FC Goa Signs Veteran Striker Armando Sadiku for 2024-25 Season

FC Goa has bolstered its squad for the upcoming 2024-25 season with the signing of 33-year-old Albanian striker Armando Sadiku. Sadiku becomes the club’s third new foreign acquisition this summer, following the arrivals of midfielders Iker Guarrotxena and Dejan Dražić.

Expressing his enthusiasm about joining the Indian Super League (ISL) club, Sadiku remarked, “I am thrilled to join FC Goa, a team I consider to be among the best in India. I have heard only good things about the club and the place from everyone I’ve spoken to. Having played against Goa last season, I experienced firsthand the quality and strong defensive organization of the team.”

“After speaking with Coach Manolo and CEO Ravi Puskur and understanding their plans for the season, I was fully convinced. I know Coach Manolo from his time at UD Las Palmas in Spain, and I believe his mentality will greatly benefit me this season. My goal is to contribute in every possible way to help the team win all the trophies we are competing for and to score more goals than I did in my first season in India,” Sadiku added.

Sadiku brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record to FC Goa. Born in the Albanian city of Cërrik, he began his professional career with KF Turbina, playing two seasons in Albania’s second tier before moving to KS Gramozi in the top flight. There, he had a breakout season, scoring eight goals and earning a transfer to KF Elbasani. 

His impressive performances caught the attention of Swiss clubs, leading to his move to FC Locarno where he became the top scorer in the Swiss Challenge League in his first full season.

Sadiku’s career continued to flourish in Switzerland with FC Lugano and FC Zürich, where he won two Swiss Cup titles and established himself as a prolific scorer. His successful stint included a loan spell at FC Vaduz, where he helped the team retain their top-flight status. 

In 2017, he joined Legia Warsaw in Poland, scoring in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round and the Polish Cup on his debut. Later, he moved to Spain’s LaLiga with Levante, becoming only the second Albanian to play in the Spanish top flight.

After returning to Legia and winning the league and Polish Cup, Sadiku had further stints with Málaga CF in Spain, BB Erzurumspor in Turkey, and Club Bolívar in Bolivia, where he participated in the 2021 Copa Libertadores. 

He returned to Spain in 2021, signing with UD Las Palmas and later FC Cartagena, before making his Indian football debut with Mohun Bagan Super Giant in June 2023. Sadiku made an immediate impact, scoring his first goal in the AFC Cup playoff round and netting the winner in the Durand Cup semi-final against his new team, FC Goa.

Head Coach Manolo Marquez shared his excitement about the signing, stating, “Armando is an experienced striker with a remarkable track record in various countries. He has represented the Albanian National Team and possesses great physical strength, a powerful shot, high mobility, and a competitive spirit. These qualities will significantly strengthen our squad.”

Sadiku’s international career is equally impressive. He has represented Albania at various levels, scoring his first senior international goal in the FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers. He played a crucial role in securing Albania’s place in UEFA Euro 2016, where he scored the historic winning goal against Romania.

With nearly 500 matches and over 175 goals in his career, Sadiku’s addition to FC Goa is seen as a major coup for the club. His experience, skill, and determination will be invaluable as the team aims for success in the upcoming season.