{{short description|Kosovan footballer}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Betim Halimi |image = |caption = |fullname = Betim Halimi |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|2|28|df=y}} |birth_place = Pozharan, FR Yugoslavia |height = 2.04 m |position = Goalkeeper |currentclub = Suhareka |clubnumber = 1 |youthyears1 = 2010–2014 |youthclubs1 = Vllaznia Pozheran |years1 = 2014–2016 |clubs1 = Vllaznia Pozheran |caps1 = |goals1 = |years2 = 2016 |clubs2 = Drita |caps2 = 15 |goals2 = 0 |years3 = 2016–2017 |clubs3 = Hajvalia |caps3 = 3 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 2017–2018 |clubs4 = Drita |caps4 = 22 |goals4 = 0 |years5 = 2018–2019 |clubs5 = Narva Trans |caps5 = 7 |goals5 = 0 |years6 = 2019–2021 |clubs6 = Olimpik Donetsk |caps6 = 18 |goals6 = 0 |years7 = 2021–2022 |clubs7 = Prishtina |caps7 = 16 |goals7 = 0 |years8 = 2022–2023 |clubs8 = Kukësi |caps8 = 9 |goals8 = 0 |years9 = 2023–2024 |clubs9 = Gjilani |caps9 = 12 |goals9 = 0 |years10 = 2024– |clubs10 = Suhareka |caps10 = 6 |goals10 = 0 |nationalyears1 = 2021 |nationalteam1 = Kosovo |nationalcaps1 = 1 |nationalgoals1 = 0 |club-update = 5 January 2025 |nationalteam-update = 11 June 2021 }} '''Betim Halimi''' (born 28 February 1996) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Kosovo Superleague club Suhareka<!-- and the Kosovo national team -->.
==Club career== ===Early career and Drita=== Halimi was part of Kosovo First League club Vllaznia Pozheran until 1 February 2016. On 19 January 2016, Telegrafi announced that he is on trial to Chelsea's under-18 team competing in the U18 Premier League,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/portieri-i-perfaqesueses-se-kosoves-ne-prova-te-chelsea-foto/|title=Portieri i përfaqësueses së Kosovës në prova te Chelsea (Foto)|trans-title=Goalkeeper of Kosovo national team in test to Chelsea (Photo)|quote=Portieri i Vllaznisë së Pozheranit dhe i përfaqësueses së Kosovës për nën 21 vjeç, Betim Halimi, është në prova te skuadra e Chelseat|language=Albanian|publisher=Telegrafi|date=19 January 2016}}</ref> but unfortunately this test turned out to fail. On 1 February 2016, Halimi joined Kosovo Superleague side Drita,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://gazetaolle.com/zyrtare-betim-halimi-kalon-te-drita/|title=Zyrtare: Betim Halimi kalon te Drita|trans-title=Official: Betim Halimi passes to Drita|language=Albanian|website=Gazeta Olle|date=1 February 2016|access-date=17 March 2019|archive-date=12 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812134349/http://gazetaolle.com/zyrtare-betim-halimi-kalon-te-drita/|url-status=dead}}</ref> to replace the injured Artan Latifi and played 15 matches in the league.
