Emir Bajrami
Emir Bajrami is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a winger. Starting off his professional career with IF Elfsborg in 2006, he went on to represent FC Twente, AS Monaco, and Panathinaikos before retiring at Elfsborg in 2018. A full international between 2010 and 2012, he won 18 caps for the Sweden national team and was included in the squad for UEFA Euro 2012. He is the joint Assistant Manager of Aberdeen FC.
Club career
IF Elfsborg
Growing up in Sweden, Bajrami began playing football when he was about eight or nine years old. This resulted in Bajrami joining Köping FF and progressed his career at the club, he made twelve appearances and scoring five times professionally. It was announced that the player would be moving to Elfsborg at the end of the 2005 season. He made his debut for the club, coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute, in a 3–0 win against GAIS on 30 July 2006. Despite making his only appearance of the 2006 season, the season saw IF Elfsborg win the league for the first time since 1961.The 2007 season proved to be a breakthrough season for Bajrami. He made his first appearance of the season against Helsingborg in the Svenska Supercupen, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute, in a 1–0 win, marking Bajrami's first achievement in his football career. He scored on his first Allsvenskan start for IF Elfsborg, as the club drew 1–1 against Örebro SK on 17 April 2007. Following this, Bajrami found his playing time, mostly coming from the substitute bench throughout the 2007 season. He then made his UEFA Champions League debut, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute, in a 1–0 win against Debreceni. Although Bajrami appeared as an unused substitute in the return leg, IF Elfsborg went through to the next round after a 0–0 draw, resulting in the club going through to the next round following a 1–0 win on aggregate. It was announced on 20 August 2007 that he signed a contract with IF Elfsborg, keeping him until 2011. At the end of the 2007 season, Bajrami went on to make twenty–one appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
In the 2008 season, Bajrami started the season well when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Malmö on 10 April 2008. Following this, Bajrami established himself in the first team, playing in the left–wing position for the rest of the season. Between 6 July 2008 and 23 July 2008, he scored four goals in four matches, both from the UEFA Cup against Hibernian and the league against Halmstad and Norrköping. In a match against Ljungskile on 1 September 2008, Bajrami then set up two goals, in a 4–0 win. As the 2008 season progressed, he scored two more goals later in the season against Malmö and Halmstads. However, the club failed to win the league once again after finishing second place behind Kalmar. Despite missing three matches during the 2008 season, he went on to score seven goals in thirty–five appearances in all competitions. Following this, Bajrami signed a contract extension with the club, keeping him until 2013.
At the start of the 2009 season, Bajrami started the season well when he scored against Kalmar on 16 April 2009. Nine days later on 25 April 2009, Bajrami scored again in a 2–1 win over Ljungskile in the third round of the Svenska Cupen. He then scored his third goal of the season, in a 2–0 win against IFK Göteborg on 4 May 2009. Since the 2009 season, Bajrami continued to establish himself in the starting eleven, playing in the left–wing position. His performance attracted interests from Serie A side Parma throughout the summer transfer window. In response, IF Elsborg said that they have no concern on selling the player. Eventually, he ended up staying at the club despite interests from Parma. Between 6 July 2009 and 19 July 2009, Bajrami scored four goals in three matches against Örgryte, Helsingborg and Djurgården. Eleven days later on 30 July 2009, he scored in a third round of the UEFA Europa League first leg, in a 2–1 win over Braga. In the return leg, Bajrami helped IF Elfsborg beat Braga 2–0 to advance to the next round. He later helped the club finish third place in the league. Despite suffering from injuries during the 2009 season, Bajrami went on to make twenty–nine appearances and scoring five times in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2010 season, Bajrami continued to be linked with a move to clubs, such as, Sporting CP. But he ended up staying at IF Elfsborg after dismissing of leaving the club in the January transfer window. However, Bajrami missed the opening game of the season against Gefle, due to an illness. But he made his return to the starting line–up against Halmstad in a follow–up, as IF Elfsborg won 6–0. Since returning from injury, Bajrami continued to regain his first team place, playing in the left–wing position. He then set up two goals in two matches between 11 April 2010 and 15 April 2010 against Helsingborgs and Djurgårdens. Ten days later on 25 April 2010, Bajrami scored his first goal of the season, in a 4–1 win against Trelleborg. He then scored his second goal of the season, in a 2–0 win against GAIS on 16 May 2010, which turned out to be his last appearance for the club. By then, Bajrami made fourteen appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.
