Isnik Alimi

{{Short description|Footballer (born 1994)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Isnik Alimi | image = Isnik Alimi.jpg | upright = | caption = Alimi with Maceratese | full_name = Isnik Alimi<ref>[http://president.al/?p=27411 Dekret për dhënie të shtetësisë shqiptare nr. 9122] President.al</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|2|2|df=y}} | birth_place = Delogoždi, Macedonia | height = 1.86 m | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Dalian Yingbo | clubnumber = 4 | youthyears1 = 2001–2010 | youthclubs1 = Vllaznimi Struga | youthyears2 = 2010–2011 | youthclubs2 = Ohrid | youthyears3 = 2013–2014 | youthclubs3 = Chievo | years1 = 2011 | clubs1 = Ohrid | caps1 = 14 | goals1 = 2 | years2 = 2012–2013 | clubs2 = Novigrad | caps2 = 4 | goals2 = 2 | years3 = 2014–2015 | clubs3 = Chievo | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2014–2015 | clubs4 = → Lumezzane (loan) | caps4 = 26 | goals4 = 2 | years5 = 2015–2021 | clubs5 = Atalanta | caps5 = 0 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2015–2016 | clubs6 = → Maceratese (loan) | caps6 = 13 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2016–2017 | clubs7 = → Forlì (loan) | caps7 = 29 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2017–2018 | clubs8 = → Vicenza (loan) | caps8 = 30 | goals8 = 1 | years9 = 2018–2019 | clubs9 = → Rimini (loan) | caps9 = 31 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2019–2020 | clubs10 = → Imolese (loan) | caps10 = 23 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2020–2021 | clubs11 = → Šibenik (loan) | caps11 = 24 | goals11 = 0 | years12 = 2021–2023 | clubs12 = Gabala | caps12 = 61 | goals12 = 17 | years13 = 2023–2025 | clubs13 = Sepsi OSK | caps13 = 45 | goals13 = 10 | years14 = 2025– | clubs14 = Dalian Yingbo | caps14 = 38 | goals14 = 1 | nationalyears1 = 2011–2012 | nationalteam1 = Macedonia U19 | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 2 | nationalyears2 = 2014–2016 | nationalteam2 = Albania U21 | nationalcaps2 = 6 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2023– | nationalteam3 = North Macedonia | nationalcaps3 = 16 | nationalgoals3 = 2 | club-update = 31 May 2026 | nationalteam-update = 12 June 2025 }} '''Isnik Alimi''' ({{langx|mk|Исник Алими}}; born 2 February 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Chinese Super League club Dalian Yingbo and for the North Macedonia national team. A former international for Macedonia U19, he played for the Albania U21 in a pair of friendlies before switching back to play for the North Macedonia national team in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ffm.mk/isnik-alimi-novo-ime-vo-a-reprezentacijata-na-makedonija-|title=Исник Алими ново име во А репрезентацијата на Македонија|trans-title=Isnik Alimi is a new name in the national A team of Macedonia|language=mk|publisher=Football Federation of Macedonia|date=7 September 2023}}</ref>

==Club career== ===Early career - FK Ohrid=== Born in Delogoždi ({{langx|sq|Dollogozhda}}) a village based in Struga Municipality, Alimi started his youth career aged 7 with Macedonian side Vllaznimi Struga.<ref>[http://www.dollogozhda.eu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=407 Talent Futbolli: Isnik Alimi një futbollist që premton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714201428/http://www.dollogozhda.eu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=407 |date=14 July 2014 }} Dollogozhda.eu</ref> In 2010, he moved at FK Ohrid and in 2011 he was promoted to the first team. On 30 July 2011, Alimi made his debut with the first team coming as a substitute in place of Aleksandar Dalčeski in second-half's start of the match finished in a 2–0 away loss against Renova for the Macedonian First League championship.<ref>[https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/07/30/macedonia-fyr/first-league/renova/fk-ohrid-2004/1147254/ Renova vs. Ohrid - 30 July 2011] Soccerway</ref>

===Chievo=== In 2013, he moved abroad for the first time joining Serie A side Chievo. He stood for a year season with Primavera team.

With Primvaera team he won Italian Superleague, he score a goal against Juventus in the first game, also mark the goal against Fiorentina in the semifinals, he helped lead his team to winning the championship because Isnik Alimi was the team captain and key player. He had 21 matches and 10 goals with Primavera team.

