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{{short description|Albanian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Refik Resmja
| image =
| fullname = Refik Shaban Resmja
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1931|1|1}}
| birth_place = [[Tirana]], [[Albania]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1997|9|6|1931|1|1}}
| death_place = [[Tirana]], [[Albania]]
| height =
| currentclub =
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears1 = 1946–1948
| youthclubs1 = [[KF Tirana|17 Nëntori Tirana]]
| years1 = 1948–1950 | clubs1 = [[KF Tirana|17 Nëntori Tirana]] | caps1 = 10 | goals1 = 4
| years2 = 1950–1964 | clubs2 = [[FK Partizani Tirana|Partizani Tirana]] | caps2 = 120 | goals2 = 180
| nationalyears1 = 1952–1963
| nationalteam1 = [[Albania national football team|Albania]]
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| manageryears1 = 1967–1968
| managerclubs1 = [[FK Partizani Tirana|Partizani Tirana Youth]]
| manageryears2 = 1971–1973
| managerclubs2 = [[KF Teuta Durrës|Lokomotiva Durrës]]
| manageryears3 = 1971–1974
| managerclubs3 = [[Albania national under-21 football team|Albania U21]]
| pcupdate =
| ntupdate =
}}

'''Refik Shaban Resmja''' (1 January 1931 – 6 September 1997) was an [[Albania]]n professional [[Association football|footballer]].<ref name="Resmja1">{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/editorial-nga-besnik-dizdari-qetesia-e-frikshme-e-kampionatit-dhe-refik-resmja/|title=Qetësia "e frikshme" e kampionatit dhe Refik Resmja|trans-title=The "scary" silence of the championship and Refik Resmja|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=3 October 2017|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref>

He started his career with Tirana, but shortly after signed with Partizani Tirana where he established himself as one of the greatest players of all time, setting several records and winning 9 trophies. He has also been an Albanian international, winning six caps between 1952 and 1963. During his career, Resmja held only one squad number, 11.<ref name="Resmja"/>

For three years he was also the manager of [[Albania national under-21 football team|Albania under-21]] squad.

==Early life==
Resmja was born in [[Tirana]] from an ethnic Albanian family<ref name="History">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOCuuCnQY9M |title="Kavalieri i Golit" Refik Resmja /Dokumentari/ (Pjesa e Pare)|work=YouTube|date=28 March 2016}}</ref> and started to play the game at a very young age along with his friends at "Xhamija Sherif" street (modern-day "[[Ali Demi Street]]").<ref name="Resmja">{{cite web|url=http://telegraf.al/sport/bedri-alimehmeti-refik-resmja-emer-i-madh-i-futbollit-shqiptar/|title=Bedri ALIMEHMETI/ REFIK RESMJA, emër i madh i futbollit shqiptar|trans-title=Bedri Alimehmeti/ Refik Resmja, a big name of Albanian football|publisher=Telegraf.al|language=sq|date=26 December 2013|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> He also used to go with his friends at [[Shallvare]] ground, playing and watching his club Tirana play.<ref name="Resmja"/> In his youth, Resmja dreamed of becoming a goalkeeper, idolizing players such as [[Niko Dovana]] or [[Giacomo Poselli]].<ref name="Resmja"/>

==Club career==
Resmja joined [[KF Tirana|17 Nëntori Tirana]] in 1946 where he was just 15 years old as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]. He made his competitive debut on 28 February 1948 as a goalkeeper against [[KF Vllaznia Shkodër|Vllaznia Shkodër]].<ref name="Resmja"/> His debut came as a result of goalkeeper Giacomo Poselli not appearing in the match and the staff selected Resmja to replace him.<ref name="History"/> After beginning his career initially as a goalkeeper, Resmja was later converted into a [[Forward (association football)|forward]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/te-majtet-historia-e-kembes-magjike/|title=Të majtët, historia e këmbës "magjike"|trans-title=The lefties, history of the "magical" foot|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=26 December 2013|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> This happened during a training session with his teammate where Resmja preferred to play as a forward, surprising everyone with his moves, which eventually made him left the position as goalkeeper.<ref name="Resmja"/> He played with Tirana until October 1950.<ref name="History"/>

