Elseid Hysaj
Elseid Hysaj is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a full-back for club Lazio and the Albania national team.
He came through the youth system of Vllaznia before moving to Italy to join Empoli's youth sector, making his senior debut in 2012 and becoming a regular starter by the following season. During his four years with the Tuscan side, he made over 90 appearances in all competitions, playing a key role in the team’s promotion to Serie A and establishing himself as one of the most promising young full-backs in Italy. Known for his versatility on both defensive flanks, composure on the ball, and consistent performances, he attracted the attention of major Serie A clubs before joining Napoli in 2015.
Across his six-year spell at Napoli, Hysaj evolved from a promising young defender into one of Serie A’s most reliable and tactically disciplined full-backs. Having reunited with coach Maurizio Sarri from their Empoli times, he immediately became a key starter and maintained that role through subsequent managerial changes under Carlo Ancelotti and Gennaro Gattuso. Equally adept on both flanks, Hysaj’s consistency, defensive awareness, and composure on the ball made him a cornerstone of Napoli’s backline during a period in which the club regularly challenged for the league title. He amassed over 220 appearances in all competitions, contributing to multiple top-two Serie A finishes and playing an important role in Napoli’s Coppa Italia triumph. After the expiration of his contract in 2021, Hysaj left the club as one of its longest-serving and most dependable players of the decade.
Joining Lazio in 2021 on a free transfer, Hysaj reunited once again with coach Sarri, becoming part of a transitional phase for the club. He quickly established himself as a flexible full-back option on both flanks, featuring regularly in his debut campaign and contributing to Lazio’s fifth-place finish in Serie A. Over the following seasons, he remained a reliable rotational presence, alternating starting duties with teammates Manuel Lazzari and Adam Marušić. During the 2022–23 season, he achieved a personal record of 43 appearances, playing a key role as Lazio finished runners-up in Serie A for the first time in over two decades. His tactical intelligence and professionalism made him a trusted figure in Sarri’s defensive system, despite reduced playing time in later campaigns. By 2025, Hysaj had surpassed the 120-appearance mark for the Biancocelesti across all competitions, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most consistent Albanian defenders to have played in Italy’s top flight.
A full international since 2013, Hysaj has been a central figure for the Albania national team for over a decade, earning more than 90 caps. Renowned for his defensive discipline, versatility on both flanks, and leadership qualities, he has represented Albania in several major campaigns, including their historic qualification for UEFA Euro 2016 and participation in the UEFA Euro 2024 finals. Serving multiple times as national team captain, Hysaj played a pivotal role during UEFA Euro and FIFA World Cup qualifying cycles, consistently anchoring the defence through different managerial eras—from Gianni De Biasi to Sylvinho. Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished Albanian defenders of his generation, his international career has been marked by consistency, professionalism, and key contributions to some of Albania’s most successful periods in modern football history.
Early life
Hysaj was born in Reç, Shkodër, Albania. Two months after his birth, his father, Gëzim, emigrated to Italy, as many Albanians did in the 1990s, seeking employment opportunities to support his family. Elseid grew up in Shkodër with his mother and grandparents, while his father worked in Italy as a bricklayer.Hysaj began his youth career at age of seven with KF Shkodra, an amateur club based in his hometown. In 2007 he became part of Vllaznia youth team remaining for two years. While working at the home of football agent Marco Piccioli, Hysaj's father mentioned that his son was a talented footballer. As Elseid was only 10 years old at the time, Piccioli advised Gëzim to wait a few years. When Elseid turned 14, he travelled to Italy, where he was assessed by Piccioli and took part in trials with several clubs, including Fiorentina, before eventually joining the Empoli academy.
Club career
Empoli
Hysaj played for the Empoli Primavera side during the 2011–12 season, where he made 21 appearances and scored one goal.Hysaj received his first call-up to the Empoli senior squad during the 9th matchday of the 2011–12 Serie B season, for the game against Varese on 9 October 2011, where he remained an unused substitute throughout the match. Later in the season, he was included in the matchday squad on two more occasions, in March and April 2012, but again did not feature on the field. He made his professional debut for the first team on 24 November 2011 in a Coppa Italia match against Fiorentina, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 defeat.