====Loan to Lumezzane==== On 6 August 2014, the Lega Pro Prima Divisione side A.C. Lumezzane, announced to have signed Alimi from Chievo on loan mode.<ref>[http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/lega-pro/ufficiale-lumezzane-arriva-alimi-dal-chievo-verona-581424 UFFICIALE: Lumezzane, arriva Alimi dal Chievo Verona] TUTTO MERCATO WEB: calciomercato 24H</ref>

He made it his professional debut on 31 August 2014, playing as a starter in the opening match of the Lega Pro against Pordenone, finished in the clean 2–0 victory.<ref>[https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/08/31/italy/serie-c1/ac-lumezzane/pordenone-calcio-ssd/1893073/ Lumezzane vs. Pordenone - 31 August 2014] Soccerway</ref>

He finished his first half of the season with Lumezzane with 12 appearances, 8 as a starter and 4 coming on as a substitute.

Alimi scored his first goal for Lumezzane in the opening match of the year 2015 against Novara valid for the 19th game week, played on 6 January and finished in the away 3–1 victory, in where Alimi scored the second goal for 2–0 result in the 45th minute in the end of first half.<ref>[https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/01/06/italy/serie-c1/novara-calcio/ac-lumezzane/1893433/ Novara vs. Lumezzane - 6 January 2015] Soccerway</ref>

Alimi concluded the 2014–15 season making in total 27 appearances, from where 21 in the starting line up, scored 2 goals and provided 3 assists.

===Atalanta=== After one-year loaned to Lumezzane, Alimi got returned to Chievo, but on 26 June 2015 he signed with the fellow Serie A team Atalanta B.C. a 4-years contract.<ref>[http://minuta90.com/alimi-firmos-te-atalanta/ Futbollisti i Shpresave Isnik Alimi firmos te Atalanta] minuta90.com</ref>

====Loan to Maceratese==== In the closing day of the 2015 Summer Transfers Window Alimi got loaned out to the Lega Pro just promoted side S.S. Maceratese 1922.<ref>[http://www.atalanta.it/site/paginalive/prima-squadra/Stagione-2015-2016/2015-08/31-08-Ultimo-giorno-di-mercato--le-operazioni-dell-Atalanta.html Ultimo giorno di mercato, le operazioni dell'Atalanta] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904045129/http://www.atalanta.it/site/paginalive/prima-squadra/Stagione-2015-2016/2015-08/31-08-Ultimo-giorno-di-mercato--le-operazioni-dell-Atalanta.html |date=4 September 2015 }} Atalanta.it</ref>

====Loan to Vicenza==== In the 2017 Summer Transfers Window, Alimi was loaned out for the third time to Lega Pro at Vicenza.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vicenzacalcio.com/isnik-alimi-e-luca-milesi-in-biancorosso/|title=ISNIK ALIMI E LUCA MILESI IN BIANCOROSSO|date=22 July 2017|accessdate=26 July 2017|publisher=Vicenza Calcio|language=Italian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023010909/http://www.vicenzacalcio.com/isnik-alimi-e-luca-milesi-in-biancorosso/|archive-date=23 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Loan to Imolese==== On 9 August 2019, he joined Serie C club Imolese on a season-long loan.<ref>{{cite press release|publisher=Imolese|url=http://www.imolesecalcio1919.it/2019/08/09/ufficiale-alimi-in-prestito-dallatalanta/|title=UFFICIALE: ALIMI IN PRESTITO DALL'ATALANTA|date=9 August 2019|language=Italian|access-date=17 September 2019|archive-date=30 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230171426/http://www.imolesecalcio1919.it/2019/08/09/ufficiale-alimi-in-prestito-dallatalanta/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Loan to Šibenik==== On 18 September 2020, Alimi joined Croatian First Football League club HNK Šibenik on a season-long loan.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=HNK Šibenik|url=https://hnk-sibenik.hr/2020/09/18/isnik-alimi-novi-je-igrac-hnk-sibenik/|title=ISNIK ALIMI NOVI JE IGRAČ HNK ŠIBENIK!|date=18 September 2020|accessdate=20 September 2020|language=Croatian|archive-date=5 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705131438/https://hnk-sibenik.hr/2020/09/18/isnik-alimi-novi-je-igrac-hnk-sibenik/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Gabala=== On 30 July 2021, Alimi signed a one-year contract with Gabala.<ref>{{cite web |title=İsnik Alimi "Qəbələ"də |url=http://gabalafc.az/az/xeber/isnik-alimi-qebele-de-5230 |website=gabalafc.az/ |publisher=Gabala FK |access-date=1 August 2021 |language=Azerbaijani |date=30 July 2021}}</ref> On 22 May 2022, Gabala announced that Alimi had signed a new one-year contract with the club.<ref>{{cite web |title="Qəbələ"də üç müqavilə |url=https://gabalafc.az/az/xeber/qebele-de-uc-muqavile-5622 |website=gabalafc.az/ |publisher=Gabala FK |access-date=5 June 2022 |language=Azerbaijani |date=22 May 2022}}</ref>

