Osman Mema
Personal information
Full name Osman Mustafa Mema
Date of birth (1939-07-02)2 July 1939
Place of birth Tirana, Albania
Date of death 25 September 2023(2023-09-25) (aged 84)
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
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Osman Mema (2 July 1939 – 25 September 2023)[1] was an Albanian professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is one of the most decorated players in the history of Albanian football, having won the Albanian National Championship seven 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.[2] Soon after that, he was called for the military service and joined the country's army team Partizani.[2] 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.[2]

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, where he stayed until 1971, the year in which he decided to end his career.[2] He was able to play with his brother Ali in his second spell, helping the club to win three more league titles.[2]

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.[2]

Personal life

Osman was part of Mema dynasty,[3] a family which has produced several footballers throughout the years.[4] 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.[5]

Osman Mema died on 25 September 2023, at the age of 84.[6]

References

  1. ↑ https://shqiptarja.com/lajm/ndahet-nga-jeta-osman-mema-legjenda-e-futbollit-shqiptar-duka-humbem-nje-figure-me-vlera-te-medha
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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.
  3. ↑ "Dinastia "Mema"" ["Mema" dynasty] (in Albanian). Vlerat Shqiptare. 3 February 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  4. ↑ "Futbolli shqiptar në zi, ndahet nga jeta Ali Mema" [Football is mourining] (in Albanian). Top-Channel.tv. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "Albanian sport in mourning/ Osman Mema, former champion footballer with Tirana and Partizan, has passed away". Pamfleti. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.


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