{{short description|Macedonian footballer (born 1986)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Besart Ibraimi | image = FC Salzburg gegen KF Shkëndija Tetovo (Besart Ibraimi).jpg | image_size = 123px | fullname = Besart Ibraimi<br/>Бесарт Ибраими | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|12|17|df=y}} | birth_place = Kičevo, SR Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia | height = 1.84 m | position = Striker | currentclub = Shkëndija | clubnumber = 7 | youthyears1 = 1993–2007 | youthclubs1 = Vëllazërimi | years1 = 2005–2008 | clubs1 = Vëllazërimi | caps1 = 32 | goals1 = 4 | years2 = 2007–2008 | clubs2 = Napredok | caps2 = 43 | goals2 = 14 | years3 = 2008–2010 | clubs3 = Renova | caps3 = 42 | goals3 = 25 | years4 = 2010–2011 | clubs4 = Schalke 04 | caps4 = 2 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2011–2014 | clubs5 = Sevastopol | caps5 = 43 | goals5 = 12 | years6 = 2011 | clubs6 = → Tavriya Simferopol (loan) | caps6 = 2 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2013 | clubs7 = → Metalurh Zaporizhzhia (loan) | caps7 = 11 | goals7 = 4 | years8 = 2014 | clubs8 = Enosis Neon Paralimni | caps8 = 8 | goals8 = 6 | years9 = 2014–2015 | clubs9 = Ermis Aradippou | caps9 = 23 | goals9 = 9 | years10 = 2015–2021 | clubs10 = Shkëndija | caps10 = 175 | goals10 = 111 | years11 = 2021–2022 | clubs11 = Xanthi | caps11 = 13 | goals11 = 4 | years12 = 2022–2024 | clubs12 = Struga | caps12 = 58 | goals12 = 34 | years13 = 2024– | clubs13 = Shkëndija | caps13 = 57 | goals13 = 26 | nationalyears1 = 2009–2022 | nationalteam1 = North Macedonia | nationalcaps1 = 17 | nationalgoals1 = 0 }}
'''Besart Ibraimi''' (Macedonian: Бесарт Ибраими; born 17 December 1986) is a Macedonian professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for KF Shkëndija. He is the all-time top goalscorer in the 1.MFL with 200 goals.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://macedonianfootball.com/besart-ibraimi-reaches-200-1-mfl-goals/ | title = Besart Ibraimi reaches 200 1.MFL goals | publisher = MacedonianFootball | date = 2 May 2024}}</ref>
Ibraimi recently reached 150 goals for the Macedonian football team,KF Shkëndija.
==Early life== Born in Kičevo, North Macedonia. He is Macedonian by nationality but is ethnically Albanian by ethnos. Ibraimi began playing football in his hometown Kičevo for the youth of FK Vlazrimi.
==Club career== Ibraimi began his professional career 2005 with FK Vlazrimi (meaning Brotherhood), earning 32 caps and scoring 11 goals, before joining FK Napredok in January 2007. He played for FK Napredok for one season, 2007–08, playing 43 games and scoring 19 goals.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://alsat-m.tv/sports/index.php/futboll/19597.html | title = ALSAT-M – IBRAIMI FUTBOLLIST I VITIT | publisher = alsat-m.tv}}{{Dead link|date=October 2011}}</ref> In September 2008, he signed for FK Renova.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.schalke04.de/aktuell/news/einzelansicht/artikel/mazedonischer-nationalspieler-besart-ibraimi-jetzt-ein-schalker.html | title = Mazedonischer Nationalspieler Besart Ibraimi jetzt ein Schalker | publisher = FC Schalke 04 | date = 12 January 2010 | language = German | accessdate = 8 October 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120313175723/http://www.schalke04.de/aktuell/news/einzelansicht/artikel/mazedonischer-nationalspieler-besart-ibraimi-jetzt-ein-schalker.html | archive-date = 13 March 2012 | url-status=dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> He left Macedonia and his club FK Renova<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.merkur-online.de/sport/fussball/schalke-neuzugang-nummer-sechs-588902.html | title = FC Schalke 04: Neuzugang Nummer 6 | publisher = Merkur Online | date = 12 January 2010 | language = German | accessdate = 8 October 2011}}</ref> on 12 January 2010 for German Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.schalke04.com/news/single-view/artikel/macedonia-international-besart-ibraimi-joins-schalke.html|title=Macedonia international Besart Ibraimi joins Schalke|date=12 January 2010|accessdate=12 January 2010|publisher=FC Schalke 04|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115044640/http://www.schalke04.com/news/single-view/artikel/macedonia-international-besart-ibraimi-joins-schalke.html|archivedate=15 January 2010}}</ref> He made his Schalke debut on 6 February 2010 in an away game against SC Freiburg coming on in the 77th minute as a substitute.