Elseid Hisaj

Empoli

Hysaj played for the Empoli Primavera (under-19) side during the 2011–12 season, where he made 21 appearances and scored one goal. Hysaj received his first call-up to the Empoli senior squad during the 9th matchday of the 2011–12 Serie B season, for the game against Varese on 9 October 2011, where he remained an unused substitute throughout the match. Later in the season, he was included in the matchday squad on two more occasions, in March and April 2012, but again did not feature on the field. He made his professional debut for the first team on 24 November 2011 in a Coppa Italia match against Fiorentina, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 defeat.

2012–13 season

Hysaj made his league debut on 20 October 2012 during matchday 10 against Virtus Lanciano, which ended in a 0–3 away victory for Empoli, coming on as a substitute in the 67th minute. Empoli finished the 2012–13 season in 4th place, thus qualifying for the promotion playoffs. In the semi-finals against Novara, Hysaj played the full 90 minutes in both legs — first on 22 May 2013, a 1–1 away draw, and then on 26 May 2013, when Empoli secured a 4–1 home win. In the two-legged final against Livorno, Hysaj once again played the entire match in both legs. The first leg on 29 May 2013 ended in a 1–1 draw, while the second leg on 2 June 2013 finished in a 1–0 defeat, meaning Livorno earned promotion to the 2013–14 Serie A with a 2–1 aggregate victory. Hysaj completed his first full season with…

Born in Shkodër, Albania, and raised in Italy after emigrating with his family at a young age, Hysaj was eligible to represent both nations at international level. Despite being approached by the Italian Football Federation to join their youth setup, he chose to represent his country of birth, committing to the Albanian Football Federation from an early stage in his career.

Youth

Hysaj represented Albania at various youth levels before making his senior debut. He was first called up to the under-17 side, with whom he played three matches during the 2011 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship qualifying round. He featured in defeats to Norway (2–0) and Republic of Ireland (2–0), and in a 1–1 draw against Malta.

Senior debut and under-21 appearances

Following strong performances with Empoli in Serie B and upon the recommendation of Albania senior team’s assistant coach Paolo Tramezzani, manager Gianni De Biasi invited Hysaj for a friendly match match against Georgia on 6 February 2013. He made his debut in that match aged 19, becoming one of the youngest players to appear for Albania in recent years. Later next month, he made his first competitive appearance in a World Cup qualifier against Norway, coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute for Armend Dallku during a 1–0 away victory. He also appeared in the reverse fixture on 7 June 2013, entering as a late substitute for Ervin Bulku in a 1–1 draw. Later that year, he was called up for the double…

Hysaj was born in Reç, Shkodër, Albania. Two months after his birth, his father, Gëzim, emigrated to Italy, as many Albanians did in the 1990s, seeking employment opportunities to support his family. Elseid grew up in Shkodër with his mother and grandparents, while his father worked in Italy as a bricklayer. Hysaj began his youth career at age of seven with KF Shkodra, an amateur club based in his hometown. In 2007 he became part of Vllaznia youth team remaining for two years. While working at the home of football agent Marco Piccioli, Hysaj's father mentioned that his son was a talented footballer. As Elseid was only 10 years old at the time, Piccioli advised Gëzim to wait a few years. When Elseid turned 14, he travelled to Italy, where he was assessed by Piccioli and took part in trials with several clubs, including Fiorentina, before eventually joining the Empoli academy.

On 9 June 2015, Hysaj became engaged to Miss Albania 2013, Fiorenza Lekstakaj. The couple married in June 2019. They have three children together: a son, Elis (born 2016), a daughter, Gloria (born 2021), and a younger son, Teo (born 2023). Following Albania's historic participation at UEFA Euro 2016, Hysaj was among the members of the national team who were issued diplomatic passports by the Albanian government in recognition of their achievement. Hysaj is a supporter of the Socialist Party of Albania, having taken part in the 2017 electoral campaign in Shkodër. He is also the cousin of footballers Alessio and Daniel Hysaj, both of whom playing in the Italian Serie D.