albanian). Top Channel. 22 October 2015.
12. "Lista e futbollistëve të Përfaqësueses U21" [List of footballers of national U21 team] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 21 March 2017.
13. "Bunjaku publikoi listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjen me Turqinë" [Bunjaku published the list of footballers for the match with Turkey] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 5 June 2017.
14. "Islanda e mund Kosovën dhe kualifikohet në Botëror" [Iceland defeat Kosovo and qualify in the World Cup] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 9 October 2017. Në 15 minutat e fundit të ndeshjes u inkuadrua edhe futbollisti i ri i Romës, Lirim Kastrati, i cili kësisoj bëri debutimin në Kombëtaren A
15. "Kombëtarja U19 udhëtoi për Portugali" [National U19 team traveled to Portugal] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 17 March 2018.
16. "Në ndeshjen e parë Kombëtarja U-19 humbi nga Portugalia me përvojë" [In the first match national U19 team defeat from experienced Portugal] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 21 March 2018.
17. "Prekazi publikon listën, beson te lojtarët e rinj" [Prekazi publishes the list, believes in new players] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 27 May 2019.
18. "Kosova U21 shkëlqen kundër Andorrës, fiton 4:0" [Kosovo U21 shines against Andorra, wins 4:0] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 6 June 2019.
19. "Lirim Kastrati". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 4 June 2024.

External links

• Lirim Kastrati at National-Football-Teams.com
• Lirim Kastrati at Soccerway