Adnan Januzaj

Adnan Januzaj, 2013

Adnan Januzaj (born 5 February 1995, Brussels) is a Belgian footballer of Kosovo - Albanian descent. He plays as an attacking midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United.

Origin

Januzajs parents are Kosovo Albanians. His father fled in 1992 after Belgium, to escape conscription into the involved in the Bosnian war Yugoslav People's Army. His uncles were members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, which fought in the Kosovo war for the independence of Kosovo.

The family of Januzajs mother was deported from the Kosovo town Istog in Turkey. Later, the family emigrated to Belgium. There Januzajs parents met in an Albanian community in Brussels know where Januzaj was born and raised.

Januzaj is fluent in Albanian and regularly visits the living in Kosovo part of his family.

Career

In the club

Januzaj began playing football at FC Brussels and arrived in 2005 at the age of ten years for RSC Anderlecht. In 2011 he moved to the youth department of Manchester United.

At his pro debut, he came on August 11, 2013 in a 2-0 win against Wigan Athletic in the Community Shield, when he came on in the 83rd minute for Danny Welbeck. His debut in the Premier League he celebrated on September 14, 2013 in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, when he entered the game for Ashley Young in the 67th minute. On October 5, Januzaj was first used in the 2-1 away win against Sunderland AFC from the beginning; while he scored his first two goals for the first team of Manchester United. Shortly thereafter Januzaj extended his contract at Manchester United until the summer of 2018. On December 21, 2013 against West Ham United, he scored his first goal at Old Trafford.

In the National Team

Because of its origin and his family could Januzaj for his native Belgium, playing for the Independent since 2008 from Serbia Kosovo, Albania, and Turkey, Serbia and England. According to his father, the national teams of Serbia and Turkey, but would have no chance. For England Januzaj could play only in 2018, since then he would have lived since his 18th birthday five years in the country.

In October 2013, the Belgian national team coach Marc Wilmot Januzaj wanted to nominate for the World Cup qualifying matches for the Belgian national team against Croatia and Wales. He said his participation from, however, because he had not yet decided on a country.

After the FIFA which has not FIFA and UEFA member Kosovo allowed friendlies against other FIFA members, Januzaj was asked to participate on the first official friendly game of Kosovar selection against Haiti on March 3, 2014. According to the Secretary General of the Kosovo Football Federation Eroll Salihu this invitation has symbolic character. Januzaj said his participation from though.