Armando Sadiku

Armando Durim Sadiku (born 27 May 1991) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan SG and the Albania national team.

Sadiku began his senior career with Turbina playing two seasons in Albania's second tier Kategoria e Parë.

Born in Cërrik, Elbasan, Sadiku started his youth career aged 7 with a local club Fushë Mbreti from where he moved later at the youth ranks of his boyhood club Turbina, making his professional debut in the Kategoria e Parë whereas he played during the two seasons 2007–08 and 2008–09.

In 2009 he went to Gramozi in top-flight division Kategoria Superiore where he had a breakthrough year, scoring eight goals, which earned him a move to fellow top-flight side Elbasani.

Sadiku played only a half season with Elbasani, as he was banned from Albanian football due to non-sporting behavior.

His ban forced him to move abroad going to Switzerland playing at first for Locarno.

In the summer of the 2009, Sadiku completed a transfer to newly promoted Kategoria Superiore side Gramozi, owned by the brother of Albanian oil tycoon Rezart Taci; it was the club's first ever top flight season.

He made his first top flight appearance on 23 August at the age of 18 in the opening matchday against Shkumbini which ended in a goalless draw, with Sadiku coming on in the second half.

He opened his scoring account on 19 September in matchday 4 versus Skënderbeu, netting a tap-in for the temporary equalizer in an eventual 4–1 away loss.

One week later, Sadiku was again on the scoresheet as Gramozi recorded their first ever Kategoria Superiore win by beating Flamurtari.

Sadiku finished his only Gramozi season by scoring 8 goals in 28 league appearances, as Gramori was relegated after only one season.

During the summer transfer window, Sadiku signed for his hometown club Elbasani.

During the 2010–11 season first-half he played 14 matches and scored 5 goals.

He made his debut with the club on 22 August 2010 during the opening league match against Tirana at home, playing 75 minutes in a 1–1 draw.

He scored his first goal of the season in his second appearance six days later, netting a last-minute winner in a 2–1 away win over Bylis.

On 19 December 2010, during the league match against Laçi, Sadiku, who had scored earlier in the match, was sent-off in the 82nd minute.

A minute before his dismissal, he scored but was caught offside by the assistant referee Eduard Miho, which enraged Sadiku, who ran towards him and pushed away by throat, spitting and also insulted him the process.

Disciplinary Committee suspended Sadiku from Albanian football for two years, also fining him.

That was his last match in Albanian football, as Sadiku left the club to purchase a career in Switzerland.

As it happened with Gramozi in previous season, Elbasani also ranked in the last place and were relegated to Kategoria e Parë.

Sadiku found his form in Switzerland, becoming a reliable goalscorer in second tier Swiss Challenge League, winning top goalscorer award in his first full season 2011–12 Swiss Challenge League.

Sadiku moved for the first time aboard in March 2011 where he completed a transfer to Swiss Challenge League side Locarno.

Sadiku begun 2011–12 season on strong fashion, netting twice on the opening day against Wohlen as the match was lost 5–2.

He returned to the scoring sheet later on 20 August by scoring a brace in Locarno's 3–0 defeat of Étoile Carouge, giving his side the first win of the season.

In July 2012 he moved to Lugano gaining another consecutive season as topscorer with 20 goals in the 2012–13 Swiss Challenge League.

An Albanian international, Sadiku with 12 goals scored, is his country's joint active player top goalscorer along Sokol Cikalleshi and 4th in the overall ranking.

At youth level, he represented Albania under-19 and under-21 side with whom he scored 6 goals in only 7 appearances, thus being all-time top goalscorer.

He made his senior debut in 2012 and was part of UEFA Euro 2016 squad where he scored Albania's first goal at a UEFA European Championship.

In November 2013, he joined top flight side Zürich but his time there was marred by lack of playing time and a few injuries most notably in May 2014 which left him sidelined for six months.

He returned the next season but failed to make an impact, scoring only three goals, but the club still won the 2013–14 Swiss Cup.

The transfer was made official on 13th.

He arrived in the morning and even travelled with the side to the away fixture with Schaffhausen.

He made his debut later that day, playing for 82 minutes in a 2–1 loss.

He opened his scoring account on Switzerland on his third appearance for the club, netting the winning goal against Chiasso on 1 April for a 2–1 win.

However that goal was to open the floodgates of the striker scoring in Switzerland, as he managed a brace against Kriens, and goals versus Aarau and Winterthur, which gave him 9 in 12 appearances as the team barely avoided relegation.

Sadiku's form improved in the first half of 2015–16 season, scoring eight goals in 18 appearances.

Despite being the top scorer of the team at this time, he was sent on loan to fellow relegation strugglers Vaduz, which was dubbed as an "owngoal" by Swiss media.

Sadiku helped Vaduz to retain their top flight status for another season, in addition relegating his parent club.

In January 2017, Sadiku was sent on loan again, this time at his former side FC Lugano where he rejoined Paolo Tramezzani.

In 2023, following a successful stint with the Spanish club FC Cartagena, he joined Indian Super League side Mohun Bagan Super Giant.