Besart Ibraimi (Macedonian: Бесарт Ибраими; born 17 December 1986) is a Macedonian professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for FC Struga Trim-Lum He is the all-time top goalscorer in the 1.MFL with 200 goals.[1]
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Besart Ibraimi Бесарт Ибраими | ||
| Date of birth | 17 December 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Kičevo, Macedonia | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Struga | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1993–2007 | Vëllazërimi | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2008 | Vëllazërimi | 32 | (12) |
| 2007–2008 | Napredok | 43 | (23) |
| 2008–2010 | Renova | 42 | (29) |
| 2010–2011 | Schalke 04 | 6 | (0) |
| 2011–2014 | Sevastopol | 45 | (17) |
| 2011 | → Tavriya Simferopol (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2013 | → Metalurh Zaporizhzhia (loan) | 11 | (4) |
| 2014 | Enosis Neon Paralimni | 8 | (6) |
| 2014–2015 | Ermis Aradippou | 23 | (9) |
| 2015–2021 | Shkëndija | 175 | (111) |
| 2021–2022 | Xanthi | 13 | (4) |
| 2022– | Struga | 58 | (34) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2009–2022 | North Macedonia | 16 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2017 | |||
Early life
Born in Kičevo, North Macedonia. He is Macedonian by nationality but is ethnically Albanian by origin. Ibraimi began playing football in his hometown Kičevo for the youth of FK Vlazrimi.
Club career
Ibraimi began his professional career 2005 with FK Vlazrimi (meaning Brotherhood), earning 32 caps and scoring 11 goals, before joining FK Napredok in January 2007. He played for FK Napredok for one season, 2007–08, playing 43 games and scoring 19 goals.[2] In September 2008, he signed for FK Renova.[3] He left Macedonia and his club FK Renova[4] on 12 January 2010 for German Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04.[5] He made his Schalke debut on 6 February 2010 in an away game against SC Freiburg coming on in the 77th minute as a substitute.[6]
Ibraimi only made six appearances for the first team of Schalke 04 before he was transferred to the Schalke 04 II team in the summer of 2010.[7] Ibraimi could participate in training with Schalke 04 II but since he is a non EU player, he could not play in league games for Schalke 04 II. After a half year, he signed on 26 January 2011 with the Ukrainian club PFK Sevastopol.[8]
In January 2014, Ibraimi ended his contract with PFK Sevastopol and joined the Cypriot club Enosis Paralimini. After showing his impressive qualities in Enosis Paralimini all "the elite" clubs in Cypriot First Division ran after Besart Ibraimi, he finally decided to move to Ermis Aradippou where he signed a contract for one year. He made his debut with Ermis Aradippou on 1 September 2014, in the 56th minute of the match against Apollon Limassol.
International career
Ibraimi chose to represent North Macedonia, his birthplace over Albania. Ibraimi is a former member of the U-21 team.[9] He made his senior debut for North Macedonia in a September 2009 FIFA World Cup qualification match away against Scotland and has earned a total of 15 caps, scoring no goals.[10]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 18 May 2024
International
Honours
FC Struga Trim-Lum
Macedonian First Football League: 2022–23, 2023–24
Shkëndija
Individual
- Macedonian Footballer of the Year: 2009, 2016
Top Goal scorer
- 22/23Prva Makedonska Fudbalska Liga - 19 Goals
- 20/21Prva Makedonska Fudbalska Liga - 24 Goals
- 17/18Prva Makedonska Fudbalska Liga - 22 Goals
- 16/17Prva Makedonska Fudbalska Liga - 20 Goals
- 15/16Prva Makedonska Fudbalska Liga - 25 Goals
References
External links
- Profile at MacedonianFootball.com (in English)
- Besart Ibraimi at National-Football-Teams.com
- Besart Ibraimi at UAF and archived FFU page (in Ukrainian)
- Besart Ibraimi at Soccerway
