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Ernest Muçi

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Ernest Muçi
Muçi with Beşiktaş in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-03-19) 19 March 2001 (age 23)[1]
Place of birth Tirana, Albania
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward, attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Beşiktaş
Number 23
Youth career
2017–2019 Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Tirana 59 (16)
2021–2024 Legia Warsaw 81 (13)
2024– Beşiktaş 13 (3)
International career‡
2018–2019 Albania U19 17 (7)
2020–2022 Albania U21 11 (4)
2021– Albania 10 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 March 2024

Ernest Muçi (born 19 March 2001) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Süper Lig club Beşiktaş and the Albania national team.[1][2]

Club career[edit]

Tirana[edit]

Born in Albania's capital Tirana, Muçi began his footballing career with local club Dinamo Tirana, before moving at the age of 16 to city rivals and the team he supported growing up, KF Tirana.[citation needed] He initially joined the club's under-17 team. In January 2018, he would be called up to the senior squad for the first time for a mid-season preparation in Turkey.[3]

Muçi made his professional debut for Tirana as a 16-year-old on 28 January 2018 in a 3–0 win in the Kategoria e Parë against Shkumbini, coming on as a 56th-minute substitute for Bedri Greca.[4] He scored his first senior goal on 3 March 2018 in a 4–1 win over Shënkolli, coming on as a 62nd minute substitute for Alked Çelhaka and scoring in the 78th minute to make it 4–0 for Tirana.[5] He scored again later that month, shortly after his 17th birthday, against Apolonia, scoring twice in a 5–1 home win.[6] He made 11 appearances, including 6 from the start, and scored 3 goals as Tirana won the 2017–18 Kategoria e Parë and secured promotion back to the Kategoria Superiore.

Muçi made his top-flight debut on 2 September 2018 in a 3–1 away defeat to Kukësi, where he also scored in the 61st minute after coming on as a half-time substitute for Yunus Sentamu.[7] He struggled for game time in the first-team, making just 8 league appearances and scoring once in the season as Tirana avoided relegation by 5 points. While struggling for first-team minutes, he was a regular in the U19 side, where he scored 4 goals in 11 games to help Tirana finish 3rd in Group A of the U19 league.[citation needed]

Muçi was one of the most important players in the 2019–20 season, in which Tirana won their 25th league title. Although he was mostly a substitute, he scored some important goals off the bench.[8] On 22 December 2019, Muçi scored a brace in the away win over Laçi.[9] Later on throughout the season, he scored another brace in the historic 5–1 win over cross-town rivals Partizani.[10] He ended the season with 12 goals between league and cup, setting a personal best.

At the start of the 2020-21 season, Muçi signed a new one-year contract with Tirana.[11] With the departure of main striker Michael Ngoo, he became the club's undisputed starter, making 20 league appearances in the first half of the season.[12] Muçi scored his first goal of the season in a 4–1 cup win over Shkumbini.[13] His first league goal of the season came in a 3–2 defeat at Vllaznia on the third matchday.[14] In February 2021, Tirana announced that Muçi would be leaving the club after five years in which he scored 23 goals and won two trophies.[15]

Legia Warsaw[edit]

On 23 February 2021, Muçi signed with Polish club Legia Warsaw.[16] The club reportedly paid €500,000, with Tirana entitled to ten percent of the amount from the player's next transfer.[17] Muçi made his debut with Legia four days later in a 2–1 away win over Górnik Zabrze, coming off the bench in the second half.[18] He finished the season scoreless in 7 appearances, starting only two matches, as Legia won their 15th Ekstraklasa title.

His first goal for the club came on 24 July, a winner against Wisła Płock on the opening day of the 2021–22 season.[19] Muçi scored his first ever UEFA Champions League goal in the third qualifying round away to Dinamo Zagreb to level the score at 1–1 in the 82nd minute.[20] Legia lost the return leg, but managed to qualify for the UEFA Europa League.[citation needed] Muçi made his first appearance of the group stage in a match away to Spartak Moscow on 15 September, where he provided the assist for the winning goal.[21] Muçi finished the season with 6 goals in 36 appearances as Legia went trophyless and finished 10th in the league.

