1. Lorik Cana is currently the grassroots ambassador for children's football in Albania, named by the Albanian Football Association on 26 October 2017.
56 Facts About Lorik Cana
1. 2.
Lorik Cana used to play primarily as a defensive and central midfielder but later switched to centre-back.
3.
Lorik Cana participated in the first major international competition for Albania, the UEFA Euro 2016 held in France.
4.
At the age of 16, Lorik Cana was invited to Arsenal for a trial, but failed to attend because he was denied a British visa.
5.
Lorik Cana began his senior club career playing for Paris Saint-Germain, before signing with rivals Olympique de Marseille in 2004 whom he went on to captain.
6.
In 2009, Lorik Cana made his league debut for Sunderland becoming the first player of Albanian origin to play in the Premier League.
7.
Two years later, Lorik Cana signed for Italian Serie A club Lazio where he spent four years.
8.
In 2015, Lorik Cana returned to France, where he started his career, signing a two-year contract with Nantes.
9.
Lorik Cana was eligible to play for either Albania, Switzerland or France, as he held all three passports.
10.
Lorik Cana chose Albania and made his international debut in June 2003, at the age of 19.
11.
Lorik Cana is Albania's most capped player of all time with 93 caps where he was named captain in 2011.
12.
Lorik Cana was born in Pristina, Kosovo, from parents originally from Gjakova.
13.
Lorik Cana is the son of Agim Cana, a former football player of FC Prishtina.
14.
Lorik Cana watched every match of Pristina, since he was five years old and describes himself as an avid fan of the team.
15.
In 1997, Lorik Cana joined the local team Dardania Lausanne, an amateur football club founded by the Albanian community in Lausanne, coached by his father.
16.
Lorik Cana played at Dardania until 2000, when he was spotted and signed by French club Paris Saint-Germain.
17.
Lorik Cana had previously been invited to Arsenal in 2000 at the age of 16 for a trial, but failed to attend because he was denied a British visa.
18.
In 2003 Lorik Cana was invited by the first team coach Luis Fernandez invited him at training session and at the end of the season, with PSG having nothing to play for in the league, the Parisian coach took the opportunity to rotate his squad.
19.
Lorik Cana went on to play in other 2 matches, 1 as a starter until half-time and 1 as the full 90-minutes.
20.
Lorik Cana played 33 full 90-minutes league matches helping Marseille to finish as runners-up with 64 points, behind Lyon.
21.
Lorik Cana became the team's captain after the departure of Habib Beye to Newcastle United during the summer of 2007.
22.
Lorik Cana received a yellow card in each match, thus missing in the last 16 first-leg match against Zenit Saint Petersburg.
23.
Similar to his previous 2 years at Marseille, Lorik Cana began the new season under new management as the club was now being led by the Belgian Eric Gerets.
24.
Lorik Cana was again team's captain and appeared in 48 total matches scoring a career-high 3 goals and assisting in 3 goals.
25.
Lorik Cana formed partnerships in the midfield with wingers Mathieu Valbuena, Samir Nasri and midfielder Benoit Cheyrou as Marseille boasted the third-best attack in the league behind champions Lyon and Bordeaux, who finished first and second in the league, respectively.
26.
Lorik Cana left the club for English Premier League side Sunderland in August 2009.
27.
Lorik Cana was described as a very aggressive defender during that time and nowadays he mentions that Marseille was his favourite team of all time and he would go back if they gave him an offer.
28.
Lorik Cana was handed the team's captaincy by manager Steve Bruce, although Bruce later stated a captain had yet to be appointed.
29.
Lorik Cana led his team in 35 games in all competitions.
30.
Lorik Cana's stay at the club was hampered by a back injury during mid-season.
31.
On 3 July 2011, Lorik Cana completed a transfer to Italian Serie A club Lazio as part of Fernando Muslera's transfer to Galatasaray.
32.
Lorik Cana hit form following the return, winning a place in the starting lineup, thanks to Lazio's players being haunted with injuries and suspensions.
33.
Lorik Cana netted the second of campaign on 6 May 2012, a 25-yard goal versus Atalanta, to keep Lazio's UEFA Champions League hopes alive.
34.
Lorik Cana concluded his first season in Rome by making 15 league appearances as Lazio finished 4th in the championship.
35.
Lorik Cana made 5 cup appearances, including the final as Lazio beat city rivals Roma to win the trophy for the 6th time.
36.
However, Lorik Cana struggled to play in the second part under new manager Edy Reja, as the Italian did not see him as a lineup player.
37.
Lorik Cana finished his second Lazio season by playing 32 matches in all competitions.
38.
Lorik Cana spent the majority of his 4th season in Italy on bench, recording only 20 appearances between league and cup.
39.
Lorik Cana was eligible to play for either Albania, Switzerland or France, as he held all three passports.
40.
Lorik Cana's choice was Albania and joined the team in early 2003 after receiving the Albanian cititzenship and subsequently an invitation by then coach Hans-Peter Briegel.
41.
Lorik Cana was switched to centre-back in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification due to absence Geri Cipi.
42.
Lorik Cana was a regular starter under Hans-Peter Briegel and performed well, missing only matchday 8 against Georgia due to the yellow card suspension, despite Albania finishing 5th in Group 2.
43.
Lorik Cana was given a new role under new manager Otto Baric, who switched him as a defensive midfielder along with Altin Lala.
44.
Lorik Cana continued to be a regular starter in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, collecting 720 minutes from 8 matches as Albania finished Group 1 in 5th place, leaving behind only Malta.
45.
Lorik Cana started the qualifying campaign by playing as a defensive midfielder and subsequently played as a centre-back, often along Debatik Curri.
46.
Lorik Cana captained Albania for the first time in a friendly game against Montenegro on 25 May 2010.
47.
Lorik Cana was included in the best XI of the players that missed out at the 2014 FIFA World Cup final stages because of failing to qualify with their national team.
48.
Lorik Cana received a similar award by the city of Bajram Curri in northern Albania.
49.
On 21 May 2016, Lorik Cana was named in Albania's preliminary 27-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016, and in Albania's final 23-man UEFA Euro 2016 squad on 31 May.
50.
Lorik Cana captained Albania in their opening Group A match against Switzerland.
51.
Lorik Cana announced his retirement from international football on 23 June 2016.
52.
Lorik Cana is currently Albania's all-time most capped player with 92 appearances.
53.
Lorik Cana has the worst disciplinary record of any Albanian international, receiving 26 yellow cards and 2 red cards.
54.
Lorik Cana is the son of retired footballer Agim Cana.
55.
Lorik Cana married Monica Ercoli, an Italian, on 8 June 2014 and the ceremony took place on 27 June 2014.
56.
On 15 January 2015 Lorik Cana was named Honorary Ambassador of Kosovo.