Ervin Skela

Ervin Skela (born 17 November 1976) is an Albanian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He played the majority of his career in Germany, but he also played in Albania as well as Italy and Poland briefly. He is fourth most capped Albanian international with 75 appearances as well being the third highest goalscorer in the country's history with 13 goals.

Club career

Early career

Skela started his playing career in Albania, from a young age he was involved in football. He started his professional career with his local team KS Flamurtari Vlorë, who at the time were one of the best teams in Albania. He was at the Vlorë based club for three years from 1992 to 1995, during his time there he was loaned out to SK Tirana in 1993 but returned soon after.

Germany

After three years in Albanian football, Skela decided it was time to broaden his horizons and so moved to Germany to play for 1. FC Union Berlin. After spending three years at the Berlin club he had made over 57 appearances and scored a total of eight goals. He then moved to FC Erzgebirge Aue in 1997. In his two seasons there he made over 47 appearances and scored seven goals. in 1999 Skela moved to Chemnitzer FC where he played over 50 games and scored 11 goals. In the 2000 January transfer window he moved to SV Waldhof Mannheim who were the club who missed out on promotion that season by only a single point. But after spending only half a year at the club and making only 15 appearances he moved to Eintracht Frankfurt. After a total of three years at the club he made 92 appearances and scored 26 goals. Then Skela moved to Arminia Bielefeld where after only one season and 32 matches he hs left the club to join 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 2005. In his only season at the club he played 34 matches and scored four goals. But after a disappointing 2005–06 season which saw the club getting relegated to the 2. Bundesliga), Skela was released from his current contract with Kaiserslautern, and subsequently joined Italian side Ascoli Calcio 1898 on a free transfer in 2006.

Ascoli

He signed a one-year deal at Italian club Ascoli and made his debut on 9 September 2006. However, Skela did not manage to make his breakthrough in the starting lineup and was released for free soon after. During his time there Skela made seven appearances without scoring.

Energie Cottbus

During the January 2007 transfer window, Skela returned to Germany on 29 January 2007, with Energie Cottbus on a two-and-a-half-year contract. During his time so far at Energie Cottbus he has become a crowd favourite and one of their key players. In the 2007–08 season he played 34 matches and scored seven goals, his goals and magnificent displays in an Energie Cottbus jersey saved the club from relegation that same season. At the end of the season he had made 137 appearances in the Bundesliga and scored 21 goals in Germany's top division.

On 22 November 2008, Skela scored an historical goal in his career at Bundesliga against the giants of Bayern Munich, a match valid for the 14th week of the 2008–09 season, finished with a 4–1 loss at Allianz Arena, becoming the first and only player Albanian player to score against Bayern Munich. He scored his second goal of the season against the eventual champions VfL Wolfsburg on 26 April 2009 to secure his team a 2–0 victory and to become the first team to concede a defeat to VfL Wolfsburg after 4 months.

After two years with FC Energie Cottbus Skela left the club on 30 June 2009.

Koblenz

After four months without a club, he signed on 14 October 2009 a two-year contract with TuS Koblenz, taking the number 28. Skela made his debut in week 9 of 2009–10 season against Rot Weiss Ahlen, playing full-90 minutes in a 1–1 home draw. After the match, the coach of the team Rapolder was frustrated with the rest of the players, saying that "Skela alone cannot decide the matches" and that he expected more from the players like Shefki Kuqi, Matej Mavric, Benjamin Lense and Melinho. Skela would appear in further 17 matches with Koblenz who ended the season in 17th place, relegated from the league.

Germania Windeck

On 1 February 2011, Skela joined FC Germania Windeck.

Arka Gdynia

On 4 March 2011, Skela left Germania Windeck and signed with Arka Gdynia. Skela debuted for the first time in Polish top league on 11 March 2011, playing in the last minutes of the 2–2 away draw against Górnik Zabrze. His time with the Polish side was short-lived, as he left the club in June 2011. He appeared in only five matches, which three of them as a starter.

FC Hanau 93

Having not played professional football since leaving Arka Gdynia in 2011, Skela came out of retirement and signed with 8th tier German side FC Hanau 93 on 29 January 2014 at the age of 37. In the second part of 2013–14 season, Skela played 7 games and scored 5 goals.

