Betim Halimi (born 28 February 1996) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Kosovo Superleague club Suhareka.

Betim Halimi
Personal information
Full name Betim Halimi
Date of birth (1996-02-28) 28 February 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Pozharan, FR Yugoslavia
Height 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Gjilani
Number 1
Youth career
2010–2014 Vllaznia Pozheran
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Vllaznia Pozheran
2016 Drita 15 (0)
2016–2017 Hajvalia 3 (0)
2017–2018 Drita 22 (0)
2018–2019 Narva Trans 7 (0)
2019–2021 Olimpik Donetsk 18 (0)
2021–2022 Prishtina 16 (0)
2022–2023 Kukësi 9 (0)
2023– Gjilani 12 (0)
International career
2021 Kosovo 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2021

Club career

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Early career and Drita

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Halimi was part of Kosovo First League club Vllaznia Pozheran until 1 February 2016. On 19 January 2016, Telegrafi announced that he is on trial to Chelsea's under-18 team competing in the U18 Premier League,[1] but unfortunately this test turned out to fail. On 1 February 2016, Halimi joined Kosovo Superleague side Drita,[2] to replace the injured Artan Latifi and played 15 matches in the league.

Hajvalia

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On 7 July 2016, Halimi joined Kosovo Superleague side Hajvalia.[3] On 21 August 2016, he made his debut in a 4–0 away defeat against Ferizaj after being named in the starting line-up.[4]

Return to Drita

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On 30 December 2016, Halimi returned to Kosovo Superleague club Drita and this return would become legally effective two days later.[5] On 26 February 2017, he made his debut in a 1–1 away win against Gjilani after being named in the starting line-up.[6]

Narva Trans

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On 13 June 2018, Halimi joined Meistriliiga side Narva Trans.[7] On 21 August 2018, he made his debut with Narva Trans in the 2018–19 Estonian Cup third round against SK Kadrina after being named in the starting line-up. Seven days later, he made his first Meistriliiga appearance after coming on as a substitute at last minutes in place of Artur Kotenko in a 0–3 away win against Kuressaare.[8]

Olimpik Donetsk

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On 27 February 2019, Halimi signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Ukrainian Premier League club Olimpik Donetsk and received squad number 12.[9][10] Four days later, he made his debut in a 0–1 home defeat against Arsenal Kyiv after being named in the starting line-up.[11][12]

Prishtina

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On 10 August 2021, Halimi signed a three-year contract with Kosovo Superleague club Prishtina.[13] Seven days later, he made his debut with Prishtina in the 2021 Kosovar Supercup against Llapi after being named in the starting line-up.[14]

International career

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Under-21

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On 21 March 2017, Halimi received a call-up from Kosovo U21 for a 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Republic of Ireland U21,[15] he was an unused substitute in that match.

Senior

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On 23 December 2019, Halimi confirmed that he received a call-up from Kosovo for a friendly match against Sweden, but due to injury, could not be part of the national team.[16] On 17 March 2021, he received again a call-up from Kosovo for the friendly match against Lithuania and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Sweden and Spain,[17] but he was an unused substitute in these matches. On 11 June 2021, Halimi made his debut with Kosovo in a friendly match against Gambia after being named in the starting line-up.[18]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 13 January 2022[19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Drita 2015–16 Kosovo Superleague 15 0 4 0 19 0
Hajvalia 2016–17 3 0 0 0 3 0
Drita 13 0 0 0 13 0
2017–18 9 0 0 0 9 0
Narva Trans 2018 Meistriliiga 7 0 2 0 9 0
Total 47 0 6 0 53 0
Olimpik Donetsk 2018–19 Ukrainian Premier League 3 0 0 0 1[a] 0 4 0
2019–20 4 0 0 0 2[b] 0 6 0
2020–21 8 0 1 0 9 0
Total 15 0 1 0 3 0 19 0
Prishtina 2021–22 Kosovo Superleague 16 0 1 0 1[c] 0 18 0
Kukësi 2022–23 Kategoria Superiore 3 0 0 0 3 0
Career total 81 0 7 0 4 0 93 0

References

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  1. ^ "Portieri i përfaqësueses së Kosovës në prova te Chelsea (Foto)" [Goalkeeper of Kosovo national team in test to Chelsea (Photo)] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 19 January 2016. Portieri i Vllaznisë së Pozheranit dhe i përfaqësueses së Kosovës për nën 21 vjeç, Betim Halimi, është në prova te skuadra e Chelseat
  2. ^ "Zyrtare: Betim Halimi kalon te Drita" [Official: Betim Halimi passes to Drita]. Gazeta Olle (in Albanian). 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Betim Halimi te Hajvalia" [Betim Halimi to Hajvalia]. TopSporti (in Albanian). 7 July 2016.
  4. ^ "89-shi e Drita fitojnë në udhëtim, Salihu në histori me Ferizajn" [89th and Drita win in the trip, Salihu in history with Ferizaj]. Gazeta Sheshi (in Albanian). 21 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Zyrtare: Betim Halimi firmos me Dritën (FOTO)" [Official: Betim Halimi signs with Drita (PHOTO)]. Gazeta Sheshi (in Albanian). 30 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Gjilani dhe Drita ndahen në paqe, Trepça '89 vazhdon marshin drejt titullit" [Gjilan and Drita are separated in peace, Trepça '89 continues the march towards the title]. Gazeta Sheshi (in Albanian). 26 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Zyrtare: Betim Halimi befason të gjithë me skuadrën e re" [Official: Betim Halimi surprises everyone with the new team]. SPORT-24H (in Albanian). 13 June 2018.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Kuressaare vs. Trans 0–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Бетим Халими – игрок "Олимпика"" [Betim Halimi is a player of Olympic] (in Ukrainian). FC Olimpik Donetsk. 7 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Ish-portieri i Dritës dhe Vllaznisë, Betim Halimi nënshkruan me klubin ukrainas Olimpik Donetsk" [Former goalkeeper of Drita and Vllaznia, Betim Halimi signed with Ukrainian club Olimpik Donetsk]. Indeksonline (in Albanian). 3 March 2019.
  11. ^ ""Олимпик" уступает "Арсеналу"" ["Olympic" surrender to "Arsenal"] (in Ukrainian). FC Olimpik Donetsk. 3 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Betim Halimi debutoi në Ukrainë" [Betim Halimi debuts in Ukraine]. Indeksonline (in Albanian). 3 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Zyrtare: Prishtina transferon Betim Halimin" [Official: Prishtina transfers Betim Halimi] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 10 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Superkupa e Kosovës: Formacionet zyrtare, Prishtina – Llapi" [Kosovo Supercup: Official line-ups, Prishtina – Llapi] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 17 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Lista e futbollistëve të Përfaqësueses U21" [List of the footballers of national U21 team] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 21 March 2017. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Portieri Betim Halimi merr ftesë nga Kosova" [Goalkeeper Betim Halimi receives an invitation from Kosovo] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 23 December 2019. Betim Halimi ka marrë ftesë për herë të parë nga Përfaqësuesja e Kosovës në futboll, por lëndimi i fundit do t'ia mohojë atij grumbullimin e mbase edhe debutimin me Dardanët
  17. ^ "Challandes publikon listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjet e marsit" [Challandes publishes the list of footballers for the March matches] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 17 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Kosova – Gambia, formacioni zyrtar, Daku përsëri startues" [Kosovo – Gambia, official formation, Daku starting again] (in Albanian). Klan Kosova. 11 June 2021.
  19. ^ Betim Halimi at Soccerway  
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