# Drilon Shala

Drilon Shala (born 20 March 1987) is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is of Albanian origin. His brother Driton is also a footballer.

## Club career

Shala progressed through the Reipas youth academy. He made his breakthrough as a senior player for Lahti, playing for the club from 2006 to 2012.
On 17 January 2013, Shala moved to TFF First League club Tavşanlı Linyitspor. At the end his first season at the club, his contract was terminated by mutual agreement. He eventually returned to Lahti, signing a two-year contract with his former club on 5 November 2013. There, he won the Finnish League Cup in 2016 with a 4–3 victory against SJK in the final; his third League Cup playing for Lahti. He retired from professional football in February 2020, only to return for one more season to play for his childhood club Reipas in the third-tier Kakkonen.

## International career

On 27 February 2006, five months after having been granted Finnish nationality, Shala made his debut for the Finland U19s as a substitute for Jami Puustinen during a 1–0 victory against Norway.

## Career statistics

    As of 23 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Lahti | 2006 | Veikkausliiga | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 |
| Lahti | 2007 | Veikkausliiga | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | 0 |
| Lahti | 2008 | Veikkausliiga | 20 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 20 | 4 |
| Lahti | 2009 | Veikkausliiga | 26 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 41 | 10 |
| Lahti | 2010 | Veikkausliiga | 21 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 21 | 4 |
| Lahti | 2011 | Ykkönen | 21 | 9 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 23 | 9 |
| Lahti | 2012 | Veikkausliiga | 30 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 35 | 8 |
| Lahti | Total | Total | 122 | 32 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 144 | 35 |
| PP-70 (loan) | 2006 | Ykkönen | 15 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 15 | 2 |
| City Stars (loan) | 2007 | Kakkonen | 4 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | 0 |
| Hämeenlinna (loan) | 2010 | Ykkönen | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 |
| Tavşanlı Linyitspor | 2012–13 | TFF 1. Lig | 14 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 14 | 0 |
| PK-35 Vantaa | 2013 | Ykkönen | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5 | 0 |
| Lahti | 2014 | Veikkausliiga | 22 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 30 | 6 |
| Lahti | 2015 | Veikkausliiga | 25 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 3 |
| Lahti | 2016 | Veikkausliiga | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | – | – | 14 | 2 |
| Lahti | 2017 | Veikkausliiga | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 11 | 0 |
| Lahti | 2018 | Veikkausliiga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| Lahti | 2019 | Veikkausliiga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 |
| Lahti | Total | Total | 65 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 89 | 10 |
| Reipas Lahti | 2019 | Kakkonen | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 |
| Reipas Lahti | 2020 | Kakkonen | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 |
| Reipas Lahti | 2021 | Kakkonen | 8 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8 | 0 |
| Reipas Lahti | Total | Total | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Kuusysi | 2024 | Kolmonen | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 7 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 244 | 43 | 17 | 4 | 22 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 291 | 49 |
* ↑ Includes Suomen Cup
* ↑ Includes Finnish League Cup
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League

## Honours

Lahti
* Ykkönen: 2011
* Finnish League Cup: 2007, 2013, 2016