On 20 October 1950, he was forced to join military by communist regime and eventually signed with the army team [[FK Partizani Tirana|Partizani Tirana]] where he played until the end of his career.<ref name="Resmja"/> In the [[1951 Albanian Superliga]], Resmja recorded an astonishing 59 goals in just 23 matches, averaging 2,57 goals per match, the highest ratio in history of football.<ref name="Albanian Superliga">{{cite web|url=http://www.giovanniarmillotta.it/albania/calcio/alba51.html|title=Albanian Football Season 1951|publisher=Giovanni Armillotta|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> He also scored 10 hat-tricks, setting the record for most [[List of Albanian Superliga hat-tricks|hat-tricks]] scored in the history of Albanian Superliga, a record which still stands.<ref name="Refik Resmja">{{cite news|url=http://worldwidesoccerstories.blogspot.com/2013/05/refik-resmja-partizani-tirana-1951.html|title=Refik Resmja (Partizani Tirana), 1951|work=Soccer Stories|date=19 August 2015|access-date=19 August 2015}}</ref> Resmja also become the only player in the history of Albanian football to score six and seven goals in one match; the striker reached the feat in the matches versus [[FK Tomori Berat|Puna Berat]] (14–0), [[KF Apolonia Fier|Puna Fier]] (11–0), [[Naftëtari Kuçovë|Spartaku Qyteti Stalin]] (9–0) and [[Luftëtari Gjirokastër|Puna Gjirokastër]] (8–0).<ref name="Refik Resmja"/>

Despite scoring this much, Resmja's goals were not enough to secure Partizani the title which was won by fellow capital club [[FK Dinamo Tirana|Dinamo Tirana]].<ref name="Albanian Superliga"/> Resmja also played a match as a loanee for his first club 17 Nëntori Tirana in May 1951, a friendly against a Selection of Hungarians Unions.<ref name="History"/> He scored in this match, marking thus his first goal against a foreign team.<ref name="History"/>

Over the course of next years, Resmja wasn't able to reach or break his scoring record, but was able to finish top scorer in five other occasions.<ref name="Refik Resmja"/> He would also set the record for most goals (14) scored in the [[KF Tirana–Partizani Tirana rivalry|derby]] against Tirana.<ref name="Derby">{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/refik-resmja-bomberi-i-derbit/|title=Refik Resmja, bomberi i derbit|trans-title=Refik Resmja, the bomber of derby|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=4 May 2015|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> He won his first championship in the [[1954 Albanian Superliga|1954 season]], scoring 13 goals which were instrumental for the team which topped the league 7 points ahead of Dinamo Tirana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.giovanniarmillotta.it/albania/calcio/alba54.html|title=Albanian Football Season 1954|publisher=Giovanni Armillotta|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref>

Resmja was named [[Captain (association football)|captain]] in 1957.<ref name="History"/> In the following year, he played in the [[Spartakiad]] tournament, an official championship of communist countries army clubs, in [[Leipzig]], as Partizani went to the final where they were defeated by [[PFC CSKA Sofia|CDNA Sofia]].<ref name="Spartakaid">{{cite web|url=http://www.giovanniarmillotta.it/albania/calcio/football021.html|title=Two legendary International Tournaments of Partizani Tiranë: Leipzig (1958) and Hanoi (1963)|publisher=Giovanni Armillotta|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> Resmja was decisive for the team throughout the campaign, netting a brace in the 5–1 win over [[Vietnam]]'s The Cong Hanoi and a goal in extra-time against [[FK Dukla Prague|Dukla Prague]].<ref name="Refik Resmja"/> His performances led Resmja to being named the best player of the tournament.<ref name="History"/> Five years later, Resmja played again in this competition but wasn't able to score as Partizani finished runner-up again, this time losing to XI CSKA/SKA.<ref name="Spartakaid"/><ref name="Refik Resmja"/>

In the [[1963–64 Albanian Superliga|1963–64 season]], Resmja captained Partizani to another championship, his sixth in career, despite scoring only once the whole season. He lifted the trophy and at the end of the season. He decided to end his playing career at the age of 33 years old, having scored 184 goals in just 130 league matches which made him the [[List of Albanian Superliga all-time goalscorers|all-time top scorer of Albanian Superliga]] at that time.<ref name="Refik Resmja"/> Since then, his record was eclipsed by [[Vioresin Sinani]] and [[Daniel Xhafaj]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/sinani-thote-mjaft-e-mbyll-si-futbollist-ne-fund-te-ketij-sezoni/|title=Vioresin Sinani thotë mjaft: E mbyll si futbollist në fund të këtij edicioni|trans-title=Vioresin Sinani says enough: I finish as a player at the end of the season|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|author=Admir Uruçi|date=12 January 2012|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref>

