Samir Ujkani (born 5 July 1988) is a former Kosovan professional footballer who is the current sports director of the Kosovo national team.
Ujkani was born in Resnik, a village near Vushtrri, SAP Kosovo, SR Serbia, at the time part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. His family then moved to Belgium six years after his birth.[2]
At the age of thirteen, Ujkani enrolled into Ingelmunster, spending six years there before moving to Anderlecht. The Anderlecht football academy has a reputation of producing talented goalkeepers such as Jacky Munaron.[3] Ujkani played until June 2007 for the Anderlecht Under-19s, and made also ten appearances with their reserves team. In June 2007, he agreed to sign a five-year contract with Palermo of Italy's Serie A.[2]
Since then, Ujkani served as unused substitute in two UEFA Cup matches for Palermo, and several Serie A matches as well. He was confirmed as third-choice goalkeeper for the Rosanero's 2008–09 season, and later promoted as second goalkeeper after the club chose to transfer-list veteran goalkeeper Alberto Fontana.
On 26 April 2009, Ujkani made his professional debut with Palermo, replacing injured Marco Amelia during a Serie A match against Milan at the San Siro.[4] His performance was congratulated from Kaká at the end of the match.[5] In July 2009, he was loaned out to Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Novara in exchange with Giacomo Brichetto, also in order to gain first team experience.[6]
On 14 June 2012, Palermo owner Maurizio Zamparini confirmed that Ujkani will be playing on Palermo for the 2012–13 season.[7][8] On 22 June 2012, Palermo announced from their website to have re-acquired the full transfer rights of Ujkani and fellow Novara player Michel Morganella.[9]
For Palermo's 2013–14 season, spent in Serie B after its previous season's relegation, he was used as a second-choice goalkeeper – receiving playing time – and being praised for his development relative to his previous stint with Palermo. During December and January 2014, he became temporary first-choice to cover for the injured Stefano Sorrentino. His contract with Palermo expired 30 June 2015.
He was loaned to Novara, and the loan was extended in 2010.[10]
On 31 January 2011, Palermo announced it had part of Ujkani's transfer rights to Novara as part of a bid involving striker Pablo González[11] (€5 million).[12]
After the arrival of goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino at Palermo, Ujkani moved on loan to Chievo on 29 January 2013.[13] In his short stint there, he did not play a single game, serving as back-up to Christian Puggioni, and was not acquired by the Verona-based club, thus making his return to Palermo by the end of season.
On 19 July 2015, Genoa announced the signing of Ujkani on a free transfer,[14][15] he did not play a single game.
On 8 January 2016, Ujkani joined Serie B side Latina on loan.[16] On 16 January 2016, he made his debut in a 1–0 home defeat against former club Novara after being named in the starting line-up.
On 11 July 2016, Ujkani joined Serie B side Pisa on loan. On 7 August 2016, he made his debut with Pisa in the second round of 2016–17 Coppa Italia against Brescia after being named in the starting line-up.
On 14 July 2017. Ujkani signed with the newly promoted team of Serie B side Cremonese.[17] On 6 August 2017, he made his debut with Cremonese in the second round of 2017–18 Coppa Italia against Virtus Entella after being named in the starting line-up.
On 18 July 2018. Ujkani signed with the newly promoted team of Süper Lig side Çaykur Rizespor, on a three-year contract.[18] On 26 September 2018, he made his debut for Çaykur Rizespor in the third round of the 2018–19 Turkish Cup against Tarsus Idman Yurdu after being named in the starting line-up.[19]
From the beginning of 2019, Ujkani was excluded from the first team squad alongside 4 other foreign players and moved down to the U21 squad.[20][21]
On 1 November 2023 he announced his retirements from playing after 4 months being unattached since contract expiration with Empoli.[22]
Ujkani received an Albanian passport in May 2007,[23] and started playing for the Albania U21. He made his debut on 1 June in a European qualification match against Italy U21. On 6 October 2008, he received his first senior call-up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification qualifying matches with Hungary and Portugal.[24] He made his full senior debut on 10 June 2009 in a 1–1 draw with Georgia in Albania.[25] Ujkani lost his starting place to Etrit Berisha during the 2014 World Cup qualification.
On 2 March 2014. Ujkani received a call-up from Kosovo for the first permitted by FIFA match against Haiti[26] and made his debut after being named in the starting line-up.
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other[a] | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Palermo | 2007–08 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2008–09 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2012–13 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 20 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14 | Serie B | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | Serie A | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | |||
| Novara (loan) | 2009–10 | Lega Pro Prima Divisione | 23 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 2010–11 | Serie B | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 40 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | Serie A | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 26 | 0 | ||
| Total | 86 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 93 | 0 | ||
| Chievo (loan) | 2012–13 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Genoa | 2015–16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Latina (loan) | 2015–16 | Serie B | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |
| Pisa (loan) | 2016–17 | 35 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | ||
| Cremonese | 2017–18 | Serie B | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | |
| Çaykur Rizespor | 2018–19 | Süper Lig | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |
| Torino | 2019–20 | Serie A | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2020–21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Empoli | 2021–22 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 216 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 235 | 0 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 2009 | 4 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 20 | 0 | |
| Kosovo | 2014 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 36 | 0 | |
