Ervin Bulku (; born 3 March 1981) is an Albanian former professional footballer and current assistant coach of the Albania national team.
He was a utility player capable of operating as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder and right midfielder. Bulku began his senior career with Tirana in 1998, where he established himself as one of the club's key players during one of its most successful periods, winning six Kategoria Superiore titles and four Albanian Cup trophies, including a domestic double in his debut season, as well as five Albanian Supercup titles. After nearly a decade with Tirana, he continued his career abroad with Kryvbas in Ukraine, Hajduk Split in Croatia, AZAL in Azerbaijan, and Sepahan in Iran, where he won the 2012–13 Hazfi Cup. He later returned to Tirana in 2014 and retired at the club in 2016.
At international level, Bulku represented Albania at under-18 and under-21 levels before making his senior debut in 2002. He earned 56 caps and scored one goal for the Albania national team over a thirteen-year international career.
Club career KF Tirana Bulku progressed through the Tirana youth system and was promoted to the first team by coach Sulejman Mema ahead of the 1998–99 season, during which he made 13 league appearances as Tirana won both the Albanian National Championship and the Albanian Cup, completing a domestic double.
In the 1999–2000 season, Bulku became a regular member of the first team following the departure of several midfielders, earning increased playing time under manager Shkëlqim Muça. He made his European debut on 13 July 1999, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat to ÍBV in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round. He made 21 appearances in the National Championship as Tirana retained the league title. Tirana and Tomori Berat finished level on 52 points at the end of the regular season, leading to a championship play-off final on 28 May 2000, in which Bulku started and played 57 minutes before being substituted with the score level at 0–0, as Tirana eventually won 5–4 on penalties following a 1–1 draw. He also featured in the 2000 Albanian Supercup, appearing during the final five minutes against Teuta on 13 January 2001, as Tirana won 1–0 to secure the trophy.
In the 2000–01 campaign, injury problems limited Bulku's playing time, restricting him to 12 league appearances as Tirana finished runners-up in the championship. He scored his first goal for the club on 9 September 2000 in a 9–0 victory over Kastrioti in the second leg of the Albanian Cup first round. He was an unused substitute in the final on 26 May 2001, as Tirana defeated Teuta 5–0 to win the competition. In the 2001 Albanian Supercup, he started against Vllaznia on 15 September 2001 and played 55 minutes before being substituted with Tirana trailing 1–0, as the match ended in a 2–1 defeat.
Bulku began the 2001–02 season by scoring in a 3–0 victory over Laçi in the second leg of the Albanian Cup first round on 24 August 2001, helping Tirana secure a 6–0 aggregate win and progress to the next round. On 26 October 2001, he scored his first National Championship goal in a 2–1 victory over Lushnja, giving Tirana the lead in the 22nd minute after his shot deflected off a defender into the net. He added his second goal of the cup campaign on 9 February 2002, scoring a 89th-minute winner in a 1–0 away victory over Erzeni in the first leg of the quarter-finals, before Tirana advanced with a 4–1 aggregate win after taking the second leg 3–1 a week later. On 11 May 2002, Bulku scored his second league goal, opening the scoring in a 2–2 draw against Dinamo Tirana. He finished the league season with 22 appearances and two goals as Tirana finished runners-up on 62 points, one behind Dinamo Tirana. In the Albanian Cup final on 1 June 2002, he played the full 90 minutes as Tirana defeated Dinamo Tirana 1–0 to win the trophy. He also started the 2002 Albanian Supercup against Dinamo Tirana, scoring in the first half before being substituted after 49 minutes in a 6–0 victory.
In the 2002–03 season, Bulku became one of Tirana's designated penalty takers, converting from the spot in the seventh minute of a 1–0 away victory over Flamurtari on 19 October 2002 in Round 4 of the National Championship. He made 22 league appearances as Tirana won the championship title. In the second round of the 2002–03 Albanian Cup, he converted another penalty in the 76th minute of the second leg against Besa on 30 January 2003, securing a 1–0 victory and progression to the quarter-finals with a 1–0 aggregate score. In the semi-finals, Bulku played the full 90 minutes in both legs against Dinamo Tirana, receiving a booking in each match, as Tirana lost 4–1 on aggregate and were eliminated. Suspended for an accumulation of bookings, he missed the 2003 Albanian Supercup on 16 August 2003, which Tirana won 3–0 against Dinamo Tirana.
In the 2003–04 Kategoria Superiore, Bulku made 24 appearances and scored two goals as Tirana secured a second consecutive league title, finishing nine points ahead of the runners-up with 80 points while scoring a record 90 goals during the campaign. On 15 August 2004, he played the full 90 minutes in the 2004 Albanian Supercup, as Tirana lost 2–0 to Partizani.
On 13 November 2004, Bulku scored twice, including a penalty, in a 3–1 victory over Egnatia in Round 11 of the 2004–05 Kategoria Superiore, finding the net in the 80th and 90+4th minutes. He scored again against the same opponents in Round 20 on 22 January 2005, converting an 81st-minute penalty to secure a 1–0 away victory. On 16 April 2005, he converted another penalty in an eventual 2–2 draw against Vllaznia, equalising in the 83rd minute after Tirana had trailed 2–1. He finished the league season with seven goals in 33 appearances, including four penalties, as Tirana won a third consecutive championship title with 84 points. In the Albanian Cup, Bulku scored once in the third round before playing the full 120 minutes in the final against Teuta on 11 May 2005, which ended goalless after extra time; he converted Tirana's opening penalty in the shoot-out, although the club was ultimately defeated 6–5. He played the first half of the 2005 Albanian Supercup against Teuta on 21 August 2005 before being substituted, as Tirana won 5–4 on penalties following a goalless draw.
