Benjamin Kololli

Benjamin Kololli (born 15 May 1992) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a winger for Swiss Super League club Basel and the Kosovo national team.

Benjamin Kololli
Kololli with Zürich in 2019
Personal information
Full nameBenjamin Kololli
Date of birth (1992-05-15) 15 May 1992 (age 32)
Place of birthAigle, Switzerland
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)Winger
Team information
Current team
Basel
Number7
Youth career
0000Bex
0000–2009Monthey
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2009–2011Monthey11(6)
2011–2014Sion U2145(11)
2013–2015Sion16(2)
2014–2015Le Mont (loan)28(6)
2015–2016Biel-Bienne17(6)
2016Young Boys (loan)1(0)
2016–2018Lausanne-Sport55(18)
2018–2021Zürich78(22)
2021–2024Shimizu S-Pulse28(3)
2024–Basel15(1)
International career
2016–Kosovo23(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 March 2021

Club career edit

Zürich edit

On 21 July 2018, Kololli signed a three-year contract with Swiss Super League club Zürich.[1] Seven days later, he made his debut in a 0–2 away win against Grasshoppers after coming on as a substitute at 70th minute in place of Marco Schönbächler.[2]

Shimizu S-Pulse edit

On 14 July 2021, Kololli signed a two-and-a-half year contract with J1 League club Shimizu S-Pulse.[3] Nine days later, the club confirmed that Kololli's transfer was permanent and he received squad number 32.[4] On 18 August 2021, he made his debut with Shimizu S-Pulse in the 2021 Emperor's Cup fourth round against Kawasaki Frontale after coming on as a substitute at 46th minute in place of Keita Nakamura.[5]

At the end of the 2022 season, he and the club were relegated to the second division as second to last in the league table.

Basel edit

On 26 December 2023, FC Basel announced that they had signed Kololli on a free transfer and that he had signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, which contained an option for another year.[6]

International career edit

On 30 August 2016, Kololli received a call-up from Kosovo for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Finland.[7] On 12 November 2016, he made his debut with Kosovo in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification against Turkey after being named in the starting line-up.[8]

Personal life edit

Kololli was born in Aigle, Switzerland from Kosovan parents from Lipjan.[9]

Career statistics edit

Club edit

As of 18 August 2021[10]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Monthey2011–12Swiss 1. Liga11610126
Sion U21810081
2012–13Swiss Promotion League26300263
2013–1411700117
Total5617105717
Sion2012–13Swiss Super League720072
2013–149020110
Le Mont (loan)2014–15Swiss Challenge League28610296
Total44830478
Biel-Bienne2015–16Swiss Challenge League176241910
Young Boys (loan)2015–16Swiss Super League100010
Total186242010
Lausanne-Sport2016–17Swiss Super League26810278
2017–182910323212
Total5518425920
Zürich2018–19Swiss Super League301042724114
2019–2027620296
2020–2121610226
Total782272729226
Shimizu S-Pulse2021J1 League001010
Career total251711887227681

International edit

As of 31 March 2021[11]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Kosovo
201610
201720
201863
201970
202041
202130
Total234

International goals edit

As of 3 September 2020[12]
Scores and results list Kosovo's goal tally first.[12]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef.
1.11 October 2018 (2018-10-11)Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo  Malta1–03–12018–19 UEFA Nations League D[13]
2.3–1
3.17 November 2018 (2018-11-17)National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta2–05–0[14]
4.3 September 2020 (2020-09-03)Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma, Italy  Moldova1–11–12020–21 UEFA Nations League C[15]

Honours edit

Individual

References edit

  1. ^ "Der FC Zürich verpflichtet Benjamin Kololli" [FC Zurich commits Benjamin Kololli] (in German). FC Zürich. 21 July 2018. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Der FCZ gewinnt das Derby gegen GC mit 2:0" [The FCZ wins the derby against GC with 2:0] (in German). FC Zürich. 28 July 2017. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  3. ^ David Barras [@david_barras] (14 July 2021). "Benjamin Kololli retrouve de l'embauche (et c'est plutôt original!): à 29 ans, l'offensif vaudois signe au... Japon à Shimizu S-Pulse, actuel 13e après 21 matchs. Contrat de 2 ans et demi. Il s'y rendra dès l'obtention de son visa (retardé avec le Covid)" [Benjamin Kololli is hiring again (and this is rather original!): At 29, the Vaudois offensive sign in... Japan at Shimizu S-Pulse, currently 13th after 21 games. 2.5 year contract. He will go there as soon as he obtains his visa (delayed with the Covid)] (Tweet) (in French) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "ベンジャミン コロリ選手(FCチューリッヒ)  完全移籍にて加入内定のお知らせ" [Benjamin Kololli (FC Zurich) announcement of official decision to join with complete transfer] (in Japanese). Shimizu S-Pulse. 23 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Kawasaki Frontale vs. Shimizu S-Pulse 2–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  6. ^ FC Basel 1893 (26 December 2023). "Benjamin Kololli wechselt ablösefrei ans Rheinknie" [Benjamin Kololli is moving to the Rhine knee on a free transfer] (in Swiss High German). FC Basel 1893 AG. Retrieved 26 December 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Bunjaki publikoi listën e lojtarëve për ndeshjen me Finlandën" [Bunjaki published the list of players for the match with Finland] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 August 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Kosova pëson humbje nga Turqia, por shënon progres në lojë" [Kosovo suffered losses from Turkey, but marks progress in the game] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 12 November 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Benjamin Kololli nderohet nga kryetari i Lipjanit (FOTO)" [Benjamin Kololli is honored by the mayor of Lipjan (PHOTO)]. Gazeta Infokus (in Albanian). 28 August 2017.
  10. ^ Benjamin Kololli at Soccerway
  11. ^ "Benjamin Kololli". eu-football.info. 31 March 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Kololli, Benjamin". National Football Teams. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Kosovo (3–1) Malta". eu-football.info. 11 October 2018.
  14. ^ "Malta (0–5) Kosovo". eu-football.info. 17 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Moldova (1–1) Kosova". eu-football.info. 3 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Super League: Kevin Mbabu élu joueur de l'année". RTSSport.ch (in French). 28 January 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  17. ^ "SAFP Golden 11 Winners 2020". Golden11. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2022.

External links edit