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/freiburg-gegen-schalke-2010-bundesliga-938214/analyse | title = Das Aluminium stellt sich in den Weg | publisher = Kicker | date = 6 February 2010 | language = German | access-date = 8 October 2011}}</ref>
Ibraimi only made six appearances for the first team of Schalke 04 before he was transferred to the Schalke 04 II team in the summer of 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schalke04.de/s04-ii/besart-ibraimi.html |title=Besart Ibraimi: FC Schalke 04 |publisher=FC Schalke 04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125081338/http://www.schalke04.de/s04-ii/besart-ibraimi.html |archivedate=25 November 2010 }}</ref> Ibraimi could participate in training with Schalke 04 II but since he is a non EU player, he could not play in league games for Schalke 04 II. After a half year, he signed on 26 January 2011 with the Ukrainian club PFK Sevastopol.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://indeksonline.net/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70967&catid=2&Itemid=56 | title = Ibraimi nga Schalke 04 kalon në Sevastopol | publisher = indeksonline.net}}{{Dead link|date=October 2011}}</ref>
In January 2014, Ibraimi ended his contract with PFK Sevastopol and joined the Cypriot club Enosis Paralimini. After showing his impressive qualities in Enosis Paralimini all "the elite" clubs in Cypriot First Division ran after Besart Ibraimi, he finally decided to move to Ermis Aradippou where he signed a contract for one year. He made his debut with Ermis Aradippou on 1 September 2014, in the 56th minute of the match against Apollon Limassol.
==International career== Ibraimi chose to represent North Macedonia, his birthplace over Albania. Ibraimi is a former member of the U-21 team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lajme.parajsa.com/Sport/id_19358/ |title=U-21, katër shqiptarë kundër Shqipërisë |publisher=Parajsa.com |date=26 January 2008 |language=Albanian |accessdate=8 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008092810/http://lajme.parajsa.com/Sport/id_19358/ |archivedate=8 October 2011}}</ref> He made his senior debut for North Macedonia in a September 2009 FIFA World Cup qualification match away against Scotland and has earned a total of 15 caps, scoring no goals.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fyrom-recintlp.html Appearances for (North) Macedonia National Team] - RSSSF</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|Cup !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Others !colspan=2|Total |- !Division !!Apps !!Goals !!Apps !!Goals !!Apps !!Goals !!Apps !!Goals !!Apps !!Goals |- |rowspan=2|Vlazrimi |2005-06 |rowspan=2|Macedonian First Football League |22||2||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||22||2 |- |2006-07 |10||2||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||10||2 |- |rowspan=2|Napredok |2006-07 |rowspan=2|Macedonian First Football League |18||2||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||18||2 |- |2007-08 |25||12||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||25||12 |- |rowspan=2|Renova |2008-09 |rowspan=2|Macedonian First Football League |26||13||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||26||13 |- |2009-10 |16||12||colspan=2|-||2||2||colspan=2|-||18||14 |- |Schalke 04 |2009-10 |Bundesliga |2||0||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||2||0 |- |Sevastopol |2010-11 |Ukrainian Premier League |11||3||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||11||3 |- |Tavriya Simferopol |2011-12 |Ukrainian Premier League |2||0||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||2||0 |- |rowspan=2|Sevastopol |2011-12 |rowspan=2|Ukrainian First League |21||8||1||0||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||22||8 |- |2012-13 |11||1||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||11||1 |- |Metalurh Zaporizhzhia |2012-13 |Ukrainian Premier League |11||0||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||11||0 |- |Sevastopol |2013-14 |Ukrainian Premier League |0||0||1||0||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||1||0 |- |Enosis Neon Paralimni |2013-14 |Cypriot First Division |8||6||1||0||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||9||6 |- |Ermis Aradippou |2014-15 |Cypriot First Division |23||2||4||2||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||27||4 |- |rowspan=10|Shkëndija |2015-16 |rowspan=9|Macedonian First Football League |32||25||5||1||2||0||colspan=2|-||39||26 |- |2016-17 |30||20||6||5||8||4||colspan=2|-||44||29 |- |2017-18 |32||23||3||8||8||5||colspan=2|-||43||36 |- |2018-19 |11||11||0||0||6||5||colspan=2|-||17||16 |- |2019-20 |23||6||4||3||4||0||colspan=2|-||31||9 |- |2020-21 |32||24||1||0||3||2||colspan=2|-||36||26 |- |2021-22 |5||2||0||0||4||0||colspan=2|-||9||2 |- |2024-25 |30||15||||||||||||||30||15 |- |2025-26 |27||11||2||1||16||1||||||45||13 |- !colspan=2|Total !222!!137!!21!!18!!51!!17!!colspan=2|-!!294!!172 |- |Xanthi |2021-22 |Super League Greece 2 |13||4||1||0||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||14||4 |- |rowspan=4|Struga |2022-23 |rowspan=3|Macedonian First Football League |29||19||3||0||colspan=2|-||colspan=2|-||32||19 |- |2023-24 |29||15||0||0||8||7||colspan=2|-||37||22 |- |2024-25 |0||0||0||0||4||4||0||0||4||4 |- |- !colspan=2|Total !58||34||3||0||12||11||0||0||73||45 |- !colspan=3|Total career !499!!238!!32!!20!!65!!30!!colspan=2|-!!596!!288 |}
===International===
==Honours== '''Shkëndija''' *Macedonian First Football League: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2024–25 *Macedonian Football Cup: 2015–16, 2017–18
'''Struga Trim-Lum''' *Macedonian First Football League: 2022–23, 2023–24
'''Renova''' *Macedonian First Football League: 2009–10
'''Individual''' *Macedonian Footballer of the Year: 2009, 2016
'''Records''' * 24/25 Prva Makedonska Fudbalska Liga: 15 Goals * 22/23 Prva Makedonska Fudbalska Liga: 19 Goals * 20/21 Prva Makedonska Fudbalska Liga: 24 Goals * 17/18 Prva Makedonska Fudbalska Liga: 22 Goals * 16/17 Prva Makedonska Fudbalska Liga: 20 Goals * 15/16 Prva Makedonska Fudbalska Liga: 25 Goals
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://macedonianfootball.com/besart-ibraimi/ Profile] at MacedonianFootball.com {{in lang|en}} *{{NFT player|33145}} * {{FFU}} * {{Soccerway}}
{{Navboxes | title = Awards | bg = gold | fg = navy | list = {{Macedonian Footballer of the Year}} {{First Macedonian Football League top scorers}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ibraimi, Besart}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:People from Kičevo Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Macedonian men's footballers Category:21st-century Macedonian sportsmen Category:North Macedonia men's international footballers Category:KF Vëllazërimi 77 players Category:FK Napredok players Category:KF Renova players Category:FC Schalke 04 players Category:FC Schalke 04 II players Category:FC Sevastopol players Category:SC Tavriya Simferopol players Category:FC Metalurh Zaporizhzhia players Category:Enosis Neon Paralimni FC players Category:Ermis Aradippou FC players Category:KF Shkëndija players Category:Macedonian First Football League players Category:Bundesliga players Category:Ukrainian Premier League players Category:Ukrainian First League players Category:Cypriot First Division players Category:Macedonian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Ukraine Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus Category:Macedonian expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Macedonian expatriate sportspeople in Ukraine Category:Macedonian expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus Category:Xanthi F.C. players Category:FC Struga players