| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1992-05-19)19 May 1992 (age 33) | ||
| Place of birth | Gramsh, Albania | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Flamurtari | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2008 | Gramshi | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2013 | Gramshi | 90 | (8) |
| 2013–2014 | Lushnja | 27 | (6) |
| 2014–2020 | Partizani Tirana | 192 | (12) |
| 2020–2023 | Qadsia | 104 | (12) |
| 2023–2024 | Ballkani | 42 | (0) |
| 2024– | Flamurtari | 7 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2014–2015 | Albania U21 | 1 | (0) |
| 2019– | Albania | 15 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 June 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 October 2019 | |||
Lorenc Trashi (born 19 May 1992) is an Albanian professionalfootballer who plays as amidfielder forFlamurtari and theAlbania national team.[1]
Trashi began his career with his local teamKF Gramshi, where he was promoted to the senior side in 2008 while the club was in theAlbanian Second Division. During the season Gramshi won the northern division and reached the championship final, which they lost toKF Memaliaj[2] The following season his side were promoted and he played in theAlbanian First Division, where he featured in 19 league games and scored his first senior goal, helping his side avoid relegation and finish comfortably in 10th place.[3] In his second season in the First Division he again helped his side avoid relegation, this time narrowly on goal difference, and he featured in 20 league games without scoring a goal.[4] During the 2011–12 season he played 25 league games and scored 2 goals, which helped his side finish in a respectable 8th place out of 16 teams.[5] The following season, however, Gramshi struggled despite Trashi's good individual performances throughout the campaign. In February 2013 he was awarded with the 'Pride of the City' title by theGramsh municipality on their 53rd anniversary for his contribution to the city's football team.[6] He was hit by controversy in April 2013 when he fell out with his head coach Edmond Hida and was expelled from the squad due to what he described as Trashi's unsporting behaviour. However, he was eventually invited back into the squad in order to help them in their relegation struggle.[7] He ended the 2012–13 campaign with 5 goals in 25 league games, but his side were eventually relegated after finishing in penultimate place.[8]
Following Gramshi's relegation from theAlbanian First Division, Trashi was allowed to leave the club and sign for another team, and he eventually signed for newly promotedAlbanian Superliga sideKS Lushnja prior to the 2013–14 campaign.[9] He scored the only goal on hisAlbanian Superliga debut againstFK Kukësi and was named the man of the match. His goal came in the 54th minute from an assist byGentian Çela, which Trashi converted into the net with a volley on his left foot.[10] He quickly established himself as a first team regular, playing on both sides of the midfield and developing an effective relationship with Erlind Koreshi on the opposite flank and with the strikerMikel Canka.[11] His next goal came in a memorable 2–0 win overPartizani Tirana, where he opened the scoring with an individual effort after picking up the ball from the centre circle and beating Partizani's defenders to then beat the keeper with a powerful left footed strike into the top left corner.[12]
Lushnja continued to struggle in the league despite Trashi's and Canka's impressive performances, both of whom linked up well to create the opening goal in an away game againstFlamurtari Vlorë on 10 November, where Trashi again took the lead in the 51st minute but his side still fell to a 4–3 defeat.[13] By the January transfer window he was considered the discovery of the season in Albanian football, and had attracted attention from bigger clubs due to his good form and 4 league goals in the first half of the season. He was offered a move toFK Kukësi, which he subsequently turned down in favour of remaining with Lushnja,[14] a decision not shared by his midfield partner Erlind Koreshi, who opted for a mid season move toKF Tirana. In a crucial relegation battle scrap againstBylis Ballsh on 22 February, Trashi scored his 5th league goal of the season from a free kick to open the scoring after 13 minutes in the 2–0 win.[15][16]
He scored once again in the next league game againstBesa Kavajë in the 83rd minute to equalise, beating the keeper from a powerful free kick again.[17] Lushnja were eventually relegated after finishing second from bottom in the league, losing 11 of their last 12 games and finishing 13 points clear of safety. His individual performances throughout the season were noticed and he was featured in theAlbanian Superliga Team of the Year, as well as being nominated for Talent of the Year, an award for the best young players in the Albanian Superliga.[18]
FollowingKF Lushnja's relegation from theAlbanian Superliga, Trashi signed a three-year contract withPartizani Tirana on 31 May 2014.[19]
On 9 November 2015, he extended his contract for another three seasons, kepping him at the club until 2018.[20]
On 21 June 2020,Partizani Tirana through a communiqué stated that Trashi from next season would be part ofKuwait Premier League clubQadsia.[21]
Trashi was first involved internationally when he was invited byAlbania U21s coach Skënder Gega to a three-day trial in February 2013 while he was playing forKF Gramshi.[22] He came on as a second-half substitute in theunofficial friendly againstKosovo Superleague sideKF Drenica at the end of the trial, which Albania U21s lost 2–0.[23][24]
He was first called up to theAlbania national senior team in March 2019 for games againstTurkey andAndorra, but remained on the bench. He made his debut on 14 October 2019 in aEuro 2020 qualifier againstMoldova. He started the game and scored the third goal in a 4–0 away victory.[25]
Partizani-champion of Albania
(1): 2013–14