Naim Kryeziu (1918 – 2020), the only Albanian champion who won the “Scudetto” title with AS Roma!

Naim Kryeziu (1918-2020)
Albanian right-wing footballer of Kosova origin!
“Bashkimi Elbasanas”; “SK Tirana”;
“AS Roma”; “SSC Napoli”; “Torre del Grecco”!

Also called by the Italians as the right wing “Freccia d`Albania” for his skill and speed maneuver!

In 2007, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Italian club AS Roma, the Albanian from Kosovo, at that time, 89-year-old Naim Kryeziu was not only Albanian footballer at the extraordinary celebration of that anniversary, but he was, together with Amadei and Fusco, still alive among the only three champion players of the “giallorossi” in the 1941-1942 season.
Kryeziu scored 6 goals in this championship, contributing to the first title win for the Italian club with a rich history and a distinguished and prominent fan base not only in Italy but throughout the world.

1. Debut in Albania with “Bashkimi Elbasan” and “SK Tirana”!

Naim Kryeziu was born in Gjakova on January 4, 1918. At a young age, he left Albanian Kosovo to escape the rule and annexation of the former Yugoslavia! In Tirana, he joined his brother, a clerk who was continuing his studies.
In Tirana he will make his debut at the age of 15 in 1934, in a championship match for adults in the ranks of “Bashkimi Elbasanas” playing against Tirana, which he unfortunately loses 0-5. Despite the defeat, he stands out for his talent for a promising future.

Due to an absurd law of the time, the winger from Gjakova did not participate in the Albanian football tournaments before World War II in 1936 and 1937 (which after the 90s would be considered as National Championships), but he would nevertheless be active in the ranks of SK Tirana, a team with which he would play friendly and international matches. To be distinguished is a victory (2-0) of Tirana with Naim Kryeziu in the “Shallvare” field against the Italian team SSC Bari in 1937.

His talent and performance stood out in the 1939 national tournament, winning the championship title with SK Tirana, which defeated Vllaznia 6-5 in the final. Kryeziu was also the top scorer of this tournament with 7 goals.

2. Career in Italy with AS Roma!

Gjakova, naturalized as an Italian after the invasion of Albania by Mussolini’s Italy, began his studies in Rome to pursue studies to become a physical education professor.

At that time, the Italian government sent a physical education teacher who also organized local sports matches. He saw Kryeziu’s talent and, being a Roma fan, sent a signal to the capital club.

Kryeziu’s first match was against Riza Lushta’s Bari, on March 10, 1940, another big name in Albanian football, where Roma won 4-2 (Kryeziu provided an assist in that match). He also said in an interview: “I would have liked to play for the Italian National Team at that time, but only Lushta was called up.” During his second season at Roma he was a regular part of the first team and scored. The peak of the success of the Albanian from Gjakova would reach a season later in Serie “A”, 1941-1942, where AS Roma would win the “Scudetto” championship title.

Kryeziu played a meaningful role in this achievement. He scored some decisive goals; the winning goal in Roma – Bologna 2-1; the opening goal in the 2-0 home victory against Juventus; and the two goals in Ambrosiana-Inter – Roma 0-2. That season, Naim Kryeziu played 23 games out of 30 and scored six goals. He also provided multiple decisive assists for his partner in attack, Amadeo Amadei.

On 14 June 1942, the Romans finalized their splendid season with a 2-0 vital home win against Modena. Kryeziu lifted the breakthrough trophy for A.S. Roma at Campo Testaccio. Thus, he became the first Albanian to win Serie A and a league trophy in the top football leagues of Europe. Kryeziu remained loyal to Roma until 1947, playing for the club in 8 Serie A seasons, registering 135 games and 33 goals.

In the 1947/1948 season he was transferred to Napoli (where he played in Serie A and B),for a considerable fee of 18,000,000 Italian liras. He was decisive for the Campanian side, helping them win the Italian second-division championship in 1949-1950 and secure promotion to the Serie A.

Then in the 1953-1954 season he joined the fourth division team, Torre del Greco, where he left football at the age of 35.

Kryeziu registered 215 games and 50 goals in Serie A. In Serie B, he accumulated 75 appearances and 15 goals. Of note are also 13 Italian Cup appearances and six goals in such a competition.

He was the second Albanian footballer after Riza Lushte to play in the Italian Serie A, becoming one of the most famous footballers during 10 seasons (1939-1953) with two of the most beloved clubs in Italy, Roma and Napoli, while in 1963 he had the fortune to be the coach of Roma for several matches, the first Albanian and the only Albanian to manage a team in Italy.

The Albanian flag alongside the name of Kryeziu (or Krieziu as he is known in Italy) is among the three most famous foreigners (the other two are Argentines Enrique Gonzales Guaita and Arturo Kini Ludueña) who played for Roma from 1927-1945, in an almost 18-year history of the capital team, a period in which it won only one title, that of the 1941-1942 edition.

Kryeziu was one of the most appreciated players of the Austro-Hungarian coach, Alfred Shafer, especially for his speed. The Albanian remains one of the icons of Roma today, included in the “Hall of Fame” of this club alongside great historical names such as Alemandi, Amadei, Bernandini, Fasanelli, and hundreds of other names who became famous since the year Roma was founded (2007), including world champions such as Bruno Conti, Roberto Pruzzo, Giuseppe Giannini, Rudi Voeller, Francesco Toti….

“L’Unità” published, on Friday, November 10, 1972, on page n°10, an article regarding the opinion of the Albanian (Kosovar) football legend Naim Kryeziu at the time about the result of the Roma – Lazio derby.

“My heart will certainly be there, together with the Roma fans, to rejoice in a possible, indeed… certain victory. Moreover, I, who have experienced the joy of winning a “Scudetto” with the yellow jersey, hope that the “wolves” can experience the same joy as soon as possible, perhaps this year.”

3 – With the Albanian National Team!

Naim Kryeziu was part of the first match of the Albanian national selection (5 March 1936). Then perhaps the period of World War II in Albania, the career in Italy and according to the testimony of the Albanian footballer himself to play with the “Azzurra”, who was naturalized Italian for Kryeziu marked the parting of ways with Albania or Kosovo. The facts prove that in 1946, at the time when Albania was preparing to host the Balkan Games, he refused an invitation to replay for Albania!

Naim Kryeziu passed away on March 20, 2020

By Pjerin Bj New York: January 17, 2025

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Sport Vision +Plus / Champions Hour in activity since 2013

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