Meriton Korenica

Meriton Korenica (born 15 December 1996) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga I club CFR Cluj and the Kosovo national team.

Meriton Korenica

Personal information
Date of birth	(1996-12-15) 15 December 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth	Rahovec, FR Yugoslavia
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	CFR Cluj
Number	17
Youth career
0000–2015	Rahoveci
2015–2016	Shkëndija
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2016	Shkëndija	1	(0)
2016	→ Metalurg Skopje (loan)	8	(0)
2016–2018	Liria	23	(2)
2018–2020	Prishtina	51	(20)
2020–2023	Ballkani	94	(14)
2023–2024	Manisa	10	(0)
2024	→ Ballkani (loan)	19	(1)
2024–	CFR Cluj	42	(9)
International career‡
2017–2018	Kosovo U21	4	(0)
2023–	Kosovo	6	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 9 June 2025

Early life

Korenica was born in Rahovec, Kosovo. He began his football career at KF Rahoveci and later joined the youth setup of Shkëndija Tetovë in North Macedonia.

Club career

Early years in Kosovo

Korenica made his senior debut with KF Liria in the Kosovo Superleague. In 2018, he signed with FC Prishtina, where he won the Kosovar Cup (2019–20) and made over 50 appearances.

FC Ballkani

In 2020, Korenica joined FC Ballkani. During his time at the club, Ballkani won the Kosovo Superleague three consecutive times (2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24), as well as the Kosovar Cup (2023–24) and Kosovar Supercup (2022). Korenica was a regular starter and contributed with both goals and assists.

Manisa FK and return to Ballkani

In early 2024, he moved abroad to join Turkish club Manisa FK. After a brief spell, he was loaned back to Ballkani for the remainder of the 2023–24 season.

CFR Cluj

On 9 July 2024, Korenica transferred to CFR Cluj in Romania's Liga I. In the 2024–25 season, he made 39 league appearances, scored 9 goals, and provided 6 assists. He helped the club win the Cupa României and was awarded CFR Cluj's Player of the Month twice. He was later named to the Liga I Team of the Season.

International career

Korenica played for Kosovo U21 between 2017 and 2018. He made his senior international debut on 9 September 2023 against Switzerland in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match, where he also delivered an assist. As of June 2025, he has 6 senior caps for Kosovo.

Style of play

Korenica plays primarily as a left winger or central attacking midfielder. He is praised for his playmaking ability, technical skill, and tactical intelligence.

International career

Korenica represented Kosovo U21 at 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifications and played in four matches as a substitute. On 22 January 2018, he received a call-up from Kosovo for the friendly match against Azerbaijan.^[1] The match however was cancelled two days later, which prolonged his debut.^[2]

On 31 August 2023, Korenica received again a call-up from Kosovo for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Switzerland and Romania.^[3] His debut with Kosovo came nine days later in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match against Switzerland after coming on as a substitute in the 81st minute in place of Milot Rashica,^[4] and assists in his side's second goal during a 2–2 home draw.^[5]

International stats

As of match played 9 June 2025^[6]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Kosovo
	2023	5	0
	2024	0	0
	2025	1	0
Total		6	0

Honours

Prishtina

• Kosovar Cup: 2019–20
• Kosovar Supercup runner-up: 2018

Ballkani

• Kosovo Superleague: 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
• Kosovar Cup: 2023–24
• Kosovar Supercup: 2022

CFR Cluj

• Cupa României: 2024–25
• Supercupa României runner-up: 2025

Individual

• Kosovo Superleague "Star of the Week" Award: 2022–23 (Round 9)^[7]
• Liga I Team of the Season: 2024–25^[8]
• CFR Cluj – Player of the Month: Awarded twice during the 2024–25 season
• Liga I – Player of the Week in Superliga Romania