In the 2022–23 season, Muçi made his first appearance on 16 July against Korona Kielce. Starting the game from the first minute, he managed to score a goal, with the match ending in a 1–1 draw.[citation needed] He finished the season with 6 goals in 37 appearances and slowly became a regular starter, starting 29 games as Legia managed to win the Polish Cup and finish third in the league.

Besiktas[edit]

On 9 February 2024, Süper Lig club Beşiktaş announced the signing of Muçi on a three-and-a-half-year contract, for a fee of €10 million, with Legia keeping a 10% sell-on clause.[22] He became the club's most expensive player ever.[23]

International career[edit]

Muçi begun his international career in September 2018 when Albania under-19 side manager Erjon Bogdani gave him a call-up for the friendlies versus Iceland.[24] He earned his first cap on 8 September and scored the match's only goal to give his side a 1–0 win in Lushnjë.[25]

On 4 September 2020, he was called in the Albania U21 team where he scored a brace against Austria U21.

He made his debut for the senior national team on 15 November 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra.[26]

On 20 June 2023, he scored his first goal for the national team in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match against Faroe Islands.[27]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

As of match played 23 May 2024[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tirana 2017–18 Kategoria e Parë 11 3 0 0 — — 11 3
2018–19 Kategoria Superiore 8 1 3 0 — — 11 1
2019–20 Kategoria Superiore 20 7 7 5 — — 27 12
2020–21 Kategoria Superiore 20 5 1 2 3[a] 0 1[b] 0 25 7
Total 59 16 11 7 3 0 1 0 74 23
Legia Warsaw 2020–21 Ekstraklasa 6 0 1 0 — — 7 0
2021–22 Ekstraklasa 24 4 3 1 8[c] 1 1[d] 0 36 6
2022–23 Ekstraklasa 32 5 5 1 — — 37 6
2023–24 Ekstraklasa 19 4 2 0 12[e] 5 1[d] 0 34 9
Total 81 13 11 2 20 6 2 0 114 21
Beşiktaş 2023–24 Süper Lig 13 3 4 1 — — 17 4
Career total 153 32 26 10 23 6 3 0 205 48
  1. ^ Two appearances in the UEFA Champions League, one appearance in the UEFA Europa League.
  2. ^ Appearance in the Albanian Supercup.
  3. ^ Five appearances in the UEFA Europa League, three appearances and one goal in the UEFA Champions League.
  4. ^ a b Appearance in the Polish Super Cup.
  5. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

International[edit]

As of match played 3 June 2024[28]
Appearances and goals by national team, year and competition
Team Year Competitive Friendly Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Albania U19 2018 2[a] 0 6 1 8 1
2019 1[b] 0 8 6 9 6
Total 3 0 14 7 17 7
Albania U21 2020 4[c] 2 — 4 2
2021 4[d] 2 — 4 2
2022 3[d] 0 — 3 0
Total 11 4 — 11 4
Albania 2021 1[e] 0 — 1 0
2022 — 1 0 1 0
2023 4[f] 1 1 1 5 2
2024 — 3 1 3 1
Total 5 1 5 2 10 3
Career total 19 5 19 9 38 14
  1. ^ Appearances in the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification.
  2. ^ Appearance in the 2020 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification.
  3. ^ Appearances in the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.
  4. ^ a b Appearances in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.
  5. ^ Appearance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.
  6. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying.

International goals[edit]

Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first.
Table key
Indicates Albania won the match
Indicates the match ended in a draw (a penalty shootout is statistically a draw regardless of shootout results)
Indicates Albania lost the match
No. Cap Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 4 20 June 2023 Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands  Faroe Islands 3–1 3–1 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying [27]
2 6 17 October 2023 Arena Kombëtare, Tirana, Albania  Bulgaria 2–0 2–0 Friendly [29]
3 10 3 June 2024 Haladás Sportkomplexum, Szombathely, Hungary  Liechtenstein 3–0 3–0 Friendly [30]

Honours[edit]

