Introduction
Arber Zeneli (born 25 February 1995) is an Kosovo Albanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Dutch club SC Heerenveen and the Kosovo national team.
Personal life
Zeneli was born in Säter, but grew up in Falun, before moving to Borås with his family when he was 11 years old. He is of Albanian descent. He has named his father as his greatest role model in life.
Club career
IF Elfsborg
Zeneli started playing football for Hälsinggården, but left as a 12-year-old for Elfsborg's youth academy. In 2011, he scored a late winning goal in the final of Swedish Under-17 Championships against Brommapojkarna. The following year he helped his team reach the final in the same competition, and scored another goal, although this time Elfsborg lost to Malmö FF. In 2013 Elfsborg won the U21-Allsvenskan with he in the squad, after a 5–2 final win away against Häcken.
Having been promoted to the senior team in December 2013. He made his senior debut on 1 March 2014, in the 2013–14 Svenska Cupen. He went on to play a total of three games in the competition which Elfsborg later won beating Helsingborg in the final. He made his first Allsvenskan appearance in the premier game of the season on 31 March, away against Åtvidaberg. In May the same year, former Premier League player and teammate Anders Svensson labeled him as one of the greatest talents he had ever seen. Zeneli played 16 games during the 2014 season and finished the season by scoring his first senior goal that subsequently sealed the win for his team against Brommapojkarna. He dedicated the goal to his former coach Klas Ingesson who had died a couple of days earlier.
Heerenveen
On 10 November 2015, Zeneli signed a 3.5-year contract with Heerenveen for an estimated fee of €2 million. He made his Eredivisie debut on 16 January 2016, and scored his first goal the following weekend on 23 January. His performance earned him the man of the match award.
International career
Sweden
Zeneli has represented Sweden in under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.
Kosovo
On 24 August 2016, Arber Zeneli decided to represent Kosovo. on international levelZeneli made his debut with Kosovo in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Croatia on 6 October 2016.
Career statistics
Club
- As of 1 October 2016
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| IF Elfsborg | 2014 | Allsvenskan | 16 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 2 |
| 2015 | Allsvenskan | 30 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 41 | 12 | |
| Total | 46 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 62 | 14 | ||
| SC Heerenveen | 2015–16 | Eredivisie | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 4 | |
| 2016–17 | Eredivisie | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | 9 | 5 | ||
| Total | 25 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 9 | ||
| Career total | 71 | 19 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 88 | 23 | ||
Honours
Club
- IF Elfsborg
- Svenska Cupen: 2013–14
International
Sweden U21
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2015