In the 2005–06 Kategoria Superiore, Bulku made 24 appearances and scored once as Tirana finished runners-up in the league. In the final of the 2005–06 Albanian Cup on 10 May 2006, he played the full 90 minutes as Tirana defeated Vllaznia 1–0 to win the trophy. In the 2006 Albanian Supercup on 19 August 2006, Bulku played the full 90 minutes as Tirana defeated Elbasani 2–0 to win the trophy.
Bulku also featured regularly in European competitions against teams such as Dinamo Tbilisi, Ferencváros, CSKA Sofia and Kayserispor.
In his final season with Tirana, Bulku made 30 appearances and scored once in the 2006–07 Kategoria Superiore as the club won the league title.
Kryvbas In the summer of 2007, Bulku joined Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih of the Ukrainian Premier League, where he played alongside fellow Albanian internationals Dorian Bylykbashi and Isli Hidi, while Ansi Agolli joined the club two years later. He made his debut on 28 July 2007 in a 3–0 league defeat against Karpaty Lviv. During the 2007–08 season, he established himself as a regular starter under coach Oleh Taran, featuring in midfield alongside Bylykbashi, Ruslan Kostyshyn and Anatoliy Oprya. He made 19 league appearances as Kryvbas finished 13th and avoided relegation.
During the 2008–09 season, Bulku remained a regular starter under Taran. On 19 July 2008, he provided the assist for the winning goal in a 1–0 victory over Metalurh Zaporizhya. He scored his first goal for the club on 22 March 2009 in a 1–0 win over Kharkiv, before adding another two weeks later in a 2–1 victory against Zorya Luhansk. He finished the campaign with 25 league appearances as Kryvbas improved to 12th place.
Bulku remained a first-team regular during the first half of the 2009–10 season, making 13 league appearances before leaving the club during the winter break after mutually terminating his contract. He made 58 league appearances and scored two goals during his two-and-a-half-year spell with Kryvbas.
Hajduk Split After six months as a free agent, Bulku signed for Croatian side Hajduk Split of the Prva HNL in August 2010. He made his debut on 16 September 2010, starting and playing 81 minutes in a 3–1 defeat to AEK Athens in the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League group stage. He made his league debut three days later, playing 83 minutes in a 1–0 away victory over Rijeka. He established himself as a regular member of the first team during the 2010–11 season, making 15 league appearances, mostly as a starter, as Hajduk finished runners-up.
He made his second Europa League group-stage appearance on 30 September 2010 in a 1–0 victory over Anderlecht. On 4 November 2010, Bulku played the full 90 minutes in a 3–2 home defeat to Zenit Saint Petersburg, his third appearance in the competition. He made four appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
AZAL
At the end of June 2011, Bulku signed for AZAL of the Azerbaijan Premier League. He made his debut on 7 August 2011 in a 3–0 league victory over Simurq. He scored his first goal for the club three matches later, in a 3–1 win against Neftchi Baku on 27 August 2011. Bulku established himself as a regular starter throughout the 2011–12 season, making 22 league appearances and scoring three goals.
Sepahan On 21 July 2012, Bulku signed a one-year contract with Iranian champions Sepahan, joining fellow Albanian player Xhevahir Sukaj, who had arrived at the club earlier that year.Zyrtare: Ervin Bulku firmos me Sepahan-in në Iran aSport.al
He made his debut on 29 August 2012, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home victory over Fajr Sepasi.Sepahan vs. Fajr Sepasi - 29 August 2012 Soccerway In the 2012–13 Hazfi Cup, Bulku scored in the quarter-final against Sanat Naft on 9 January 2013, helping Sepahan to a 2–0 victory and a place in the semi-finals.Ervin Bulku shënon në kupë për Sepahanin Sporti Shqiptar Sepahan went on to win the competition, giving Bulku his first major honour outside Albania. He scored his first league goal for the club on 6 April 2013 in a 3–1 victory over Naft Tehran, opening the scoring in the 12th minute. He was booked for removing his shirt during the celebration and was sent off in the 41st minute after receiving a second yellow card.Sepahan vs. Naft Tehran - 6 April 2013 Soccerway In his first season, Bulku made 21 league appearances and scored once, while also featuring in five AFC Champions League matches.
In his second season, Bulku made 26 league appearances and scored once in the AFC Champions League, although Sepahan failed to progress beyond the group stage.
In May 2014, Bulku announced that he would leave the club following the expiration of his two-year contract.Ervin Bulku: Tirana mbetet zgjedhja ime e parë në Shqipëri. Do të vendos më 1 korrik Panorama Sport
Return to Tirana On 5 June 2014, Tirana announced the signing of Bulku as a free agent, marking his return to the club after seven years abroad. The transfer was made official nine days later, when he signed a two-year contract. He joined the squad managed by Gugash Magani on 1 July following the opening of the summer transfer window. In August, team captain Erando Karabeci handed him the captain's armband as a sign of respect, becoming vice-captain instead.
He made his first appearance of the season on 24 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–0 victory over Apolonia Fier in the opening league match at Qemal Stafa Stadium. He scored his only goal of the season on matchday three, netting a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1–1 away draw against Vllaznia Shkodër in a match marred by crowd trouble that resulted in arrests and stadium bans.