Xhevahir Kapllani

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Xhevahir Kapllani
Personal information
Date of birth (1974-06-21) 21 June 1974
Place of birth Durrës, Albania
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1996 Teuta 116 (0)
1996–1997 Lushnja 17 (0)
1997–1998 Dinamo Tirana 16 (0)
1998–1999 Teuta 23 (0)
1999 Dinamo Tirana 6 (0)
1999–2000 Partizani 11 (0)
2000–2001 Shqiponja/Luftëtari 32 (0)
2001–2003 Erzeni 46 (0)
2003 Bashkimi 5 (0)
2004 Besa 16 (0)
2004–2008 Teuta 112 (1)
Total 400 (1)
International career
1992–1993 Albania U21 7 (0)
1993–1996 Albania 5 (0)
Managerial career
2010–2012 Sukthi
2016–2017 Teuta (assistant)
2020–2021 Teuta U19
2022–2023 Erzeni
2023 Luzi 2008
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Xhevahir Kapllani (Albanian pronunciation: [d͡ʒɛvaˈhiɾ kapˈɫani]; born 21 June 1974) is an Albanian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and later became a football manager.[1]

He spent his entire playing career in top-flight football, mainly in the Albanian Superliga, representing hometown club Teuta, with whom he won the 1993–94 Albanian Superliga title and the Albanian Cup in 1994–95 and 2004–05, as well as capital clubs Dinamo Tirana and Partizani, Lushnja, Luftëtari, Erzeni, and Besa, and also had a spell abroad in the Macedonian First Football League with Bashkimi.[2][3] He is noted for a run of 824 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal for Teuta between 2 October 1993 and 5 February 1994, which contributed to the club’s 1993–94 league title-winning season.[4]

Internationally, Kapllani represented Albania U21 and also made five appearances for the Albania senior team between 1993 and 1996.[5][2][6]

Club career

Teuta

He made his professional debut for Teuta during the 1991–92 Albanian Superliga season, making 12 league appearances as the club finished third in the table.[2] In the following 1992–93 Albanian Superliga season, he established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper for Teuta, making 27 league appearances as the club finished in second place.[2] During the 1993–94 Albanian Superliga season, he played a key role in Teuta’s title-winning campaign, the club’s only Albanian Superliga championship, keeping a clean sheet for 824 consecutive minutes between 2 October 1993 and 5 February 1994 and significantly contributing to the success, with the run being noted as placing him 148th in the global ranking for longest clean-sheet streaks.[4] In the following season, he made his debut in European competitions on 23 August 1994 in the second leg of the 1994–95 UEFA Cup preliminary round against Cypriot side Apollon Limassol, as Teuta lost 4–2 away and were eliminated 8–3 on aggregate.[7] In the 1994–95 Albanian Superliga season, he made 29 appearances as Teuta finished again in second place, while also winning the 1994–95 Albanian Cup.[2]

In August 1995, he featured in both legs of the 1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup qualifying round against Finnish side TPS, playing the full 90 minutes in each match, and after Teuta lost the first leg 1–0 away in Finland, he kept a clean sheet in the second leg as Teuta won 3–0 at home to advance to the next round with a 3–1 aggregate victory.[8] On 14 September 1995, he made his debut in a major European competition in the first leg of the 1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup first round against 1994–95 UEFA Cup winners, Italian side Parma, keeping a clean sheet until the 75th minute before conceding twice to Gianfranco Zola in a 2–0 home defeat at Qemal Stafa Stadium.[9] He also played the full 90 minutes in the second leg away on 28 September 1995, but Teuta were again defeated 2–0, losing 4–0 on aggregate and being eliminated from the competition.[10] In the 1995–96 Albanian Superliga season, he made 33 appearances as the club once again finished as runners-up, before leaving in the summer of 1996 with a total of 116 league appearances.[2]

Lushnja, Dinamo Tirana and return to Teuta

He joined Lushnja in 1996, where he was later coached by former Argentina international and 1986 FIFA World Cup winner Mario Kempes, making 17 league appearances in the 1996–97 Albanian Superliga as the club finished 7th.[11][2] After one season with Lushnja, he joined Dinamo Tirana, where he made 16 league appearances in the 1997–98 Albanian Superliga, helping the club avoid relegation from the top flight.[2] For the 1998–99 Albanian Superliga season he made his return to Teuta after two years, making 23 appearances in the first half of the season before rejoining Dinamo Tirana, where he added a further 6 appearances as the team finished 6th.[2]