==International career==
Despite having great individual and collective success at club level, Resmja's international career was tepid as he collected only six appearances and scored once.<ref name="EU-Football.info">{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=17618|title=Football PLAYER: Refik Resmja|publisher=EU-Football.info|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> He earned his first cap on 29 November 1952 in the 3–2 friendly win versus [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=14346|title=Football MATCH: 29.11.1952 Albania v Czechoslovakia|publisher=EU-Football.info|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> He scored his first goal in his third cap, netting the second of a 2–0 home win over [[Poland national football team|Poland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=14442|title=Football MATCH: 29.11.1953 Albania v Poland|publisher=EU-Football.info|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> Resmja earned his final cap on 2 June 1963 in a 1–0 home loss to [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] for the [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification|1964 Summer Olympics qualifying phase]] which was also his first competitive match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=13376|title=Football MATCH: 02.06.1963 Albania v Bulgaria|publisher=EU-Football.info|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref>

==Managerial career==
Resmja's managerial career begun with [[FK Partizani Tirana|Partizani Tirana Youth]] in 1967 as he liked to work with the younger players.<ref name="Resmja"/> He stayed there until 1968, and restarted the work again in 1971 by managing [[KF Teuta Durrës|Lokomotiva Durrës]] (modern day [[KF Teuta Durrës|Teuta Durrës]]).<ref name="Resmja"/> In the meantime he also coached Albania under-21 squad.<ref name="Resmja"/>

==Style of play==
{{Quote box|quote=Refik Resmja is worthy of playing alongside the great [[Ferenc Puskás]]|source=—Former Hungarian coach [[Gusztáv Sebes]] after seeing Resmja play during a match.<ref name="Resmja"/> |align = right |quoted = 1 | width = 33%}}
{{Quote box|quote=Refik Resmja is great among the greatest|source=—Former [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgarian international]] [[Stefan Bozhkov]].<ref name="Resmja"/> |align = right |quoted = 1 | width = 33%}}

In his career, Resmja was distinguished for his strong physique, and agility which made him a target for the defenders.<ref name="Resmja"/> A predominantly a [[left footed]] player,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/te-majtet-historia-e-kembes-magjike/|title=Të majtët, historia e këmbës "magjike"|trans-title=The lefties, the history of the "magical" feet|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|author=Uvil Zajmi|date=26 December 2013|access-date=30 March 2019}}</ref> Resmja is known to have scored most of his goals with it, some of them from outside the penalty area.<ref name="Resmja"/> His short and athletic stature made Resmja a great [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbler]] which allowed him to get past most of the challenges he got in the field.<ref name="Resmja"/> Resmja had also been noted for his stamina, [[work rate]] and accurate passing.<ref name="Resmja"/> The most well-known ability of Resmja was his scoring instinct, attacking movement and positioning inside the [[penalty area]]. Resmja was also a fair play player, receiving not a single red card during his 16-year career.<ref name="Resmja"/>

==Legacy==
A street in [[Shishtufinë]] in [[Tirana County]] is named in his honour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://albania-streets.openalfa.com/streets/rruga-refik-resmja-tirane-tirana-municipally|title=Rruga Refik Resmja, Tiranë (Shtish-Tufinë)|trans-title=Refik Resmja street, Tirana (Shishtufinë)|publisher=Albania Street|language=sq|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> In 2016, he was decorated with the [[Honor of Nation Order]] by president Bujar Nishani for his contributions to Albanian football.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top-channel.tv/2016/03/10/kulicaj-ne-komisionin-e-etikes-nderi-i-kombit-ne-futboll-resmja-dhe-de-biasi/|title=Kuliçaj në Komisionin e Etikës. "Nderi i kombit në futboll", Resmja dhe De Biasi|trans-title=Kuliçaj at Ethics Commission. "Honor of Nation Order in Football, Resmja and De Biasi"|publisher=Top-Channel.tv|language=sq|access-date=10 March 2016}}</ref> He also hold numerous awards and accolades, such as Naim Frashëri Gold Medal, [[Civil awards and decorations of Albania|Naim Frashëri Order]], Ylli i Kuq Order ([[:sq:Urdhri dhe medalja "Ylli i Kuq"|sq.]]) and Medalje e Punës (Medal of Work) etc.<ref name="Resmja"/>

