Daniel Xhafa

Daniel Xhafa

Personal information
Full name	Daniel Xhafaj
Date of birth	8 March 1977 (1977-03-08) (age 34)
Place of birth	Vlorë, Albania
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Skënderbeu Korçë
Number	22
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–2000	Flamurtari Vlorë	70	(17)
2000	Bylis Ballsh	12	(8)
2000–2003	Dinamo Tirana	63	(23)
2003	Flamurtari Vlorë	20	(4)
2003–2005	Teuta Durrës	58	(42)
2005–2006	Neuchâtel Xamax	21	(3)
2006	KF Elbasani	2	(0)
2006–2007	Teuta Durrës	31	(20)
2007–2009	KF Tirana	63	(18)
2008	→ Dinamo Tirana (loan)	0	(0)
2009–2010	Besa Kavajë	32	(19)
2010-2011	Flamurtari Vlorë	30	(19)
2011-	Skënderbeu Korçë	0	(0)
National team‡
2005–2008	Albania	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 July 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21 November 2009

Daniel Xhafa (born 8 March 1977) is an Albanian football striker who currently plays for Skënderbeu Korçë in the Albanian Superliga. His main position is centre forward and he is known in Albania for his goalscoring ability which he has shown over the years. He has also been called up to the Albania during his career but failed to earn many caps with the national team.

Career

Besa (2009-10)

Xhafaj signed for KS Besa Kavajë on 27 August 2009 after having played in the Champions League Qualifiers with previous club KF Tirana against Norwegian side Stabæk IF. Tirana's failure to qualify to the next round lead to Xhafaj considering his options, one of those came from Besa's president Nexhat Bizhdili who had great ambitions to make Besa one of Albania's top sides. Just days before finalising the deal for the striker, he had a meeting with Bizhdili to discuss a possible transfer, after he was convinced he signed on 27 August 2009 and trained with the rest of the club at their preseason training camp in Mavrovë.^[1]

Flamurtari (2010-11)

He was released by the Flamurtari chairman Shpëtim Gjika on 19 July 2011, along with three other main players, Sebino Plaku, Bledar Devolli and Julian Ahmataj.^[2]

Skënderbeu (2011-present)

Despite interest from Greek side PAS Giannina, Xhafaj signed a one year contract with Albanian champions Skënderbeu Korçë on 23 July 2011, just 4 days after being released by Flamurtari. He is believed to have signed a contract worth €70,000 for the 2011-12 season.^[3][4][5]

Honours

Dinamo

• Albanian Superliga (1): 2001-02

Teuta

• Albanian Cup (1): 2004-05

KF Tirana

• Albanian Superliga (1): 2008-09
• Albanian Supercup (1): 2007

Besa

• Albanian Cup (1): 2009-10

Flamurtari

• Albanian Superliga runner-up (1): 2010-11

Individual

• Albanian Golden Boot (2): 2009-10, 2010-11

Goals in Albanian Championship

Season	Team	Goals
1996-97	Bylis	4
1997-98	Flamurtari	4
1998-99	Flamurtari	10
1999-00	Flamurtari	3
1999-00	Bylis	8
2000-01	Dinamo	10
2001-02	Dinamo	11
2002-03	Dinamo	2
2002-03	Flamurtari	5
2003-04	Teuta	20
2004-05	Teuta	22
2005-06	Neuchatel
2006-07	Teuta	20
2007-08	SK Tirana	8
2008-09	SK Tirana	10
TOTAL		137

References

1. ^ Bizhdili convinces Xhafaj for Besa
2. ^ Gjergji Stefa (2011-07-19). "Katër largime “big” në Vlorë!" (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. http://sportekspres.com/contenti.aspx?id=521&idd=562&iddd=613&idjadok=8538. Retrieved 2011-07-23. 
3. ^ "Daniel Xhafaj firmos per Skenderbeun" (in Albanian). Albania Sport. 2011-07-23. http://albania-sport.com/article/13260/0/Daniel-Xhafaj-firmos-per-Skenderbeun.html. Retrieved 2011-07-23. 
4. ^ "Daniel Xhafa firmos per Skenderbeun" (in Albanian). Futbolli Shqiptar. 2011-07-23. http://www.partizani.net/files/news.php?readmore=5247. Retrieved 2011-07-23. 
5. ^ "Xhafa per 70 mije euro te Skenderbeu" (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. 2011-07-23. http://albaniasoccer.com/lajme/shqiperi/superliga/5053-zyrtare-xhafa-per-70-mije-euro-te-skenderbeu.html. Retrieved 2011-07-23. 

• National Football Teams

Persondata
Name	Xhafa, Daniel
Alternative names
Short description	footballer
Date of birth	8 March 1976
Place of birth	Vlorë, Albania
Date of death
Place of death