==International career== ===Albania=== Having played for Macedonia U19, Alimi was called up higher from Macedonia national under-21 football team for the friendly match against Israel on 13 August 2014, but he refused the invitation as he wanted to play for Albania instead at international level due to his ethnicity.<ref>[http://www.macedonianfootball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6777:u21-alimi-switches-for-albania-angelov-summoned&catid=33:international&Itemid=223 U21: Alimi switches for Albania, Angelov summoned] Macedonian Football | Macedonian Football .com - Makedonski Fudbal .com - Macedonian Football (soccer) website</ref><ref>[http://www.panorama-sport.com/kombetarja-u-21/talenti-i-kievos-kerkon-shqiperine-por-fshf-ja-hesht/ Talenti i Kievos kërkon Shqipërinë, por FSHF-ja hesht] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006065524/http://www.panorama-sport.com/kombetarja-u-21/talenti-i-kievos-kerkon-shqiperine-por-fshf-ja-hesht/ |date=6 October 2014 }} Panorama Sport</ref> On 24 September 2014 proceedings were begun to give him the Albanian passport to be eligible to play for Albania at an international level.<ref>[http://shqiperia.ch/?p=210#prettyPhoto Isnik Alimi përforcimi më i ri i Kombëtares U-21] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006115750/http://shqiperia.ch/?p=210#prettyPhoto |date=6 October 2014 }} Shqiperia.ch</ref> He received his first call up for Albania by Skënder Gega, the Albania national under-21 football team coach for the Friendly match against Romania U21 on 8 October 2014.<ref>[http://fshf.org/index.php/sq/lajme/2606-u-21-ben-gati-miqesoren-kunder-rumanise U-21 ben gati miqesoren kunder Rumanise] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807023957/http://fshf.org/index.php/sq/lajme/2606-u-21-ben-gati-miqesoren-kunder-rumanise |date=7 August 2017 }} FSHF.org</ref>

He made his debut for Albania U21 in the Friendly match against Romania U21 on 8 October 2014 by playing as a starter in a 3–1 loss, where he started his team's first attempt to the goal of in the 11th minute by running from the midfield and shooting as soon as he got close to the 16-meters area, a shot which was put by the Romania U21s' goalkeeper in the corner kick.<ref>[http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/shpresat-munden-ne-rumani-deshton-armata-e-geges/ Shpresat munden në Rumani, dështon “armata” e Gegës] Panorama Sport "Gjithsesi, janë tanët që rrezikojnë të parët me anë të Isnik Alimit. Është minuta e 11-të dhe sulmuesi strugan gjen një hapësirë në gjysmëfushën e vendësve dhe lëshohet drejt portës, duke gjuajtur në hyrje të saj. Por portieri i Rumanisë, Kojokaru, arrin që të grushtojë në goditje këndi..."</ref>

Alimi was called up for the first time to participate in a competitive match, the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification opening match against Liechtenstein U21 on 28 March 2015,<ref>[http://asport.al/shpresat-nisin-kualifikimet-kunder-lihtenshtajnit/ Shpresat nisin kualifikimet kundër Lihtenshtajnit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417033744/http://asport.al/shpresat-nisin-kualifikimet-kunder-lihtenshtajnit/ |date=17 April 2016 }} aSport.al</ref> however, Alimi failed to play in this match as he was ineligible due to the absence of respective documents.

