1. Early Life and Youth Career
Alban Hoxha began his football journey at a young age, starting youth football when he was six years old. He developed his skills through the ranks of his hometown team, KF Turbina Cërrik, before joining the youth academy of FK Dinamo Tirana in 2004. His foundational training at these clubs laid the groundwork for his professional career.
2. Club Career
Hoxha's professional club career spanned several prominent Albanian teams, most notably his long and impactful stint with Partizani Tirana, where he became a club legend.
2.1. Dinamo Tirana
Alban Hoxha joined the youth team of FK Dinamo Tirana in 2004. For the 2005-06 season, he was loaned back to his former club, KF Turbina Cërrik, where he gained experience playing in the Kategoria e Parë. The following season, he returned to Dinamo Tirana and was integrated into the first team as an understudy to Ilion Lika. He made his top-flight debut with Dinamo on March 10, 2007, in a home match against Elbasani. He featured in 11 league games between March and the end of the season due to Lika's injury.
In the 2007-08 season, Hoxha became second choice to Elvis Kotorri after Lika's departure. He made two league appearances as Dinamo Tirana were crowned Kategoria Superiore champions for the first time since 2002. During the first half of the 2008-09 season, he made only one league and one cup appearance before being loaned out to fellow Superiore side Apolonia in January for the remainder of the season. While on loan at Apolonia, he made 8 appearances and kept 3 clean sheets, contributing to the team avoiding the relegation play-off places by a single point.
He returned to Dinamo ahead of the 2009-10 season and made 6 league appearances, winning his second Superiore title with the club. The subsequent season saw him compete with Albanian international Isli Hidi for the first-choice goalkeeper spot. Following Hidi's transfer to Olympiakos Nicosia in January 2011, Hoxha became Dinamo's primary goalkeeper for the first time, featuring in 24 league games. Dinamo narrowly avoided relegation that season by defeating Besëlidhja in a relegation play-off. During his time with Dinamo, in 2010, he also had a short loan spell with Kosova Vushtrri in the Kosovo Superleague.
2.2. Kastrioti and Besa
On August 22, 2011, Alban Hoxha completed a transfer to Kastrioti, signing a one-year contract as a free agent. At Kastrioti, he competed with Argjent Halili for a starting position, but he mainly featured in the Albanian Cup, making 10 appearances, while only playing 6 league games. He departed the club at the end of the season. Although there were discussions regarding a potential transfer to Kukësi, an agreement could not be reached.
Ahead of the 2012-13 season, Hoxha joined Besa and was immediately established as the first-choice goalkeeper over Ibrahim Bejte. Throughout the season, he made 23 league appearances and 2 cup appearances, helping Besa secure a 9th-place finish and avoid the relegation play-off positions.
2.3. Partizani Tirana
In the summer of 2013, Alban Hoxha joined newly promoted Partizani. He was given the number 1 shirt and named team captain for the 2013-14 season.
During the 2014-15 Kategoria Superiore season, Hoxha set a historic record by going 1,084 minutes without conceding a goal, breaking the 30-year-old Kategoria Superiore record of 1,037 minutes previously held by Bujar Gogunja of KS Labinoti. For his outstanding performances throughout 2014, Hoxha was named Albanian Footballer of the Year. In March 2015, he was further recognized as the Albanian Superliga Player of the Month after playing five matches and keeping a clean sheet.
On November 1, 2015, during a league match against Teuta, Hoxha sustained a jaw injury following a collision with his teammate Gëzim Krasniqi in the 76th minute, necessitating his removal from the field via ambulance.
Hoxha played a pivotal role on July 20, 2016, in the second leg of the Champions League second qualifying round match at Groupama Arena. After the game ended in a 1-1 draw following regular and extra time, the match proceeded to a penalty shootout. Hoxha became the hero of the game by saving three penalties, having also scored a 'Panenka' penalty himself. This remarkable performance secured Partizani's progression to the Champions League third qualifying round for the first time in the club's history.
On October 17, 2016, Hoxha made his 100th Kategoria Superiore appearance for Partizani in a 4-0 victory over Flamurtari at Elbasan Arena. On August 9, 2017, he signed a new contract extension with Partizani, committing to the club until 2020. However, Hoxha was excluded from the lineup for the opening match of the championship against Laçi, which Partizani lost 0-2. Following the match, manager Mark Iuliano publicly stated that Hoxha had violated club rules, which was later reported to be related to him leaving the team's gathering without permission. Club director Luciano Moggi announced that Hoxha would not play unless he apologized to the team. Hoxha refused to apologize and, in response, relinquished his captaincy.
In July 2018, Hoxha was reinstated as captain following the departure of Idriz Batha. Despite the club finishing 5th in the previous season, Skënderbeu Korçë's exclusion from UEFA competitions meant that Partizani qualified for the 2018-19 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round. The team faced Slovenia's NK Maribor, but were eliminated early after losing both matches 3-0 on aggregate. Hoxha began the domestic season playing in the opening match of the 2018-19 Kategoria Superiore, where he conceded an injury-time penalty for a foul on Dejvi Bregu, leading to a loss. In the second matchday against Kamza, Hoxha faced another penalty in the 45th minute with the score still 0-0, but he successfully saved Sebino Plaku's attempt. Partizani went on to win the match 1-0, securing their first three points of the season.
