Shaqir Tafa
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Shaqir Ejup Tafa (born 14 November 1998) is an Albanian professional
footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...
who plays as a
centre-back In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring. Defenders fall into four main categories: centre-backs, full-backs, sweepers ...
for Italian Serie D club Forlì FC, Forlì.


Early life

Tafa was born in Fondi, province of Latina, Lazio from Albanian parents originally from Luz i Vogël, Kavajë which had emigrated in Italy in 1994. He was 4th family's child and the first son after three daughters. Aged 2, he along with his parents moved to Portogruaro in Veneto and then to Belfiore near Venezia. He started his footballing career there by playing as a Forward (association football), forward at A.S.D. Annonese F.C., Annonese for three years. Tafa switched position to
centre-back In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring. Defenders fall into four main categories: centre-backs, full-backs, sweepers ...
following his transfer to Liventina. He enjoyed success there, winning Veneto's national title in 2013. After several trials in 2014, he was brought in by Palermo FC, Palermo on initially on loan. In the following years Tafa progressed through Palermo's youth teams, and was notably voted as Palermo primavera's best player of the year, receiving 47% of total votes. He was called for the first time at senior squad in 2017.


Club career


Monopoli (loan)

On 5 August 2017 Tafa was loaned out to Serie C side SS Monopoli 1966, Monopoli until the end of the 2017–18 season. Under management of Massimiliano Tangorra Tafa was considered as 6th center-defense choice behind most used trio formed by team's Captain (association football), captain Luca Ricci (Italian footballer), Luca Ricci, Mattia Bei and Michele Ferrara (including also Mario Mercadante which was often used as a center-back in place of Ferrara) and other substituters Loris Bacchetti and Nicola Lanzolla. Consequently, Tafa was on the bench for 13 first matches. He made his debut in the penultimate matchday of the year on 23 December against Cosenza Calcio, Cosenza playing as a starter along Ricci and Mercadante, thus benching Ferrara whereas Bei moved as a midfielder; Tafa was substituted off in the 73rd minute as the match ended in a 2–0 loss for Monopoli which remained with ten men since the 68th minute.


Cuneo

On 7 August 2018, he moved on a permanent basis to the Serie C club AC Cuneo 1905, Cuneo.


Sicula Leonzio

On 2 September 2019, he signed with SS Leonzio 1909, Sicula Leonzio.


Piacenza

After a three-months spell with Albanian club KF Tirana, Tirana where he did not appear for the senior squad and was released in November 2020, on 2 February 2021 he returned to Italy and signed with Piacenza Calcio 1919, Piacenza.


Recanatese

On 12 July 2022, he moved to US Recanatese, Recanatese.


Ravenna

On 28 January 2023, Tafa joined Serie D club Ravenna FC, Ravenna.


International career


Early stages: Italy & Albania U19

Early in 2013 Tafa had a gathering stage with Italy national under-17 football team, from where he was scouted by Paolo Tramezzani the Albania national football team assistant coach of Gianni De Biasi. Then in January 2016 he received a call up at Albania national under-19 football team by coach Arjan Bellaj for a gathering stage in Verona, Italy.


Albania U21

Tafa received his first international call up to Albania national under-21 football team by coach Redi Jupi for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification closing match against Israel national under-21 football team, Israel U21 on 10 October 2016. He didn't feature in the game as he wasn't included in the final 18-man squad. He was called up by new coach Alban Bushi for a double Exhibition game, Friendly matches against Moldova national under-21 football team, Moldova U21 on 25 & 27 March 2017. He debuted for Albania U21 in the second match against Moldova U21 on 27 March playing as a starter to help his side to take a 2–0 victory. Since he had not debuted yet for Albania in international competitive matches, in April 2017 Tafa was asked again by Italy for their Italy national under-19 football team, national under-19 team but Tafa answered indirectly to have refused their invitation by posting on social media Facebook a picture while singing the national anthem of Albania during a March's match against Moldova U21. Tafa was called up by coach Alban Bushi for the Exhibition game, Friendly match against France national under-21 football team, France U21 on 5 June 2017 and the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification opening match against Estonia national under-21 football team, Estonia U21 on 12 June 2017. He made his competitive debut for Albania U21 against Estonia U21 on 12 June 2017 under coach Alban Bushi playing the full 90-minutes match to help his side to take a goalless draw. He received his first call up for the Albania national under-20 football team, Albania under-20 side by same coach of the under-21 team Alban Bushi for the Exhibition game, friendly match against Georgia national under-20 football team, Georgia on 14 November 2017. He debuted for under-20 team against Georgia by playing as a starter, where he was granted as team Captain (association football), captain, to play until 55th minute when he was substituted off for Rei Nuriu with score at 1–0 and the entire match finished in an eventual 3–0 loss.


Style of play

Tafa mainly operates as a
centre-back In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring. Defenders fall into four main categories: centre-backs, full-backs, sweepers ...
, but he can play also as a Defender (association football)#Full-back, right back and Midfielder#Defensive midfielder, defensive midfielder. He is nicknamed ''Shaq'' alike former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal due to his height. He has been compared to 2006 FIFA World Cup winner Andrea Barzagli due to his powerful physical build and power. Tafa himself has cited his role model the Slovakian defender Milan Škriniar.


Career statistics


Club


References


External links

*
Shaqir Tafa
at Serie A TIM *
archive
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tafa, Shaqir 1998 births Living people Footballers from the Province of Latina Italian people of Albanian descent Albanian men's footballers 21st-century Albanian sportsmen Italian men's footballers Men's association football defenders Serie C players Serie D players Palermo FC players SS Monopoli 1966 players AC Cuneo 1905 players SS Leonzio 1909 players Piacenza Calcio 1919 players US Recanatese players KF Tirana players Ravenna FC players Forlì FC players Albanian expatriate men's footballers Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Italy Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Albania men's youth international footballers Albania men's under-21 international footballers 21st-century Italian sportsmen