Jahmir Hyka
![]() Hyka playing for San Jose Earthquakes in 2018 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | (1988-03-08) 8 March 1988 (age 36) | ||
Place of birth | Tirana, Albania | ||
Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Left midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
2000–2005 | Dinamo Tirana | ||
2005–2006 | → Rosenborg (loan) | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2006 | → Rosenborg (loan) | 0 | (0) |
2007 | Olympiacos | 0 | (0) |
2007–2008 | → Tirana (loan) | 32 | (2) |
2008–2010 | Mainz 05 | 15 | (0) |
2010–2011 | Panionios | 9 | (0) |
2011 | Tirana | 11 | (4) |
2011–2017 | Luzern | 161 | (17) |
2017–2018 | San Jose Earthquakes | 49 | (6) |
2019–2020 | Maccabi Netanya | 31 | (3) |
2020 | Sektzia Ness Ziona | 11 | (1) |
2020–2021 | Guizhou Hengfeng | 11 | (2) |
2022 | KF Teuta | 9 | (0) |
Total | 339 | (35) | |
International career | |||
2005–2006 | Albania U17 | 3 | (1) |
2005–2006 | Albania U19 | 6 | (1) |
2007–2009 | Albania U21 | 7 | (1) |
2007–2018 | Albania | 47 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Jahmir Hyka (born 8 March 1988) is an Albanian retired professional footballer who played as a left midfielder.
A Dinamo Tirana product, Hyka started his professional career in Norway at Rosenborg where did not make a league appearance. He moved to Greek club Olympiacos in 2007, again failing to make a league appearance and who then sent him on loan to Tirana. Hyka's performances at Tirana earned him a move to Mainz 05 of the 2. Bundesliga in 2008 where he made his German top flight debut in 2009. He played for Panionios in the first half of 2010–11 before returning to Tirana in January 2011 and helping KF Tirana to clinch the Albanian Cup. In the summer of 2011, he left Albania again to join Luzern in Switzerland, where he made more than 150 appearances in six years. In February 2017, he signed with San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.
In January 2019 Jahmir Hyka signed with Maccabi Netanya a contract for 1.5 years.
Hyka represented Albania at youth levels, playing for the under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels. He made his senior debut in 2007 and one year later scored Albania's fastest goal in history. Since then, he has collected 44 caps as of June 2017.[2]
Club career
Early career and Norway
Hyka joined local side Dinamo Tirana at the age of 12, where he played for the youth teams for four years, until he made it to the first team at 2004. He was being tracked by a number of European clubs despite never having made a competitive appearance for Dinamo Tirana before joining Norwegian side Rosenborg BK in 2005 on loan. At Rosenborg, Hyka did not manage to break through into the first team, failing to make a single league appearance, only featuring twice as an unused substitute in August and September 2006.
Greece and return to Albania
In 2007, Hyka left Dinamo Tirana to sign with Greek club Olympiacos for a fee of €600,000. At Olympiakos, he found opportunities in the first team limited and so he moved on loan to KF Tirana, the then champions of the 2006–07 Albanian Superliga in time for the 2007–08 season.
Back in Tirana, Hyka played 32 games, scoring two goals and his good form did not go unnoticed. Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb showed interest and Hyka was close to a move.[3]
Mainz
In June 2008, Hyka signed a three-year deal with German side Mainz 05.[3][4]
Panionios
In 2010, after just 13 appearances with the German team, most of them as a substitute, Hyka was once again on the move, this time back to Greece, transferring to Greek team, Panionios, for a €120,000 fee.[3]
Return to Tirana
After a difficult time in Greece, Hyka returned to Albania, re-signing with former side Tirana where he had previously had a loan spell. The deal was completed on 29 January 2011, while he was still in Greece. Tirana president Refik Halili had previously expressed his desire to sign the young national team winger at the unveiling of new signing Bekim Balaj.
