Agim Ibraimi

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Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Agim Ibraimi (Template:Lang-mk) (born 29 August 1988) is a Macedonian professional footballer of Albanian origin who plays as a midfielder for Astana in the Kazakhstan Premier League. He is also a member of the Macedonia national football team.

Club career

Childhood and early career

Ibraimi was born in Tetovo, SR Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia, to Albanian parents. While growing up in Tetovo, Agim joined the Shkendija youth team and eventually broke through into the senior squad at the age of 17.

Shkendija and Red Bull Salzburg

Agim debuted for Shkendija 79 in 2005 and was a crucial member of the team. He made forty nine appearances and scored three goals, helping Shkendija reach fifth place in the Prva Liga. Making a significant impact on the club at such a young age, Agim was picked up by Red Bull Salzburg and moved abroad.

At Red Bull Salzburg, Ibraimi developed further under their tutelage. For the two years with Salzburg, Ibraimi made three appearances for the senior team.

Olimpija

Ibraimi joined Olimpija who were at that time playing in the Slovenian Second League. His first season in the Slovenian capital was very successful, as Olimpija finished as league winners with Ibraimi scoring eleven goals.

The start of his second season in Ljubljana was not as smooth. After Miran Pavlin, the director of football who brought him to the club, departed for Koper, Ibraimi wanted to join him. But Olimpija's board had none of it, as the player still had a valid contract with the club. The start of his first season in Slovenian PrvaLiga was difficult, his form was not up to standard, but it did pick up eventually and Ibraimi regained his place in Olimpija's first eleven. He scored his first goal in the Slovenian PrvaLiga on 28 August against Koper.

Eskisehirspor

Ibraimi terminated his contract with Olimpija in the summer of 2010 and signed a three-year deal with Turkish team Eskişehirspor on 3 September 2010. He made his debut for Eskisehirspor on 25 September 2010 when he came off the bench in the 77th minute, but his team lost 1–0. Ibraimi failed to adjust to the Turkish league so he and the club agreed to mutually terminate the contract and Ibraimi joined Nafta Lendava during the 2011 January transfer window.

Maribor

On 10 June 2011 it was announced, that Ibraimi has signed a three-year contract with the Slovenian club Maribor. He made his debut for Maribor against Dudelange in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League where he also scored his first goal and assist for the club.[1] Ibraimi has been a regular starter for Maribor and has been having a tremendous season in the Slovenian PrvaLiga. Despite not qualifying past the third round of qualifications, Maribor had a chance in the play offs for the UEFA Europa League against Scottish club, Rangers. Ibraimi helped Maribor reach the group stages of the Europa League after scoring a goal from just inside the box in the first leg.[2] Despite Maribor getting last place in their group, Ibraimi scored against Portugal club, SC Braga, in the only match of the group stage where Maribor secured a point. In May 2012, Ibraimi signed a new contract with the club until May 2015.[3] In the same month, he scored directly from a corner kick in an 8–0 win against Triglav Kranj and won the league title with Maribor. In December 2012, he won the Macedonian footballer of the year award.[4][5] He was voted as one of the best midfield players in the 2012–13 Slovenian PrvaLiga alongside his teammate Goran Cvijanović and Nik Omladič.[6] He was also selected as the overall best player in the 2012–13 PrvaLiga season.[7]

Cagliari

On the 31st of August, 2013, Agim Ibraimi moved to Cagliari on loan in exchange for Pablo Ceppelini and money.[8][9] In his second game for Cagliari, he provided an assist against Inter Milan. On March 2, 2014, Ibraimi scored his first goal for Cagliari against Udinese and providing an assist eight minutes earlier. Only maintaining five starting appearances for Cagliari, he did not receive much playing time in Italy.

Agim Ibraimi has reached an agreement with Maribor to extend his contract until May 2017.[10]

Maribor

Returning to Maribor, Ibraimi helped the club reach the UEFA Champions League group stage by scoring in the qualifying rounds against Zrinjski Mostar and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The last time Maribor were in the Champions League was in 1999.[11] On 5 November 2014, Maribor drew against Chelsea in the Champions League. Ibraimi scored on the 50th minute with a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the box.

Astana

On 15 June 2016, Ibraimi signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Astana.[12]

International career

Ibraimi was capped for Macedonia U21 several times. He made a significant impact in the under-21 football team during the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification. When playing against the England U21 team in Macedonia, Ibraimi scored from 32 yards out.[13] Also when playing against the England U21 team in England, Ibraimi scored a goal and took the corner kick that resulted in Kieran Gibbs scoring an own goal.[14]

He received his first call-up to the Macedonia national football team in a friendly match against Spain, which took place on 12 August 2009. On his debut, he came on as a substitute for Goran Pandev in 79th minute of the game. On 12 October 2012, he scored his first goal for Macedonia in a 1–2 home defeat against Croatia in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifications.[15] He scored another goal just three days later against Serbia for a historic 1–0 win for Macedonia.[16]

Career statistics

Club

Template:Updated[17][18]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Shkëndija 2004–05 1. MFL 3 1 – – 3 1
2005–06 26 2 – – 26 2
2006–07 20 0 – – 20 0
Total 49 3 - - - - 49 3
Red Bull Salzburg 2007–08 Austrian Bundesliga 3 0 – – 3 0
Olimpija Ljubljana 2008–09 2. SNL 19 11 – – 19 11
2009–10 1. SNL 28 8 – – 28 8
Total 47 19 - - - - 47 19
Eskişehirspor 2010–11 Süper Lig 1 0 1 0 – – 2 0
Nafta Lendava 2010–11 1. SNL 17 0 0 0 – – 17 0
Maribor 2011–12 27 9 4 1 11 3 1 1 0 0
2012–13 25 3 6 1 12 2 1 1 0 0
2013–14 4 2 0 0 6 0 1 0 0 0
2014–15 24 2 3 2 12 4 0 0 0 0
2015–16 27 10 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0
Total 107 26 14 4 43 9 4 2 168 41
Cagliari (loan) 2013–14 Serie A 25 2 0 0 – – 25 2
Astana 2016 Kazakhstan Premier League 6 0 0 0 5 1 – 11 1
Career total 252 50 15 4 48 10 4 2 319 66

International

Macedonia national team
Year Apps Goals
2009 1 0
2010 3 0
2011 3 0
2012 9 3
2013 8 2
2014 4 2
2015 8 0
2016 2 0
Total 38 7

Statistics accurate as of match played 29 March 2016[17]

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 12 October 2012 Philip II Arena, Skopje Template:Fb
1–0
1–2
 2014 World Cup qualifier
2. 16 October 2012 Template:Fb
1–0
1–0
3. 14 November 2012 Template:Fb
3–1
3–2
 Friendly</Center>
4. 6 February 2013 Template:Fb
2–0
3–0
5. 14 August 2013 Template:Fb
1–0
2–0
6. 5 March 2014 Template:Fb
2–1
2–1
7. 8 September 2014 Estadi Ciutat de València, Valencia Template:Fb
2–1
5–1
 2016 Euro qualifier</Center>

Honours

Club

Olimpija

Maribor

Astana

Individual

Personal life

Ibraimi is multilingual, speaking six languages fluently: Albanian, English, German, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian and Slovenian.[19] Ibraimi is a cousin of professional football player Arijan Ademi.[20] In February 2016, after having spent years of playing in the country, Ibraimi received a Slovenian citizenship.[21]

See also

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:FC Astana squad
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