Agim Ibraimi

2017-04-16T08:20:39Z

Cahk: Reverted 1 edit by Prinsipe Migo (talk) to last revision by Prinsipe Ybarro. (TW)

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Agim Ibraimi
| image = Agim Ibraimi and Arshavin 2011.jpg
| caption = Ibraimi dribbling past [[Andrei Arshavin]] while playing for [[Macedonia national football team|Macedonia]] (left)
| fullname = Agim Ibraimi
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|8|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Tetovo]], [[Republic of Macedonia]]
| height = {{height|m=1.78}}
| currentclub = [[FC Astana|Astana]]
| clubnumber = 9
| position = [[Midfielder|Winger]]
| youthyears1 = –2005 |youthclubs1 = [[FK Shkëndija|Shkëndija]]
| youthyears2 = 2006–2008 |youthclubs2 = [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]]
| years1 = 2005–2006 |clubs1 = [[FK Shkëndija|Shkëndija]] |caps1 = 49 |goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2006–2008 |clubs2 = [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]] |caps2 = 17 |goals2 = 6
| years3 = 2008–2010 |clubs3 = [[NK Olimpija Ljubljana (2005)|Olimpija Ljubljana]] |caps3 = 47 |goals3 = 19
| years4 = 2010–2011 |clubs4 = [[Eskisehirspor]] |caps4 = 2 |goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2011 |clubs5 = [[NK Nafta Lendava|Nafta Lendava]] |caps5 = 17 |goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2011–2016 |clubs6 = [[NK Maribor|Maribor]] |caps6 = 164 |goals6 = 40
| years7 = 2013–2014 |clubs7 = → [[Cagliari Calcio|Cagliari]] (loan) |caps7 = 25 |goals7 = 2
| years8 = 2016– |clubs8 = [[FC Astana|Astana]] |caps8 = 11 |goals8 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2006–2007 |nationalteam1 = [[Macedonia national under-19 football team|Macedonia U19]]|nationalcaps1 = 8 |nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2008–2010 |nationalteam2 = [[Macedonia national under-21 football team|Macedonia U21]]|nationalcaps2 = 11 |nationalgoals2 = 2
| nationalyears3 = 2009– |nationalteam3 = [[Macedonia national football team|Macedonia]]|nationalcaps3 = 39 |nationalgoals3 = 7
| pcupdate = {{date|2016-11-01}}
| ntupdate = {{date|2016-03-29}}
}}
'''Agim Ibraimi''' ({{lang-mk|Агим Ибраими}}) (born 29 August 1988) is a Macedonian professional [[Association football|footballer]] of [[Albanians|Albanian]] origin who plays as a [[midfielder]] for [[FC Astana|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]], [[Socialist Republic of Macedonia|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 [[FK Shkendija 79|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 [[First Macedonian Football League|Prva Liga]]. Making a significant impact on the club at such a young age, Agim was picked up by [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]] and moved abroad.

At [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|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 [[NK Olimpija Ljubljana (2005)|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 [[FC Koper|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 [[NK Nafta Lendava|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 [[NK Maribor|Maribor]]. He made his debut for Maribor against [[F91 Dudelange|Dudelange]] in the qualifying rounds of the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] where he also scored his first goal and assist for the club.<ref>[http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2012/matches/round=2000260/match=2007487/index.html Maribor take two-goal lead to Luxembourg]</ref> 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 F.C.|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.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heAo8sspgnA&feature=related Ibraimi's goal against Rangers]</ref> 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.<ref>http://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/prva-liga-si/ibraimijev-sestanek-z-zahovicem-krajsi-kot-pot-do-stadiona/282334</ref> In the same month, he scored directly from a [[corner kick]] in an 8–0 win against [[NK Triglav Kranj|Triglav Kranj]] and won the [[2011–12 Slovenian PrvaLiga|league title]] with Maribor. In December 2012, he won the ''Macedonian footballer of the year'' award.<ref name = "ibraimi_2012">{{cite news | url = http://www.nkmaribor.com/novice/?id=4737 | title = Ibraimi nogometaš leta | author = NK Maribor | publisher = [[NK Maribor]] official website | language = Slovenian | accessdate =5 January 2013}}</ref><ref name = "ibraimi_2012_1">{{cite news | url = http://www.nogomania.com/Slovenski-Nogomet/Ekipa/Maribor/Novica/Ibraimi-najboljsi-v-Makedoniji.aspx | title = Ibraimi najboljši v Makedoniji | publisher = Nogomania | language = Slovenian | accessdate = 5 January 2013 }}</ref> He was voted as one of the best midfield players in the [[2012–13 Slovenian PrvaLiga]] alongside his teammate [[Goran Cvijanović]] and [[Nik Omladič]].<ref name = "ibraimi_2013">{{cite news | url = http://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/prva-liga/olimpija-po-26-letih-slavila-v-kopru-aluminij-ze-izpadel/309389 | title = Olimpija po 26 letih slavila v Kopru, Aluminij že izpadel | publisher = [[Radiotelevizija Slovenija|RTV Slovenija]] | language = Slovenian | date = 22 May 2013 | accessdate = 22 May 2013 }}</ref> He was also selected as the overall best player in the 2012–13 PrvaLiga season.<ref name = "ibraimi_best">{{cite news | url = http://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/prva-liga/agim-ibraimi-najboljsi-igralec-v-prvi-ligi/309537 | title = Agim Ibraimi najboljši igralec v Prvi ligi | publisher = [[Radiotelevizija Slovenija|RTV Slovenija]] | language = Slovenian | date = 24 May 2013 | accessdate = 24 May 2013 }}</ref>

