Blerim Nexhmi Rrustemi (Serbo-Croatian: Blerim Nexhmi Rustemi/Блерим Неџми Рустеми; born 4 February 1983) is an Albanian footballer from Kosovo, who plays as a defender. Rrustemi prefers play as a defensive midfielder, but played in defense for Alki Larnaca and the Albania National Team. He currently plays for German amateur side 1. FC Viersen.

Blerim Rrustemi
Personal information
Full name Blerim Nexhmi Rrustemi
Date of birth (1983-02-04) 4 February 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth Vushtrri, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 12 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
1. FC Viersen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 CS Azzuri
2000–2001 Toronto Supra
2001–2002 Portuguesa
2002–2004 Defensor Sporting 45 (5)
2004–2007 Borussia Mönchengladbach II 51 (2)
2007–2008 AC Horsens 2 (0)
2008 Rot-Weiss Erfurt 7 (1)
2008–2009 Alki Larnaca 12 (2)
2009–2010 Vllaznia 9 (0)
2010–2011 FC Wegberg-Beeck 27 (4)
2011–2013 Goslarer SC 54 (4)
2013 SSVg Velbert 13 (2)
2014 Germania Ratingen 04/19 18 (2)
2014–2015 Rheydter SV 22 (9)
2015–2019 SC Union Nettetal 104 (10)
2019– 1. FC Viersen 6 (0)
International career
2007 Albania 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 October 2019

Club career

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As a youngster, he has attended and played for Weston Collegiate Institute high-school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While in Toronto, he has played for CS Azzuri in 1999–2000 and the Toronto Supra in 2000–2001 which are both teams of the Canadian Professional Soccer League. He has also played for different Albanian teams in Toronto.[1]

He moved to South America, playing for Portuguesa of Brasil in 2001–2002 and Defensor Sporting of Uruguay in 2002–2004.

Then he come back to Europe where he played between 2004 and 2008 in Germany at amateur teams Borussia Mönchengladbach II and Rot-Weiß Erfurt and couple of months in Denmark first division for AC Horsens. In 2008–2009 he played in Cyprus first division at Alki Larnaca. He signed for the Albanian team KS Vllaznia in October 2009.

Spending the latter years of hius career in the German lower leagues, he joined 1. FC Viersen from SC Union Nettetal in summer 2019.[2]

International career

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Though originating from Kosovo like many players of Albanian ethnicity, he chose the Albania national football team. He received the Albanian citizenship on 23 March 2007.[3] He made his debut for Albania in an August 2007 friendly match against Malta and earned a total of 3 caps, scoring no goals. His final international was a November 2007 European Championship qualification match against Belarus.[4]

Privates

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He holds Albanian and Canadian passports.

References

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  1. ^ "Canucks in Germany - September 2006 | BigSoccer Forum". Bigsoccer.com. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  2. ^ 1. FC Viersen verpflichtet Blerim Rrustemi - RP Online (in German)
  3. ^ "PËR DHËNIE TË SHTETËSISË SHQIPTARE" [FOR GIVING THE ALBANIAN CITIZENSHIP] (in Albanian). Qendra e Botimeve Zyrtare. 23 March 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
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