{{short description|Kosovan footballer}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Kreshnik Uka | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|1|7|df=y}} | birth_place = Skënderaj, FR Yugoslavia | height = 1.80 m | position = Left winger | currentclub = Drenica | clubnumber = 28 | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2013 | youthclubs1 = Drenica | years1 = 2013–2019 | clubs1 = Drenica | caps1 = +46 | goals1 = +12 | years2 = 2019–2024 | clubs2 = Prishtina | caps2 = 49 | goals2 = 9 | years3 = 2021–2022 | clubs3 = → Drenica (loan) | caps3 = 27 | goals3 = 20 | years4 = 2024– | clubs4 = Drenica | caps4 = +16 | goals4 = +7 | club-update = 9 November 2025 }}
'''Kreshnik Uka''' (born 7 January 1995) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Drenica.<ref name="Soccerway">{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/uka-kreshnik/EkEjdoS9/|title=Kreshnik Uka|website=Soccerway|access-date=9 December 2025}}</ref>
== Club career == === Drenica === Uka was born in Skënderaj, in modern-day Kosovo, and started playing football with local club Drenica. After scoring eight goals and providing four assists in the 2018–19 Football Superleague of Kosovo for Drenica, he signed a three-year contract with FC Prishtina.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://indeksonline.net/en/zyrtare-prishtina-nenshkruan-me-super-sulmuesin-e-superliges/|title=Official: Prishtina signs with Super League super striker|publisher=indeksonline.net|language=English|date=5 June 2019|access-date=9 November 2025}}</ref>
=== Prishtina === Uka had limited game time at Prishtina<ref>{{cite news|url=https://orainfo.net/en/kreshnik-uka-flet-per-aventuren-e-tij-si-i-huazuar-te-drenica/|title=Kreshnik Uka talks about his adventure as a loanee at Drenica|publisher=Orainfo.net|date=5 May 2021|access-date=9 November 2025}}</ref> and was loaned back to Drenica in January 2021, signing a six-month contract with an option to extend his stay.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koha.net/en/sport/prishtina-huazon-uken-dhe-liron-gjashte-futbolliste|title=Prishtina borrows Uka and releases six footballers|publisher=Koha.net|date=7 January 2021|access-date=9 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/en/Drenica-introduces-Kreshnik-Uken-and-Dardan-Rogoven-warns-of-other-transfers/|title=Drenica introduces Kreshnik Uka and Dardan Rogova, announces other transfers|publisher=Telegrafi.com|date=8 January 2021|access-date=9 November 2025}}</ref>
=== Loan to Drenica === After scoring seven goals<ref>{{cite news|url=https://topsporti.com/futboll/top-gol/ffk-superliga-e-kosoves/2020-2021|title=Top golashënuesit Stinori 2020–2021|publisher=Topsporti.com|access-date=9 November 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210172802/https://topsporti.com/futboll/top-gol/ffk-superliga-e-kosoves/2020-2021|archive-date=10 December 2024}}</ref> in the second half of the 2020–21 Football Superleague of Kosovo and helping Drenica to survive in the top flight, he extended his stay in his hometown club for another season. He started the 2021–22 Football Superleague of Kosovo in top form, helping his team reach first place in mid-October.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/en/the-start-like-in-a-dream%2C-Kreshnik-ukes-this-season%2C-his-six-goals-make-Drenica-the-leader-in-the-bkt-superliga/|title=Kreshnik Uka's dream start this season, his six goals make Drenica the leader in BKT Superliga|publisher=Telegrafi.com|date=15 October 2021|access-date=9 November 2025}}</ref> He finished the season as runner-up in the league's top scorers list with 20 goals,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://topsporti.com/futboll/top-gol/ffk-superliga-e-kosoves/2021-2022|title=Top golashënuesit Stinori 2021–2022|publisher=Topsporti.com|access-date=9 November 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201211550/https://topsporti.com/futboll/top-gol/ffk-superliga-e-kosoves/2021-2022|archive-date=1 December 2024}}</ref> but Drenica ranked sixth, only two points above the relegation play-offs.
During this period he was also recognised individually by the Football Federation of Kosovo, which named him "Star of the Week" for round 9 of the 2021–22 BKT Superleague after he scored twice in a win over Feronikeli.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ffk-ks.com/kreshnik-ukaj-fiton-cmimin-ylli-i-javes/|title=Kreshnik Ukaj fiton çmimin "Ylli i javës"|website=Federata e Futbollit e Kosovës|date=18 October 2021|access-date=9 December 2025|language=sq}}</ref>
=== Return to Prishtina === Uka signed a new two-year contract with Prishtina in July 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/en/official-Kreshnik-uka-signed-Pristina/|title=Official: Kreshnik Uka signs with Pristina|publisher=Telegrafi.com|date=15 July 2022|access-date=9 November 2025}}</ref> Again, he was unable to reproduce in the capital the impressive form he had shown with Drenica. His contract was not extended when it expired in June 2024.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/en/exodus-to-Prishtina%2C-nine-players-and-two-coaches-leave/|title=Official: Exodus to Prishtina: Nine players and two coaches leave|publisher=Telegrafi.com|date=10 June 2024|access-date=9 November 2025}}</ref>
=== Back to Drenica === Uka signed again for his hometown club Drenica on 30 June 2024.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://indeksonline.net/en/fc-drenica-ne-ofensive-prezanton-prurjet-e-reja/|title=Official: FC Drenica on the "offensive", introduces new arrivals|publisher=indeksonline.net|language=English|date=30 June 2024|access-date=9 November 2025}}</ref> The team had been relegated for the first time in 2023 and failed in its attempt to win promotion the following season, so the main goal for Uka was to get them back to the top tier. The team achieved that on 11 May 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.koha.net/en/futboll/kthimi-i-drenices-ne-superlige-mision-i-realizuar|title=Drenica's return to the Super League – mission accomplished|publisher=Koha.net|date=11 May 2025|access-date=9 November 2025}}</ref>
In the following season, Uka remained one of Drenica's key attacking players. In November 2025 he was named "Star of the Week" for matchday 13 after scoring in a 2–0 win over Ballkani, an award presented by the Football Federation of Kosovo and league sponsor Albi Mall.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://telegrafi.com/en/He-excelled-in-the-victory-of-Drenica--Kreshnik-Uka-receives-the-Star-of-the-Week-award./|title=He shone in Drenica's victory, Kreshnik Uka receives the 'Star of the Week' award|publisher=Telegrafi.com|date=10 November 2025|access-date=9 December 2025|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://topsporti.com/kreshnik-uka-drenica-ylli-i-javes-13/|title=Kreshnik Uka (Drenica) — Ylli i javës (13)|website=Topsporti.com|date=10 November 2025|access-date=9 December 2025|language=sq}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Soccerway|new_id=uka-kreshnik/EkEjdoS9}}
Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Kosovan men's footballers Category:Football Superleague of Kosovo players Category:Men's association football wingers Category:KF Drenica players Category:FC Prishtina players