Shefki Kuqi

Shefki Kuqi (born November 10, 1976 in Vushtrri, Kosovo) is a Finland association football of Kosovar Albanians origin. He currently plays for Crystal Palace F.C. in the Football League Championship. Kuqi is a big, strong striker and is known more for his determination and physical presence than technical skill. He is the older brother of Njazi Kuqi.

Football career

Finland

Kuqi started his playing career with Mikkelin Kissat shortly after emigrating to Finland. He later played for Mikkelin Palloilijat, Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi and FC Jokerit in Finland's Veikkausliiga. Kuqi was the league top scorer in the 2000 season before joining Stockport County F.C. in January 2001.

England

He then had a spell at Sheffield Wednesday F.C. where he scored 19 times between January 2002 and September 2003, unfortunately with Wednesday being relegated to Division Two (or League One as it is now known) during his time at Hillsborough. Many Wednesday fans were bemused though at then manager Chris Turner's decision to let Kuqi leave for Ipswich for free. Whilst in Sheffield, Shefki also scored a goal against Sheffield United F.C. in The Steel City Derby. He scored the second goal in the 81st minute at Hillsborough Stadium to ensure a win after Lloyd Owusu had opened the scoring with his very first goal for the club.

Kuqi joined Ipswich Town F.C. in September 2003. His 20 goals in the Football League Championship for Ipswich in the 2004-05 in English football season earned him a move to the Premiership with Blackburn Rovers F.C.. Kuqi scored seven Premiership goals for Blackburn in the FA Premier League 2005-06 season. He joined Crystal Palace F.C. for a reported £2.5 million transfer fee at the end of the August transfer window in 2006.

Kuqi did not have a prolific first season at Selhurst Park, scoring only seven goals in 38 games, and at the end of August 2007, he signed for Fulham F.C. on a four-month loan deal, where he made ten league appearances, scoring no goals.

Kuqi was placed on the transfer list and fined two weeks wages by Neil Warnock after signalling an V sign The V sign as an insult to Palace fans when they cheered as he was substituted following a particularly poor performance in the 2-0 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. on 23 February 2008.

In March 2008 Kuqi returned to Ipswich on loan until the end of the season. He began the 2008- 2009 campaign with his first team prospects seemingly irretrievable but Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock named (and used) him as a substitute for the away draw at Ipswich Town and home victory over Charlton Athletic F.C. in September and on 4th October he scored the second goal of Palace's 2-0 victory at Nottingham Forest. Although his return to the first team has completed a remarkable sequence of events for Kuqi, it remains to be seen whether he will have a long term future at the Crystal Palace.

Kuqi has received some media attention – especially from Match of the Day – for his spectacular, and unusual, diving goal celebration known as a Swan Dive. Kuqi jumps forward with both arms out, in what could be described as an attempt to glide like a bird, before crashing to the ground; the movement bears some resemblance to a bellyflop and has been referred to as a "Flying Finn (sports)". Although it looks like a celebration which may cause injury, Kuqi has said it does not hurt him.

Club career statistics

International career

Kuqi made his debut for the Finland national football team on August 18, 1999 against Belgium national football team. He is a regular member of the Finland squad.