===Hajvalia=== On 7 July 2016, Halimi joined Kosovo Superleague side Hajvalia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://topsporti.com/artikulli/betim-halimi-te-hajvalia/ffk-superliga|title=Betim Halimi te Hajvalia|trans-title=Betim Halimi to Hajvalia|language=Albanian|website=TopSporti|date=7 July 2016|archive-date=30 August 2020|access-date=17 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830060128/https://topsporti.com/artikulli/betim-halimi-te-hajvalia/ffk-superliga|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 21 August 2016, he made his debut in a 4–0 away defeat against Ferizaj after being named in the starting line-up.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazetasheshi.com/89-shi-e-drita-fitojne-ne-udhetim-salihu-ne-histori-me-ferizajn/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613132052/http://www.gazetasheshi.com/89-shi-e-drita-fitojne-ne-udhetim-salihu-ne-histori-me-ferizajn/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 13, 2021|title=89-shi e Drita fitojnë në udhëtim, Salihu në histori me Ferizajn|trans-title=89th and Drita win in the trip, Salihu in history with Ferizaj|language=Albanian|website=Gazeta Sheshi|date=21 August 2016}}</ref>
===Return to Drita=== On 30 December 2016, Halimi returned to Kosovo Superleague club Drita and this return would become legally effective two days later.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazetasheshi.com/zyrtare-betim-halimi-firmos-me-driten-foto/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613132052/http://www.gazetasheshi.com/zyrtare-betim-halimi-firmos-me-driten-foto/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 13, 2021|title=Zyrtare: Betim Halimi firmos me Dritën (FOTO)|trans-title=Official: Betim Halimi signs with Drita (PHOTO)|language=Albanian|website=Gazeta Sheshi|date=30 December 2016}}</ref> On 26 February 2017, he made his debut in a 1–1 away win against Gjilani after being named in the starting line-up.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gazetasheshi.com/gjilani-dhe-drita-ndahen-ne-paqe-trepca-89-vazhdon-marshin-drejt-titullit/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411121142/http://www.gazetasheshi.com/gjilani-dhe-drita-ndahen-ne-paqe-trepca-89-vazhdon-marshin-drejt-titullit/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 11, 2019|title=Gjilani dhe Drita ndahen në paqe, Trepça '89 vazhdon marshin drejt titullit|trans-title=Gjilan and Drita are separated in peace, Trepça '89 continues the march towards the title|language=Albanian|website=Gazeta Sheshi|date=26 February 2017}}</ref>
===Narva Trans=== On 13 June 2018, Halimi joined Meistriliiga side Narva Trans.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sport-24h.net/2018/06/13/zyrtare-betim-halimi-befason-te-gjithe-me-skuadren-e-re/|title=Zyrtare: Betim Halimi befason të gjithë me skuadrën e re|trans-title=Official: Betim Halimi surprises everyone with the new team|language=Albanian|website=SPORT-24H|date=13 June 2018}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On 21 August 2018, he made his debut with Narva Trans in the 2018–19 Estonian Cup third round against SK Kadrina after being named in the starting line-up. Seven days later, he made his first Meistriliiga appearance after coming on as a substitute at last minutes in place of Artur Kotenko in a 0–3 away win against Kuressaare.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/08/28/estonia/meistriliiga/fc-kuressaare/jk-trans-narva/2717128/|title=Kuressaare vs. Trans 0–3|website=Soccerway|access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref>
===Olimpik Donetsk=== On 27 February 2019, Halimi signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Ukrainian Premier League club Olimpik Donetsk and received squad number 12.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://olimpik.com.ua/betim-khalimi-igrok-olimpika|title=Бетим Халими – игрок "Олимпика"|trans-title=Betim Halimi is a player of Olympic|language=Ukrainian|publisher=FC Olimpik Donetsk|date=7 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/ish-portieri-drites-dhe-vllaznise-betim-halimi-nenshkruan-klubin-ukrainas-olimpik-donetsk/|title=Ish-portieri i Dritës dhe Vllaznisë, Betim Halimi nënshkruan me klubin ukrainas Olimpik Donetsk|trans-title=Former goalkeeper of Drita and Vllaznia, Betim Halimi signed with Ukrainian club Olimpik Donetsk|language=Albanian|website=Indeksonline|date=3 March 2019}}</ref> Four days later, he made his debut in a 0–1 home defeat against Arsenal Kyiv after being named in the starting line-up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://olimpik.com.ua/olimpik-ustupaet-arsenalu|title="Олимпик" уступает "Арсеналу"|trans-title="Olympic" surrender to "Arsenal"|language=Ukrainian|publisher=FC Olimpik Donetsk|date=3 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://indeksonline.net/betim-halimi-debutoi-ne-ukrahine/|title=Betim Halimi debutoi në Ukrainë|trans-title=Betim Halimi debuts in Ukraine|language=Albanian|website=Indeksonline|date=3 March 2019}}</ref>
===Prishtina=== On 10 August 2021, Halimi signed a three-year contract with Kosovo Superleague club Prishtina.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/zyrtare-prishtina-transferon-betim-halimin-nga-olimpik-donetsk/|title=Zyrtare: Prishtina transferon Betim Halimin|trans-title=Official: Prishtina transfers Betim Halimi|language=Albanian|publisher=Telegrafi|date=10 August 2021}}</ref> Seven days later, he made his debut with Prishtina in the 2021 Kosovar Supercup against Llapi after being named in the starting line-up.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/superkupa-e-kosoves-formacionet-zyrtare-prishtina-llapi/|title=Superkupa e Kosovës: Formacionet zyrtare, Prishtina – Llapi|trans-title=Kosovo Supercup: Official line-ups, Prishtina – Llapi|language=Albanian|publisher=Telegrafi|date=17 August 2021}}</ref>
==International career== ===Under-21=== On 21 March 2017, Halimi received a call-up from Kosovo U21 for a 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Republic of Ireland U21,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ffk-kosova.com/2017/03/21/perfaqesuesja-u21-udheton-neser-ne-mengjes-ne-dublin/|title=Lista e futbollistëve të Përfaqësueses U21|trans-title=List of the footballers of national U21 team|language=Albanian|publisher=Football Federation of Kosovo|date=21 March 2017|access-date=18 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403174628/http://ffk-kosova.com/2017/03/21/perfaqesuesja-u21-udheton-neser-ne-mengjes-ne-dublin/|archive-date=3 April 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> he was an unused substitute in that match.