===Cagliari===
On the 31st of August, 2013, Agim Ibraimi moved to [[Cagliari Calcio|Cagliari]] on loan in exchange for [[Pablo Ceppelini]] and money.<ref name = "GC">{{cite news | url = http://macedonianfootball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5809:agim-ibraimi-to-move-to-cagliari&catid=13:international&Itemid=64 | title = Agim Ibraimi to move to Cagliari | publisher = MacedonianFootball | date = 2 September 2013 | accessdate = 2 September 2013 }}</ref><ref name = "CS">{{cite news | url = http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio_mercato/2013/09/01-333155/Calciomercato+Cagliari:+il+colpo+dell'ultim'ora,+Agim+Ibraimi | title = Calciomercato Cagliari: il colpo dell'ultim'ora, Agim Ibraimi | publisher = Corriere Dello Sport | date = 2 September 2013 | accessdate = 2 September 2013 | language = Italian }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.macedonianfootball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6802:agim-ibraimi-agrees-to-extension-with-maribor&catid=13:international&Itemid=64 | title = Agim Ibraimi agrees to extension with Maribor | publisher = MacedonianFootball | date = 18 August 2014 | accessdate = 18 August 2014}}</ref>

===Maribor===
Returning to Maribor, Ibraimi helped the club reach the UEFA Champions League group stage by scoring in the qualifying rounds against [[HŠK Zrinjski Mostar|Zrinjski Mostar]] and [[Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]]. The last time Maribor were in the Champions League was in 1999.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000547/match=2014207/postmatch/quotes/index.html#simundza+revels+maribors+phenomenal+feeling | title = Šimundža revels in Maribor's 'phenomenal feeling' | publisher = [[UEFA]] official website | date = 26 August 2014 | accessdate = 27 August 2014 }}</ref> On 5 November 2014, Maribor drew against [[Chelsea F.C.|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]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Агим Ибраими подписал контракт с Астаной|url=http://fca.kz/rus/news/5077/|website=fca.kz|publisher=[[FC Astana]]|accessdate=15 June 2016|language=Russian|date=15 June 2016}}</ref>

==International career==
Ibraimi was capped for [[Macedonia national under-21 football team|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 Group 9|2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification]]. When playing against the [[England national under-21 football team|England U21 team]] in Macedonia, Ibraimi scored from 32 yards out.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeFDw_3eIIo Ibraimi's goal in Prilep]</ref> Also when playing against the [[England national under-21 football team|England U21 team]] in England, Ibraimi scored a goal and took the corner kick that resulted in [[Kieran Gibbs]] scoring an own goal.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJkq29pKFl4 Agim Ibraimi against England]</ref>

