Esi Lufo
 Lufo in 2020 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10 September 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Tirana, Albania | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | TRU WolfPack | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | TRU WolfPack | 14 | (1) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2018 | Kinostudio | 46 | (52) |
| 2019 | Tirana AS | 12 | (15) |
| 2019–2022 | Vllaznia | 63 | (68) |
| 2023 | Rivers FC | 11 | (5) |
| 2023–2024 | Vllaznia | 9 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2017–2019 | Albania U19 | 10 | (1) |
| 2019– | Albania | 15 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 June 2024 | |||
Esi Lufo (born 10 September 2001) is an Albanian footballer who plays as a forward for the TRU WolfPack in the Canadian university system and the Albania women's national team.
Early life
[edit]Lufo began playing football at the age of 5.[1]
University career
[edit]In 2020, she had been set to attend the University of Charleston and play for the women's soccer team, but ultimately did not play.[2]
In 2023, she moved to Canada to attend Thompson Rivers University, where she will play for the women's soccer team.[3][4] On September 16, 2023, she scored her first goal in a match against the Saskatchewan Huskies.[5]
Club career
[edit]Lufo began her senior career with Kinostudio in the Albanian Women's National Championship, where she played for three years.[6] She made her professional debut at age 14.[7]
Afterwards, she joined Tirana.[8]
In 2019, she joined Vllaznia, the top club in the Albanian league.[9]
In 2023, she joined Rivers FC in League1 British Columbia.[10] She scored in her debut on April 30 against Altitude FC.[11]
In November 2023, she returned to Vllaznia.[12]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Kinostudio | 2016–17 | Kategoria Superiore Femra | 18 | 21 | 2 | 2 | — | 20 | 23 | |
| 2017–18 | 18 | 19 | 2 | 2 | — | 20 | 21 | |||
| 2018–19 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 12 | |||
| Total | 46 | 52 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 56 | ||
| Tirana | 2018–19 | Kategoria Superiore Femra | 12 | 15 | 2 | 1 | — | 14 | 16 | |
| Vllaznia | 2019–20 | Kategoria Superiore Femra | 18 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 26 | 24 |
| 2020–21 | 18 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 16 | ||
| 2021–22 | 19 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 24 | ||
| 2022–23 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 6 | ||
| Total | 63 | 68 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 81 | 70 | ||
| Rivers FC | 2023[11] | League1 British Columbia | 11 | 5 | — | — | 11 | 5 | ||
| Vllaznia | 2023–24 | Kategoria Superiore Femra | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Total | 141 | 141 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 165 | 148 | ||
International
[edit]- As of match played 4 June 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 2019 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 15 | 1 | |
International career
[edit]She made her debut with the Albania U19 team in a friendly against Montenegro U19.[15]
She scored her first senior international goal against Armenia in a 5-0 World Cup qualifying victory.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "Lufo: Unë jam krenare dhe falënderuese që jam pjesë e një familje të tillë si Vllaznia" [Lufo: I am proud and grateful to be part of a family like Vllaznia]. ShkodraSport (in Albanian). 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Esi Lufo Charleston Golden Eagles profile". Charleston Golden Eagles.
- ^ "Albanian soccer star Lufo brings Champions League experience to WolfPack". TRU Wolfpack. 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Lufo to bring Champions League experience to WolfPack". Kamloops This Week. 12 February 2023.
- ^ "Hard-luck WolfPack dealt defeat on the road". TRU WolfPack. 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Kur dashuria për futbollin i mund fjalët! Historia e Esi Lufos, luftëtares kuqezi që frymëzohet nga Ibra" [When love for football beats words! The story of Esi Lufo, the red and black warrior who is inspired by Ibra]. Albanian Football Association (in Albanian). 8 March 2022.
- ^ Alexander, Emily (9 February 2023). "Albanian soccer star joins TRU WolfPack". Kamloops Now.
- ^ Omeri, Klesiana (3 March 2019). "Të guximshmet e fushës së blertë! Vajzat e futbollit që nuk njohin pengesa" [The brave of the green field! Soccer girls who know no obstacles]. Shqiptarja (in Albanian).
- ^ Trent, Tyler (9 March 2023). "A New Adventure – The Story of Albanian Forward Esi Lufo". The WoSo Collective.
- ^ @goRiversFC (12 February 2023). "Player Signing ✍🏼 Esi Lufo" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Esi Lufo 2023 L1BC Stats". League1 British Columbia.
- ^ Fortuzi, Arbi (25 November 2023). "Liga e Kombeve për vajza/ Sfidat e fundit të grupit ndaj Irlandës së Veriut e Hungarisë, Grima fton 20 futbolliste" [Women's League of Nations/ Final group challenges against Northern Ireland and Hungary, Grima invites 20 footballers]. Albanian Telegraphic Agency (in Albanian).
- ^ "Garat".
- ^ Esi Lufo at Soccerway
- ^ "Esi Lufo: Si e theva rekordin e Vllaznisë" [Esi Lufo: How I broke Vllaznia's record]. Panorama Sport (in Albanian). 17 March 2017.
- ^ Mima, Gjergji (24 November 2021). "Kombëtarja e femrave, Elezaj dhe Lufo: Vlerësim maksimal për kundërshtaret" [Women's national team, Elezaj and Lufo: Maximum rating for opponents]. Albanian Telegraphic Agency (in Albanian).
External links
[edit]- Esi Lufo at the Albanian Football Association (in Albanian and English)
- Esi Lufo at Soccerway
- Esi Lufo at TRU Wolfpack