38 Facts About Ilion Lika

Ilion Lika began his professional career in 1999 with Dinamo Tirana, recording more than 200 appearances in all competitions before leaving for Elbasani in 2007.

Ilion Lika moved for the first time aboard in January 2008 by joining Terek Grozny of Russian Premier League.

Ilion Lika returned in Albania in January 2010, representing in quick succession Vllaznia Shkoder and Kastrioti Kruje before joining Tirana in the summer of that year where he went on to play for the next three years.

Ilion Lika was a member of the Albania national team between 2002 and 2010, earning 14 senior international caps.

Ilion Lika played for Dinamo Tirana from 1999 to June 2007.

Ilion Lika became a fan favourite during his time at Dinamo Tirana and was considered as being one of the best goalkeepers in the Albanian Superliga.

Ilion Lika was tested by the Danish side Odense BK but he wasn't offered a contract at the club.

Ilion Lika played just under 6 months in at Elbasani before looking for a new team.

Ilion Lika had offers from abroad as well with Vorskla Poltava apparently leading the chase for the goalkeeper's signature, although he had other clubs from Turkey and the rest of Europe interested in him.

Ilion Lika completed his move to the club on 29 January 2008 and he signed a two-year contract worth $500,000.

The president of Chechenya had expressed his desire for Ilion Lika to spend the rest of his career with Terek Grozny and had stated that he is a huge fan of the Albanian goalkeeper.

Ilion Lika says that he is treated like a king at the club and is a fan favourite already.

Ilion Lika suffered an injury that would keep him out of action for over five months in February 2009.

The injury meant that he missed the start of the Russian Premier League and three crucial 2010 World Cup qualifiers and with first choice goalkeeper Arjan Beqaj already out for a lengthy period, this would have meant that Ilion Lika would have been the first choice keeper and would have been back in the squad after spending more than 2 years out of the national squad.

Ilion Lika spent five weeks rehabilitating in Macedonia in 2009 to try to get him back to full fitness.

On 1 December 2009, Ilion Lika left the club officially along with six other players.

Ilion Lika returned in Albania in January 2010 now as a free agent, agreeing to a short-term contract with Albanian Superliga strugglers Vllaznia Shkoder.

Five days later, Ilion Lika was released from his contract by the club president Valter Fushaj, with the goalkeeper being unhappy with his contract and clauses, thus becoming a free agent again.

Ilion Lika concluded the second half of the season by making 16 league appearances, 15 of them with Kastrioti.

Ilion Lika became a free agent after his contract ran out.

On 17 June 2010, Ilion Lika was presented as Tirana's newest player by signing a contract for the upcoming season.

Ilion Lika signed an initial 6-month contract with the option of a further one year.

Six days later, Ilion Lika kept his second consecutive clean-sheet with a fine display in the capital derby versus Partizani, meaning that Tirana has won for the first time in nine matches.

Ilion Lika left the club in June 2014 after the club didn't pay him an old debt which Lika won at Conflict Resolution Room at FSHF.

On 5 June 2014, shortly after the end of the season, Ilion Lika left Tirana and joined Flamurtari Vlore by penning a two-year contract.

Ilion Lika enjoyed a strong run in the first games of the season, keeping five clean-sheets in the opening six league matches, as Tirana become a title contender.

Ilion Lika was ever-present in league, playing every minute from 36 appearances, keeping 17 clean-sheets in the process.

However, in May 2019, Ilion Lika returned as starter and helped Tirana escape relegation by keeping two clean-sheets in the last three matches.

Ilion Lika concluded the season by making 14 appearances between league and cup.

On 24 July 2024, Ilion Lika announced his retirement from football, bringing an end to his 25-year senior career.

Ilion Lika was first approached to Albania senior team in January 2002 for the Bahrain Shoot Soccer Tournament, held at Riffa.

Ilion Lika was the starting goalkeeper in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

Ilion Lika played seven matches in the Group 2, keeping no clean-sheets as Albania finished in 5th position.

Ilion Lika returned to the national team in October 2007 after half a year absence for the match versus Slovenia due to an injury of Beqaj.

Under new manager Arie Haan, Ilion Lika received another call-up in January 2008 for gathering between 14 and 23 January in Antalya, Turkey.

Ilion Lika was the third goalkeeper in Albania's unsuccessful 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

Ilion Lika returned to the national team in February 2010 where he was named in the squad for the unofficial friendly versus Kosovo.

Ilion Lika has spoken out strongly against homosexuality, calling it "dangerous", as it violates the family.