Valentina Limani

Valentina Limani (born 2 February 1997) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a forward for German club Eintracht Frankfurt III and the Kosovo national team.

Valentina Limani
Limani with 1. FFC Frankfurt II in January 2017
Personal information
Full name Valentina Hiset Limani
Date of birth (1997-02-02) 2 February 1997
Place of birth Komogllavë, FR Yugoslavia[1]
Height 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Eintracht Frankfurt III
Number 24
Youth career
2009–2014 1. FFC Frankfurt
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2020 1. FFC Frankfurt II 104 (27)
2014–2018 1. FFC Frankfurt 2 (0)
2021– Eintracht Frankfurt III 1 (0)
International career‡
2017– Kosovo 23 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 September 2021
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 September 2021

Club career

Early career and period at second team

Limani was born in Komogllavë,[1] and raised in Germany in a family of footballers where her younger brother, Gentrit is footballer and one of the most important players in Kosovo national youth teams.[2] She at the age of twelve started playing football in 1. FFC Frankfurt. On 8 September 2013, Limani made her senior debut with 1. FFC Frankfurt II in a 0–2 home defeat against TSV Crailsheim after coming on as a substitute at 46th minute in place of Larissa Gördel.[3]

Promotion to the first team

On 10 July 2014, Limani was promoted and included in the list of first team players competing in the Bundesliga.[4] On 14 December 2014, she made her debut in a 0–4 away win against MSV Duisburg after coming on as a substitute at 87th minute in place of Verónica Boquete.[5]

Short retirement and return as part of the third team

On 4 November 2020, Limani confirmed through an interview that she has retired due to schooling and in football is expected to return as coach.[6] On 2 July 2021, Limani returned from retirement and joined Regionalliga side Eintracht Frankfurt III.[7] On 12 September 2021, she made her debut in a 4–2 home win against SV Gläserzell after being named in the starting line-up.[8]

International career

First period

On 27 February 2017, Limani was named as part of the Kosovo squad for 2017 Turkish Women's Cup.[9] On 1 March 2017, she made her debut with Kosovo in 2017 Turkish Women's Cup group stage match against Poland after being named in the starting line-up.[10] On 26 November 2017, Limani scored her first goal for Kosovo in her seventh appearance for the country in a 3–2 home minimal win over Montenegro.[11] Her last international match was on 10 March 2020 against Slovenia in Pristina.[12]

Second period

Kosovo is the reason why I came back to play football.

—Limani's reasoning for returning from retirement.[13]

On 14 February 2021, Limani upon return from retirement received a call-up from Kosovo for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification matches against Albania and Norway.[14] Two days later, she made her first match with Kosovo after return from retirement in 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification match against Albania after coming on as a substitute at 46th minute in place of Blerta Smaili and scored his side's only goal during a 1–1 away draw.[15]

Career statistics

Club
As of 12 September 2021[16]
Club Season League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1. FFC Frankfurt II 2013–14 2. Bundesliga Süd 2000—20
1. FFC Frankfurt 2014–15 Bundesliga 100016[lower-alpha 1]2172
1. FFC Frankfurt II 2015–16 2. Bundesliga Süd 20300—203
1. FFC Frankfurt 2016–17 Bundesliga 100022[lower-alpha 1]122312
1. FFC Frankfurt II 2017–18 2. Bundesliga Süd 10300—103
2018–19 2. Bundesliga 22500—225
2019–20 12200—122
Total 681300381410627
Eintracht Frankfurt II 2020–21 2. Bundesliga 00000000
Eintracht Frankfurt III 2021–22 Regionalliga 10000010
Career total 691300381410727
  1. Appearance(s) with 1. FFC Frankfurt II

International
As of 21 September 2021
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Kosovo
201771
201880
201941
202020
202121
Total233

International goals
As of 16 September 2021
Scores and results list Kosovo's goal tally first.
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef.
1. 26 November 2017 Adem Jashari Olympic Stadium, Mitrovica, Kosovo  Montenegro 1–1 3–2 Friendly [11]
2. 5 April 2019 Gjakova City Stadium, Gjakova, Kosovo  North Macedonia 2–0 3–1 [17]
3. 16 September 2021 Elbasan Arena, Elbasan, Albania  Albania 1–1 1–1 2023 FIFA World Cup qualification [15]

References
  1. "Valentina dhe Gentrit Limani u larguan nga Kosova në moshë të re, duke migruar në Gjermani, vend në të cilin filluan të merreshin me futboll. Por, pavarësisht shpërnguljes, ata nuk e harruan gjuhën dhe vendin e tyre të lindjes, për të cilin vendosën që të luajnë dhe janë rast unik që motër e vëlla luajnë për Kosovën" [Valentina and Gentrit Limani left Kosovo at a young age, migrating to Germany, where they started playing football. But, despite the move, they did not forget their language and country of birth, for which they decided to play and they are a unique case that brother and sister play for Kosovo]. Facebook (in Albanian). Kohavision. 17 June 2019.[self-published]
  2. "Dy dhjetëshet e Kosovës nga familja Limani" [Two tens of Kosovo from the Limani family] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 3 March 2017.
  3. "1. FFC Frankfurt II – TSV Crailsheim 0:2". WorldFootball.net. 8 September 2013.
  4. "Frankfurt zieht fünf Talente hoch" [Frankfurt attracts five talents]. Soccerdonna (in German). 10 July 2014.
  5. "MSV Duisburg – 1. FFC Frankfurt 0:4". WorldFootball.net. 14 December 2014.
  6. "Kapitenia 23-vjeçare e Kosovës lë sportin për shkollim" [The 23-year-old captain of Kosovo leaves the sport for schooling] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 4 November 2020.
  7. "Mit neuem Elan in die Saison" [With renewed vigor into the season] (in German). Eintracht Frankfurt. 2 July 2021.
  8. "Zufrieden ja, glücklich nein" [Satisfied yes, happy no] (in German). Eintracht Frankfurt. 12 September 2021.
  9. "Përfaqësuesja e femrave udhëtoi për në Turqi" [Women's national team traveled to Turkey] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 27 February 2017.
  10. "Kosova pësoi humbje nga Polonia" [Kosovo suffered losses from Poland] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 1 March 2017.
  11. "Kosova e fitoi miqësoren kundër Malit të Zi" [Kosovo won the friendly against Montenegro] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 26 November 2017.
  12. "Dardanet pësuan humbjen e radhës nga Sllovenia" [The Dardanians suffered another defeat from Slovenia] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 10 March 2020.
  13. "Kosova, arsyeja që Valentina Limani i kthehet sërish futbollit" [Kosovo, the reason that Valentina Limani returns to football] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 16 September 2021.
  14. "Dardanet përgatiten me optimizëm për ndeshjen ndaj Shqipërisë" [Dardanians are preparing with optimism for the match against Albania] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 14 September 2021.
  15. "Dardanet i nisin me barazim kundër Shqipërisë kualifikueset për Botëror" [The Dardanians start the World Cup qualifiers with a draw against Albania] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 16 September 2021.
  16. Valentina Limani at WorldFootball.net
  17. "Vashat e Kosovës ngadhënjyen ndaj atyre të Maqedonisë së Veriut" [The girls of Kosovo prevailed over those of North Macedonia] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 5 April 2019.
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