Fadil Vokrri
Vokrri with Yugoslavia in 1987
President of Football Federation of Kosovo
In office
16 February 2008[1] – 9 June 2018
Preceded bySabri Hashani
Succeeded byAgim Ademi
Personal details
Born
Fadil Avdullah Vokrri

(1960-07-23)23 July 1960
Podujevo, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia
Died9 June 2018(2018-06-09) (aged 57)
Pristina, Kosovo
NationalityKosovan
Albanian
Yugoslav (formerly)
OccupationFootballer
Football administrator
Association football career
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1976–1979 Llapi
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1986 Prishtina 172 (55)
1986–1989 Partizan 55 (18)
1989–1990 Nîmes 24 (13)
1990–1992 Fenerbahçe 43 (13)
1992–1993 Bourges 30 (10)
1993–1995 Montluçon 39 (12)
Total 363 (121)
International career
1984–1987 Yugoslavia 12 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Fadil Vokrri (Kosovar-Albanian; 23 July 1960 – 9 June 2018) was a Yugoslav football player and administrator of Kosovo Albanian descent.

Arguably one of the greatest Yugoslav footballers, he was the president of the Football Federation of Kosovo from 16 February 2008,[1] until his death on 9 June 2018.[2]

Early life

Born in Podujevo, SFR Yugoslavia, Vokrri was known for his Diego Maradona-like approach with quick movement and strong shooting (where he established his strong shooting reputation at FC Prishtina).[3] He won a number of international caps for the former Yugoslavia in the mid-1980s and was unlucky to not win more caps where he was one of Yugoslavia's favourite football talents. He played in a star-studded lineup that included Agim Cana, Edmond Rugova and Fadil Muriqi, as well as other Kosovan players who were part of the Golden Generation in the 1980s. Vokrri's FC Prishtina went on to beat Red Star Belgrade at the Red Star Stadium and record a historic away victory for the Kosovan team.[4]

Club career

Vokrri scored a total of 121 goals and had 363 club appearances, he began his career at the age of 16 years old at Llapi. He then moved to Prishtina in 1980 and played there until 1986, scoring 55 goals and making 172 appearances. Vokrri was very successful with Partizan from Belgrade where he scored 18 goals and had 55 appearances.[5] He was key to both the team claiming the 1986–87 Yugoslav First League title, and their successful run in the 1988–89 Yugoslav Cup, notably scoring in the final as Partizan won 6–1 against Velež Mostar.[6]

In between the two trophy successes, Italian club Juventus showed interest in signing Vokrri. However, as he had not completed the then-compulsory two years' military service, he was unable to travel abroad, and so had to turn down the offer. He eventually completed the requirements for military service while playing for Partizan, fulfilling light tasks during the week around training and in between matches.[7]

He also played for Nîmes Olympique, Fenerbahçe where he played for the successful coach Guus Hiddink. Vokrri was a favourite of Fenerbahçe fans but was not as productive as he was with FC Prishtina and Partizan because of his older age.[3]

Post-retirement

"For me the idol of all time is Johan Cruyff. His philosophy in the football game has laid the foundations of the Barcelona game that plays that way. Barcelona is art, it's a pleasure to see when it plays. There is Messi."

—Fadil Vokrri in an interview for Telegrafi in December 2017[8]

After the Kosovo War ended, Vokrri returned to his country and became the sporting director of Prishtina.[5] On 16 February 2008, he was elected as the president of the Football Federation of Kosovo for a four-year mandate.[1]

Personal life

Vokrri and his wife Edita had two sons, Gramozi and Albert, and a daughter named Albana.[9] He had a degree in the Faculty of Management and Business.[5] Apart from his native Albanian, he was also fluent in French, Serbian and Turkish.[5] On 17 May 2018, he earned his Albanian passport.[10][11]

Death

Fadil Vokrri Stadium, 2023

On 9 June 2018, Vokrri suffered a heart attack while he was exercising and died on his way to the emergency room.[2][12][13][14] Later that day, the Prishtina City Stadium was renamed to the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in his honour.[15][16]