He received his first call-up to the [[Macedonia national football team]] in a friendly match against [[Spain national football team|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 national football team|Croatia]] in the [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A|2014 FIFA World Cup qualifications]].<ref name="goal">{{cite news | url = http://www.nkmaribor.com/novice/?id=4622| title = Premiera Cvijanovića, gol Ibraimija | author = NK Maribor | publisher = [[NK Maribor]] official website | language = Slovenian | accessdate = 13 October 2012 }}</ref> He scored another goal just three days later against [[Serbia national football team|Serbia]] for a historic 1–0 win for Macedonia.<ref name="goal2">{{cite news | url = http://www.nkmaribor.com/novice/?id=4626| title = Ibraimi spet strelec, Mertlju vseh 90 | author = NK Maribor | publisher = [[NK Maribor]] official website | language = Slovenian | accessdate = 17 October 2012 }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{{updated|match played 21 August 2016}}<ref name="NFT Stats"/><ref>{{cite web|title=A.Ibraimi|url=http://uk.soccerway.com/players/agim-ibraimi/35820/|website=soccerway.com|publisher=Soccerway|accessdate=14 July 2016}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4" valign="center"|[[FK Shkëndija|Shkëndija]]
|[[2004–05 Macedonian First Football League|2004–05]]
|rowspan="3" valign="center"|[[Macedonian First Football League|1. MFL]]
|3||1|| || ||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||3||1
|-
|[[2005–06 Macedonian First Football League|2005–06]]
|26||2|| || ||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||26||2
|-
|[[2006–07 Macedonian First Football League|2006–07]]
|20||0|| || ||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||20||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!49!!3!! !! !!-!!-!!-!!-!!49!!3
|-
|valign="center"|[[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Red Bull Salzburg]]
|[[2007–08 Austrian Football Bundesliga|2007–08]]
|[[Austrian Football Bundesliga|Austrian Bundesliga]]
|3||0|| || ||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||3||0
|-
|rowspan="3" valign="center"|[[NK Olimpija Ljubljana (2005)|Olimpija Ljubljana]]
|[[2008–09 Slovenian Second League|2008–09]]
|[[Slovenian Second League|2. SNL]]
|19||11|| || ||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||19||11
|-
|[[2009–10 Slovenian PrvaLiga|2009–10]]
|[[Slovenian PrvaLiga|1. SNL]]
|28||8|| || ||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||28||8
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!47!!19!! !! !!-!!-!!-!!-!!47!!19
|-
|valign="center"|[[Eskişehirspor]]
|[[2010–11 Süper Lig|2010–11]]
|[[Süper Lig]]
|1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||2||0
|-
|valign="center"|[[NK Nafta Lendava|Nafta Lendava]]
|[[2010–11 Slovenian PrvaLiga|2010–11]]
|rowspan="6" valign="center"|1. SNL
|17||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||17||0
|-
|rowspan="6" valign="center"|[[NK Maribor|Maribor]]
|[[2011–12 Slovenian PrvaLiga|2011–12]]
|27||9||4||1||11||3||1||1||0||0
|-
|[[2012–13 Slovenian PrvaLiga|2012–13]]
|25||3||6||1||12||2||1||1||0||0
|-
|[[2013–14 Slovenian PrvaLiga|2013–14]]
|4||2||0||0||6||0||1||0||0||0
|-
|[[2014–15 Slovenian PrvaLiga|2014–15]]
|24||2||3||2||12||4||0||0||0||0
|-
|[[2015–16 Slovenian PrvaLiga|2015–16]]
|27||10||1||0||2||0||1||0||0||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!107!!26!!14!!4!!43!!9!!4!!2!!168!!41
|-
|valign="center"|[[Cagliari Calcio|Cagliari]] (loan)
|[[2013–14 Serie A|2013–14]]
|[[Serie A]]
|25||2||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||25||2
|-
|valign="center"|[[FC Astana|Astana]]
|[[2016 FC Astana season|2016]]
|[[Kazakhstan Premier League]]
|6||0||0||0||5||1||colspan="2"|–||11||1
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!252!!50!!15!!4!!48!!10!!4!!2!!319!!66
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | [[Macedonia national football team|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''<ref name="NFT Stats">{{NFT player|pid=32797|Agim Ibraimi|accessdate=14 July 2016}}</ref>

===International goals===
{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || 12 October 2012 ||rowspan="6"| [[Philip II Arena]], [[Skopje]] || {{fb|CRO}} || <Center>'''1'''–0</Center> || <Center>'''1'''–2</Center> ||rowspan="2"| [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A|2014 World Cup qualifier]]
|-
| 2. || 16 October 2012 || {{fb|SRB}} || <Center>'''1'''–0</Center> || <Center>'''1'''–0</Center>
|-
| 3. || 14 November 2012 || {{fb|Slovenia}} || <Center>'''3'''–1</Center> || <Center>'''3'''–2</Center> ||rowspan="4"|[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]</Center>
|-
| 4. || 6 February 2013 || {{fb|Denmark}} || <Center>'''2'''–0</Center> || <Center>'''3'''–0</Center>
|-
| 5. || 14 August 2013 || {{fb|Bulgaria}} || <Center>'''1'''–0</Center> || <Center>'''2'''–0</Center>
|-
| 6. || 5 March 2014 || {{fb|Latvia}} || <Center>'''2'''–1</Center> || <Center>'''2'''–1</Center>
|-
| 7. || 8 September 2014 || [[Estadi Ciutat de València]], [[Valencia]] || {{fb|Spain}} || <Center>2–'''1'''</Center> || <Center>5–'''1'''</Center> ||[[UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying Group C|2016 Euro qualifier]]</Center>
|}

