Sabjen Lilaj

Early career

Lilaj was born in Maliq, Korçë County, but moved to the capital Tirana along with his family at the age of eight, where he began playing football at the Loro Boriçi sports mastery school at the age of ten, playing for the school's football team Shkëndija Tiranë.

Tirana

In the summer of 2008, he went on trial with KF Tirana, where he was spotted by the head coach Blaž Slišković, who was impressed with the 19-year-old and signed him ahead of the 2008–09 campaign. He made his league debut in the opening game of the 2008–09 Albanian Superliga against Vllaznia Shkodër, where he started the game in midfield in a goalless draw. He scored his first professional goal in a 3–2 away win over local rivals Dinamo Tirana. In total he made 20 league appearances in his debut season, where he also won the Albanian Superliga for the first time. He also made two appearances in the club's Albanian Cup run, where they reached the final but eventually lost 1–2 against Flamurtari Vlorë. The following season, Lilaj made his European debut in the Second qualifying round of the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League against Norwegian side Stabæk, a match which ended in a 1–1 draw. He also started the return leg that ended in a 4–0 loss to his side which eliminated them from the competition. He came on at half time for Blerti Hajdari in the 2009 Albanian Supercup as they defeated 1–0 Flamurtari Vlorë, which beat them in the previous cup final. In the league, he made 23…

Youth

In June 2009, Lilaj was called up by manager of Albania under-20 side Artan Bushati to be part of the team at 2009 Mediterranean Games. He was ever-present in both matches of Group D; the first, a 1–2 loss to Tunisia, and the second, a 0–3 loss to Spain which brought the elimination from the tournament. Lilaj was first selected for the Albania under-21 squad by coach Artan Bushati for a friendly match against Macedonia. He was picked in the 23-man squad that travelled to Macedonia for the friendly along with two other KF Tirana teammates, Enri Tafaj and Migen Metani. However, he was not able to play the friendly in Ohrid on 19 November 2008 due to an injury incurring just days before the fixture. This meant that fellow Tirana teammate Metani took his place in the squad. He was again picked by Bushati in February 2009, this time preparation for the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification. He was picked in the squad once again with fellow club teammate Metani. Lilaj participated with Albania U21 in the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification where he was a regular starter under coach Artan Bushati playing overall 7 matches as a starter completing 5 full 90-minutes. The only game which he missed out was due to yellow card suspension.

Senior

Lilaj was first approached to Albania senior team by manager Josip Kuže for the last UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying matches against France and Romania respectively on 7 and 11 October 2011.…

Club

As of match played 8 September 2020

International

As of 3 June 2018

Tirana

Albanian Superliga: 2008–09 Albanian Cup: 2010–11 Albanian Supercup: 2009 Skënderbeu Korçë

Albanian Superliga: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18 Albanian Cup: 2017–18 Albanian Supercup: 2013, 2014 Gabala

Azerbaijan Cup: 2018–19 Individual

Albanian Superliga Player of the Month: October 2012, September 2017 Albanian Footballer of the Year: 2015, 2017 Albanian Superliga Fair Play Award: 2015–16