Vokrri was given a state funeral on 10 June 2018 and was buried at the Pristina City Cemetery.[17] President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi marked the day as a national day of mourning, with all flags lowered at half mast across Kosovo, and at embassies all over the world.[18]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[19]
Club Season League Cup[a] Europe[b] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Prishtina 1980–81 Yugoslav Second League 25 5 0 0 — 25 5
1981–82 27 13 0 0 — 27 13
1982–83 32 15 0 0 — 32 15
1983–84 Yugoslav First League 31 9 0 0 — 31 9
1984–85 30 8 0 0 — 30 8
1985–86 27 5 0 0 — 27 5
Total 172 55 0 0 — 172 55
Partizan 1986–87 Yugoslav First League 28 5 0 0 2 0 30 5
1987–88 11 6 0 0 2 1 13 7
1988–89 16 7 1 1 4 2 20 9
Total 55 18 1 1 8 3 63 21
Nîmes 1989–90 French Division 2 24 13 0 0 — 24 13
Fenerbahçe 1990–91 1.Lig 21 6 2 1 4 2 27 9
1991–92 22 7 1 0 0 0 23 7
Total 43 13 3 1 4 2 50 16
Bourges 1992–93 French Division 2 30 10 0 0 — 30 10
Montluçon 1993–94 Championnat National 2 26 11 0 0 — 23 11
1994–95 13 1 0 0 — 13 1
Total 39 12 0 0 — 39 12
Career total 363 121 4 2 12 5 379 128
  1. ^ Cup appearances are missing
  2. ^ Including continental competitions, such as UEFA Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[19][20]
National team Year Apps Goals
Yugoslavia 1984 3 2
1985 6 2
1986 0 0
1987 3 2
Total 12 6
Scores and results list Yugoslavia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vokrri goal.[19][20]
List of international goals scored by Fadil Vokrri
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 September 1984 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland  Scotland 1–0 1–6 Friendly
2 20 October 1984 Zentralstadion, Leipzig, East Germany  East Germany 2–2 3–2 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 1 February 1985 Maharaja's College Stadium, Kochi, India  South Korea 1–0 3–1 1985 Nehru Cup
4 1 May 1985 Stade Municipal, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg  Luxembourg 1–0 1–0 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 14 October 1987 Grbavica Stadium, Sarajevo, SFR Yugoslavia  Northern Ireland 1–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying
6 2–0