==Honours==

===Club===
'''Olimpija'''
*[[Slovenian Second League]] (1): [[2008–09 Slovenian Second League|2008–09]]

'''Maribor'''
*[[Slovenian PrvaLiga]] (3): [[2011–12 Slovenian PrvaLiga|2011–12]], [[2012–13 Slovenian PrvaLiga|2012–13]], [[2014–15 Slovenian PrvaLiga|2014–15]]
*[[Slovenian Football Cup|Slovenian Cup]] (3): [[2011–12 Slovenian Cup|2011–12]], [[2012–13 Slovenian Cup|2012–13]], [[2015–16 Slovenian Football Cup|2015–16]]
*[[Slovenian Supercup]] (3): [[2012 Slovenian Supercup|2012]], [[2013 Slovenian Supercup|2013]], [[2014 Slovenian Supercup|2014]]

'''Astana'''
*[[Kazakhstan Premier League]] (1): [[2016 Kazakhstan Premier League|2016]]

===Individual===
*PrvaLiga Player of the season: [[2012–13 Slovenian PrvaLiga|2012–13]]
*PrvaLiga Team of the Year: 2013
*[[Macedonian Footballer of the Year]]: 2012, 2014

==Personal life==
Ibraimi is [[multilingualism|multilingual]], speaking six languages fluently: [[Albanian language|Albanian]], English, German, [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]], [[Serbo-Croatian language|Serbo-Croatian]] and [[Slovene language|Slovenian]].<ref name="sport_tv">{{cite web | url = http://www.sport-tv.si/d165193/Nogomet/Evropa/VIDEO_Proti_Tottenhamu_je_tocka_ogromna_stvar.html | title = VIDEO: "Proti Tottenhamu je točka ogromna stvar" | author = Žiga Ikič, Marko Miklavič | date = 26 October 2012 | publisher = Šport TV | language = Slovenian | accessdate = 26 October 2012}}</ref> Ibraimi is a [[cousin]] of professional football player [[Arijan Ademi]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nogomania.com/Mednarodni-Nogomet/Novica/Heerenveen-ali-Dinamo.aspx | title = Heerenveen ali Dinamo? | author = Damjan Tratnik | date = 25 July 2012 | publisher = Nogomania | language = Slovenian | accessdate = 24 August 2012 }}</ref> In February 2016, after having spent years of playing in the country, Ibraimi received a Slovenian citizenship.<ref name="ibraimi_snportal26022016">{{cite news | url = http://snportal.si/prva-liga/ibraimi-v-nadaljevanje-sezone-s-slovenskim-potnim-listom/ | title = Ibraimi v nadaljevanje sezone s slovenskim potnim listom | trans_title = Ibraimi in the second part of the season with a Slovenian passport | author = Peter Dominko | publisher = SNPortal.si | date = 26 February 2016 | accessdate = 26 February 2016 | language = Slovenian }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[NK Maribor players]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerway|agim-ibraimi/35820}}
*[http://www.prvaliga.si/klubi/mostvo/igralec.asp?idi=82769&id=832&all=1 Profile at PrvaLiga] {{sl icon}}
*[http://www.macedonianfootball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1633:agim-ibraimi&catid=22:national-team-players&Itemid=124 Profile at Macedonian Football]

{{FC Astana squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ibraimi, Agim}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Tetovo]]
[[Category:Macedonian Muslims]]
[[Category:Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia]]
[[Category:Macedonian footballers]]
[[Category:Association football wingers]]
[[Category:FK Škendija 79 players]]
[[Category:Macedonian expatriate footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate footballers in Austria]]
[[Category:Austrian Football Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:FC Red Bull Salzburg players]]
[[Category:Expatriate footballers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Süper Lig players]]
[[Category:Eskişehirspor footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate footballers in Slovenia]]
[[Category:Slovenian PrvaLiga players]]
[[Category:NK Olimpija Ljubljana (2005) players]]
[[Category:NK Nafta Lendava players]]
[[Category:NK Maribor players]]
[[Category:Expatriate footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Cagliari Calcio players]]
[[Category:Expatriate footballers in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:FC Astana players]]
[[Category:Kazakhstan Premier League players]]
[[Category:Macedonia international footballers]]

Kazakhstan Encyclopedia - User contributions [en]

Agim Ibraimi