# Betim Fazliji

Betim Fazliji (Albanian: Betim Fazlija; born 25 April 1999) is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Swiss Super League club St. Gallen and the Kosovo national team.

## Club career
### St. Gallen

On 21 June 2019, Fazliji signed his first professional contract with Swiss Super League side St. Gallen after agreeing to a two-year deal. His debut with St. Gallen came on 27 July in a 1–2 away win against Basel after being named in the starting line-up.

### St. Pauli

On 15 June 2022, Fazliji joined 2. Bundesliga side St. Pauli. His debut with St. Pauli came a day later in a 3–2 home win against 1. FC Nürnberg after coming on as a substitute at last minutes in place of Adam Dźwigała.

### Return to St. Gallen

In June 2023, after one season in Germany, Fazliji returned to St. Gallen on a four-year contract.

## International career
### Switzerland

   "We parted well with Switzerland because I decided on my country and my career. I say thank you to Switzerland for everything because here I started and I achieved everything, but Kosovo is my home and I will play for them"
In September 2019, Fazliji becomes part of Switzerland U20 with which he made his debut in a 2–2 away draw against Portugal U20 after coming on as a substitute in the 78th minute in place of Yannick Marchand. On 2 October 2020, he received a call-up from Switzerland U21 for 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Georgia U21 and Liechtenstein U21, but Fazliji refused to join the team after he was in process of completing the necessary documents, which would allow him to play for Kosovo in November 2020 matches.

### Kosovo

On 28 September 2020, Fazliji confirmed through an interview that he has started the process of completing the necessary documents which if completed in time, Fazliji would be ready to join with Kosovo national team in the next 2020–21 UEFA Nations League matches in November 2020. On 3 November 2020, he received a call-up from Kosovo for the friendly match against Albania and 2020–21 UEFA Nations League matches against Slovenia and Moldova. Eight days later, Fazliji made his debut with Kosovo in a friendly match against Albania after being named in the starting line-up.

## Personal life

Fazliji was born in Vranje, FR Yugoslavia to Albanian parents from the village Miratovac of Preševo, and he is the second player of Kosovo that comes from the Preševo Valley after Gjelbrim Taipi.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 12 November 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| St. Gallen U21 | 2017-18 | Swiss 1. Liga | 11 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 3 |
| St. Gallen U21 | 2018-19 | Swiss 1. Liga | 19 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | 2 |
| St. Gallen U21 | Total | Total | 30 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 5 |
| St. Gallen | 2019-20 | Super League | 26 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | 2 |
| St. Gallen | 2020-21 | Super League | 32 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 1 |
| St. Gallen | 2021-22 | Super League | 29 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 2 |
| St. Gallen | Total | Total | 87 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 97 | 5 |
| St. Pauli | 2022-23 | 2. Bundesliga | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 99 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 111 | 10 |