Shpëtim Babaj (Croatian: Špetim Babaj; born 9 December 1981) is a Kosovan professional football manager and former player who is the current manager of Kosovo First League club Trepça.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Shpëtim Babaj | ||
| Date of birth | 9 December 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Pristina, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Trepça (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1988–1998 | Cibalia | ||
| 1998–1999 | Cagliese | ||
| 1999–2001 | Olimpija Ljubljana | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2003 | Rudar Velenje | 33 | (4) |
| 2003–2004 | Šmartno | 28 | (4) |
| 2004–2005 | Besiana | 34 | (12) |
| 2005–2007 | Besa Kavajë | 64 | (2) |
| 2007–2008 | Elbasani | 17 | (1) |
| 2008 | Zorya Luhansk | 31 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Shakhter Karagandy | 16 | (2) |
| 2009–2010 | Gramozi | 32 | (2) |
| 2010–2011 | Tirana | 7 | (0) |
| 2011–2014 | Trepça | 156 | (36) |
| 2014 | Trepça'89 | 17 | (2) |
| 2014–2016 | Hajvalia | 65 | (12) |
| 2016–2017 | Ferizaj | 16 | (1) |
| Total | 516 | (78) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2018–2019 | Fortuna Oslo (youth) | ||
| 2020–2021 | Lillestrøm SK (youth) | ||
| 2022 | Korsvoll IL (youth) | ||
| 2022–2024 | Oppsal IF II | ||
| 2025 | Prishtina e Re | ||
| 2026– | Trepça | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
A former midfielder, Babaj began his youth career with Cibalia in Croatia, where he acquired Croatian citizenship, before continuing his development with Cagliese in Italy and Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia. He began his senior career with Rudar Velenje in 2001 and later played for Šmartno, Besiana, Besa Kavajë, Elbasani, Zorya Luhansk, Shakhter Karagandy, Gramozi, Tirana, Trepça, Trepça '89, Hajvalia, and Ferizaj.
Following his retirement from professional football, Babaj moved into coaching in Norway, working in youth football with Fortuna Oslo, Lillestrøm SK and Korsvoll IL. He later managed Oppsal IF II between 2022 and 2024 before returning to Kosovo, where he first served as sporting director and later as manager of Prishtina e Re in 2025. In 2026, he was appointed manager of Trepça.
Managerial career
editIn September, 2025, Babaj became the manager of Prishtina e Re of the Football Superleague of Kosovo.
On 1 May 2026, Babaj was appointed as the head coach of Trepça of the First Football League of Kosovo.[1]
References
edit- ↑ "Zyrtare: Shpëtim Babaj, trajner i ri i Trepçës". gazetablic.com (in Albanian). 1 May 2026.
External links
edit- Shpëtim Babaj at WorldFootball.net
- Profile in early career at Strukljeva.net
- Stats from Slovenia at PrvaLiga.
- Career at Soccer.ru.
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