==Career statistics==
===Goals in Albanian Championship===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Season
!Team
!Goals
|-
|1948||[[KF Tirana|Tirana]]||1*
|-
|1949||[[KF Tirana|Tirana]]||2*
|-
|1950||[[KF Tirana|Tirana]]||1*
|-
|1951||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||59
|-
|1952||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||17*
|-
|1953||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||9*
|-
|1954||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||13*
|-
|1955||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||23
|-
|1956||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||17
|-
|1957||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||12
|-
|1958||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||7
|-
|1959||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||6
|-
|1960||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||7
|-
|1961||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||5
|-
|1962–63||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||4
|-
|1963–64||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||1
|-
|'''TOTAL'''||||'''184*'''
|}
''* - Incomplete data''

===International===
Source:<ref name="EU-Football.info"/>

{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan=5|[[Albania national football team|Albania]]
|1952||2||0
|-
|1953||1||1
|-
|1957||1||0
|-
|1958||1||0
|-
|1963||1||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total!!6!!1
|}

===International goals===
''Albania score listed first, score column indicates score after each Resmja goal.''<ref name="EU-Football.info"/>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
|-
!scope=col|No.
!scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date
!scope=col|Venue
!scope=col|Cap
!scope=col|Opponent
!scope=col|Score
!scope=col|Result
!scope=col|Competition
|-
!scope=row|1
|29 November 1953||[[Qemal Stafa Stadium]], [[Tirana]], Albania||align=center|3||{{fb|Poland}}||align=center|2–0||align=center|2–0||[[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|}

==Honours==
===Club===
;Partizani Tirana

*[[Albanian Superliga]]: [[1954 Albanian Superliga|1954]], [[1957 Albanian Superliga|1957]], [[1958 Albanian Superliga|1958]], [[1959 Albanian Superliga|1959]], [[1961 Albanian Superliga|1961]], [[1962–63 Albanian Superliga|1962–63]], [[1963–64 Albanian Superliga|1963–64]]
*[[Albanian Cup]]: [[1957 Albanian Cup|1957]], [[1958 Albanian Cup|1958]], [[1961 Albanian Cup|1961]]

===Individual===
*[[List of Albanian Superliga top scorers|Albanian Superliga top goalscorer]]: [[1951 Albanian Superliga|1951]], [[1952 Albanian Superliga|1952]], [[1953 Albanian Superliga|1953]], [[1954 Albanian Superliga|1954]], [[1955 Albanian Superliga|1955]], [[1956 Albanian Superliga|1956]]
*[[Spartakiad]]/Championship of Communist Countries Army Clubs Player of the tournament: 1958<ref name="History"/>
*Seasonwise World Top Scorer: 1951<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/worldtops.html Seasonwise World Top Scorer]. rsssf.org</ref>

===Records===
*Top goalscorer in the history of Partizani Tirana: 180 goals<ref name="Resmja1"/>
*Top goalscorer in the [[KF Tirana–Partizani Tirana rivalry|capital derby]]: 14 goals<ref name="Derby"/>
*Most goals scored in one season in the Albanian Superliga: 59 goals in 1951<ref name="Albanian Superliga"/>
*Most hat-tricks scored in one season in the Albanian Superliga: 10 hat-tricks in 1951<ref name="Refik Resmja"/>
*Most hat-tricks scored in the history of Albanian Superliga: 10 hat-tricks<ref name="Refik Resmja"/>
*Highest goal-per-game ratio in a season: 2,57<ref name="Albanian Superliga"/>
*The player with the most top goalscorer awards of Albanian Superliga: 6 {{small|(shared with [[Ilir Përnaska]])}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{NFT player|70297}}

{{Albanian Superliga top scorers}}
{{Albania national under-21 football team managers}}
{{KF Teuta Durrës managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Resmja, Refik}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:1997 deaths]]
[[Category:Footballers from Tirana]]
[[Category:Albanian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Albania men's international footballers]]
[[Category:KF Tirana players]]
[[Category:FK Partizani Tirana players]]
[[Category:Kategoria Superiore players]]
[[Category:Albanian football managers]]
[[Category:Albania national under-21 football team managers]]
[[Category:KF Teuta managers]]
[[Category:Kategoria Superiore managers]]
[[Category:20th-century Albanian sportsmen]]

Refik Resmja - Revision history

imported>FromCzech: /* Legacy */