Quick Facts
CancerBiography
Amir Saipi (born 8 July 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Swiss club Lugano. Born in Switzerland, he represents Kosovo at international level.
Club career
Lugano
On 10 September 2021, Saipi signed a five-year contract with Swiss Super League club Lugano and receiving squad number 26. Two days later, he was named as a first team substitute for the first time in a league match against Basel. His debut with Lugano came five days later in the 2021–22 Swiss Cup second round against Neuchâtel Xamax after being named in the starting line-up. On 24 October 2021, he made his league debut in a 2–0 away defeat again against Basel after being named in the starting line-up.
International career
Under-20 and proposed Kosovo switch
Saipi in 2019 was part of the Switzerland U20 with which he played four matches where most of them were friendly matches. On 26 August 2019, the Football Federation of Kosovo announced that they had held a meeting with Saipi and were very close to starting the procedures of equipping him with the necessary documents to be ready to join Kosovo for the friendly match against Gibraltar and UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match against Montenegro.
Under-21
On 2 October 2020, Saipi received a call-up from Switzerland U21 for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Georgia U21 and Liechtenstein U21. On 30 May 2021, he made his debut with Switzerland U21 in a friendly match against Republic of Ireland U21 after being named in the starting line-up.
On 15 June 2023, Saipi was named to the Switzerland U21 squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where he played in four matches, including the quarterfinal against Spain, in which they were eliminated 1–2 after extra time.
Senior
On 29 September 2024, it was announced by Corriere del Ticino that Saipi has decided to represent Kosovo at the international level. Five days later, he formalizes the decision and accept their call-up for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League matches against Lithuania and Cyprus. His debut with Kosovo came on 12 October in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League match against Lithuania after being named in the starting line-up.
Personal life
Saipi was born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland to Bosniak parents from the village Lubinjë e Epërme of Prizren.
Honours
- Lugano
- Swiss Cup: 2021–22