During the 2014–15 season, Skela played 26 league matches and scored 18 goals, being the second goalscorer of the team behind Kahraman Damar, as the team achieved the promotion to Gruppenliga Frankfurt Ost (VII). In addition, he also scored twice in four cup games.

On 16 January 2016, Hanau confirmed via their Facebook page that Skela has extended his contract with the club for another season. In the 2015–16 season, Skela played in 11 league matches, scoring twice. In the 2016–17 season, Skela bagged 19 goals in just 18 league appearances, collecting 1528 minutes.

In the 2017–18 season, Skela was available for the team very rarely, playing only seven matches and scoring two goals, due to his occupation in obtaining UEFA Pro Licence. On 28 April 2018, he agreed another contract extension, signing a new one-year contract.

International career

Skela was first included in the Albania national team in 2000, and since then has played a total of 75 games and scored 13 goals for his country. He also holds the unique record for the most appearances by an Albanian international in the FIFA World Cup qualification along Lorik Cana with 28 in overall. He has established himself in the first team for many years now and is now one of Albania's most important players in years. On 7 June 2013, a few minutes before the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Norway at Qemal Stafa Stadium, he and his longtime partner Altin Lala were honored by Albanian Football Association for they contributions to the national team. They received a 'plaque of appreciation' by the Albanian Football Association Armando Duka for they services to Albania national team.

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Albania	2000	4	0
	2001	5	1
	2002	0	0
	2003	9	3
	2004	8	1
	2005	10	1
	2006	6	2
	2007	6	1
	2008	7	1
	2009	8	2
	2010	7	1
	2011	4	0
Total		74	13

Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Skela goal.

