Edmond Rugova (born 20 July 1957) is a Yugoslavian football coach and former football player. Rugova formerly coached the Kosovo national football team, a post he held since his appointment by the Football Federation of Kosovo in the summer of 2006Edmond Rugova named coach of Kosovo national football team (AlbaniaSoccer) until his departure in July 2009.
Playing career Club Before he became the coach of the Kosovo national football team, Edmond Rugova was a famous football player in Kosovo playing for FC Prishtina during the 1980s as part of the so-called "Golden Generation" of Kosovar football players that included Fadil Vokrri, Agim Cana, Fadil Muriqi and others. In his early career he also represented RHMK Kosovo (1977, loan) and KF Liria Prizren (1975–1979). For FC Prishtina (1979–1985), he played 98 league matches and scored 29 goals. He left tension-filled Kosovo for the US and joined New York Cosmos in 1985,Football and conflict: The story of FC Pristina and the Kosovo War - The Set Pieces then also had a spell with MISL outfit Kansas City Comets.Profile - NASL Jerseys
International Ruguvoa played for the Yugoslavia national under-20 football team.Up to ten years before international recognition of Kosovo FA - Play the Game
Managerial career Edmond Rugova's first international match as coach of the Kosovo national football team was the international friendly against Saudi Arabia to be played on 15 June 2007, in Ankara, Turkey.Edmond Rugova names the official squad for Saudi Arabia friendly While Kosovo was not allowed to UEFA nor FIFA, it was hard to play regular games in the early years.Kosovo are still waiting for international recognition - World Soccer
Edmond Rugova is currently a coach for the Sporting Kansas City Juniors.
Personal life His son MaxRugova working his way up the ladder - Top drawer soccer was born in Kansas City and plays for FC Pristina.
References
External links Kosovo national football team info by the Football Federation of Kosovo