Realdo Fili
Realdo Fili is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as an offensive midfielder for Romanian club FC Botoșani.
Club career
Apolonia Fier
An Apolonia Fier academy product, Fili made his first-team debut on 11 May 2013 in the last league match of 2012–13 season against Flamurtari Vlorë at the age of 16 years and 363 days, playing the last 7 minutes of the goalless home draw. Apolonia Fier finished the league in the last position, meaning that they are relegated and would spend the 2013–14 season in the Albanian First Division.During the whole 2013–14 season, Fili didn't make a single league appearance, and was an unused substitute five times. His only match of the season was against Kukësi on 18 December 2013 in the returning leg of 2013–14 Albanian Cup second round, where he played the second half in an eventual 4–0 away defeat, which resulted Apolonia Fier eliminated with the aggregate 4–1. Apolonia finished the league season as runners-up, promoting in the Albanian Superliga along with Elbasani.
2014–15 season
Apolonia commenced the league season with a 3–0 disappointing away loss to Tirana, in which Fili was an unused substitute for the entire match. Fili played his first league match of the season on 26 September 2014 against Kukësi, appearing as a second-half substitute for Renato Naçi in an eventual 0–1 home defeat. He began to gain more playing time by starting his first match of the season on 1 October during the 4–0 away win against Dinamo Tirana for the first leg of the first round of 2014–15 Albanian Cup.With the arrival of the new coach Artan Mërgjyshi, who begun focusing on the new players, Fili begun to play more often, playing 63 minutes in the 2–0 defeat to Partizani Tirana at home in the first match of the 2015. Fili scored his first goal of the season on 28 February during the 2–2 home draw against Kukësi, which earned Apolonia the first point of the second part of the season. Fili continued his fine form by scoring the lone goal against the fellow relegation strugglers Elbasani, giving Apolonia three important points. Only three days later, Fili was on the scoresheet again, scoring against another survival rival, this time Teuta Durrës, to give Apolonia its second consecutive league win.
On 12 April, Fili scored a winner in the 88th minute against Flamurtari Vlorë for a 2–1 home victory to help Apolonia reducing the gap with Teuta Durrës in their bid to escape relegation. On 9 May, Apolonia thrashed Elbasani 4–1 at home, to secur mathematically the penultimate spot and to reduce the gap with Teuta Durrës to only one point; Fili himself scored the fourth goal of the match. Eight days later, in the decisive match away against Teuta Durrës, Apolonia was defeated thanks to a last-minute winner of Ardit Peposhi, shattering the club's goal of surviving.
Fili finished his third season with Apolonia Fier by playing 33 matches between league and cup, including 28 in league, scoring five times in the process. He was praised for his performances throughout the season along with the other youngster Myrto Uzuni. They were the target of many Albanian Superliga clubs, but they did not leave due to their contract with the club. After the end of the season, he was named one of the Albanian Superliga Talent of the Season along with his teammate Uzuni and other players.
Partizani Tirana
On 12 February 2016, Fili agreed personal terms and joined Albanian Superliga side Partizani Tirana on a three-year deal, taking the vacant squad number 28 for the second part of 2015–16 season. Before signing with the club, Fili had to solve an issue with his old club Apolonia Fier who didn't allow him to become a free agent, which lead Fili to send the case to the Dispute Resolution Chamber of AFA. This issue postponed his debut with the first team, as he first needed to debut with the B-team.On 21 February 2016, Fili made his B-team debut in the match against Shënkolli, where he appeared as a 75th-minute substitute for Fabio Hasa in an eventual 1–1 home draw. He would make another appearance with the B-team on 6 March during the 1–1 away draw against Kevitan, playing full-90 minutes.
On 27 February, six days after making his debut with B-team, Fili finally debuted with the first team during the away goalless draw against the underdogs of Tërbuni Pukë, playing the last 20 minutes in place of Lorenc Trashi.
Fili missed out the start of the 2017–18 Albanian Superliga due to a broken molar which gave him muscle pain and didn't allowed him to make a normal training session. He discovered it later in October 2017 and after fixing it he started to train along the team. He left the club on 30 January 2018, having played 48 matches in all competitions.
Kamza
On 31 January 2018, Fili completed a transfer to Kamza as a free agent by signing a one-year contract. He was given squad number 14, and debuted officially on 4 February against his former team Partizani Tirana, entering at the start of the second half as the match ended in a 2–1 loss. Fili opened his scoring account fourteen days later in the 1–2 loss to Skënderbeu Korçë, netting the opener in 11th minute with shot just outside the box which defeated goalie Orges Shehi; the goal earned notoriety which led Albania media to compare Fili with Alessandro Del Piero. Fili left the club in June 2018 after not agreeing to sign a new contract, finishing his short spell with just 17 league appearances and 2 goals.Skënderbeu Korçë
On 24 August 2018, Skënderbeu Korçë announced to have signed Fili on a three-year contract. He made his first appearance for the club on 31 August in the 1–1 home draw versus Laçi. Fili's first goal for his new side came on 26 September in a cup match against the lower league opposition Veleçiku Koplik; his goal, the fourth of the match, was scored in 85th minute after he came from the bench in the 65th minute. On 4 January of the following, Fili handed a transfer request which was granded, becoming the club's first departure in the winter transfer window. His spell at Ujqërit e Dëborës was lacklustre, as he was able to appear only 10 times in league, including 3 times as starter. In cup, he made two appearances and scored once. In an interview, Fili cited the lack of faith shown by coach Orges Shehi and not playing regularly as the main reasons of his departure.Luftëtari Gjirokastër
On 5 January 2019, Fili joined Albanian Superliga relegation strugglers Luftëtari Gjirokastër on a 18-month contract with an option to renew based on his performances.Botoșani
On 29 January 2020, Fili signed a contract with Romanian club Botoșani.International career
In February 2015, Fili was called up for the first time at the Albania under-21 by coach Skënder Gega in the squad from home league Albanian Superliga to participate in for a 3-days mini preparatory stage in Durrës, Albania from 22–25 February 2015.In June 2015, Fili was called up again at Albania U21 by same coach Skënder Gega for the friendly matches against Kazakhstan U21 and Sweden U21. In the first match against Kazakhstan on 12 June, Fili was an unused substitute with Albania who lost the match 3–1. In the second friendly match four days later, Fili was able to make his U21 debut by playing in a 4–1 away loss against Sweden.