Roland Peqini

Roland Peqini (born 25 December 1990) is a former Albanian professional footballer who played as a defender.^[1]

Roland Peqini

Personal information
Full name	Roland Peqini
Date of birth	(1990-12-25) 25 December 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth	Elbasan, Albania
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position	Defender
Youth career
2002–2007	Dinamo Tirana
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2012	Dinamo Tirana	49	(0)
2009–2010	→ Apolonia Fier (loan)	10	(0)
2012–2013	Kukësi	24	(0)
2013–2014	Tirana	2	(0)
2014–2015	Kukësi	7	(0)
2015–2016	Tërbuni Pukë	16	(0)
2016	Dinamo Tirana	13	(0)
2016–2017	Elbasani	12	(0)
2017–2018	Dinamo Tirana	23	(0)
Total		156	(0)
International career‡
2010–2011	Albania U21	9	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21 April 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 19 February 2016

Club career

Tërbuni Pukë

In July 2015, Peqini completed a transfer to newly promoted top flight side Tërbuni Pukë for an undisclosed fee.^[2] He made his debut on 23 August by starting in team's first ever Albanian Superliga match against Tirana which finished in a 1–2 home defeat, despite taking the lead.^[3] Peqini made 16 league appearances, in addition 2 in cup, before leaving in the first days in January.^[4]

Return to Kukësi

On 4 January 2016, Peqini agreed terms with his former club Kukësi where he signed a contract until the end of the season, returning to the team for a third time.^[5][6] However, his third spell with the club was short-lived, as he was suddenly released after only 14 days.^[7] Speaking on that, he accused the team's coach Klodian Duro as the main reason of his departure, by saying: "it was him [Duro] who brought me to Kukësi and was him who removed me from the team."^[8]

Return to Dinamo Tirana

On 23 January 2016, Peqini joined Albanian First Division strugglers Dinamo Tirana on an 18-month contract, returning to the capital club after four years absence.^[9] He was assigned squad number 15 and made his return debut on 13 February in a 1–0 away defeat to Butrinti Sarandë, playing full-90 minutes.^[10]

Elbasani

On 11 September 2016, Peqini joined the fellow Albanian First Division side Elbasani on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract.^[11] He left the club on 29 January of the following year after 12 league appearances due to club financial problems.^[12]

Third spell at Dinamo Tirana

On 1 February 2017, after leaving Elbasani, Peqini returned to Dinamo on a free transfer by signing until the end of the season.^[13] After two matches as an unused substitute, Peqini appeared on the matchday 16 against Pogradeci, entering as a substitute in the 25th minute to fill the blank left by the dismissal of Julian Brahja, with the finishing in a 0–1 home defeat.^[14] He concluded the second part of 2016–17 season with 8 league appearances as Dinamo once again escape relegation.^[15] He agreed a contract extension for another season in August 2017,^[16] and was also named club captain.^[17]

Retirement

On 3 July 2018, Peqini announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 27, citing his injuries as the main reason.^[18]

International career

Peqini has been a former Albania U21 member, ammasing 9 appearances from 2010 to 2012. He made his first appearance on 26 May 2010 in a friendly versus Poland which ended in a 2–2 draw.^[19]

Career statistics

As of 21 April 2018^[20][21]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Dinamo Tirana	2007–08	Albanian Superliga	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	2008–09		2	0	0	0	0	0	1[a]	0	3	0
	Total		3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	0
Apoloinia Fier	2008–09	Albanian Superliga	10	0	0	0	—		—		10	0
	Total		10	0	0	0	—		—		10	0
Dinamo Tirana	2009–10	Albanian Superliga	14	0	3	0	0	0	—		17	0
	2010–11		13	0	5	0	1[b]	0	1[a]	0	20	0
	2011–12		19	0	3	0	—		—		22	0
	Total		46	0	11	0	1	0	1	0	59	0
Kukësi	2012–13	Albanian Superliga	24	0	10	1	—		—		34	1
	2013–14		—		—		7[c]	0	—		7	0
	Total		24	0	10	1	7	0	—		41	1
Tirana	2013–14	Albanian Superliga	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	Total		2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
Kukësi	2014–15	Albanian Superliga	7	0	4	0	—		—		11	0
	Total		7	0	4	0	—		—		11	0
Tërbuni Pukë	2015–16	Albanian Superliga	16	0	2	0	—		—		18	0
	Total		16	0	2	0	—		—		18	0
Dinamo Tirana	2015–16	Albanian First Division	13	0	—		—		—		13	0
	Total		13	0	—		—		—		13	0
Elbasani	2016–17	Albanian First Division	12	0	2	0	—		—		14	0
	Total		12	0	2	0	—		—		14	0
Dinamo Tirana	2016–17	Albanian First Division	8	0	—		—		—		8	0
	2017–18		15	0	0	0	—		—		15	0
	Total		23	0	0	0	—		—		23	0
Career total			156	0	29	1	8	0	2	0	195	1

1. Appearance in Albanian Supercup
2. All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
3. All appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Club

Dinamo Tirana^[20]

• Albanian Superliga: 2009–10