History of Foto Strakosha in Timeline

Foto Strakosha is a retired Albanian professional football goalkeeper. He now serves as a goalkeeping coach for Lazio Youth. Throughout his career, Strakosha gained recognition for his skills and experience in the sport. He is a notable figure in Albanian football.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

March 1965: Foto Strakosha Born

In March 1965, Fotaq "Foto" Strakosha was born. This marks the beginning of the life of the Albanian former professional footballer.

Others born on this day/year

March 1965: Birth of Fotaq "Foto" Strakosha

On March 29, 1965, Fotaq Strakosha was born in Memaliaj, Albania, to Lefter Strakosha and Theano Jerasimo Duni. He spent his early life in Memaliaj, near Tepelenë.

Others born on this day/year

1982: Joined Minatori Youth Teams

In 1982, Strakosha joined the youth teams of the local club Minatori, developing his skills within their youth system before eventually being promoted to the senior team.

1985: Senior Career Debut with Minatori Tepelenë

In 1985, Foto Strakosha began his senior career with Minatori Tepelenë, making his debut in a league match against Apolonia. Despite a 3-0 loss, Strakosha was noted for his performance.

1985: Started Senior Career

In 1985, Foto Strakosha started his senior career with Minatori Tepelenë.

1986: Discussions for Move to Dinamo Tirana

In 1986, discussions began for Strakosha to move to Dinamo Tirana, following contacts between the coaches of Minatori and Dinamo. The transfer was completed after assurances regarding restrictions related to his background were given.

1988: Continued Career with Minatori Tepelenë

Between 1985 and 1988, Strakosha played for Minatori Tepelenë. During this time, he became the team's first-choice goalkeeper and attracted attention from other clubs, although potential transfers were delayed due to political restrictions.

1988: Joined Dinamo Tirana

In 1988, Strakosha joined Dinamo Tirana, competing for the goalkeeper position. He quickly became a regular member of the squad.

September 1989: European Debut in Cup Winners' Cup

In September 1989, Strakosha debuted in European competition during the 1989–90 European Cup Winners' Cup against Dinamo București, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 first leg home victory for Dinamo Tirana.

November 1989: Albania U21 Debut

In November 1989, Foto Strakosha debuted at the international level with the Albania under-21 team in a 1990 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying match against Poland, which ended in a 1–0 defeat.

1989: Won Albanian Cup and Supercup

In 1989, as part of Dinamo Tirana, Strakosha won the Albanian Cup and the Albanian Supercup, marking a successful year for the team.

May 1990: Senior Debut for Albania

In May 1990, at 25 years old, Foto Strakosha made his senior debut for Albania under coach Bejkush Birçe in a UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying match against Iceland, where Albania lost 2–0 in Reykjavík.

December 1990: Arrived in Greece and Applied for Political Asylum

In December 1990, following the collapse of the communist regime in Albania, Strakosha arrived in Greece and applied for political asylum. He signed a contract with PAS Giannina after a trial period.

1990: Represents Albania Senior Team

From 1990, Foto Strakosha began representing the Albania senior team.

1990: Record for Most Appearances in UEFA European Championship Qualifying

From 1990, Foto Strakosha played in every year in UEFA European Championship qualifying matches.

1990: Albania U21 Debut

In 1990, Foto Strakosha debuted at the international level with the Albania under-21 team in a 1990 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying match against Poland, which ended in a 1–0 defeat.

1990: International debut with Albania national team

In 1990, Foto Strakosha started playing for the Albania national team.

1990: Debut for PAS Giannina

In 1990, Strakosha debuted for PAS Giannina, marking his first experience outside Albania. He saved a penalty against Panathinaikos, although PAS Giannina lost the match.

1990: Played Against Marseille in European Cup

In 1990, during the 1990-91 European Cup First round, Strakosha played both legs against Marseille. Despite keeping a clean sheet in the second leg, Dinamo Tirana was eliminated.

1991: Additional Caps and Regular Line-Up Appearances

Following his move to Greece in early 1991, Foto Strakosha earned additional caps for the Albania national team and appeared regularly in the starting line-up, recording two clean sheets in international matches against Greece during this period.

1991: Departure from Dinamo Tirana

Foto Strakosha left Dinamo Tirana in 1991, concluding a period where he contributed to the club's success in domestic competitions.

1991: Moved to Greece

In 1991, Foto Strakosha moved to Greece where he spent the majority of his career.

1991: Joined Ethnikos Piraeus

In 1991, Strakosha joined Ethnikos Piraeus. His registration was delayed due to administrative issues.

1992: Senior Debut for Albania

In 1992, Foto Strakosha played his senior debut for Albania under coach Bejkush Birçe in a UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying match against Iceland, where Albania lost 2–0 in Reykjavík, played on May 1990.

August 1993: Debut for Olympiacos

On August 29, 1993, Strakosha debuted for Olympiacos in a 1-1 draw against Aris Thessaloniki in the Alpha Ethniki season. He quickly established himself as a regular starter.