FC Twente
On 25 May 2010, Bajrami signed for Eredivisie side Twente, signing a four–year contract with the club. The fee was reported to be 2.5 million euros, while Swedish based newspaper Expressen estimated the fee was 35 million SEK, which would increase to 15 million based on his appearance at Twente and 25% of the clause should he leave the club.Bajrami made his FC Twente debut, starting a match and played 81 minutes before being substituted, as he helped the club beat Ajax 1–0 to win the Johan Cruyff Shield. In the opening game of the season, Bajrami made his league debut, starting a match and played for 69 minutes before being substituted, in a 0–0 draw against Roda JC. A month later on 14 September 2010, Bajrami made his UEFA Champions League debut in the Group Stage against Inter Milan, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute, in a 2–2 draw He then made his first UEFA Champions League start against Tottenham Hotspur on 29 September 2010. During the match, however, Bajrami suffered an ankle injury and was substituted in the first half as a result. Following a surgery, it was announced that he would be out for the rest of the year. After making his return from injury, Bajrami made his return to the first team on 19 January 2011, where he came on as a substitute in the second half, in a 5–0 win over Heracles Almelo. After the match, Bajrami continued to be involved in a number of matches in the first team. A month later on 20 February 2011, he scored his first goal for FC Twente in a 1–1 draw against NEC. Two months later on 14 April 2011, Bajrami scored again in the second leg of the quarter final of the Europa League, in a 3–1 loss against Villarreal. Although the club were unsuccessful to win the league again after losing 3–1 against Ajax in the last game of the season, he was featured in the final of the KNVB Cup against Ajax, coming on as a 91st-minute substitute in extra time and helped FC Twente win 3–2. In his first season at Twente, Bajrami finished the season, making thirty–two appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.
At the start of the 2011–12 season, Bajrami suffered a setback when he suffered an injury at the start of the season. Bajrami made his return from injury against NAC Breda in the opening game of the season, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute, in a 1–0 win. Two weeks later on 20 August 2011, he scored his first goal of the season, in a 5–1 win over Heerenveen. After missing out one game, due to illness, Bajrami scored on his return from injury on 18 September 2011 after coming on as a substitute in the second half, in a 5–2 win over ADO Den Haag. Following this, he continued to be involved in a number of matches in the first team throughout the 2011–12 season. He then scored in the Europa League match on 20 October 2011, in a 4–1 win over Odense Boldklub, which was followed up by scoring twice six days later, in the third round of the KNVB Cup, in a 4–3 win over Genemuiden. After missing one due to illness in late–December, Bajrami scored on his return from the sidelines, as well as, setting one of FC Twente's goals, in a 5–2 win over RKC Waalwijk on 21 January 2012. However, his return was short–lived when he suffered a foot injury that kept him out for a week. But he made his return from injury against Steaua București in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League on 16 February 2012, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute, in a 1–0 win. Following his return from injury, Bajrami found his playing time, mostly coming from the substitute bench. Despite this, he scored his third goal of the season on 11 April 2012, in a 2–2 draw against AZ Alkmaar. At the end of the 2011–12 season, Bajrami went on to make thirty–eight appearances and scoring seven times in all competitions.
AS Monaco
After announcing his desire to leave Twente, Bajrami joined Ligue 2 side Monaco on a season long loan deal for the remainder of the 2012–13 season. Upon joining the club, Bajrami revealed that he turned down a move to La Liga side Deportivo de La Coruña to join Monaco.Bajrami made his AS Monaco debut, in the opening game of the season, where he came on as a substitute in the second half, in a 4–0 win over Tours in the opening game of the season. Two weeks later on 10 August 2012, he scored his first goal for the club, in a 3–2 win over Istres. However, Bajrami struggled in the first team throughout the season, resulting in him making thirteen appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
Panathinaikos
On 4 June 2013, Bajrami signed a three-year contract with Greek side Panathinaikos. Upon joining the club, Bajrami said the move to Panathinaikos could resurrected his career, having lost his place at the national team and was given a number eleven shirt for the new season.Bajrami made his Panathinaikos debut, in the opening game of the season, where he made his first start and played the whole game, in a 2–0 win over Panetolikos. However, Bajrami's time at the club was plagued when he suffered an injury that saw him out for months, as well as, losing his first team place. After returning to training from injury, Bajrami made his return to the first team against Veria on 19 January 2014, coming on as a 67th-minute substitute, in a 3–1 win. Ten days later on 29 January 2014, he scored his first goal for the club, in the quarter final of Greek Cup, in a 4–0 win over Olympiacos Volos. However, his return was short–lived when Bajrami suffered another injury that kept him out for the rest of the 2013–14 season. At the end of the 2013–14 season, he finished his first season at the club, making ten appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
At the start of the 2014–15 season, Bajrami continued to recovery from his injury that he sustained last season. His first appearance of the season came on 14 September 2014 against AEL Kalloni, coming on as a second-half substitute, in a 1–0 win. A month later on 30 October 2014, he set up two goals for the club, in a 3–1 win against Panetolikos in the Group Stage of Kypello Elladas. However, Bajrami continued to face injury problems at Panathinaikos. Up until his injury, he made nine appearances in all competitions.
It was announced on 10 March 2015 that Panathinaikos terminated his contract. Reflecting on his release, Bajrami said: "I think I made the right decision. I need time and calm. "I want to be close to my family and friends in order to play football again at the level I can."