Hyka made his return debut on 20 February 2011 in team's goalless draw against Shkumbini Peqin at home.[5] One month later, in a match against the same opponent, he netted his first season goal via a free-kick from 25 metres, giving his team a minimal 1–0 win.[6] He continued with his solid appearances by scoring twice in Tirana's 4–0 defeat of Laçi in April.[7] Only four days later, he scored his fourth goal of the season in the 6–1 defeat of Elbasani at Selman Stërmasi Stadium.[8] Tirana finished the season in the fifth position with 44 points, failing to secure a spot in European competitions, bringing the departure of Hyka.[9]
Luzern
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/YB_vs._FCL_-_Hyka_2.jpg/200px-YB_vs._FCL_-_Hyka_2.jpg)
In the summer of 2011, Hyka was transferred to FC Luzern in the Swiss Super League.[10] He scored his first goal with Luzern on 6 August 2011 in a 1–1 draw against Young Boys after coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute to score in the 86th minute for the equaliser.[11] Luzern fans named him "the Messi of Albania."[12]
Hyka scored a goal from 20 meters in a 4–1 loss against St. Gallen on 1 September 2013.[13] He scored a goal and provided several assist for Luzern in a 2–4 win against Terre Sainte in the Swiss Cup on 15 September 2013.[14]
San Jose Earthquakes
On 3 February 2017, Hyka signed with San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.[15] He first appeared for the club on 25 February 2017 in the last San Jose Earthquakes preseason friendly against Sacramento Republic, substituting on at halftime and scoring also a goal in the 79th minute.[16] Hyka made his first MLS appearance as a 70th-minute substitute in the season home opener against Montreal Impact on 4 March 2017, finished in the 1–0 victory.[17] His first score-sheet contributions came in his second ever appearance for the club on 11 March 2017, substituting on at halftime and recording two assists to help the Earthquakes make a 3–2 comeback victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps.[18]
On 18 March 2017, Hyka made his first MLS start in a 2–1 loss at Sporting Kansas City.[19] His first goal was scored on 14 April 2017 with ten seconds remaining in stoppage time in what would be a 1–1 home draw against FC Dallas.[20] Hyka opened the scoring against the Portland Timbers in the 3–0 rout on 7 May in the 8th minute of the match.[21] He assisted the first goal scored by San Jose Designated Player Vako on 20 July against the New York Red Bulls, which finished as a 5–1 loss.[22]
Following the end of the 2018 season, Hyka was not offered a new contract, leaving the club after collecting 52 appearances.[23] Following his departure from the club, Hyka returned in Albania and begun training with his old club Tirana in order to maintain his form.[24]
Maccabi Netanya F.C.
In January 2019, Hyka joined Maccabi Netanya F.C. of the Israeli Premier League on a free transfer. [25] He scored three goals for the club in his first season.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Jashmir_Hyka_8.jpg/220px-Jashmir_Hyka_8.jpg)
International career
On 7 February 2007, Hyka made his debut for Albania in a friendly match against Macedonia.[26] On 20 August 2008, he scored his first goal for Albania against Liechtenstein and his goal came just 46 seconds after the game had begun, making it the quickest goal in Albanian history.[27]
Following a two-year absence, he returned to Albania national team under the same coach Gianni De Biasi, receiving a call up for the Friendly match against Morocco on 31 August 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification opening match against Macedonia on 5 September 2016.[28]
Style of play
A quick, energetic, and agile player, Hyka is capable of playing either as left winger or attacking midfielder. Luzern fans have nicknamed him "the Albanian Messi" due to his short stature, dribbling, and speed.[29] Dominic Kinnear, San Jose's coach at the time of Hyka's signing with the team, praised his skills, saying, "He's really smart on the ball and confident in tight places" and adding that "he has a good first touch."[29] Both Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli and MLS senior analyst Matt Doyle have emphasized Hyka's unpredictability on the field.[30][31]
Personal life
Hyka has four siblings, two sisters and two brothers who live in his hometown of Tirane. He practices the faith of Islam, praying five times daily and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan,[32] which he has done so since the age of 12. He attends mosque when possible around his football schedule, and at his former club 1. FSV Mainz 05 he would attend with teammate Chadli Amri.[33][34]
He is fluent in Albanian, German, and English.
