Enis Bardhi


Enis Bardhi is an Macedonian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Spanish club Levante UD and the North Macedonia national team.

Club career

Early career

Born in Skopje, he started the early career at Skupi F.C so later on he became part of K.F Albarsa where he use to play 2 seasons for the first team at the 3rd Macedonian division by showing a tremendous talent and after successful years there Bardhi joined Brøndby IF's youth setup in 2013, from FK Shkupi. In November of that year, however, he agreed to a one-year deal with Swedish Football Division 2 club KSF Prespa Birlik.
Bardhi played ten matches and scored five goals for the club during his spell, helping in their narrow escape from relegation.

Újpest

In August 2014, Bardhi moved to Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnokság I club Ujpest on trial, and signed a three-year contract late in the month.

Levante

On 17 July 2017, Bardhi agreed to a three-year deal with La Liga side Levante UD for an estimated €1.5 million. He made his La Liga debut on 21 August, starting in a 1–0 home win against Villarreal CF.
On 26 August 2017 Bardhi scored his first goal in the top tier, netting his team's first through a direct free kick in a 2–2 home draw against Deportivo de La Coruña.
The only person who scored more free kicks in the 17/18 season was Lionel Messi.
In the 2018-19 season Bardhi cemented himself as a first team regular, making 36 appearances in the league.

International career

Bardhi, born in Macedonia and ethnic Albanian, was eligible to represent either Macedonia or Albania. Bardhi desired to represent Albania, stating "I do not believe there is an Albanian born in Skopje, with Albanian families, who would not want to play for Albania". Redi Jupi, who was appointed as scouting manager for the Albanian Football Association, never approached Bardhi or respond to Bardhi's managers call out. With Macedonia showing genuine interest and Bardhi viewing the FSHF handling of the situation and response as unprofessional, accepted the call-up for Macedonia.
However, Jetmir Salihu, a representative for the FSHF, dismissed Bardhi's claim, who unveiled all the messages between him and the player, replying that Bardhi was never interested to come to Albania in the first place. He also accused the player of trying to damage the image of Albanian Football Association with the aim to be seen as hero to Albanian people, stating: "Since 2010 I've had hundreds of such cases, footballers that have refused the national team and at the end they came out with such statements because they want to make FSHF guilty so they can win the sympathy of Albanians."
Bardhi represented Macedonia at under-17,
under-19 and under-21 levels before making his full international debut on 27 March 2015, coming on as a first-half substitute for Artim Položani in a 1–2 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying home loss against Belarus.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.9 October 2017Stadion Mladost, Strumica, Macedonia
3–0
4–0
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.16 November 2018Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein
1–0
2–0
2018–19 UEFA Nations League D
3.19 November 2018Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia
1–0
4–0
2018–19 UEFA Nations League D
4.25 March 2019Stožice Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia
1–1
1–1
UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
5.9 September 2019Daugava Stadium, Riga, Latvia
2–0
2–0
UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

Újpest
Individual