Orges Bunjaku

Swiss footballer (born 2001)

Orges Bunjaku
Personal information
Date of birth	(2001-07-05) 5 July 2001 (age 22)
Place of birth	Uznach, Switzerland
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Schaffhausen
Number	10
Youth career
2007–2015	Rapperswil-Jona
2015–2019	Basel
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2021	Basel U21	19	(1)
2020–2021	Basel	12	(0)
2021–2023	Grenoble	17	(0)
2023	→ Schaffhausen (loan)	10	(1)
2023–	Schaffhausen	14	(3)
International career^‡
2016	Switzerland U15	3	(0)
2016–2017	Switzerland U16	3	(0)
2017	Switzerland U17	6	(1)
2018	Switzerland U18	2	(0)
2019	Switzerland U19	5	(3)
2020	Switzerland U20	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 October 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 October 2020

Orges Naser Bunjaku (born 5 July 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Schaffhausen. Born in Switzerland, he represented that nation at youth international levels but in 2022 switched to play for Kosovo national team.^[1]

Club career

Early career and Basel

Bunjaku at the age of six started playing football in local club Rapperswil-Jona.^[2] In 2015, he transferred to the youth system of Basel.^[2] In January 2020, he advanced to their first team and signed his first professional contract with the club, agreeing on a four-year deal.^[3]

After playing in two test games, Bunjaku played his domestic league debut for the club in the away game on 8 February 2020 as Basel won 4–0 against Zürich.^[4] He played five league games in his first season, three times he played in the starting formation. He also had one appearance in the UEFA Europa League as he was substituted in during 84th minute in the match against APOEL.^[5]

Grenoble

On 19 July 2021, Bunjaku signed a three-year contract with Ligue 2 club Grenoble and received squad number 25.^[6] Five days later, he made his debut in a 0–4 home defeat against Paris FC after coming on as a substitute at 46th minute in place of Yannick Marchand.^[7]

Schaffhausen

Period on loan

On 2 January 2023, Bunjaku joined Swiss Challenge League side Schaffhausen, on a loan until the end of the season.^[8] His debut with Schaffhausen came on 29 January in a 1–1 away draw against Neuchâtel Xamax after coming on as a substitute in the 64th minute in place of Harun Alpsoy.^[9]

Return as a permanent player

On 30 June 2023, Schaffhausen made the transfer permanent and signed a two-year contract with Bunjaku.^[10] His debut with Schaffhausen came on 21 July in a 3–0 away defeat against Neuchâtel Xamax after being named in the starting line-up.^[11] One month after debut, Bunjaku scored his first goal for Schaffhausen in his fourth appearance for the club in a 3–1 away win over Cham in Swiss Cup.^[12]

International career

Youth

From 2016, until 2020, Bunjaku has been part of Switzerland at youth international level, respectively has been part of the U15, U16, U17, U18, U19 and U20 teams and he with these teams played twenty matches and scored four goals.

Senior

Bunjaku's agent, Christoph Graf through an interview stated that Bunjaku has started the procedures for obtaining Kosovan passport and his wish is to play for Kosovo national team.^[13] On 22 March 2022, the Football Federation of Kosovo announced that Bunjaku had decided to represent their national team.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "Orges Bunjaku zyrtarizon përfaqësimin me Kosovën" [Orges Bunjaku formalizes the representation with Kosovo] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 22 March 2022.
^ ^a ^b "FCRJ-Talent zum FC Basel" [FCRJ talent for FC Basel]. joggeli.ch – FC Basel Fanseite (in German). 23 July 2015.
^ "Orges Bunjaku unterschreibt Profivertrag beim FCB" [Orges Bunjaku signed professional contract with FCB] (in German). FC Basel. 8 January 2020.
^ "Zürich vs. Basel 0–4". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
^ "The next round is in reach after 3:0 victory in Nicosia". FC Basel. 20 February 2020.
^ "Orges Bunjaku est Grenoblois!" [Orges Bunjaku is from Grenoble!] (in French). Grenoble Foot 38. 19 July 2021.
^ "GF38–PFC (0–4): Entame ratée..." [GF38–PFC (0–4): Failed start...] (in French). Grenoble Foot 38. 24 July 2021.
^ "Der FC Schaffhausen verstärkt sich" [FC Schaffhausen is strengthening] (in German). FC Schaffhausen. 2 January 2023.
^ "1–1 in Neuenburg" [1–1 in Neuchâtel] (in German). FC Schaffhausen. 29 January 2023.
^ "Orges Bunjaku wechsel definitiv zum FC Schaffhausen" [Orges Bunjaku is definitely moving to FC Schaffhausen] (in German). FC Schaffhausen. 30 June 2023.
^ "Xamax vs. Schaffhausen 3–0". Soccerway. 21 July 2023.
^ "Die erste Cuphürde ist übersprungen – 2. Runde bei der ACB" [The first cup hurdle has skipped – 2nd round at the ACB] (in German). FC Schaffhausen. 20 August 2023.
^ "Ekskluzive/Flet menaxheri zviceran: Bunjaku ka aplikuar për pasaportë, ai do të luaj për Kosovën" [Exclusive/Swiss manager speaks: Bunjaku has applied for passport, he will play for Kosovo]. Indeksonline (in Albanian). 4 February 2021.