As of 13 March 2018, Hyka possesses a U.S. green card, which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[35]
In 2023, Hyka married his Albanian wife Enxhi Nallbani, after romantically proposing to her few months earlier in Portofino. [36]
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Rosenborg (loan) | 2006 | Tippeligaen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
Olympiacos | 2006–07 | Superleague Greece | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
Tirana (loan) | 2007–08 | Albanian Superliga | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 34 | 2 | ||
Mainz 05 | 2008–09 | 2. Bundesliga | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
2009–10 | Bundesliga | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||
Total | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 16 | 0 | |||||
Panionios | 2010–11 | Superleague Greece | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | |||
Tirana | 2010–11 | Albanian Superliga | 11 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 4 | |||
Luzern | 2011–12 | Swiss Super League | 30 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 34 | 7 | |||
2012–13 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 0 | — | 31 | 0 | ||||
2013–14 | 30 | 2 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | 35 | 5 | |||||
2014–15 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | — | 26 | 0 | ||||
2015–16 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | 40 | 7 | |||||
2016–17 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | — | 19 | 6 | ||||
Total | 161 | 17 | 19 | 8 | — | 5 | 0 | — | 185 | 25 | ||||
San Jose | 2017 | Major League Soccer | 30 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 32 | 3 | |||
2018 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 20 | 3 | |||||
Total | 49 | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 52 | 6 | |||||
Maccabi Netanya | 2018–19 | Israeli Premier League | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 19 | 4 | ||
2019–20 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | ||||
Total | 31 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 37 | 4 | ||||
Sektzia Ness Ziona | 2019–20 | Israeli Premier League | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 1 | ||
Guizhou Hengfeng | 2020 | China League One | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 2 | |||
Teuta | 2021–22 | Albanian Superliga | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
Career total | 337 | 35 | 38 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 384 | 44 |
- ^ Appearance in Albanian Supercup
- ^ a b c All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
International
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Albania | 2007 | 4 | 0 |
2008 | 5 | 1 | |
2009 | 5 | 0 | |
2010 | 7 | 0 | |
2011 | 7 | 1 | |
2012 | 6 | 0 | |
2013 | 3 | 0 | |
2014 | 1 | 0 | |
2015 | – | – | |
2016 | 4 | 0 | |
2017 | 4 | 0 | |
Total | 46 | 2 |
- Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hyka goal.
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 20 August 2008 | Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania | ![]() | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
2 | 10 August 2011 | Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër, Albania | ![]() | 2–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
Honours
Rosenborg[38]
Olympiacos[38]
Tirana[38]
Luzern[38]
- Swiss Super League: Runner-up 2011–12
Individual
- Swiss Super League Player of the Month: April 2016[41]
References
- ^ Jahmir Hyka | San Jose Earthquakes Retrieved 15 April 2017
- ^ a b c "Jahmir Hyka – national football team player". EU-Football.info. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ a b c Sporti Shqiptar (15 August 2010). "Nga Bundesliga në Greqi" [From Bundesliga to Greece]. Sporti Shqiptar (in Albanian). Retrieved 16 August 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Mainz 05 nimmt Albaner Hyka unter Vertrag". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). 3 June 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- ^ "Elbasani drejt "humnerës", Tirana barazon sërish pa gola" [Elbasani towards "abyss", Tirana again a goalless draw]. Lajme Parajsa (in Albanian). 20 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "Kategoria Superiore/ Tirana-Shkumbini 1-0" [Albanian Superliga/ Tirana-Shkumbini 1-0] (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. 20 March 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
- ^ "Kategoria Superiore/ Tirana – Laci 4-0" [Albanian Superliga/ Tirana – Laci 4-0] (in Albanian). Albania Soccer. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
- ^ "Tirana vs. Elbasani 6 – 1". Soccerway. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ "Hyka drejt Zvicrës, gati largimi nga Tirana" [Hyka towards, ready the departure from Tirana]. Facebook. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
- ^ "Levizjet/ Hyka firmos me Lucernen ne Zvicer" [Transfers/ Hyka signs with Luzern in Switzerland] (in Albanian). Albaniasoccer. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ^ "Legjionaret/ Shenon Hyka ne barazimin e Luzernes" [Legionaries/ Hyka scores in the draw of Luzern] (in Albanian). Albaniasoccer. 7 August 2011.
