Elis Bakaj

Elis Flamur Bakaj (born 25 June 1987) is an Albanian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or a forward.

Bakaj began his career as a youth player for KF Kristali, before moving to Partizani Tirana.

He was recommended to Dinamo București by their former glory, the Albanian star Sulejman Demollari, who played for the Bucharest team between 1991 and 1995 and scored 36 goals in 100 games.

Born in Tirana, Bakaj joined his first club KF Kristali in May 1996 at the age of eight, where he would only remain until October.

Despite only playing for the club for less than six months, he still managed to be named the player of the year in the youth league.

For the next six months, Elis was trained personally by former Albanian international and Dinamo Tirana player Andrea Marko.

In June 1997 he joined Partizani Tirana under the guidance of coach Gazmend Kraja, where he worked his way up the ranks of the club.

In 2002, he started his professional career with Partizani, playing until 2009 before moving to rivals of Dinamo Tirana.

After playing with them for two years, he moved outside of Albania and signed with the Romanian club Dinamo București.

After one season with White and Reds, he moved in Ukraine and signed with Chornomorets Odesa.

He amazed the club, including its president Albert Xhani, who in January 2002 sent Bakaj into the club's senior side.

He joined Partizani's first team at the age of 15 in January 2002 on a seven-year contract with a minimal wage of just 150,000 Lekë a season.

His official Partizani debut came in the 2003 Intertoto Cup against Israeli side Maccabi Netanya, where coach Perlat Musta played Bakaj in the final seven minutes of the game.

In September 2003, Partizani's new coach Ilir Spahiu sent Bakaj on loan to FC Nacionali, a Partizani feeder team playing in the Albanian Second Division.

The Nacionali coach Genci Tomorri gave Bakaj the opportunity of regular first team football, allowing the youngster to show his talent and score goals.

Bakaj scored his maiden Partizani goal on 1 October 2003 in an Albanian Cup match against Fushë Mbreti, netting the fourth in an eventual 6–0 win in the second leg of second round.

He made his first ever Albanian Superliga appearance later on 22 February of the following year as a substitute in the 1–2 away defeat to Teuta Durrës.

In January 2004 his loan was ended and he returned to Partizani where the previous coach Spahiu had left and Sulejman Mema had now taken charge.

Bakaj's scored again in cup on 24 March 2004 in the quarter-finals against Elbasani; netting the winning goal in the 74th minute to send his side through to the semi-finals.

Partizani eventually reached the final when they beat Dinamo 0–1, in a match where Bakaj was an unused substitute.

This win constituted his first senior trophy.

An international footballer for Albania since 2008, Bakaj has earned over 25 caps for his country.

He debuted in 2008 and scored his first goal with Red and Blacks four years later.

He was presented one day later, where he signed a three-year contract, and was given the squad number 19 for the second part of the 2008–09 season.

On 8 January 2009, Bakaj completed a move to Dinamo Tirana for €100,000, becoming the most expensive player in the club's history.

Following his performances with Dinamo Tirana throughout the 2009–10 season, Bakaj was named Albanian Footballer of the Year for the second consecutive year, becoming the first player to win it twice.

In January 2011, in the last hours before the expiration of the winter transfer window, Bakaj moved to Dinamo București.

He signed a contract for five years with the Romanian team.

The Albanian squad accepted the offer of €200,000 because he entered the final six months of his contract.

Bakaj made his debut for Dinamo on 26 February 2011, when he played in the last 17 minutes in a Liga I game against Sportul Studenţesc.

He opened his scoring account later on 12 April, scoring the third and final goal of the 3–1 home win against Unirea Urziceni.

During the 2011 Cupa României Final Bakaj had a firecracker thrown at him by a Steaua București fan, which he managed to dodge.

On 27 February 2012, he joined Ukrainian club Chornomorets Odesa on loan.

He then signed a permanent contract for Chornomorets Odesa outright on a three-year contract in May.

He signed a contract until the end of the 2013–14 season, as well as any European games the club would be involved in, should they qualify.

His wage was reported to be €40,000, making him one of the highest paid players in the league's history.

However, FIFA did not give him the permit to play, so Bakaj terminated the contract and left the club only two weeks following his arrival.

Due to the civil unrest caused by the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, Bakaj returned to Albania and signed with KF Tirana, his third club inside of Tirana.

Due to the civil unrest caused by the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, Bakaj agreed to be released from his contract with Chornomorets Odesa as he looked for a return to Albania.

He was reportedly close to signing with his first club Partizani Tirana, but a deal was not agreed to, so he joined Kukësi on 12 March 2014, pending FIFA clearance.