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Eroll Salihu (born 06.12.1964 in Obiliq- Prishtina district), actually is General Secretary of Football Federation of Kosovo, ex Professional Football Player with career in Kosovo (Ex Yugoslavia), Turkey, Germany.

Early years[edit source]

Born in a very respected family in Prishtina, Salihu as a child moved with his family to Obiliq (small town in Prishtina district), where he started his first football steps. Starting from his first days in football he was distinguished by his team-mates as a very mature, smart and player with very good vision for football game. That made him as one of most promised talents in Kosovo at the beginning of 80's.

Club Career:[edit source]

FC Elektroekonomia (FC KEK) First professional club[edit source]

After very successful period of youth teams and some very good performances with first team earlier, from 1984, Salihu established himself on first team of FC Elektroekonomia, which now is known as FC KEK. His very good performances helped him to gain attention from many power clubs of that time on whole Yugoslavia, however as an ethnic-Albanian in YU, for Salihu there was only one choice in his mind, playing for famous team, FC Prishtina.

FC Prishtina (First spell)[edit source]

On summer of 1988 Salihu finally decided to refuse many offers from clubs outside of Kosovo and decided to be part of biggest Kosovan club, FC Prishtina with which he spend three years playing in Yugoslavian Football. However in 1991, after political changes in YU and specially in Kosovo, Salihu was one of very first players who decided to say NO to YU Football and one of initiators to separate Kosovan Football. After those steps he was on attention of Serbian Police and had several Police interviews and faced with a intensive pressure, which indicated even his football career.

FC Sariyer, (Turkey Superlig)[edit source]

After that period in Prishtina, Salihu decided that he needed to go abroad of Kosovo as only option to have normal life (after Serbian police pressure) and to continue his football career. So in 1992 he moved to Turkey when he signed with a very respected club of that time Sariyer, Superlig team. With Sariyer Salihu spend 2 very successful years, specially in personal way. During that time he was one of best midfielders in Turkish Football and one of best foreigners in League too. During this time he was the only kosovan who played in First Division of European Leagues.

FC Petrol Ofis (Turkey Superlig)[edit source]

Even that he was nearly 30, his very good performances in Sariyer made him very attractive to other clubs too, so in 1994 he decided to accpet a good offer from FC Petrol Ofis, which with he spend one season.

FC Prishtina (Second spell)[edit source]

On 1995 he decided to go back to his family and his homeland country, Kosovo, accepting offer from his previous club, FC Prishtina, which was playing in separate Kosovan League, outside of Yugoslavian system. With Prishtina in his second spell Salihu spend two years and was by far best midfielder in league and one of best players of that league. However he still was on lists of Serbian Police which continually pressured on him, because of his initiative to separate Kosovan Football from YU, on early of 90's. That obliged him to think one other time to move abroad of Kosovo. In meantime he had a short 3 months spell with other Kosovan Superleague team (FC Besiana).

FC Wilhelmshven and Concordia (I) (German third division)[edit source]

In 1997, nearly of 33 years old when decided to move once again outside of Kosovo, Salihu accepted an interesting offer from German third division club FC Wilhelmshaven, with which he spent next three years till on 2000 when he decided to continue with other German club, Concordia (I). With Concordia (I), Salihu spend his next two years from 2000 to 2002.

FC Drita (Kosovo)[edit source]

After the end of the war in Kosovo his homeland country, there were totally different circumstances, so Salihu decided to play his final season as a player in Kosovo with intention to be part of Kosovan Football in three different occasions (during Yugoslavian period, during 90's when Kosovan Football played in Paralel/Indipendent System, and after war, totally indipendent). So he accepted an offer from title challengers FC Drita. Salihu ended his career with this club in May 2003.

Coaching career:[edit source]

During his playing days Salihu has think even for his post playing career, so he decided to continue his career as a coach. In 2000 during his days at Concordia (I), he attended DFB Coaching course and was graduated with UEFA B license from DFB. Than after finished his playing career Salihu started thinking more seriously for being coach so in 2003 he attended Swedish Football Association coaching course in which he was graduated with advanced level of UEFA B License. Than later in 2010 he was graduated even with UEFA A license. On meantime he started his coaching career as a HeadCoach with his previous team FC Besiana in season 2003-04 during which his team was known for very good technical football. That way of playing made him interesting even for other teams so very powerful team of that time in Kosovan Football, FC KEK offered him job as a HeadCoach. With FC KEK-u, Salihu worked for two years from 2004 to 2006, was title contender and showed great football.

General Secretary of FFK[edit source]

However, because his intellectual abilities in summer of 2006 he received an offer from FFK President, Fadil Vokrri to become General Secretary of Football Federation of Kosovo. After a long time of thinking, Salihu who was very promising coach, decided to accept offer to became Gen.Sec. of FFK and from 1 August 2006 he started working on Football Federation. Than he worked for a year with Sabri Hashani as a President, before Vokrri was back as a President again. Nearly two years later Kosovo declared his independence which was recognized by more than 100 international states. So under new circumstances Salihu as a Gen. Sec. of FFK together with new President of FFK, Fadil Vokrri had an very important important task in front of them, getting membership of FFK in UEFA and FIFA. Salihu as a Gen. Sec. was appointed by President and EX-CO of FFK to prepare file of first official Application of FFK in UEFA back in 2008 and later separated file of application for FIFA. However because of political situation it was impossible for FFK to get membership, however it didn't stopped Salihu and FFK from believe to get membership. After a long period and very hard work, FFK get membership in UEFA on 3 May 2016 and membership on FIFA ten days later on 13 May 2016. That was the biggest off the pitch victory of Kosovan Football and Salihu together with President Vokrri, had crucial role on it.

After membership of FFK in UEFA and FIFA, Salihu continued his journey as a Gen.Sec of FFK and in 2017 we has named as a member of UEFA Legal Committee. Which was one other very good step in his football path.

Education[edit source]

Together with Football, Salihu paid a lot attention to his school education too. He has diploma of Law Faculty. On this way he made attorney at law one year in practical part. Salihu was member of First Program on International Sports Law organized in Hague, Netherlands. He speaks fluently Albanian, Serbian, German, English and Turkish language.

Personal life[edit source]

Salihu is married and is dad of four children.

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