Admir Mehmedi


Admir Mehmedi is a Swiss footballer of Albanian descent who plays as a second striker or centre forward for VfL Wolfsburg of the Bundesliga and the Switzerland national team.

Personal life

Mehmedi was born in Gostivar, SFR Yugoslavia. He is of Albanian heritage. At the age of two, his family emigrated to Switzerland and he soon joined local side Bellinzona, before signing for FC Winterthur, from where Zürich scouted him. In 2006, he moved to Zürich. Mehmedi came through the youth system after being spotted as a youngster and joined the senior team in 2008.
In 2016, Mehmedi visited Padalište, where he witnessed a family of six living in poverty. He gifted a house to the poor family in Macedonia, the country of his birth, stating: "You know, building a house is not cheap, but I appreciate what I have, and I want others to feel fine as well."
Mehmedi is married and currently has a son.

Club career

Zürich

Mehmedi began his senior career with FC Zürich at the age of seventeen. Within two years he was included in the first-team squad and by 2010 he was a first-team regular. He made his senior side debut on 20 July 2008 and scored two goals in eleven appearances, in addition to winning the Swiss Super League in his debut season with the club.
Being a first team regular in 2010, Mehmedi established himself as a physical striker, excellent in the box as well as having a good turn of pace, he was also technically great. During his time with Zürich, Mehmedi scored nineteen goals and provided nine assists.
In the January transfer window in 2012, Mehmedi received transfer offers from Sunderland, Liverpool F.C. and 1. FC Nürnberg. However, Mehmedi moved to Dynamo Kyiv.

Dynamo Kyiv

On 13 January 2012, Mehmedi signed for the Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv from FC Zürich on a five-year deal. During his season and a half with Kyiv, he mainly played coming off the bench. Seeking more playing time and to be included again in the Switzerland national team, Mehmedi moved to Bundesliga team SC Freiburg.

Freiburg

On 11 July 2013, Mehmedi moved to SC Freiburg initially to join on loan, although his contract also stipulates that Freiburg have an option to make the move permanent. Freiburg's acting sporting director Klemens Hartenbach stated that he was delighted the transfer went through. Hartenbach stated "He's a very versatile attacking player who understands the game and has already proven he can play at the highest level". On 26 May 2014, Freiburg decided to buy Mehmedi for a reported €6 million after having a good season, scoring 12 goals in 32 games during his loan spell with the Bundesliga side.

Bayer Leverkusen

On 11 June 2015, Mehmedi joined Bayer Leverkusen after Freiburg was relegated from the Bundesliga.

VfL Wolfsburg

On 31 January 2018, Mehmedi joined VfL Wolfsburg on a 4-year-deal for €8 million.

International career

Under-21

Mehmedi was a crucial member of the Swiss U-21 side in the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. Mehmedi received the silver boot with three goals in the tournament and was selected in the UEFA Euro U-21 2011 Team of the Tournament. Along with Xherdan Shaqiri, Mehmedi was being tipped as the future of Swiss football.

Senior

Mehmedi made his debut for the Swiss national team against England, in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match, coming on as a substitute. Mehmedi scored his first goal for Switzerland in his side's 5–3 win over Germany. The Swiss national side had not beaten the Germans since 1956.
On 15 June 2014, he replaced Valentin Stocker at half time in Switzerland's opening 2014 FIFA World Cup match against Ecuador. Two minutes later, he headed in Ricardo Rodríguez's corner to equalise as Switzerland eventually won 2-1.
Two years to the day after he scored in the 2014 World Cup against Ecuador, Mehmedi scored Switzerland's equaliser in their 1–1 group-stage draw against Romania in UEFA Euro 2016.

Honors

Switzerland U21

Club

International

International goals

No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
126 May 2012St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland95–35–3Friendly
215 June 2014Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília, Brazil221–12–12014 FIFA World Cup
39 October 2015AFG Arena, St. Gallen, Switzerland353–07–0UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
43 June 2016Cornaredo Stadium, Lugano, Switzerland422–12–1Friendly
515 June 2016Parc des Princes, Paris, France441–11–1UEFA Euro 2016
66 September 2016St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland472–02–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
710 October 2016Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra492–02–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
88 September 2018Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland596–06–02018–19 UEFA Nations League A
98 September 2019Stade Tourbillon, Sion, Switzerland632–04–0UEFA Euro 2020 qualification