List of international goals scored by Ervin Skela

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	25 April 2001	Gaziantep Kamil Ocak Stadium, Gaziantep, Turkey	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Turkey	flag alias = Flag of Turkey.svg	link alias-naval = Turkish Naval Forces	link alias-navy = Turkish Navy	link alias-air force = Turkish Air Force	link alias-army = Turkish Land Forces	link alias-military = Turkish Armed Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–0 || Friendly match
2	7 June 2003	Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland	{{safesubst: Template:Yesno	alias = Republic of Ireland	shortname alias = Ireland	flag alias = Flag of Ireland.svg	link alias-naval = Irish Naval Service	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Irish Air Corps.svg	link alias-air force = Irish Air Corps	flag alias-army = Flag of the Irish Defence Forces.svg	link alias-army = Irish Army	link alias-navy = Irish Naval Service	link alias-football = Republic of Ireland national football team	name alias-football = Republic of Ireland	link alias-futsal = Republic of Ireland national football team	name alias-futsal = Republic of Ireland	link alias-beachsoccer = Republic of Ireland national football team	name alias-beachsoccer = Republic of Ireland	flag alias-rugby union = Flag placeholder.svg	border-rugby union =	flag alias-cricket = Flag placeholder.svg	border-cricket =	link alias-netball = Republic of Ireland national netball team	name alias-netball = Republic of Ireland	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–2 || UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
3	11 June 2003	Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Switzerland	flag alias = Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg	link alias-army = Swiss Army	link alias-air force = Swiss Air Force	size =	size flag alias = 23x16px	sizebig flag alias = 25px	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|2–3 || align="center"|2–3 || UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
4	20 August 2003	Stadion Goce Delčev, Prilep, Macedonia	REDIRECT Template:Country data North Macedonia || align="center"|1–2 || align="center"|1–3 || Friendly match
5	18 February 2004	Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Sweden	flag alias = Flag of Sweden.svg	flag alias-army = Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg	flag alias-air force =Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg	flag alias-1818 = Swedish and Norwegian merchant flag 1818-1844.svg	flag alias-1844 = Swedish civil ensign (1844–1905).svg	flag alias-1905 = Flag of Sweden (pre-1906).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg	flag alias-naval-1844 = Naval Ensign of Sweden (1844-1905).svg	flag alias-naval-1815 = Ensign of Sweden and Norway (1815–1844).svg	link alias-army = Swedish Army	link alias-air force = Swedish Air Force	link alias-naval = Swedish Navy	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg	link alias-navy = Swedish Navy	link alias-football = Sweden men's national football team	border-army =	border-air force =	border-naval =	border-navy =	border-naval-1815 =	border-naval-1844 =	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly match
6	4 June 2005	Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Georgia (country)	shortname alias = Georgia	flag alias = Flag of Georgia.svg	flag alias-1008 = Sakartvelo_-_drosha.svg	flag alias-1762 = Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Kartli-Kakheti.svg	flag alias-1918 = Flag of Georgia (1918–1921).svg	flag alias-1921 = Flag of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (1921–1922).svg	flag alias-1922 = Flag of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (1922–1937).svg	flag alias-1937 = Flag of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (1937–1951).svg	flag alias-1951 = Flag of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.svg	flag alias-1990 = Flag of Georgia (1990–2004).svg	flag alias-naval-1997 = Naval ensign of Georgia (1997–2004).svg	link alias-naval-1997 = Georgian Navy	flag alias-army = Army Flag of Georgia.svg	link alias-army = Georgian Land Forces	flag alias-coast guard=Battle ensign of the Coast Guard of Georgia.svg	link alias-coast guard=Coast Guard of Georgia	flag alias-military = Flag of the Georgian Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military = Georgian Armed Forces	flag alias-navy=Flag of the Georgian Border Police.svg	link alias-navy=Border Police of Georgia	flag alias-air force=Flag of the Aviation and Air Defense Command of the Defense Forces of Georgia.png	link alias-air force=Georgian Air Force	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Georgia.svg	link alias-naval = Georgian Navy	empty = Georgia XV national rugby union team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || align="center"|3–1 || align="center"|3–2 || 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
7	16 August 2006	Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marino	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = San Marino	flag alias = Flag of San Marino.svg	flag alias-1465 = Old Flag of San Marino.svg	flag alias-1862 = Flag of San Marino (1862–2011).svg	flag alias-civil = Flag of San Marino (civil).svg	link alias-army = Sammarinese Armed Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|3–0 || Friendly match
8	16 August 2006	Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Belarus	flag alias = Flag of Belarus.svg	flag alias-1991 = Flag of Belarus (1918, 1991–1995).svg	flag alias-1995 = Flag of Belarus (1995–2012).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of Belarusian Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Belarusian Air Force	flag alias-army = Flag of the Belarusian Ground Forces.png	link alias-army = Belarusian Ground Forces	flag alias-military = Flag of the Armed Forces of Belarus.png	link alias-military = Armed Forces of Belarus	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–2 || align="center"|2–2 || UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
9	6 June 2007	Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg, Luxembourg	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Luxembourg	flag alias = Flag of Luxembourg.svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Luxembourg.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|3–0 || UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
10	19 November 2008	Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Azerbaijan	flag alias = Flag of Azerbaijan.svg	flag alias-1918 = Flag of Azerbaijan 1918.svg	flag alias-1991 = Flag of Azerbaijan (1991–2013).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Flag of Azerbaijan.svg	link alias-naval = Azerbaijani Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of Azerbaijani Land Forces.svg	link alias-army = Azerbaijani Land Forces	flag alias-air force = AzAF Flag of Azerbaijan.png	link alias-air force = Azerbaijani Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Flag of Azerbaijan.svg	link alias-navy = Azerbaijani Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–1 || Friendly match
11	12 August 2009	Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Cyprus	flag alias = Flag of Cyprus.svg	flag alias-1878 = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-1881 = Flag of Cyprus (1881–1922).svg	flag alias-colonial = Blue Ensign of Cyprus (1922).svg	flag alias-April 1960 = Flag of Cyprus (1960).svg	flag alias-1960 = Flag of Cyprus (1960–2006).svg	link alias-army = Cypriot Ground Forces	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team }} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center" rowspan="2"|6–1 || rowspan="2"|Friendly match
12				2–1
13	3 March 2010	Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Northern Ireland	flag alias = Ulster Banner.svg	flag alias-assembly = Flag of Northern Ireland Assembly.svg	flag alias-saltire = St Patrick's saltire.svg	flag alias-union = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || Friendly match

Honours

Individual

• Albanian Footballer of the Year: 2007

External links

• Template:90minut
• Template:PAGENAMEBASE at National-Football-Teams.com
• Template:Fussballdaten
• Template:WorldFootball.net