Osman Mema
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Osman Mustafa Mema | ||
Date of birth | July 2, 1939 | ||
Place of birth | Tirana, Albania | ||
Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1956–1958 | 17 Nëntori Tirana | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1958 | 17 Nëntori | ||
1958–1965 | Partizani | ||
1965–1971 | 17 Nëntori | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Osman Mema (born 2 July 1939) was an Albanian professional footballer who played as a midfielder. His is one of the most decorated players in the history of Albanian football, having won the Albanian National Championship 7 times.
Club career[]
Mema, like the rest of his siblings, was a product of 17 Nëntori Academy, earning his promotion in 1958 after winning two consecutive championships.[1] Soon after that, he was called for the military service and joined the county's army team Partizani.[1] Mema enjoyed great success there, playing with footballers such as Refik Resmja and Panajot Pano, winning the championship three times and the Republic Cup twice .[1]
In 1965, at his father's request, Mema, who at that time was Partizani's most paid player, made a sensational return to 17 Nëntori winning four championships , whom he stayed until 1971, the year in which he decided to end his career.[1] He was able to play with his brother Ali in his second spell, helping the club to win three more league titles.[1]
Style of play[]
In his prime, Mema was noted for his acceleration, speed, stamina and work rate. He played as a Defensive midfielder, but nevertheless he also tended to make runs forward, which also made him an attacking threat.[1]
Personal life[]
Osman was part of Mema dynasty,[2] a family which has produced several footballers throughout the years.[3] His brothers Haxhi and Ali were both footballers, as well as his nephew and Haxhi's son Sulejman, and Ali's son Ardian, who was also a footballer who played mostly for Tirana and is currently its coach.[4]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f "Osman Mema – Mjeshtër i Sportit – KF Tirona" [Osman Mema – Master of Sports – KF Tirona] (in Albanian). Tirona. 4 March 2018. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ "Dinastia "Mema"" ["Mema" dynasty] (in Albanian). Vlerat Shqiptare. 3 February 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ^ "Futbolli shqiptar në zi, ndahet nga jeta Ali Mema" [Football is mourining] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Zi te Tirana, i ati i Ardian Memës ndahet nga jeta" [Tirana mourns, Ardian Mema's father has passed away] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
External links[]
- Profile at Football Database
- 1938 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Tirana
- Albanian footballers
- Association football midfielders
- KF Tirana players
- FK Partizani Tirana players
- Albanian Superliga players
- Albanian people stubs