Vasillaq Zëri Explained

Vasillaq Zëri (4 August 1952 – 25 January 2019) was an Albanian footballer of Greek origin,^[1] who played as a striker.

Club career

Born in Tirana,^[2] Zëri started his career with hometown club Shkëndija^[3] and was part of the 'Golden Age' of Dinamo Tirana between 1974 and 1988, where under the guidance of Skënder Jareci the club dominated Albanian football, winning five championships and three Albanian Cups. Known for his dribbling skills^[4] and being able to play the ball with both feet, Zëri formed a successful offensive partnership with Ilir Përnaska and Shyqyri Ballgjini, which is considered to be the best offensive trio in Dinamo's history.^[5] Zëri impressed Ajax during Dinamo's 1980–81 European Cup clash with the Dutch giants and the latter insisted on buying him but they were told Albanian players were not allowed to move abroad.^[6]

International career

He made his debut for Albania on 3 November 1976 in the 3–0 friendly win versus Algeria^[7] and earned a total of 6 caps, scoring no goals. His final international was a September 1982 European Championship qualification match against Austria.^[8]

International statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Albania	1976	1	0
	1980	3	0
	1981	1	0
	1982	1	0
Total		6	0

Personal life

Zëri later worked for the Albanian Football Association. He was married to Vilma and they had two children, Julian and Inna.

Death

He died in January 2019 after a long illness.^[9]

Honours

• Albanian Superliga

4

1975, 1976, 1977, 1980^[10]

• Albanian Cup

3

1974, 1978, 1980^[11]

Notes and References

1. Web site: President of Albania. Ilir Meta . 2 August 2020 . (1/2) Σαν σήμερα, πριν από 54 χρόνια, στην αγαπημένη Δερβιτσανη γεννήθηκε μια από τις εικόνες του αλβανικού ποδοσφαίρου, ο κεντρικός μέσος του Luftetari, του Partizani και της εθνικής ομάδας, Lefter Millo, τον οποίο θα θυμόμαστε πάντα με σεβασμό και ευγνωμοσύνη. . 2022-07-02 . Twitter . en.
2. http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/legjendat-e-dinamos-si-u-vidhnin-bicikletat-dhe-flisnin-greqisht-ne-fushe/ Legjendat e Dinamos, si u vidhnin biçikletat dhe flisnin greqisht në fushë
3. https://telegraf.al/sport/lamtumira-vasillaq-zeri-fantazisti-qe-futbollin-e-ktheu-ne-art/ Lamtumira/ Vasillaq Zëri, fantazisti që futbollin e ktheu në art
4. http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/video-rikthimi-ne-kohe-kur-legjenda-vasillaq-zeri-i-dhuronte-kupen-dinamos/ VIDEO/ Rikthimi në kohë, kur legjenda Vasillaq Zëri i dhuronte Kupën Dinamos
5. Web site: Legjendat e Dinamos, si u vidhnin biçikletat dhe flisnin greqisht në fushë. Dinamo's legends, how we used to steal bicycles and talk Greece in the field. Panorama Sport. sq. 28 February 2014. 13 September 2018.
6. https://telegraf.al/sport/vasillaq-zeri-shqiperia-me-te-ardhme/ Vasillaq Zëri: “Shqipëria, me të ardhme”
7. Web site: Football MATCH: 03.11.1976 Albania v Algeria. EU-Football.info. 13 September 2018.
8. Web site: Vasillaq Zëri - national football team player. EU-Football.info. 13 September 2018.
9. http://time.ikub.al/19-01-26-Presidenti-Meta-ben-homazhe-ne-nderim-dhe-respekt-te-ish-futbollistit-te-shquar-Vasillaq-Ze/Nderron-jete-ish-futbollisti-i-Kombetares-Vasillaq-Zeri.aspx Ndërron jetë ish-futbollisti i Kombëtares Vasillaq Zëri
10. https://www.rsssf.org/players/alba-champ-teams.html Albania - Championship Winning Teams
11. http://time.ikub.al/19-01-26-Presidenti-Meta-ben-homazhe-ne-nderim-dhe-respekt-te-ish-futbollistit-te-shquar-Vasillaq-Ze/Vasillaq-Zeri-etaloni-i-teknikes-qe-loton-per-Dinamon.aspx Vasillaq Zëri, etaloni i teknikës që “loton” për Dinamon