In June 2020, Hoxha signed another one-year contract extension with Partizani. On November 8 of that year, he kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory over Kukësi, marking his 300th appearance for the club across all competitions. For the 2022-23 season, Hoxha was relegated to the bench in favor of newly signed goalkeeper Bekim Rexhepi.
3. International Career
Alban Hoxha has represented Albania at both youth and senior international levels, participating in various qualification campaigns and major tournaments.
3.1. Youth International
Hoxha was first called up to the Albania under-19 squad for the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying campaign. During this period, he played in all three matches of Group 9, facing Macedonia, Romania, and Turkey in October 2005.
3.2. Senior International
Following the conclusion of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, Samir Ujkani, who had been the second-choice goalkeeper for Albania, departed the team to represent the Kosovo. This created an opening for a third-choice goalkeeper behind Etrit Berisha, who was the starter, and Orges Shehi, who became the second choice.
3.2.1. Early Call-ups and Debut
In October 2014, Alban Hoxha received his first senior team call-up by Albania's coach Gianni De Biasi. He was selected as a third-choice goalkeeper for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying second-round matches against Denmark and Serbia. However, he remained an unused substitute in both games. In November 2014, Hoxha had to withdraw from the squad for friendly matches against France and Italy due to family issues, and he was replaced by fellow Kategoria Superiore goalkeeper Stivi Frashëri from Tirana.
Hoxha made his official debut for Albania on November 16, 2015, replacing Berisha during a friendly match against Georgia at Qemal Stafa Stadium, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
3.2.2. UEFA Euro 2016 Campaign
On May 21, 2016, Alban Hoxha was named in Albania's preliminary 27-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016. He was subsequently included in Albania's final 23-man squad for the tournament on May 31. Despite his inclusion, Hoxha did not feature in any of Albania's Group A matches. Albania was eliminated from the tournament after finishing in third place in their group, behind hosts France (who defeated them 2-0) and Switzerland (who defeated them 1-0 in the opening match), but ahead of Romania, whom they beat 1-0 with a goal by Armando Sadiku. Albania concluded the group stage with three points and a goal difference of -2, ultimately ranking last among the third-placed teams, which led to their elimination.
3.2.3. 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification
On November 12, 2016, during matchday 4 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign against Israel, Hoxha made his competitive debut. He came on as a 57th-minute substitute and managed to save a penalty kick from Eran Zahavi with Albania already trailing 0-1. However, he conceded two more goals, and the "Red and Blacks" were ultimately defeated 0-3 at Elbasan Arena.
4. Personal Life
Alban Hoxha was married to Dorjana Haka. In November 2014, Dorjana Haka gave birth to their son, but she tragically passed away during childbirth at a hospital in Tirana. Their baby, however, survived. Hoxha is currently engaged to Albanian singer Ciljeta.
5. Career Statistics
5.1. Club
Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Dinamo Tirana | 2004-05 | Kategoria Superiore | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||
2006-07 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 0 | ||||
2007-08 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||||
2008-09 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
2009-10 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 9 | 0 | |||
2010-11 | 26 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | ||
Total | 46 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 0 | ||
Turbina (loan) | 2005-06 | Kategoria e Parë | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||
Apolonia (loan) | 2008-09 | Kategoria Superiore | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 8 | 0 | ||
Kosova Vushtrri (loan) | 2009-10 | Superleague of Kosovo | ? | ? | ? | ? | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||
Kastrioti | 2011-12 | Kategoria Superiore | 6 | 0 | 11 | 0 | - | - | 17 | 0 | ||
Besa | 2012-13 | Kategoria Superiore | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 25 | 0 | ||
Partizani | 2013-14 | Kategoria Superiore | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 34 | 0 | ||
2014-15 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 31 | 0 | ||||
2015-16 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 36 | 0 | |||
2016-17 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | 42 | 0 | |||
2017-18 | 33 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 38 | 0 | |||
2018-19 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | |||
Total | 189 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 0 | - | 185 | 0 | |||
Career total | 245 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 286 | 0 |
5.2. International
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Albania | 2014 | 0 | 0 |
2015 | 1 | 0 | |
2016 | 1 | 0 | |
2017 | 1 | 0 | |
2018 | 0 | 0 | |
2019 | 0 | 0 | |
2020 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 4 | 0 |
6. Honours
6.1. Club Honours
Dinamo Tirana
- Kategoria Superiore: 2007-08, 2009-10
- Albanian Cup Runner-up: 2010-11
- Albanian Supercup Runner-up: 2010
6.2. Individual Honours
- Albanian Footballer of the Year: 2014
- Albanian Superliga Player of the Month: March 2015