Andi Lila

Besa Kavajë

Lila started his career with his hometown club, Besa Kavajë, making his debut at age 16 in the 2002–03 Albanian Superliga season on 14 December 2002 against Teuta Durrës, coming on as a substitute at half-time in a 5–0 defeat. He made 11 league appearances that season. In the 2003–04 Albanian Superliga, Lila made 10 appearances as Besa Kavajë was relegated. The following season in 2004–05 Kategoria e Parë, he established himself as a regular starter, playing 24 league matches as Besa won the championship and secured promotion back to Superliga. He scored his first top-flight goal on 21 January 2006 in a 2–1 home win over Partizani during the 2005–06 Albanian Superliga. Lila made 29 league appearances that season, while Besa Kavajë finished fifth in the league standings. He made nine appearances in the first half of the 2006–07 Albanian Superliga before leaving the club.

Iraklis

Lila transferred to Iraklis in January 2007, joining fellow Albanians Enea Koliçi, Ervis Kraja and Indrit Fortuzi. He debuted on 11 March 2007 against Aris Saloniki, starting at right-back and receiving a second yellow card at half-time. He made three league appearances before returning to Besa Kavajë.

Return to Besa Kavajë

After returning, Lila became team captain. He played in the 2007 Albanian Supercup against Tirana on 17 August 2007, losing 4–2. Lila made his first continental appearance on 30 August 2007 against Litex Lovech in the UEFA Cup Second…

Lila represented Albania at youth levels, including the U17, U19, and U21 teams.

Lila was first called up to the Albania senior team in late 2007 by head coach Otto Barić while playing as a right back for Besa Kavajë in the Albanian Superliga. He made his senior debut on 21 November 2007 in the closing UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying match against Romania in Bucharest, playing the full 90 minutes in a 6–1 defeat. Following the result, Barić resigned as head coach shortly after the final whistle. The next manager, Arie Haan, included Lila in his first match in charge, a friendly against Poland on 27 May 2008. Lila started the match and was substituted at half-time as Albania lost 1–0. He went on to make two further appearances under Haan.

Lila was a regular member of Albania's UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. He played the final 15 minutes of the opening Group I match against Portugal, which Albania won 1–0 at the Estádio Municipal, the first ever win against "Seleção das Quinas". Later in October 2014, Lila made his 50th international appearance in the match against Serbia; he played as a starter until 42nd minute where the match was postponed due to Serbian fans launching flares onto the pitch. He along with other Albanian players were attacked by Serbian hooligans who came onto the pitch with chairs and other objects. Initially, UEFA awarded Serbia with a 3–0 win, but were deducted three points, leading both Serbia and Albania appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,…

Club

International

As of 20 November 2018

Lila is married to Ornela Lila. The couple became parents for the first time on 20 March 2015, when his wife gave birth to their son, Ayan. On 16 July 2015, Lila was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of Kavaja" for his contribution to Albanian football and for protecting national symbols. In an interview, Lila stated that his favourite club while growing up was Italian side Internazionale. He is also a fan of the American heavy metal band Metallica and the English rock band The Beatles. Following Albania's historic participation at UEFA Euro 2016, Lila was among the members of the national team who were issued diplomatic passports by the Albanian government in recognition of their achievement.