Last season was anything but easy for Albion Rrahmani. He played little, often felt frustrated, and questioned himself about what went wrong. “I had hit rock bottom,” admitted the Kosovar striker to Czech media, reflecting on the difficult period he went through.
But this year, everything has taken a different turn. In his second season at Sparta Prague – the club that paid €5 million for his transfer – Rrahmani has started brilliantly.
He has scored eight goals in 15 appearances across all competitions, five in the Czech league and three in the Conference League qualifiers, along with one assist.
“The difference is like day and night, I am much stronger mentally,” the 25-year-old told Czech outlet iSport in an interview.
A humble and modest footballer
Rrahmani comes across as approachable and down-to-earth. At the Strahov training center, where the interview was held, he greeted everyone with a smile.
He admits he only speaks a few words of Czech: “It’s a difficult language.” Still, with his fluent English, he spoke openly about his confidence, his strong bond with his father, and his big dream with Sparta and the Kosovo national team.
“I want to qualify for the European or World Championship with Kosovo,” he emphasized.
For Kosovo, Rrahmani has already scored six goals in 17 appearances, establishing himself as one of the main strikers for the future.
The “Lewandowski of Malisheva”
In the interview, Rrahmani also explained the origin of his famous nickname, which first spread in Kosovo and later reached Romania.
“It started with a commentator who, after one of my goals, began shouting during the commentary: ‘The Lewandowski of Malisheva.’ And no one stopped after that. It spread everywhere. Today my national team teammates and friends call me that. It even reached Romania.”
Being compared to Robert Lewandowski, the Barcelona star, is something Rrahmani accepts with pride.
Roots of success and his father’s influence
The striker said he developed his shooting ability thanks to working with his father, Driton, a well-known former footballer, famous for long-range and powerful shots.
“It requires technique. That’s why I often stay on the field with coaches and teammates after training, organizing different shooting competitions. It forces me to stay focused and precise,” explained Rrahmani.
From Llapi to Sparta Prague
His career began with the youth team of Llapi, before continuing with Minatori, Bashkimi, Malisheva, and Ballkani. In 2023, he made the big move abroad, joining Rapid Bucharest, where he shone and attracted the attention of scouts.
That journey led to his record transfer to Sparta Prague, where he is now proving his true worth.