- ^ "the Messi of Albania". justcantbeatthat.com.[dead link]
- ^ Legjionaret/ Hyka shenon nje supergol ne Zvicer AlbaniaSoccer
- ^ Legjionaret/ Hyka shenon per Lucernen AlbaniaSoccer
- ^ "Earthquakes Sign Albania National Team Midfielder Jahmir Hyka". San Jose Earthquakes. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ "RECAP: Quakes 4, Sacramento Republic FC 1: Preseason". San Jose Earthquakes. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ "RECAP: Quakes take the first game of the 2017 season 1–0 vs. Montreal". San Jose Earthquakes. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "RECAP: Quakes 3, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2". San Jose Earthquakes. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "RECAP: Sporting KC 2, Quakes 1 - San Jose drop first points of 2017 in tough away loss". San Jose Earthquakes. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "RECAP: Hyka gets his first Quakes goal with seconds remaining vs. FC Dallas". San Jose Earthquakes. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ Hyka, goleador te San Jose Archived 28 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine SuperSport
- ^ New York RB vs. SJ Earthquakes - 20 July 2017 Soccerway
- ^ "San Jose Earthquakes roster update: Hyka, Quintana declined". Major League Soccer. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- ^ "Foto/ I përfundon kontrata në "MLS", lojtari i kombëtares në stërvitje me ekipin e Kategorisë Superiore" [Photo/ His contract in the MLS runs out, the national team player trains with the Albanian Superliga team] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- ^ "Login • Instagram". Archived from the original on 24 December 2021.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "Football MATCH: 07.02.2007 Albania v Macedonia". Eu-Football.info. 7 February 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
- ^ "Basti i fituar i Jahmir Hykës" [Winning bet of Jahmir Hyka] (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. 7 October 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
- ^ "De Biasi: Duhet të japim 101 % të mundësive tona" (in Albanian). FSHF. 29 August 2016. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ a b Robert Jonas (23 February 2017). "Hyka-ramba! Albanian midfielder Jahmir Hyka dazzles in San Jose Earthquakes debut". Center Line Soccer. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
- ^ Geoff Lepper (11 May 2017). "The Winger in the Inbox: How the San Jose Earthquakes landed Jahmir Hyka". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ Matt Doyle (25 May 2017). "Jahmir Hyka leads a resurgent San Jose: Analyst's Den". mlssoccer.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ Alfred Lleshi (1 September 2009). "Futboll dhe agjërim në muajin e shenjtë të Ramazanit". Sporti Shqiptar (in Albanian). Retrieved 10 June 2011.[dead link]
- ^ Klotilda Harka (24 February 2009). "Futbollisti Jahmir Hyka Falet 5 Here Ne Dite!" [Footballer Jahmir Hyka prays 5 times a day]. Alba VIP News (in Albanian). Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- ^ "Hyka në versionin tokësor" [Hyka in terrestrial version] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 20 December 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- ^ "NEWS: Jahmir Hyka Obtains Green Card, No Longer Occupies International Spot". San Jose Earthquakes. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ https://newsport.al/ajo-tha-po-propozimi-fantastik-i-jahmir-hykes-per-partneren-e-tij-ne-portofino-
- ^ a b "Jahmir Hyka". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Jahmir Hyka at Soccerway. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ "Football : Jahmir Hyka". Football Database. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ "Jahmir Hyka profile" (in Albanian). FSHF. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ "Jahmir Hyka, lojtari i muajit në Zvicër" [Jahmir Hyka, player of the month in Switzerland]. Gazeta Dita (in Albanian). 17 May 2016. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)