Avni Pepa

Avni Pepa
	Pepa with Sandnes Ulf in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth	14 November 1988 (age 35)
Place of birth	Kristiansand, Norway
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Arendal
Number	6
Senior career*
Years	Team
2007–2011	IK Start
2007	→ Mandalskameratene (loan)
2012–2015	Sandnes Ulf
2015	Flamurtari Vlorë
2015–2017	ÍBV
2017–	Arendal
International career‡
2014–2016	Kosovo
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 September 2019; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 October 2016

Avni Pepa (born 14 November 1988) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Norwegian club Arendal. Born in Norway, he represented the Kosovo national football team at the international level.

Club career

IK Start

On 14 March 2010, Pepa made his debut in the Tippeligaen when he entered the field to replace Hunter Freeman in a match against Sandefjord. On 7 July, he scored his first goal for IK Start, which allowed the team to overcome Fredrikstad in the Norwegian Cup. On 24 October, he scored his first league goal against Stabæk from an assist by Petter Bruer Hanssen.

Loan at Mandalskameratene

In 2007, Pepa was loaned to OBOS-ligaen side Mandalskameratene. On 17 June 2007, he made his debut in a 2–1 home defeat against Sparta Sarpsborg after being named in the starting lineup. On 24 June 2007, he scored his first and only goal for Mandalskameratene in a 3-1 defeat against Notodden.

Sandnes Ulf

After IK Start was relegated from the Tippeligaen, Pepa signed with the newly promoted team Sandnes Ulf as a free agent.^[1]

Flamurtari Vlorë

On 9 January 2015, Pepa signed with the Albanian Superliga side Flamurtari Vlorë.^[2] However, on 3 February 2015, he left Flamurtari Vlorë due to issues with the team staff.^[3]

ÍBV

On 19 February 2015, Pepa signed with the Úrvalsdeild karla side ÍBV.^[4] On 3 May 2015, he made his debut in a 1–0 away defeat against Fjölnir, after being named in the starting line-up.

Arendal

On 12 July 2017, Pepa signed with the newly promoted OBOS-ligaen side Arendal.^[5]^[6] He joined the team alongside his brother, Wilhelm Pepa. On 23 July 2017, he made his debut in a 1–1 away draw against Tromsdalen UIL, after being named in the starting line-up.

International career

On 2 March 2014, Pepa received a call-up from the Kosovo national team for their first FIFA-permitted match against Haiti.^[7] He made his debut in the match, starting in the lineup.

Career statistics

As of 31 August 2014

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Season	Club	Division	League		Cup		Total
Season	Club	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mandalskameratene	2007	Adeccoligaen	10	1	0	0	10	1
Start	2008	Adeccoligaen	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2009	Tippeligaen	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2010		19	1	4	1	23	2
	2011		24	0	3	0	27	0
Sandnes Ulf	2012	Tippeligaen	17	1	0	0	17	1
	2013		24	0	0	0	24	0
	2014		11	0	1	0	12	0
Flamurtari Vlorë	2014–15	Albanian Superliga	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			105	3	8	1	113	4

References

^ "Avni Pepa til Sandnes Ulf" (in Norwegian). TV2 (Norway). 16 December 2011.
^ "Avni Pepa klar for albansk klubb" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. 9 January 2015.
^ "Pepa largohet nga dallaveret". Borozani (in Albanian). 3 February 2015. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
^ "Avni Pepa til liðs við ÍBV". Eyjafrettir (in Icelandic). 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
^ "Norsk utenlandsproff kan bli Arendal-spiller" (in Norwegian). Agderposten. 12 July 2017.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Utenlandsproff har signert for Arendal Fotball nå i kveld" (in Norwegian). Agderposten. 12 July 2017.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Kosova shpall listën anti-Haiti". Albeu (in Albanian). 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2017.

External links

Avni Pepa at National-Football-Teams.com
Avni Pepa at Soccerway
Avni Pepa at the Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian)

[1] "Avni Pepa til Sandnes Ulf" (in Norwegian). TV2 (Norway). 16 December 2011.

[2] "Avni Pepa klar for albansk klubb" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. 9 January 2015.

[3] "Pepa largohet nga dallaveret". Borozani (in Albanian). 3 February 2015. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.

[4] "Avni Pepa til liðs við ÍBV". Eyjafrettir (in Icelandic). 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2017.

[5] "Norsk utenlandsproff kan bli Arendal-spiller" (in Norwegian). Agderposten. 12 July 2017.^{[permanent dead link]}

[6] "Utenlandsproff har signert for Arendal Fotball nå i kveld" (in Norwegian). Agderposten. 12 July 2017.^{[permanent dead link]}

[7] "Kosova shpall listën anti-Haiti". Albeu (in Albanian). 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2017.

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