{{short description|Croatian former professional footballer (born 1964)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Kujtim Shala | image = | fullname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1964|7|13}} | birth_place = Prizren, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia | height = 1.82 m | position = Midfielder | currentclub = | years1 = 1981–1983 | clubs1 = Liria Prizren | caps1 = 22 | goals1 = 3 | years2 = 1983–1984 | clubs2 = Partizan | caps2 = 24 | goals2 = 2 | years3 = 1984–1989 | clubs3 = Prishtina | caps3 = 112 | goals3 = 25 | years4 = 1989–1991 | clubs4 = Dinamo Zagreb | caps4 = 45 | goals4 = 16 | years5 = 1991–1992 | clubs5 = Rennes | caps5 = 27 | goals5 = 5 | years6 = 1992–1993 | clubs6 = Stuttgarter Kickers | caps6 = 33 | goals6 = 10 | years7 = 1993–1995 | clubs7 = Chemnitzer FC | caps7 = 42 | goals7 = 8 | years8 = 1995–1996 | clubs8 = Fortuna Düsseldorf | caps8 = 15 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 1996–1998 | clubs9 = VfB Leipzig | caps9 = 50 | goals9 = 2 | years10 = 1998–2000 | clubs10 = VfR Mannheim | caps10 = 53 | goals10 = 9 | totalcaps = 423 | totalgoals = 80 | nationalyears1 = 1990 | nationalteam1 = Croatia XI | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = 2005 | managerclubs1 = FC Hochstätt Türkspor | manageryears2 = 2005–2006 | managerclubs2 = Prishtina | manageryears3 = 2008 | managerclubs3 = VfR Mannheim (youth) | manageryears4 = 2014 | managerclubs4 = SVN Zweibrücken (assistant) }}
'''Kujtim Shala''' ({{langx|hr|Kujtim Šalja}}; born 13 July 1964) is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in Yugoslavia, he represented Croatia at international level.
==International career== Shala made one appearance for the Croatia national team in a 2–1 win against the United States on 17 October 1990,<ref name="index.hr">{{cite web | url=http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/shala-zelim-prvu-utakmicu-igrati-protiv-hrvatske/375334.aspx | title=Shala: Želim prvu utakmicu igrati protiv Hrvatske! | work=Index.hr | date=21 February 2008 | language=Croatian | accessdate=23 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="cff">{{cite web|title=Kujtim Shala|url=http://hns-cff.hr/en/players/113575/kujtim-shala/|website=Croatian Football Federation|accessdate=13 October 2017}}</ref> during a friendly match before the Croatian Football Federation was affiliated by FIFA in 1992.
==Coaching career== Shala was the head coach of FC Prishtina in Kosovar Superliga. But after FC Prishtina failed to win the Kosovar Superliga, he was sacked.
In 2008 he was almost selected as head coach of the Kosovo national football team.<ref>[https://rp-online.de/sport/fussball/fortuna/shala-mannheim-statt-kosovo_aid-11546949 Shala: Mannheim statt Kosovo] - RP online {{in lang|de}}</ref> Shala was named assistant to manager Guido Hoffmann at SVN Zweibrücken in October 2014.<ref>[https://www.rheinpfalz.de/lokal/zweibruecken_artikel,-gemeinsam-zum-erfolg-finden-_arid,219166.html Gemeinsam zum Erfolg finden] - Die Rheinpfalz {{in lang|de}}</ref>
==Personal life== Shala was born in Prizren, SFR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo) and is of Albanian descent.<ref name="rp">{{cite news|title=Shala: Mannheim statt Kosovo|url=http://www.rp-online.de/sport/fussball/fortuna/shala-mannheim-statt-kosovo-aid-1.1129435|accessdate=13 October 2017|work=Rheinische Post|date=1 October 2008|language=German}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=MCYS – support to Albanians in Croatia|url=http://www.mkrs-ks.org/?page=2,6,1250|website=Republic of Kosovo|accessdate=13 October 2017|date=6 April 2016}}</ref> One of his two sons is fellow footballer Andis Shala.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=2&nid=2930&cd=2008&cd1=6|title=Dundee United confirm signings|date=17 June 2008|publisher=Dundee United FC|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217095634/http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=2&nid=2930&cd=2008&cd1=6|archivedate=17 February 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{sports links}}
{{Kosovo national football team managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shala, Kujtim}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Prizren Category:Kosovo Albanians Category:Croatian people of Albanian descent Category:Croatian people of Kosovan descent Category:Kosovan emigrants to Croatia Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Yugoslav men's footballers Category:Croatian men's footballers Category:Croatia men's international footballers Category:Kosovan men's footballers Category:KF Liria Prizren players Category:FK Partizan players Category:FC Prishtina players Category:GNK Dinamo Zagreb players Category:Stade Rennais FC players Category:Stuttgarter Kickers players Category:Chemnitzer FC players Category:Fortuna Düsseldorf players Category:1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig players Category:VfR Mannheim players Category:Yugoslav First League players Category:Ligue 1 players Category:Bundesliga players Category:2. Bundesliga players Category:Kosovan expatriate men's footballers Category:Croatian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in France Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in France Category:Croatian football managers Category:Kosovan football managers Category:FC Prishtina managers Category:Government ministers of Kosovo Category:Shala (tribe)
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