Partizani and Gjirokastër

He remained in the capital by joining Partizani for the 1999–2000 Albanian Superliga season, making 11 league appearances before leaving in the winter of 2000 to join Shqiponja Gjirokastër, where he made 13 appearances as the club finished 9th in the league.[2] In the following 2000–01 Albanian Superliga season, Shqiponja changed its name to Luftëtari Gjirokastër, and Kapllani made 19 league appearances as the club finished 8th in the league.[2]

Erzeni

In the summer of 2001, he joined Erzeni and made 22 league appearances in the 2001–02 Albanian Superliga season as the club finished 12th, avoiding relegation.[2] In his second season, the 2002–03 Albanian Superliga, he made 24 league appearances and kept eight clean sheets as Erzeni again finished 12th, retaining their top-flight status for another season.[2][12]

2003–04: Bashkimi (abroad) and Besa Kavajë

In the summer of 2003, he moved abroad for the first time by joining Bashkimi in the 2003–04 Macedonian First Football League, where he had a brief spell and made only 5 appearances in the first half of the season.[2] He then returned to Albania and joined Besa Kavajë, making 16 league appearances in the second half of the 2003–04 Albanian Superliga season, where he kept also three clean-sheets as the club finished 9th.[12][2]

Third spell at Teuta

In the summer of 2004, he returned to Teuta for a third spell ahead of the 2004–05 Albanian Superliga season, establishing himself again as the first-choice goalkeeper, making 29 league appearances and scored the only goal of his professional career, while Teuta finished 5th in the league and won the 2004–05 Albanian Cup.[2] He began the 2005–06 season with participation in the 2005–06 UEFA Cup first qualifying round by playing both legs in full against Široki Brijeg, as Teuta won 3–1 at home, but was overturned by a 3–0 away defeat in Bosnia and Herzegovina, resulting in elimination.[13] In the 2005–06 Albanian Superliga season, he played 35 of 36 league matches and kept 10 clean sheets, although Teuta finished 8th and entered the relegation play-off against Skënderbeu, where Kapllani played the full match as Teuta secured a 1–0 victory, enough to retain their top-flight status.[12][14]

In the 2006–07 Albanian Superliga season, he made 26 league appearances, conceding 26 goals and keeping 15 clean sheets, as Teuta finished as runners-up with 67 points.[12][15] In his final season, 2007–08, he made his third UEFA Cup appearance by playing both legs of the 2007–08 UEFA Cup first qualifying round against Croatian side Slaven Belupo, as Teuta suffered a 6–2 first-leg defeat before earning a 2–2 draw in the return match, losing 8–4 on aggregate.[16] In the 2007–08 Albanian Superliga season, he made 22 league appearances and kept 5 clean sheets as Teuta recorded only 6 wins and 5 draws by March 2008.[12] The club eventually finished fourth from bottom and entered the play-out, where they secured a 2–1 win over Burreli to retain their place in the top flight.[17]

He retired at the end of the 2007–08 season, having made around 120 appearances during his third spell with Teuta, which took his overall tally with the club to around 260 appearances in all competitions, while also reaching exactly 400 top-flight league appearances in his professional career.[2][12][1]

International career

Kapllani represented Albania U21 between 1992 and 1993, being the main starting goalkeeper during the 1994 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification campaign, playing in seven of the eight group matches and kept one clean sheet, in a 1–0 win against Denmark on 8 September 1993, Albania's only victory of the tournament.[5]

He made his senior debut for the Albania on 17 February 1993 in a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Northern Ireland, a 1–2 home defeat.[18] He also played in another qualification group match in a 3–1 away defeat to Lithuania on 14 April 1993.[19] He earned a total of 5 caps and his final international was in April 1996, a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he kept a clean sheet in a goalless draw.[6]

Managerial career

Kapllani began his managerial career in 2010 as head coach of Sukthi in the Albanian third tier, Kategoria e Dytë.[20] In his second season in charge, he came close to achieving direct promotion to Kategoria e Parë, but the team failed to secure the required win against Tërbuni, resulting in qualification for the promotion play-off instead.[21] In the promotion play-off, Sukthi lost 3–0 away to Himara, missing promotion.[22] Kapllani also served as assistant coach at Teuta in 2016.[23]

