FC Goa sign striker Armando Sadiku

FC Goa are looking strong with their new foreign additions to their squad.

FC Goa have announced the signing of Armando Sadiku for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The 33-year-old Albanian is the club’s third new foreign signing of the summer, following the arrivals of midfielders Iker Guarrotxena and Dejan Dražić.

Sadiku expressed his excitement about joining FC Goa, saying, “I am thrilled to join FC Goa, a team I consider to be among the best in India. I have heard only good things about the Club and the place from everyone I’ve spoken to.

“Having played against Goa last season, I experienced firsthand the quality and strong defensive organization of the team. After speaking with Coach Manolo and CEO Ravi Puskur and understanding their plans for the season, I was fully convinced. I know Coach Manolo from his time at UD Las Palmas in Spain, and I believe his mentality will greatly benefit me this season.

‘My goal is to contribute in every possible way to help the team win all the trophies we are competing for and to score more goals than I did in my first season in India,” he added.

Head Coach Manolo Marquez is equally enthusiastic about the signing, stating, “Armando is an experienced striker with a remarkable track record in various countries. He has represented the Albanian National Team and possesses great physical strength, a powerful shot, high mobility, and a competitive spirit. These qualities will significantly strengthen our squad.”

Born in the Albanian city of Cërrik, Armando Sadiku made his professional debut with KF Turbina, playing two seasons in the second tier of the Albanian Football League system. In 2009, he joined KS Gramozi in the Albanian top flight, where he had a breakthrough year, scoring eight goals and earning a move to KF Elbasani.

Sadiku then moved to Switzerland, initially joining FC Locarno. He quickly made his mark in the second-tier Swiss Challenge League, becoming the top scorer in his first full season in 2011-12. In July 2012, he transferred to FC Lugano, securing another top-scorer title with 20 goals. In November 2013, he joined FC Zürich in the top division, winning the 2013-14 and 2015-16 Swiss Cup. A loan stint with FC Vaduz followed, where he helped the team retain their top-flight status.

The striker then returned to FC Lugano in January 2017, this time in the Swiss Super League, where he continued his impressive form, scoring in five consecutive league matches and helping the team qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

There’s no place like Goa! Welcome Armando 😍🌴🔥 pic.twitter.com/kjRvUrsNLb

— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) July 24, 2024

In July 2017, he signed a contract with Polish Ekstraklasa side Legia Warsaw, scoring in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round and the Polish Cup on his debut. Six months later, he joined LaLiga outfit Levante, becoming only the second Albanian to play in the Spanish top flight.

After returning to Legia and winning the league and the Polish Cup, he returned to Lugano once again, followed by stints with Málaga CF in the Segunda División, BB Erzurumspor in the Turkish Süper Lig and Bolivian giants Club Bolívar, where he debuted in the 2021 Copa Libertadores.

Sadiku returned to Spain in July 2021, signing a one-year contract with UD Las Palmas, followed by a move to FC Cartagena. In June 2023, he debuted in Indian football with Mohun Bagan Super Giant, scoring his first goal for the team in the AFC Cup playoff round and netting the winner in the Durand Cup 2023 semi-final against his new team, FC Goa.

He finished the 2023-24 season with 11 goals and an assist in 35 matches, winning the Durand Cup and the Indian Super League (ISL) Shield with the Mariners.

Armando Sadiku has represented Albania at various levels on the international stage, scoring his first senior international goal in the FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers.

He was instrumental in securing Albania’s place in UEFA Euro 2016, where he scored against Romania, leading his team to a historic 1-0 win – their first in a major football competition. Overall, the 33-year-old has played nearly 500 matches for club and country, scoring over 175 goals and providing 30 assists.

🥇 ISL Shield, Durand Cup, Polish top-division, Polish Cup, Swiss Cup (2x) champion⚽ 2x top-scorer, Swiss Challenge League🎉 Scored the goal that helped Albania qualify for their first-ever UEFA Euro⭐ Netted the winner to gift Albania their first-ever win in a major… pic.twitter.com/hjqhRUDLxm

— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) July 25, 2024

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