Samir Ujkani

Samir Ujkani (born 5 July 1988) is a Kosovar international football goalkeeper, currently playing for Latina, on loan from Genoa and the Kosovo national team. An ethnic Albanian, Ujkani previously represented Albania at the international level, prior to Kosovo's recognition by FIFA.

Early life

Ujkani was born in Resnik, a village near Vushtrri, Kosovo, back then part of SFR Yugoslavia. His family then moved to Belgium six years after his birth.

Club career

Youth clubs

At the age of thirteen, Ujkani enrolled into Ingelmunster, spending six years there before moving to Anderlecht. The Anderlecht football academy has a reputation of producing talented goalkeepers such as Jacky Munaron. Ujkani played until June 2007 for the Anderlecht Under-19s, and made also ten appearances with their Reserves team.

On June 2007, he agreed to sign a 5-year contract with Palermo of Serie A.

Palermo

Since then, he served as unused bench in two UEFA Cup matches for Palermo, and several Serie A matches as well. He was confirmed as third-choice goalkeeper for the rosanero's 2008–09 season campaign, and later promoted as second goalkeeper after the club chose to transfer-list veteran goalie Alberto Fontana.