==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{updated|match played 31 May 2026}}<ref name="sw">{{Soccerway|isnik-alimi/199041}}</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"|National Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other{{efn|Appearances in Serie C-Relegation play-offs}}{{efn|Appearances in Supercupa României}} !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Ohrid |2011–12 |1. MFL |14||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||2 |- |Novigrad |2012–13 |2. NL |4||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4||2 |- |Lumezzane (loan) |2014–15 |Lega Pro |26||2||2||1||colspan="2"|—||1||0||29||3 |- |Maceratese (loan) |2015–16 |Lega Pro |13||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||0 |- |Forlì (loan) |2016–17 |Lega Pro |29||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2||1||31||1 |- |Vicenza (loan) |2017–18 |Serie C |30||1||3||0||colspan="2"|—||2||1||35||2 |- |Rimini (loan) |2018–19 |Serie C |31||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||2||1||35||1 |- |Imolese (loan) |2019–20 |Serie C |23||0||3||1||colspan="2"|—||2||0||28||1 |- |Šibenik (loan) |2020–21 |HNL |24||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Gabala |2021–22 |Azerbaijan Premier League |27||8||5||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||10 |- |2022–23 |Azerbaijan Premier League |34||9||5||3||2{{efn|Appearances and goals in the UEFA Europa Conference League|name=UECL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||41||12 |- !colspan="2"|Total !61!!17!!10!!5!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!73!!22 |- |rowspan="3"|Sepsi OSK |2023–24 |Liga I |28||6||3||0||6||3||0||0||37||9 |- |2024–25 |Liga I |17||4||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||4 |- !colspan="2"|Total !45!!10!!4!!0!!6!!3!!0!!0!!55!!13 |- |rowspan="3"|Dalian Yingbo |2025 |Chinese Super League |25||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||0 |- |2026 |Chinese Super League |13||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !38!!1!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!39!!1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !338!!35!!27!!7!!8!!3!!9!!3!!382!!48 |} {{notelist}}

===International=== {{updated|match played 17 November 2024}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/92143/Isnik_Alimi.html|title=Isnik Alimi|website=national-football-teams}}</ref> {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=3|North Macedonia |- |2023||5||0 |- |2024||8||2 |- !colspan=2|Total!!13!!2 |- |}

:''As of match played 13 October 2024. North Macedonia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Alimi goal.''<ref name="sw"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition |- !scope=col|No. !scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Cap !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition |- !scope=row|1 |10 June 2024||Malšovická aréna, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic||align=center|7||{{fb|Czech Republic}}||align=center|'''1'''–1||align=center|1–2||Friendly |- !scope=row|2 |13 October 2024||Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia||align=center|11||{{fb|Armenia}}||align=center|'''2'''–0||align=center|2–0||2024–25 UEFA Nations League C |}

==Honours== '''Gabala''' *Azerbaijan Cup: 2022–23 '''Sepsi OSK''' *Supercupa României: 2023

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *{{Soccerway|isnik-alimi/199041}} *{{UEFA player|250043097}} *{{Worldfootball.net|isnik-alimi|new_id=pe259223}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alimi, Isnik}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:Macedonian people of Albanian descent Category:People from Struga Municipality Category:Albanian men's footballers Category:21st-century Albanian sportsmen Category:Macedonian men's footballers Category:21st-century Macedonian sportsmen Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Macedonian First Football League players Category:Second Football League (Croatia) players Category:Serie C players Category:KF Vllaznimi Struga players Category:FK Ohrid players Category:NK Novigrad players Category:AC ChievoVerona players Category:FC Lumezzane players Category:SS Maceratese 1922 players Category:Forlì FC players Category:LR Vicenza players Category:Rimini FC 1912 players Category:Imolese Calcio 1919 players Category:Qabala İK players Category:Azerbaijan Premier League players Category:Croatian Football League players Category:HNK Šibenik players Category:Liga I players Category:Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe players Category:Chinese Super League players Category:Dalian Yingbo F.C. players Category:North Macedonia men's youth international footballers Category:Albania men's under-21 international footballers Category:North Macedonia men's international footballers Category:Albanian expatriate men's footballers Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in Croatia Category:Albanian expatriate sportspeople in China Category:Macedonian expatriate men's footballers Category:Macedonian expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Macedonian expatriate sportspeople in Romania Category:Macedonian expatriate sportspeople in China Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Romania Category:Expatriate men's footballers in China