Shefki Kuqi

Football player infobox
playername= Shefki Kuqi
height = height|ft=6|in=2


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1976|11|10
cityofbirth = Vučitrn
countryofbirth = SFR Yugoslavia
currentclub = Crystal Palace
clubnumber = 32
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs = Mikkelin Kissat
years = 1995–1996
1997–1999
2000
2001–2002
2002–2003
2003
2003–2005
2005–2006
2006–
2007–2008
2008
clubs = Mikkelin Palloilijat HJK FC Jokerit Stockport County Sheffield Wednesday → Ipswich Town (loan) Ipswich Town Blackburn Rovers Crystal Palace → Fulham (loan)
→ Ipswich Town (loan)
caps(goals) = 50 (10) 72 (18) 33 (19) 35 (11) 64 (19) 11 0(4) 70 (27) 34 0(7) 46 0(8) 10 0(0)
04 0(0)
nationalyears = 1999–
nationalteam = Finland
nationalcaps(goals) = 52 0(6)
pcupdate = 16:44, 4 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 12:58, 11 January 2008 (UTC)

Shefki Kuqi (born November 10, 1976 in Vushtrri, Kosovo [See also the International reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence] ) is a Finnish footballer of Kosovar Albanian origin. He currently plays for Crystal Palace in the The Championship. Kuqi is a big, strong striker and is known more for his determination and physical presence than technical skill. He is the older brother of Njazi Kuqi.

Football career

Finland

Kuqi started his playing career with Mikkelin Kissat shortly after emigrating to Finland. He later played for Mikkelin Palloilijat, HJK and FC Jokerit in Finland's Veikkausliiga. Kuqi was the league top scorer in the 2000 season before joining Stockport County in January 2001.

England

He then had a spell at Sheffield Wednesday where he scored 19 times between January 2002 and September 2003, unfortunately with Wednesday being relegated to Division Two (or League One as it is now known) during his time at Hillsborough. Many Wednesday fans were bemused though at then manager Chris Turner's decision to let Kuqi leave for Ipswich for free. Whilst in Sheffield, Shefki also scored a goal against Sheffield United in The Steel City Derby. He scored the second goal in the 81st minute at Hillsborough to ensure a win after Lloyd Owusu had opened the scoring with his very first goal for the club.

Kuqi joined Ipswich Town in September 2003. His 20 goals in the Championship for Ipswich in the 2004–05 season earned him a move to the Premiership with Blackburn. Kuqi scored seven Premiership goals for Blackburn in the 2005–06 season. He joined Crystal Palace for a reported £2.5 million transfer fee at the end of the August transfer window in 2006.

Kuqi did not have a prolific first season at Selhurst Park, scoring only seven goals in 38 games, and at the end of August 2007, he signed for Fulham on a four-month loan deal, where he made ten league appearances, scoring no goals.

Kuqi was placed on the transfer list and fined two weeks wages by Neil Warnock after signalling an offensive gesture to Palace fans when they cheered as he was substituted following a particularly poor performance in the 2-0 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 23 February 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.cpfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ManagersComments/0,,10323~1248557,00.html|title=NW: "We Must Change Things".|date=2008-02-23|accessdate=2008-02-23|publisher=cpfc.co.uk]

In March 2008 Kuqi returned to Ipswich on loan until the end of the season. He began the 2008- 2009 campaign with his first team prospects seemingly irretrievable but Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock named (and used) him as a substitute for the away draw at Ipswich Town and home victory over Charlton in September and on 4th October he scored the second goal of Palace's 2-0 victory at Nottingham Forest. Although his return to the first team has completed a remarkable sequence of events for Kuqi, it remains to be seen whether he will have a long term future at the Crystal Palace.

Kuqi has received some media attention – especially from Match of the Day – for his spectacular, and unusual, diving goal celebration known as a Swan Dive. Kuqi jumps forward with both arms out, in what could be described as an attempt to glide like a bird, before crashing to the ground; the movement bears some resemblance to a bellyflop and has been referred to as a "Flying Finn". Although it looks like a celebration which may cause injury, Kuqi has said it does not hurt him.

Club career statistics

:"(correct as of 4 October 2008)"

International career

Kuqi made his debut for the Finnish national team on August 18, 1999 against Belgium. He is a regular member of the Finland squad.

References

External links

* [http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10323~8886,00.html Shefki Kuqi player profile] at cpfc.co.uk
* [http://www.stockportcounty.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10419~8886,00.html Shefki Kuqi player profile] at stockportcounty.com
* [http://www.palloliitto.fi/maajoukkueet/miesten_a-maajoukkue/pelaajat/kuqi_shefki/ Profile at FA of Finland's official website]
* [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=5193&cc=5739 Profile at ESPNsoccernet.com]
* [http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=19965 Profile at soccerbase.com]
* [http://www.4thegame.com/club/blackburn-rovers-fc/player-profile/5654/shefkikuqi.html Profile at 4thegame.com]
* [http://www.soccernet.com/design05/images/PH/KuqiG_Empics.jpgA picture of Kuqi doing his famous celebration, taken from the side]
* [http://www.cpfc.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/38/b8/0,,10323~2996280,00.jpgA picture of Kuqi doing his famous celebration, taken from the front]