1993: Established as First-Choice Goalkeeper

Between 1991 and 1993, Strakosha established himself as Ethnikos Piraeus' first-choice goalkeeper, making 33 league appearances.

1993: Joined Olympiacos

Early in 1993, Strakosha attracted interest from Olympiacos and joined the club. This move represented a step up to one of the most competitive teams in Greek football.

1993: Featured in UEFA Cup

In 1993, Strakosha made three appearances in the 1993-94 UEFA Cup for Olympiacos. The club recorded two wins against Botev Plovdiv and one loss against Tenerife across two rounds of the tournament.

1993: First-Choice Goalkeeper for Albania

In mid-1993, following his transfer to Olympiacos, Foto Strakosha became Albania’s first-choice goalkeeper.

1994: 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualification

During the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification for UEFA Group 3, Foto Strakosha played in five of Albania’s twelve matches, but the team earned only one point in the matches he featured in.

1994: Alpha Ethniki Season

In 1994, Strakosha began the 1994–95 Alpha Ethniki campaign with a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory against Doxa Drama and made three early league appearances.

February 1995: Return to League Matches with Olympiacos

In February 1995, after a period of absence, Strakosha returned to playing in all the remaining league matches for Olympiacos, appearing in 17 games for the season. Olympiacos finished second in the Greek top division.

March 1995: Notable Performance Against Moldova

On March 29, 1995, Foto Strakosha kept a clean sheet in a 3–0 victory against Moldova and was substituted in the final eight minutes, marking the only time he was replaced during the qualifying campaign.

June 1995: Captains Albania for the First Time

On June 7, 1995, Foto Strakosha captained Albania for the first time and played the full match in a 3–2 away victory against Moldova.

1995: Olympiacos Season

In 1995, during the 1995–96 Alpha Ethniki season, Strakosha played 12 matches for Olympiacos, and the team finished in third place in the league standings. He also featured in the 1995–96 Greek Cup.

1995: Previous penalty record

Since 1995, Georgios Dafkos previously held the record for most penalties saved until April 3, 2005.

1996: Start of 1996-97 Season with Olympiacos

At the start of the 1996, during the beginning of the 1996–97 season, Strakosha featured in the opening two Alpha Ethniki matches, keeping clean sheets in both. He also played in both legs of the UEFA Cup against Ferencváros.

1996: Limited Appearances and Request to Leave Olympiacos

Despite starting the 1996-97 season, Strakosha's appearances were limited, and he requested to leave Olympiacos after four years. He was allowed to depart under the condition he wouldn't join a direct rival.

1996: UEFA Euro 1996 Qualifying

Foto Strakosha was an almost ever-present member of the national team during the UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying Group 7, playing nearly every minute of the qualification process and missing a total of only eight minutes throughout the entire campaign.

1996: League Title with Olympiacos

In the 1996–97 season, Foto Strakosha won the league title with Olympiacos.

August 1997: Debut for Panionios

On August 31, 1997, Strakosha debuted for Panionios in a 3-0 home defeat against Panathinaikos in the Greek top division.

1997: League Appearances for Panionios

During the 1997–98 Alpha Ethniki season, Strakosha made 32 league appearances for Panionios, keeping eight clean sheets. Panionios ended the season in 11th place.

1997: Joined Panionios

In the summer of 1997, Strakosha joined Panionios on a two-year contract, aiming to re-establish himself as a regular first-team goalkeeper.

April 1998: Greek Cup Victory with Panionios

On April 29, 1998, Strakosha started in the Greek Cup final where Panionios defeated Panathinaikos 1–0 at the Karaiskakis Stadium, securing the victory and the title.

1998: 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification

During the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification for UEFA Group 9, Foto Strakosha played seven full matches for Albania and kept one clean sheet in a 1–0 victory over Northern Ireland, which was Albania’s only win in the qualifying group.

1998: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

During the 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Strakosha played in all of Panionios' matches as the club reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by eventual champions Lazio.

1998: Continued Appearances for Panionios

In the 1998–99 Alpha Ethniki season, Strakosha made 24 appearances for Panionios, keeping five clean sheets. The club finished 15th in the league. He also made one appearance in the 1998–99 Greek Cup.

September 1999: Competitive Debut for Ionikos

In September 1999, Foto Strakosha made his competitive debut for Ionikos in the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup, playing in both legs against Nantes. Despite his efforts, Ionikos were eliminated with a 4–1 aggregate score.

1999: League Debut in Alpha Ethniki

In 1999, Foto Strakosha debuted in the Alpha Ethniki league for Ionikos, marking his first league appearance in a 1–1 draw against Panachaiki.

1999: Greek Cup Final Appearance

In 1999, Foto Strakosha started in goal for Ionikos in the Greek Cup final. The team was defeated 3–0 by AEK Athens in the final match.

1999: Moved to Ionikos

In the summer of 1999, Foto Strakosha moved to Ionikos, continuing his career in Greek football.

2000: 2000-01 Alpha Ethniki Season

During the 2000-01 Alpha Ethniki season, Strakosha made 25 league appearances for Ionikos, achieving five clean sheets. The team finished the season in sixth place, marking one of the club's strongest league performances.