Honours

Partizan[21]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Fadil Vokrri, kryetar i ri i FFK-së" [Fadil Vokrri, new chairman of FFK] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 16 February 2008. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Fadil Vokrri është kryetari i ri i Federatës së Futbollit të Kosovës dhe nga 53 deleagtë të pranishëm 42 kanë votuar për Vokrrin, 10 për Brojën dhe 1 fletëvotim është shpallur i pavlefshëm
  2. ^ a b "Head of Kosovo soccer federation Fadil Vokrri dies". Reuters. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Vdekja e papritur, kush ishte Fadil Vokrri, Maradona i shqiptarëve të Kosovës…" [Unexpected death, who was Fadil Vokrri, Maradona of Albanians of Kosovo…] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  4. ^ ""Si Fadil Vokrri e mundi dy herë Beogradin"" [How Fadil Vokrri defeated Beograd two times] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d "Federata e Kosovës jep lajmin e kobshëm, ja njoftimi për vdekjen e Vokrrit" [Federation of Kosovo gives the sad news, here is the announcement for Vokrri's death] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Yugoslavia - Cup Final Details 1947–2001". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Kosovo's remarkable football rise". BBC Sport.
  8. ^ Gazmend Kajtazi (29 December 2017). "Fadil Vokrri dhe jeta e tij larg fushës së futbollit" [Fadil Vokrri and his life outside the football field] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Kjo është familja e Fadil Vokrrit, bashkëshortja, djemtë dhe vajza" [This is the family of Fadil Vokrri, the wife, sons and daughter] (in Albanian). Bota Sot. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Dekret Nr. 10783, datë 17.5.2018 për dhënie të shtetësisë shqiptare" [Decree No. 10783, dated 17.5.2018 for granting of Albanian citizenship] (PDF). Qendra e Botimeve Zyrtare (in Albanian). 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Pasaporta shqiptare për të tërë, nga Qaka e Vokrri deri te sportiste amerikane që nuk e dinë ku është Shqipëria" [Albanian passports for all, from Qaka and Vokrri to American sportsman who doesn't know were Albania is] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Vdiq Fadil Vokrri" (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 9 June 2018. Legjenda e futbollit të Kosovës dhe kryetari i Federatës së Futbollit të Kosovës, Fadil Vokrri ka vdekur sot në moshën 57-vjeçare. Vokrri ka vdekur si pasojë e një sulmi në zemër. Sulmi në zemër ndaj Vokrrit ka ndodhur rreth orës 9:30 të mëngjesit derisa po bënte fitnes
  13. ^ "Zyrtari i EULEX-it që i dha ndihmën e parë Vokrrit: Ishte pa ndjenja kur ndërhyra" (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 9 June 2018. Zyrtari policor i Eulexit kishte qëlluar rastësisht në qendrën e fitnesit kur kishte parë se Vokrrit i ishte vështirësuar gjendja. Fillova ta ndihmoj dhe më pas nisi të marr frymë. Pasi u duk se po i përmirësohej gjendja, unë e lash në duart e stafit mjekësor të cilët e transportuan në spital. Sinqerisht, më vije shumë keq. Ndihem i trishtuar ka thënë Persson
  14. ^ "Doktorët: Vokrri erdhi pa shenja jete" (in Albanian). Klan Kosova. 9 June 2018. Specialisti i mjekësisë emergjente, Avdush Bajgora, ka thënë për Klan Kosovën se legjenda e futbollit kosovar Fadil Vokrri ishte pa shenja jete kur kishte arritur në Qendrën Klinike Universitare të Kosovës. Vokrri ishte dërguar me urgjencë në qendrën kryesore spitalore të vendit pas një sulmi në zemër, të cilit nuk ka mundur t'i mbijetojë, duke ndërruar akoma pa mbërritur në QKUK
  15. ^ Shpend Ahmeti [@ShpendA] (9 June 2018). "Stadiumi i qytetit me nder do ta mbaj emrin e tij Fadil Vokrri" [The city stadium with honorably will keep his name Fadil Vokrri] (Tweet) (in Albanian) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Kryetari i Prishtinës, Shpend Ahmeti: Stadiumi i qytetit me nder do ta mbajë emrin e Fadil Vokrrit" [Mayor of Prishtina, Shpend Ahmeti: The city stadium with honorably will keep his name Fadil Vokrri] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 9 June 2018. Kryetari i kryeqytetit të Kosovës, ai i Prishtinës, Shpend Ahmeti, ka konfirmuar se stadiumi i qytetit të Prishtinës do të mbajë emrin e ikonës së futbollit shqiptar të Kosovës, Fadil Vokrri
  17. ^ "Varroset legjenda Fadil Vokrri (Video/Foto)" [The legend Fadil Vokrri is buried (Video/Photo)]. IndeksOnline (in Albanian). 10 June 2018.
  18. ^ "Sot ditë zie në Kosovë, varroset legjenda Fadil Vokrri" [Today is a day of mourning in Kosovo, the legend Fadil Vokrri is buried]. Lajmi.net (in Albanian). 10 June 2018.
  19. ^ a b c "Vokri Fadil" (in Serbian). Football Association of Serbia.
  20. ^ a b "Fadil Vokrri - national football team player". EU-Football.info.
  21. ^ "Fadil Vokrri". National Football Teams. Retrieved 11 June 2018.

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