Arbër Zeneli


Arbër Avni Zeneli is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for French club Reims and the Kosovo national team. He previously represented Sweden at youth international level.

Early life

Zeneli was born in Säter, Sweden from Albanian parents from Selac, a village near Mitrovica, but grew up in Falun, before moving to Borås with his family when he was 11 years old. Zeneli has named his father Avni as his greatest role model in life.

Club career

IF Elfsborg

Youth teams

Zeneli started playing football for Hälsinggården, but left as a 12-year old for IF Elfsborg's youth academy. On 29 October 2011, he scored a late winning goal in the final of Swedish Under-17 Championships against Brommapojkarna. The following year he helped his team reach the final in the same competition and he scored another goal, although this time IF Elfsborg lost to Malmö. On 5 November 2013, he won the Allsvenskan U21 with IF Elfsborg against Häcken after coming on as a substitute at 63rd minute in place of Arjan Mostafa.

First team

Having been promoted to the senior team in December 2013. On 1 March 2014, he made his debut with IF Elfsborg in the group stage of 2013–14 Svenska Cupen against Östersunds after being named in the starting line-up and he went on to play a total of three games in the competition which IF Elfsborg later won beating Helsingborg in the final.
Zeneli made his first Allsvenskan appearance on 31 March after coming on as a substitute at 75th minute in place of injured Simon Hedlund in a 2–1 away defeat against Åtvidabergs. He played 16 games during the 2014 season and finished the season by scoring his first senior goal that subsequently sealed the win for his team against Brommapojkarna and he dedicated the goal to his former coach Klas Ingesson who had died a couple of days earlier.

Heerenveen

On 10 November 2015, Zeneli joined Eredivisie side Heerenveen, on a three and a half year contract. Heerenveen reportedly paid a €2 million transfer fee. On 16 January 2016, he made his debut in a 5–2 home win against PEC Zwolle after being named in the starting line-up. On 23 January 2016, Zeneli scored his first goal for Heerenveen in a 3–1 win against Willem II in Matchday 19 of 2015–16 Eredivisie and his performance earned him the man of the match award.

Reims

On 25 January 2019, Heerenveen announced for the contract negotiations between Zeneli and Reims. On 26 January 2019, he joined Ligue 1 side Reims, on a five-year contract. Reims reportedly paid a €4 million transfer fee. On 2 February 2019, he made his debut in a 2–1 home win against Marseille after coming on as a substitute at 73rd minute in place of injured Mathieu Cafaro.

International career

Sweden

From 2010, until 2016, Zeneli has been part of Sweden at youth international level, respectively has been part of the U17, U19 and U21 teams and he with these teams played 35 matches and scored 7 goals. On 2 June 2015, he was named as part of the Sweden U21's 23-man squad for the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Czech Republic, where was declared the champion even though he was an unused bench in those matches.

Kosovo

On 24 August 2016, Zeneli decided to represent Kosovo at senior international level. On 2 October 2016, he received a call-up from Kosovo for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Croatia and Ukraine. On 6 October 2016, Zeneli made his debut with Kosovo in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Croatia after being named in the starting line-up.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals


Scores and results list Kosovo's goal tally first.
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.29 May 2018Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland1–03–0Friendly
2.29 May 2018Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland2–03–0Friendly
3.10 September 2018Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo1–02–02018–19 UEFA Nations League D
4.20 November 2018Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo1–04–02018–19 UEFA Nations League D
5.20 November 2018Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo2–04–02018–19 UEFA Nations League D
6.20 November 2018Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo4–04–02018–19 UEFA Nations League D
7.25 March 2019Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo1–11–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

Club

;IF Elfsborg
Sweden U21