{{Short description|Albanian footballer (1939–2023)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Osman Mema | image = Osman Mema.jpg | caption = | full_name = Osman Mustafa Mema | birth_date = {{Birth date|1939|7|2|df=yes}} | birth_place = Tirana, Albania | death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|9|25|1939|7|2|df=yes}} | death_place = | height = | position = Defensive midfielder | youthyears1 = 1956–1958 | youthclubs1 = 17 Nëntori Tirana | years1 = 1958 | clubs1 = 17 Nëntori | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 1958–1965 | clubs2 = Partizani | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = 1965–1971 | clubs3 = 17 Nëntori | caps3 = | goals3 = | totalcaps = | totalgoals = | medaltemplates = }}
'''Osman Mema''' (2 July 1939 – 25 September 2023)<ref>https://shqiptarja.com/lajm/ndahet-nga-jeta-osman-mema-legjenda-e-futbollit-shqiptar-duka-humbem-nje-figure-me-vlera-te-medha</ref> was an Albanian professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is one of the most decorated players in the history of Albanian football, having won the Albanian National Championship seven times.
==Club career== Mema, like the rest of his siblings, was a product of 17 Nëntori Academy, earning his promotion in 1958 after winning two consecutive championships.<ref name="Osman Mema"/> Soon after that, he was called for the military service and joined the country's army team Partizani.<ref name="Osman Mema"/> Mema enjoyed great success there, playing with footballers such as Refik Resmja and Panajot Pano, winning the championship three times and the Republic Cup twice.<ref name="Osman Mema"/>
In 1965, at his father's request, Mema, who at that time was Partizani's most paid player, made a sensational return to 17 Nëntori winning four championships, where he stayed until 1971, the year in which he decided to end his career.<ref name="Osman Mema"/> He was able to play with his brother Ali in his second spell, helping the club to win three more league titles.<ref name="Osman Mema"/>
==Style of play== In his prime, Mema was noted for his acceleration, speed, stamina and work rate. He played as a defensive midfielder, but nevertheless he also tended to make runs forward, which also made him an attacking threat.<ref name="Osman Mema">{{cite web|url=https://tirona.website/osman-mema/|title=Osman Mema – Mjeshtër i Sportit – KF Tirona|trans-title=Osman Mema – Master of Sports – KF Tirona|publisher=Tirona|language=Albanian|date=4 March 2018|accessdate=5 April 2019|archive-date=7 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407013902/https://tirona.website/osman-mema/|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
==Personal life== Osman was part of the Mema dynasty,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://alva.al/dinastia-mema/|title=Dinastia "Mema"|trans-title="Mema" dynasty|publisher=Vlerat Shqiptare|language=Albanian|date=3 February 2019|accessdate=28 March 2019}}</ref> a family which has produced several footballers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top-channel.tv/2019/03/26/futbolli-shqiptar-ne-zi-ndahet-nga-jeta-ali-mema/|title=Futbolli shqiptar në zi, ndahet nga jeta Ali Mema|trans-title=Football is mourining|publisher=Top-Channel.tv|language=Albanian|date=26 March 2019|accessdate=27 March 2019}}</ref> His brothers Haxhi and Ali were both footballers, as well as his nephew and Haxhi's son Sulejman, and Ali's son Ardian, who was also a footballer who played mostly for Tirana and is currently its coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportekspres.com/zi-te-tirana-i-ati-i-ardian-memes-ndahet-nga-jeta/|title=Zi te Tirana, i ati i Ardian Memës ndahet nga jeta|trans-title=Tirana mourns, Ardian Mema's father has passed away|publisher=Sport Ekspres|language=Albanian|date=26 March 2019|accessdate=26 March 2019}}</ref>
Osman Mema died on 25 September 2023, at the age of 84.<ref>{{cite news |title=Albanian sport in mourning/ Osman Mema, former champion footballer with Tirana and Partizan, has passed away |url=https://pamfleti.net/english/sport/sporti-shqiptar-ne-zi-ndahet-nga-jeta-osman-mema-ish-futbollisti-kampion-m-i190038 |access-date=26 September 2023 |publisher=Pamfleti |date=26 September 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mema, Osman}} Category:1939 births Category:2023 deaths Category:Albanian men's footballers Category:Footballers from Tirana Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Kategoria Superiore players Category:KF Tirana players Category:FK Partizani Tirana players Category:20th-century Albanian sportsmen
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