Admir Mehmedi (born 16 March 1991) is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a second striker or centre forward. Born in North Macedonia, Mehmedi represented the Switzerland national team. He was most recently the sporting director of FC Schaffhausen.
Early life Mehmedi was born in Gostivar, North Macedonia. He is of Albanian heritage. At the age of 2, his family emigrated to Switzerland. In 2006, he moved to Zürich.
Club career Zürich Being a first team regular in 2010, Mehmedi established himself as a physical striker, excellent in the box, as well as having a good turn of pace, and he was also technically great. During his time with Zürich, Mehmedi scored nineteen goals and provided nine assists.
In the January transfer window in 2012, Mehmedi moved to Dynamo Kyiv.
Freiburg On 11 July 2013, Mehmedi moved to SC Freiburg. Freiburg's acting sporting director Klemens Hartenbach stated that he was "delighted" the transfer went through. Hartenbach stated, "He's a very versatile attacking player who understands the game and has already proven he can play at the highest level". On 26 May 2014, Freiburg decided to buy Mehmedi for a reported €6 million after having a good season, scoring 12 goals in 32 games during his loan spell with the Bundesliga side.
Bayer Leverkusen On 11 June 2015, Mehmedi joined Bayer Leverkusen after Freiburg was relegated from the Bundesliga.
VfL Wolfsburg On 31 January 2018, Mehmedi joined VfL Wolfsburg on a four-year deal for €8 million.
Antalyaspor and retirement On 14 January 2022, Mehmedi signed a 2.5-year contract with Turkish club Antalyaspor.
At the end of the 2022–23 season, the forward terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent; on 30 August 2023, he publicly announced his retirement from professional football, citing his desire to spend more time with his family and pursue a coaching career as the main reasons behind his decision.
International career
Under-21 Mehmedi was a crucial member of the Swiss U-21 side in the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. Mehmedi received the silver boot with three goals in the tournament and was selected in the UEFA Euro U-21 2011 Team of the Tournament.
Senior Mehmedi was part of the Swiss team at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Mehmedi made his debut for the Swiss national team against England in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match, coming on as a substitute. Mehmedi scored his first goal for Switzerland in his side's 5–3 win over Germany. The Swiss national side had not beaten the Germans since 1956.
On 15 June 2014, he replaced Valentin Stocker at half time in Switzerland's opening 2014 FIFA World Cup match against Ecuador. Two minutes later, he headed in Ricardo Rodríguez's corner to equalise as Switzerland eventually won 2–1.
Two years to the day after he scored in the 2014 World Cup against Ecuador, Mehmedi scored Switzerland's equaliser in their 1–1 group-stage draw against Romania in UEFA Euro 2016.
Following his participation in Switzerland's UEFA Euro 2020 campaign, in which they reached the quarter-finals for the first time, Mehmedi officially announced his retirement from the national side on 16 July 2021.
Post-playing career Just three months after retiring as an active footballer, he joined FC Schaffhausen as their new sporting director on 5 December 2023. His mission to secure the team's place in the Swiss Challenge League was successful. Despite this, he requested a mutual termination of his contract on 27 May 2024, just six months after his appointment, as he could not agree with the board's proposed budget reductions.
Personal life In 2016, Mehmedi and his father arranged to build a new house for an impoverished family in Padalište, saying: "You know, building a house is not cheap, but I appreciate what I have, and I want others to feel fine as well."
Mehmedi is a Muslim and he's married with two children.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsZürich2008–09Swiss Super League 11220201522009–1022323202662010–11331043—37132011–1218431103318Total841911714310929Dynamo Kyiv2011–12Ukrainian Premier League 9100—912012–131601050220Total2511050311SC Freiburg2013–14Bundesliga 3212305140132014–1528443—327Total601673517220Bayer Leverkusen2015–16Bundesliga282201154172016–1722320613042017–1812230—153Total627701768613VfL Wolfsburg2017–18Bundesliga5110—612018–1926621—2872019–2021200512632020–2118010322222021–221010—20Total71951838413Antalyaspor2021–22Süper Lig7110—812022–2310020—120Total1711000201Career total319533211491340277
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSwitzerland20117020126120135020141212015812016124201780201821201951202051202160Total7610
Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mehmedi goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Admir MehmediNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition126 May 2012St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland95–35–3Friendly215 June 2014Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília, Brazil221–12–12014 FIFA World Cup39 October 2015AFG Arena, St. Gallen, Switzerland353–07–0UEFA Euro 2016 qualification43 June 2016Cornaredo Stadium, Lugano, Switzerland422–12–1Friendly515 June 2016Parc des Princes, Paris, France441–11–1UEFA Euro 201666 September 2016St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland472–02–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification710 October 2016Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra492–02–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification88 September 2018Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland596–06–02018–19 UEFA Nations League A98 September 2019Stade Tourbillon, Sion, Switzerland632–04–0UEFA Euro 2020 qualification1011 November 2020Den Dreef, Leuven, Belgium691–01–2Friendly
Honours Switzerland U21 UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 2011
References
External links
Profile at FC Zurich Stats at Bundesliga Official Site A Team U21 U20 U19 U17 U16 profiles at Swiss FA