Tirana

Legia Warsaw

Beşiktaş

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Ernest Muçi". Beşiktaş J.K. Official Web Site. Beşiktaş J.K. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Ernest Muçi". FSHF (in Albanian). Albanian Football Federation. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Tirana drejt Turqisë, largohen shtatë lojtarë" [Tirana head to Turkey, seven players leave] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Tirana vs. Shkumbini Peqin". Soccerway. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Tirana zbavitet, Bylisi e katranos në derbi" [Tirana have fun, Bylisi make a mess of the derby] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Tirana shpartallon Apoloninë dhe shkon +7 nga Bylisi" [Tirana defeats Apolonia and gets +7 from Bylis] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Rexhinaldo i pamëshirshëm, zhyt Tiranën në krizë" [The ruthless Reginaldo plunges Tirana into crisis] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Nga Egbo te Ngo, ja notat e sezonit te kampionët e Tiranës" [From Egbo to Ngoo, here are the marks of the season for the champions of Tirana] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  9. ^ "VIDEO/ Dopieta e talentit Muçi, Tirana mposht me përmbysje Laçin dhe ngjitet në vendin e tretë" [VIDEO/ The double of talent Muçi, Tirana defeats Laçi with a comeback and climbs to third place] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 22 December 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Kryeqyteti vishet bardheblu, Tirana shpartallon 5-1 Partizanin në "Air Albania Stadium"" [The capital wears blue and white, Tirana destroys Partizani 5-1 at "Air Albania Stadium"]. Balkanweb.com (in Albanian). News 24. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  11. ^ "ZYRTARE/ Merr fund telenovela e Ernest Muçit, Tirana jep përgjigjen përfundimtare" [OFFICIAL/ Ernest Muçi's telenovela ends, Tirana gives the final answer] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Besim i plotë te Ernest Muçi, Egbo zgjedh formacionin titullar ndaj Tbilis" [Full confidence in Ernest Muçi, Egbo chooses the starting line-up against Tbilisi] (in Albanian). ABC News. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Tirana vs. Shkumbini Peqin". Soccerway. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  14. ^ "VIDEO/ Klasike për "infarkt", Vllaznia mposht Tiranën me gol në frymën e fundit" [VIDEO/ Classic for "heart attack", Vllaznia beat Tirana with a last-gasp goal] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Muçi largohet nga Tirana, transferohet në Poloni" [Muçi leaves Tirana, moves to Poland] (in Albanian). Gazeta Si. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Ernest Muci - witamy w Legii" [Ernest Muci - welcome to Legia] (in Polish). Legia Warsaw. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  17. ^ "PKO Ekstraklasa. Transfer młodego Albańczyka do Legii Warszawa. Wiemy, ile zapłacą mistrzowie Polski" [PKO Ekstraklasa. Transfer of a young Albanian to Legia Warsaw. We know how much the Polish champions will pay] (in Polish). Wirtualna Polska. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  18. ^ "VIDEO/ Ernest Muçi debuton me Legian në Poloni, fitojnë në transfertën e vështirë" [VIDEO/ Ernest Muçi debuts with Legia in Poland as they win in the difficult away match] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Rewelacyjne trafienie Ernesta Muciego. Zdjął pajęczynę z siatki [WIDEO]" [Ernest Muci's sensational hit. He took the cobwebs off the net [VIDEO]] (in Polish). Wirtualna Polska. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Strzał Ernesta Muciego uratował Legię Warszawa. "To było jak sen"" [Ernest Muci's shot saved Legia Warsaw. "It was like a dream"] (in Polish). Wirtualna Polska. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Liga Europy. Wielka sensacja. Co za dramaturgia w końcówce w Moskwie!" [Europa League. A great sensation. What drama at the end in Moscow!] (in Polish). Wirtualna Polska. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Ernest Muçi'nin Transfer Süreci Tamamlandı" (in Turkish). Beşiktaş. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  23. ^ "Muçi is the most expensive purchase of Besiktas". Pamfleti.com (in Albanian). 14 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  24. ^ "LISTA / Bogdani mbledh Shqipërinë U19, shumë lojtarë nga Superiorja" [The list / Bogdani gathers Albania U19, a lot of players of Superliga] (in Albanian). VIPSport.al. 3 September 2018. Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  25. ^ "Kombëtarja e Bogdanit triumfon në miqësore, vendos goli i talentit të Tiranës" [Bogdani's national team triumphs in friendly, a goal of Tirana's talent decides] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  26. ^ "Albania v Andorra game report". FIFA. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Faroe Islands-Albania". UEFA.com. UEFA. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  28. ^ a b Ernest Muçi at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  29. ^ "Albania-Bulgaria". UEFA.com. UEFA. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  30. ^ "Albania-Liechtenstein". UEFA.com. UEFA. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.

External links[edit]

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