Ibrahim Drešević

Ibrahim Drešević (Albanian: Ibrahim Dreshaj; born 24 January 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for J1 League club Machida Zelvia. Born in Sweden, he represented that nation at youth international levels but in 2019 switched to play for Kosovo national team.^[1]

Ibrahim Drešević

Personal information
Date of birth	(1997-01-24) 24 January 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth	Fuxerna, Sweden
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Machida Zelvia
Number	5
Youth career
2010–2011	Norrby
2011–2016	Elfsborg
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2019	Elfsborg	31	(0)
2019–2022	Heerenveen	89	(2)
2022–2024	Fatih Karagümrük	48	(1)
2024–	Machida Zelvia	31	(3)
International career‡
2014	Sweden U17	2	(0)
2014–2017	Sweden U19	11	(1)
2019–	Kosovo	25	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:27, 19 January 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 12 September 2023

Club career

Elfsborg

His debut with Elfsborg came on 25 August 2016 in a 0–7 biggest away win in the second round of 2016–17 Svenska Cupen against IK Gauthiod after coming on as a substitute in the 61st minute in place of Joakim Nilsson.^[2] Drešević made his first Allsvenskan appearance on 10 September after being named in the starting line-up in a 1–1 home draw against Kalmar.^[3]

Heerenveen

On 31 January 2019, Drešević signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Eredivisie club Heerenveen.^[4] His debut with Heerenveen came sixteen days later in a 2–2 home draw against PSV after coming on as a substitute in the 79th minute in place of Jizz Hornkamp.^[5]

Fatih Karagümrük

On 24 June 2022, Drešević signed a two-year contract with Süper Lig club Fatih Karagümrük.^[6] His debut with Fatih Karagümrük came on 21 August in a 4–1 away defeat against Beşiktaş after being named in the starting line-up.^[7]

Machida Zelvia

On 18 January 2024, Drešević was announced at Machida Zelvia.^[8]

International career

Youth

From 2014, until 2017, Drešević has been part of Sweden at youth international level, respectively has been part of the U17 and U19 teams and he with these teams played thirteen matches and scored one goal.

Senior

On 22 May 2019, Drešević received a call-up from Kosovo for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying matches against Montenegro and Bulgaria,^[9] but he was not available for these matches after FIFA did not permit him to play for Kosovo due to problems with his documentation.^[10] On 23 August 2019, FIFA gave permission for Drešević to play for Kosovo.^[11] His debut with Kosovo came on 10 October 2019 in a friendly match against Gibraltar after being named in the starting line-up.^[12]

Personal life

Drešević was born in Fuxerna, Lilla Edet, Sweden,^[13] to Albanian parents from Tuzi, Montenegro.^[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 23 April 2024^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Elfsborg	2016	Allsvenskan	2	0	1	0	—		—		—		3	0
	2017		6	0	2	1	—		—		—		8	1
	2018		23	0	0	0	—		—		—		23	0
	Total		31	0	3	1	—		—		—		34	1
Heerenveen	2018–19	Eredivisie	6	0	0	0	—		—		4[a]	0	10	0
	2019–20		26	2	4	0	—		—		—		30	2
	2020–21		30	0	4	0	—		—		—		34	0
	2021–22		27	0	3	0	—		—		2[b]	0	32	0
	Total		89	2	11	0	—		—		6	0	106	2
Fatih Karagümrük	2022–23	Süper Lig	32	1	3	0	—		—		—		35	1
	2023–24		16	0	1	1	—		—		—		17	1
	Total		48	1	4	1	—		—		—		52	2
Machida Zelvia	2024	J1 League	9	2	0	0	—		—		—		9	2
	2025		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		48	1	4	1	0	0	0	0	—		52	2
Career total			177	5	18	2	0	0	0	0	6	0	201	7

1. Appearance(s) with Heerenveen U21
2. Appearance(s) in the European play-offs of 2021–22 Eredivisie

International

As of 12 September 2023^[16]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Kosovo
	2019	2	0
	2020	5	0
	2021	7	0
	2022	7	0
	2023	4	0
Total		25	0