2000: UEFA Euro 2000 Qualifying Campaign

During the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying campaign in Group 2, Foto Strakosha played every minute in nine of Albania’s ten matches and recorded two clean sheets, including a goalless draw against Greece. Following the match, he briefly announced his intention to retire from international football due to criticism, but then continued his international career.

2000: League Debut in Alpha Ethniki

In 2000, Foto Strakosha debuted in the Alpha Ethniki league for Ionikos, marking his first league appearance in a 1–1 draw against Panachaiki.

2000: Greek Cup Final Appearance

In 2000, Foto Strakosha started in goal for Ionikos in the Greek Cup final. The team was defeated 3–0 by AEK Athens in the final match.

June 2001: 50th International Appearance

On June 6, 2001, Foto Strakosha made his 50th international appearance in the penultimate match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification group against Germany, which ended in a 0–2 loss.

September 2001: Appointed Team Captain

In September 2001, during Albania’s final match of the group against England, Foto Strakosha was appointed team captain by newly appointed head coach Sulejman Demollari.

2001: 2001-02 Alpha Ethniki Season

In 2001, during the 2001–02 Alpha Ethniki season, Foto Strakosha played in 18 league games for Ionikos and had three clean sheets.

2002: 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualification

During the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification for UEFA Group 9, Foto Strakosha played seven full matches for Albania and kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory over Greece, which was Albania’s only win in the qualifying group.

2002: Joins Kallithea

In 2002, Foto Strakosha joined Kallithea. During the 2002–03 Alpha Ethniki campaign, he played 13 league matches for the club, which narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 13th.

2003: Moved to Kalamata

In 2003, Foto Strakosha continued in the Greek second division with Kalamata, marking another phase in his career.

2003: Joins Ethnikos Asteras

In the summer of 2003, Foto Strakosha joined Ethnikos Asteras, a second-division team, where he played 13 league games over six months.

January 2004: Moves to Proodeftiki

In January 2004, at the age of 38, Foto Strakosha mutually terminated his contract with Ethnikos Asteras and moved to Proodeftiki in the Greek top division.

September 2004: Victory Over Greece and Tragic Incident

The 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification started on September 4, 2004, with a 1–0 home victory over Greece. Tragically, an Albanian immigrant supporter celebrating the win in Greece was attacked and killed by local hooligans that same night.

2004: UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying Campaign

During the UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying Group 10, in 2004, Foto Strakosha played in all eight matches for Albania, missing only 12 minutes of playing time. During this time he became the Albanian national team player with the most international appearances. Albania remained unbeaten at home and secured eight points in total.

2004: Confirmed Team Captain and Encouragement to Continue Playing

In 2004, Foto Strakosha was confirmed as team captain during the UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying campaign, initially under head coach Giuseppe Dossena and later under Hans-Peter Briegel. Briegel encouraged Strakosha to continue his playing career when he was considering retirement.

2004: Rejoined Panionios

In the 2004–05 season, Foto Strakosha rejoined Panionios, marking the end of his playing career.

February 2005: Final International Appearance

In February 2005, Foto Strakosha made his final international appearance on February 9 in a 2–0 loss to Ukraine. He also became the oldest player to represent Albania at 39 years, 10 months, and 17 days old.

April 2005: Sets Penalty Saving Record

On April 3, 2005, Foto Strakosha set a record in the Greek top division for the most penalties saved by a goalkeeper. In a league match against Kerkyra, he saved a penalty, bringing his total to 14 in the Alpha Ethniki, surpassing Georgios Dafkos's previous record from 1995.

May 2005: Final Season with Panionios

In May 2005, during his final season, Foto Strakosha made five league appearances in the 2004–05 Alpha Ethniki near the end of the season.

2005: Final Year with Albania National Team

In 2005, Foto Strakosha ended his time as captain for the Albania national team after gaining 73 caps.

2005: Retirement from Playing Career

In 2005, Foto Strakosha retired from his 20-year playing career.

2005: Record for Most Appearances in UEFA European Championship Qualifying

Until 2005, Foto Strakosha played in every year in UEFA European Championship qualifying matches. Strakosha holds the unique records for the most appearances by an Albanian player in UEFA European Championship qualifying matches, a record he shares with Altin Lala, with 29 appearances each, and for the most consecutive years of appearances, playing in every year from 1990 to 2005, a total of 16 consecutive years.

2005: Represents Albania Senior Team

Until 2005, Foto Strakosha represented the Albania senior team.

2006: Victory Over Greece and Tragic Incident

2007: Move to APOEL as Goalkeeping Coach

In 2007, Foto Strakosha moved to Cyprus to work with APOEL as a goalkeeping coach for three years.

2010: Returns to Panionios as Goalkeeping Coach

In 2010, Foto Strakosha returned to Panionios as a full-time goalkeeping coach and worked for approximately one-and-a-half years.

2011: Head Coach of Albania National Under-19 Team

In 2011, Foto Strakosha transitioned into international youth football, becoming the head coach of the Albania national under-19 team, a position he served for three years.