===Senior=== On 23 December 2019, Halimi confirmed that he received a call-up from Kosovo for a friendly match against Sweden, but was unable to join the national team due to injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koha.net/en/sport/portieri-betim-halimi-merr-ftese-nga-kosova|title=Goalkeeper Betim Halimi receives an invitation from Kosovo|quote=Betim Halimi has received an invitation for the first time from the Kosovo representative in football, but the latest injury will deny him the collection and maybe even his debut with Dardanians|publisher=Koha Ditore|date=23 December 2019}}</ref> On 17 March 2021, he received again a call-up from Kosovo for the friendly match against Lithuania and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Sweden and Spain,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ffk-ks.com/challandes-publikon-listen-e-futbollisteve-per-ndeshjet-e-marsit/|title=Challandes publikon listën e futbollistëve për ndeshjet e marsit|trans-title=Challandes publishes the list of footballers for the March matches|language=sq|publisher=Football Federation of Kosovo|date=17 March 2021}}</ref> but he was an unused substitute in these matches. His debut with Kosovo came on 11 June 2021 in a friendly match against Gambia after being named in the starting line-up.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://klankosova.tv/kosova-gambia-formacioni-zyrtar-daku-perseri-startues/|title=Kosova – Gambia, formacioni zyrtar, Daku përsëri startues|trans-title=Kosovo – Gambia, official formation, Daku starting again|language=sq|publisher=Klan Kosova|date=11 June 2021}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|13 January 2022|<ref>{{Soccerway}}</ref>}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Drita |2015–16 |rowspan="4"|Kosovo Superleague |15||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||19||0 |- |Hajvalia |rowspan="2"|2016–17 |3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- |rowspan="2"|Drita |13||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||13||0 |- |2017–18 |9||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||9||0 |- |rowspan="2"|Narva Trans |2018 |Meistriliiga |7||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||9||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !47!!0!!6!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!53!!0 |- |rowspan="4"|Olimpik Donetsk |2018–19 |rowspan="3"|Ukrainian Premier League |3||0||0||0||1{{efn|All appearance(s) in 2018–19 Ukrainian Premier League relegation round}}||0||4||0 |- |2019–20 |4||0||0||0||2{{efn|All appearance(s) in 2019–20 Ukrainian Premier League relegation round}}||0||6||0 |- |2020–21 |8||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||9||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !15!!0!!1!!0!!3!!0!!19!!0 |- |Prishtina |2021–22 |Kosovo Superleague |16||0||1||0||1{{efn|Appearance in 2021 Kosovar Supercup}}||0||18||0 |- |Kukësi |2022–23 |Kategoria Superiore |3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !81!!0!!7!!0!!4!!0!!93!!0 |} {{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerway}}
{{SC Gjilani squad}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Halimi, Betim}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:People from Viti, Kosovo Category:Footballers from the District of Gjilan Category:Kosovan men's footballers Category:Kosovo men's international footballers Category:Kosovan expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Estonia Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Estonia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Ukraine Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Ukraine Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Albania Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Albania Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Football Superleague of Kosovo players Category:First Football League of Kosovo players Category:KF Vllaznia Pozheran players Category:FC Drita players Category:FC Hajvalia players Category:FC Prishtina players Category:SC Gjilani players Category:Meistriliiga players Category:JK Narva Trans players Category:Ukrainian Premier League players Category:FC Olimpik Donetsk players Category:Kategoria Superiore players Category:FK Kukësi players