Introduction
Edvan Bakaj (born 9 October 1987) is an Albanian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Tirana in the Albanian Superliga. His cousin Elis Bakaj is an Albania international midfielder and also his teammate at Tirana.
Club career
Besa Kavajë
During the winter break, Bakaj announced his departure from Laçi along with the striker Julian Malo, and, in the first days of 2010, he joined Besa Kavajë on a free transfer for the second part of 2009–10.
Romania
Following recommendation from his cousin Elis Bakaj, Edvan was given a trial at newly promoted Liga II side Alro Slatina. At first it was believed to be an unsuccessful trial as he did not impress in a friendly. However, on 15 July 2011 he signed a contract at the club and joined his cousin and former team mate Elis in Romania.
Return to Laçi
On 8 August 2012, Bakaj signed a one-year deal with Laçi. He made his return debut with the club on 24 September 2012 during the league match away against Skënderbeu Korçë, where Bakaj conceled three times for a 3–0 defeat.
On 4 May 2014, Bakaj scored his first career goal during the 6–0 thrashing of Kastrioti Krujë, valid for the 22nd week of 2013–14 season, scoring from the penalty kick. He left the team after the end of the season by terminating his contract by mutual consensus.
Tirana
On 25 July 2014, Bakaj signed a two-year contract with Tirana, taking the vacant number 31 for the 2014–15 season. He made his league debut with the club on 30 November 2014 against his former side Laçi, keeping his first clean-sheet of the season in a goalless draw at home.
During the 2014–15 season, he served mostly as a back-up for first goalkeeper Stivi Frashëri, but he took his place in early March 2015 after the match against Partizani Tirana, were Frashëri made a mistake that was decisive for the faith of the match. Bakaj ended the season with 16 appearances in all competitions, including 9 in league, with Tirana who finished it in the fourth place and was eliminated in semi-finals of 2014–15 Albanian Cup against Laçi with the 1–0 aggregate.
He left the club on 7 August 2015 after being told that he was not in the plans of the technical staff, but, five days later, however, a call from the club's president Refik Halili made him to change his mind and return in training.
International career
Bakaj has been a former youth international player of Albania, player three and two matches respectively with U17 and U19 side.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Laçi | 2008–09 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| Besa Kavajë | 2009–10 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Total | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| Dinamo Tirana | 2010–11 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Besa Kavajë | 2011–12 | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| Total | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| Laçi | 2012–13 | 16 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | 22 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| Total | 38 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 1 | |
| Tirana | 2014–15 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| Career total | 101 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 134 | 1 | |
Honours
- Albanian Cup (1): 2009–10
- Albanian Supercup (1): 2010
- Albanian Cup (1): 2012–13