Besar Halimi (born 12 December 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for 3. Liga club SV Sandhausen. Born in Germany, he plays for the Kosovo national team.

Besar Halimi
Halimi with VfB Stuttgart II in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-12-12) 12 December 1994 (age 29)
Place of birth Frankfurt, Germany
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
SV Sandhausen
Number 11
Youth career
1998–2000 VfL Germania 1894
2000–2007 Eintracht Frankfurt
2007–2009 Darmstadt 98
2009–2013 1. FC Nürnberg
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 1. FC Nürnberg II 19 (1)
2013–2014 VfB Stuttgart II 14 (1)
2014–2015 Stuttgarter Kickers 37 (2)
2015–2018 Mainz 05 0 (0)
2015–2016FSV Frankfurt (loan) 26 (4)
2016–2018Mainz 05 II 24 (4)
2017–2018Brøndby (loan) 29 (7)
2018–2019 Brøndby 21 (2)
2019–2021 SV Sandhausen 26 (2)
2021–2022 Riga 6 (1)
2022–2023 Apollon Smyrnis 27 (3)
2023–2024 Hallescher FC 22 (4)
2024– SV Sandhausen 8 (1)
International career
2011 Germany U18 2 (0)
2012 Germany U19 1 (0)
2015–2021 Kosovo 34 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 November 2021

Club career

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Early career

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Halimi first played for a local club VfL Germania 1894 and joined the youth academy of Eintracht Frankfurt, when he was six years old. In 2007, he transferred to the youth academy of SV Darmstadt 98, where he played until 2009. Where he went to play in the youth team of 1. FC Nürnberg. In the 2011–12 season, he played two matches in the Regionalliga Süd for 1. FC Nürnberg II. In the following season he played 17 matches in the Regionalliga Bayern for the reserves of Nürnberg, where he scored one goal.

On 12 July 2013, Halimi was signed to the VfB Stuttgart II. On 21 September 2013, he made his professional debut in a 3. Liga match against Rot-Weiß Erfurt and he ended the season with 14 matches and one goal. In order to gain more playing time, Halimi signed with Stuttgarter Kickers for the 2014–15 season.[1] In one season he made two goals in 37 league matches for the Kickers and was chosen as the Player of the Month of 3. Liga for November 2014.[2]

Mainz 05

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On 12 July 2015, Halimi signed a four-year contract with Bundesliga club Mainz 05,[3] and was immediately loaned out to 2. Bundesliga outfit FSV Frankfurt for the entirety of the 2015–16 season.[4] In the following season, he played for the Mainz 05 II in the 3. Liga.

Brøndby

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For the 2017–18 season. Halimi joined Danish Superliga side Brøndby, on a season-long loan.[5] On 13 July 2017, he made his debut with Brøndby in the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League second qualifying round against the Finnish side VPS after coming on as a substitute at 64th minute in place of Kamil Wilczek.[6]

I really missed my teammates and the club. Never before have I experienced having such a strong bond to a club or any teammates before, as I did in Brøndby last season.

— Halimi on returning to Brøndby IF, August 2018.[7]

On 30 August 2018, Halimi returned and signed a two-year contract with Danish Superliga club Brøndby.[8][9] Three days later, he made his debut in a 2–2 home draw against Midtjylland after coming on as a substitute at 76th minute in place of Lasse Vigen.[10]

SV Sandhausen

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On 2 September 2019, Halimi signed a two-year contract with 2. Bundesliga club SV Sandhausen.[11] On 21 September, he made his debut in a 1–1 home draw against VfL Bochum after being named in the starting line-up.[12] He scored his first goal for Sandhausen against Holstein Kiel on 22 December, exploiting a poor pass from opposing goalkeeper Dominik Reimann in an eventual 2–2 draw.[13]

On 23 December 2020, in the second round of the DFB-Pokal, Halimi made his cup debut for Sandhausen, coming off the bench at half-time for Julius Biada as they were knocked out 4–0 by VfL Wolfsburg.[14] His first goal of the 2020–21 season came on 20 February 2021, as he struck a volley from the edge of the area off a header from Nils Röseler in a 2–1 loss to SC Paderborn; Sandhausen's third loss in a row.[15]

During his two seasons with Sandhausen, Halimi made 27 total appearances in which he scored two goals, as he failed to become an established starter.[16]

Riga

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On 12 July 2021, Halimi joined Latvian Higher League side Riga.[17] Five days later, he made his debut in a 2–3 away win against Spartaks Jūrmala after coming on as a substitute at 66th minute in place of Felipe Brisola.[18]

On 2 March 2022, Halimi had his contract terminated by mutual consent.[19]

Hallescher FC

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On 26 June 2023, Halimi signed with Hallescher FC in the 3. Liga.[20]

International career

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From 2011, until 2012, Halimi has been part of Germany at youth international level, respectively has been part of the U18 and U19 teams and he with these teams played 3 matches. On 7 October 2015, he received a call-up from Kosovo for the friendly match against Equatorial Guinea,[21] and made his debut after being named in the starting line-up.[22]