Personal life

He is the elder brother of fellow footballer Edmond Kapllani, who played as a striker in Germany and for the Albania national team.[24][25] He is also the father of footballer Dejvid Kapllani, who played for Teuta during the 2020–21 Kategoria Superiore title-winning season.[26]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[2][12]
Club Season League Cup Europe[1] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Teuta 1991–92 Albanian Superliga 120——120
1992–93 Albanian Superliga 270——270
1993–94 Albanian Superliga 150——150
1994–95 Albanian Superliga 290—10300
1995–96 Albanian Superliga 330—40370
Total 1160—501210
Lushnja 1996–97 Albanian Superliga 170——170
Dinamo Tirana 1997–98 Albanian Superliga 160——160
1998–99 Albanian Superliga 60——60
Total 220——220
Teuta 1998–99 Albanian Superliga 230——230
Partizani 1999–2000 Albanian Superliga 110——110
Shqiponja Gjirokastër 1999–2000 Albanian Superliga 130——130
2000–01 Albanian Superliga 190——190
Total 320——320
Erzeni Shijak 2001–02 Albanian Superliga 220——220
2002–03 Albanian Superliga 240——240
Total 460——460
Bashkimi 2003–04 Macedonian First League 50——50
Besa Kavajë 2003–04 Albanian Superliga 160——160
Teuta 2004–05 Albanian Superliga 291——291
2005–06 Albanian Superliga 350—20370
2006–07 Albanian Superliga 260——260
2007–08 Albanian Superliga 220—20240
Total 1221—401261
Career total 400100904091

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[2][6]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Albania 199320
199410
199510
199610
Total50

Honours

Teuta

References

  1. Xhevahir Kapllani at WorldFootball.net
  2. "Xhevahir Kapllani". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  3. "Albania Championship Winning Teams". RSSSF. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  4. "Shpresoj që të mos helmoheni" [I hope we do not get poisoned]. Telegraf.al. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  5. Xhevahir Kapllani at the Albanian Football Federation (in Albanian and English)
  6. Xhevahir Kapllani at EU-Football.info (archived)
  7. "History: Apollon 4-2 Teuta - UEFA Cup 1994/95". UEFA. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  8. "Xhevahir Kapllani » Cup Winners Cup Qual. 1995/1996". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  9. "Teuta–Parma, kur Zola çante rrjetën në Tiranë" [Teuta–Parma, when Zola broke through the net in Tirana]. Panorama Sport. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  10. "Xhevahir Kapllani » Cup Winners Cup 1995/1996". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  11. "HISTORIA E RRALLË/ 25 vite më parë, kur Mario Kempes vinte te Lushnja për 360 mijë USD" [RARE STORY / 25 years ago, when Mario Kempes came to Lushnja for 360,000 USD] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 1 January 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  12. Xhevahir Kapllani at the Albanian Football Federation (in Albanian and English)
  13. "Xhevahir Kapllani » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  14. "Albania 2005/06". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  15. "Kategoria Superiore 2006–2007". Albanian Football Association (in Albanian). Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  16. "Xhevahir Kapllani » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  17. "Albania 2007/08". RSSSF. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  18. "Albania 1-2 Irlanda e Veriut 17-02-1993 World Cup 1994". Albanian Football Association (in Albanian). Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  19. "Lithuania vs. Albania". National Football Teams. 14 April 1993. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  20. "Coach profile: Xhevahir Kapllani". Albanian Football Federation. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  21. Lala, Fiqiri (9 May 2012). "Sukthi vuan barazimin me Tërbunin" [Sukthi suffers draw with Tërbuni] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  22. "HIM 3-0 SUK - Himara v Sukthi live scores & match info - Summary". Soccerway. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  23. "Xhevahir Kapllani: Ndikon ngjeshja e ndeshjeve, presim janarin për përforcime" [Xhevahir Kapllani: Fixture congestion affects us, we wait for January for reinforcements] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  24. "Vëllezërit e Kombëtares, nga Ballgjinët te Bashat" (in Albanian). Telegraf. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  25. Edmond Kapllani at WorldFootball.net
  26. "EKSKLUZIVE/ Babë e bir kampionë te Teuta, Xhevahir Kapllani: Doja që im bir të luante më shumë, dikur durrsakët e mbushnin stadiumin" [EXCLUSIVE/ Father and son champions at Teuta, Xhevahir Kapllani: I wanted my son to play more, in the past Durrës fans used to fill the stadium] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2026.