2012–13 season
Hysaj made his league debut on 20 October 2012 during matchday 10 against Virtus Lanciano, which ended in a 0–3 away victory for Empoli, coming on as a substitute in the 67th minute. Empoli finished the 2012–13 season in 4th place, thus qualifying for the promotion playoffs. In the semi-finals against Novara, Hysaj played the full 90 minutes in both legs — first on 22 May 2013, a 1–1 away draw, and then on 26 May 2013, when Empoli secured a 4–1 home win.In the two-legged final against Livorno, Hysaj once again played the entire match in both legs. The first leg on 29 May 2013 ended in a 1–1 draw, while the second leg on 2 June 2013 finished in a 1–0 defeat, meaning Livorno earned promotion to the 2013–14 Serie A with a 2–1 aggregate victory. Hysaj completed his first full season with Empoli making 35 appearances in all competitions — 30 in the league, one in the Coppa Italia, and four in the promotion playoffs — and providing one assist.
2013–14 season
On 19 September 2013, Hysaj renewed his contract with Empoli, extending it until 2015.He scored his first professional goal on 17 April 2014 in a match against Virtus Lanciano. The goal came in the 4th minute after he received the ball near the edge of the penalty area, dribbled past three opponents in a zig-zag move, and fired a left-footed shot into the net. Despite his effort, Empoli lost the match 2–1, but the goal was noted by the media for its individual quality and technical execution.
Throughout the season, Hysaj emerged as a consistent presence in the first-team lineup, earning praise for his defensive maturity and tactical discipline despite his young age. A season review published on 19 April 2014 also highlighted his goal-scoring strike, underlining his increasing influence both in defence and in attack.
On 30 May 2014, Empoli secured promotion to Serie A after a six-year absence, finishing the campaign among the top teams in Serie B.
By the end of the campaign, Hysaj had gathered a total of 34 appearances and 1 goal across league and cup competitions, establishing himself as a key part of Empoli’s defence ahead of their return to Serie A.
2014–15 season
He made his Serie A debut on 31 August 2014 in the opening match against Udinese, which ended in a 2–0 away defeat. On 31 October, Hysaj signed a new contract keeping him at the club until June 2017, with his annual salary increasing from €170,000 to €200,000.During the season, Hysaj further developed his technical and tactical abilities, becoming known for his versatility to play on both flanks and his increasing involvement in attacking phases through overlapping runs and accurate ball distribution from the back. In February 2015, he provided two consecutive assists in Serie A matches — the first in a 2–0 home victory over Cesena, and the second a decisive pass in a 1–1 draw against Milan. These performances underlined his growing offensive contribution and maturity on the field. Following consistent performances throughout the campaign, he was selected in the Serie A Team of the Week for matchday 17 after a goalless draw against Verona. In the 2014–15 campaign, his final season with Empoli, Hysaj made a total of 36 league appearances, including 33 as a starter, and featured in three Coppa Italia matches, where Empoli were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Roma after extra time.
Napoli
In July 2015, Hysaj transferred to Napoli, joining his former Empoli coach Maurizio Sarri and teammate Mirko Valdifiori. On 3 August 2015, he completed the move and signed a five-year contract for a reported fee of €5 million. The transfer made Hysaj the second most expensive Albanian international player at the time, behind Lorik Cana’s €6.75 million move from Galatasaray to Lazio in July 2011.2015–16 season
Hysaj made his competitive debut for Napoli on 23 August 2015 in the opening Serie A match against Sassuolo, which ended in a 2–1 away defeat. He soon established himself as a regular starter, playing the full 90 minutes in most matches and often preferred to the more experienced Christian Maggio. On 17 September 2015, he made his European debut in the UEFA Europa League group stage, in a 5–0 home victory over Club Brugge. Napoli went on to win all six group matches, finishing first in Group D and advancing to the Round of 32. On 8 February 2016, sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio included Hysaj in his “Best Serie A Under-23 XI”, praising his consistency and tactical discipline among young talents such as Paul Pogba, Paulo Dybala, Mauro Icardi, and M'Baye Niang. The same year, Calciomercato.it named him the best right-back in Serie A for the season.By the end of the season Hysaj, as one of Napoli’s most consistent performers, had featured in 37 of 38 Serie A matches, all as a starter, missing only one game due to suspension after accumulating four yellow cards. Napoli finished the season as Serie A runners-up behind Juventus.
In June 2016 UEFA described Hysaj as an "attack-minded full-back" capable of contributing effectively in both phases of play, reflecting his growing tactical versatility and importance within Napoli’s system.