Personal life

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Halimi was born in Frankfurt, Germany to Kosovo Albanian parents from the village Malishevë of Gjilan.[23]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 15 November 2021[24]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1. FC Nürnberg II 2011–12 Regionalliga Südwest 2 0 0 0 2 0
2012–13 Regionalliga Bayern 17 1 0 0 17 1
Total 19 1 0 0 19 1
VfB Stuttgart II 2013–14 3. Liga 14 1 0 0 14 1
Stuttgarter Kickers 2014–15 3. Liga 37 2 1 0 2 0 40 2
Mainz 05 2015–16 Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0
2016–17 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0
FSV Frankfurt (loan) 2015–16 2. Bundesliga 26 4 2 0 28 4
Mainz 05 II 2016–17 3. Liga 24 4 0 0 24 4
Brøndby (loan) 2017–18 Danish Superliga 29 7 5 1 4 0 38 8
Brøndby 2018–19 Danish Superliga 7 0 1 1 0 0 8 1
SV Sandhausen 2019–20 2. Bundesliga 14 1 0 0 14 1
2020–21 12 1 1 0 13 1
Total 26 2 1 0 27 2
Riga 2021 Latvian Higher League 6 1 2 0 5 0 0 0 13 1
Career total 187 22 12 2 9 0 2 0 210 24
  1. ^ Includes Württemberg Cup

International

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As of 14 November 2021[25][26]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Kosovo 2015 2 0
2016 3 0
2017 4 1
2018 6 0
2019 8 0
2020 1 0
2021 10 2
Total 34 3
As of 31 March 2021[26]
Scores and results list Kosovo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Halimi goal.
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
List of international goals scored by Besar Halimi
1 13 November 2017 (2017-11-13) Adem Jashari Olympic Stadium, Mitrovica, Kosovo   Latvia 4–3 4–3 Friendly [27]
2 24 March 2021 (2021-03-24) Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo   Lithuania 4–0 4–0 Friendly [28]
3 31 March 2021 (2021-03-31) Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain   Spain 1–2 1–3 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification [29]

References

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  1. ^ "Kickers Verpflichten Halimi" (in German). Stuttgarter Kickers. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. ^ ""SPIELER DES MONATS" HALIMI: "SIEGE FÜHLEN SICH EINDEUTIG BESSER AN"" (in German). German Football Association. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  3. ^ "HALIMI WECHSELT NACH MAINZ" (in German). Stuttgarter Kickers. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Für Halimi geht die Reise weiter" (in German). Stuttgarter Nachrichten. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  5. ^ "Brøndby lejer Besar Halimi" (in Danish). bold.dk. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  6. ^ "Brøndby vs. VPS 2–0". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Halimi: Har savnet klubben". Brøndby IF. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Besar Halimi tilbage i Brøndby IF" [Besar Halimi returns to Brøndby IF] (in Danish). Brøndby IF. 30 August 2018. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Unë u riktheva", Besar Halimi me një video unike zyrtarizohet si futbollist i ri i Brondbyt" ["I was back", Besar Halimi with a unique video officially became Brondby's new footballer] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 30 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Brøndby vs. Midtjylland 2–2". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Besar Halimi wechselt an der Hartwald" [Besar Halimi changes at the Hartwald] (in German). SV Sandhausen. 2 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  12. ^ "Sandhausen vs. Bochum 1–1". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  13. ^ "Sandhausen nutzt Serra-Abwesenheit eiskalt aus". kicker (in German). 22 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Gerhardt bringt Wolfsburgs Achtelfinaleinzug auf den Weg". kicker (in German). 23 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Srbeny antwortet Halimi - dann trifft Antwi-Adjei herrlich". kicker (in German). 20 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Besar Halimi | Laufbahn | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  17. ^ ""Riga" paraksta līgumu ar Kosovas izlases pussargu Halimi" [Riga signs contract with Kosovo national team midfielder Halimi] (in Latvian). Riga FC. 12 July 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Spartaks Jūrmala vs. Riga 2–3". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  19. ^ ""RIGA" PĒC ABPUSĒJAS VIENOŠANĀS PĀRTRAUC LĪGUMU AR HALIMI" ["RIGA" TERMINATES THE CONTRACT WITH HALIMI BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT]. rigafc.lv (in Latvian). 2 March 2022. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  20. ^ "HFC VERPFLICHTET BESAR HALIMI UND MORITZ SCHULZE" (in German). Hallescher FC. 26 June 2023.
  21. ^ "Kosova publikon listën e lojtarëve kundër Guinesë" [Kosovo publishes the list of players against Guinea] (in Albanian). Gazeta Express. 7 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Kosova shkëlqeu kundër Guinesë Ekuatoriale" [Kosovo excelled against Equatorial Guinea] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 10 October 2015.
  23. ^ "A e dini prej nga është super-lojtari i Kosovës, Besar Halimi?" [Do you know where the Kosovo super-player, Besar Halimi, comes from?]. GazetaOlle (in Albanian). 15 November 2017.[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ Besar Halimi at Soccerway  
  25. ^ "Besar Halimi". eu-football.info. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Halimi, Besar". National Football Teams. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  27. ^ "Kosovo (4–3) Latvia". eu-football.info. 13 November 2017.
  28. ^ "Kosovo (4–0) Lithuania". eu-football.info. 24 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Kosovo (1–3) Spain". eu-football.info. 31 March 2021.
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