# Mirlind Daku

Mirlind Daku (born 1 January 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Russian Premier League club Rubin Kazan. At international level, he played for the Kosovo national team in 2020 and 2021, before switching his national allegiance to Albania in 2023.

## Club career
### Llapi

On 24 January 2017, Daku signed a five-year contract with Football Superleague of Kosovo club Llapi. On 18 February 2017, he made his debut with Llapi in the 2016–17 Kosovar Cup fifth round against Feronikeli after coming on as a 95th-minute substitute in place of Berat Hyseni and scoring his side's second goal during a 4–2 away win after penalties.

### Osijek
#### First season at second team

On 20 July 2018, Daku joined Croatian Second League side Osijek II, on a four-year contract. On 25 August 2018, he made his debut in a 2–2 away draw against Šibenik after being named in the starting line-up. Eight days later, he scored his first goal for Osijek II in his second appearance for the club in a 1–0 home win over Sesvete in Croatian Second League.

##### Loan at Kukësi

On 24 July 2019, Daku joined Kategoria Superiore side Kukësi, on a season-long loan. On 18 August 2019, he made his debut with Kukësi in the 2019 Albanian Supercup against Partizani Tirana after coming on as a 66th-minute substitute in place of Vasil Shkurtaj. A month later, Daku scored his first goal for Kukësi in his sixth appearance for the club in a 3–1 away win over Shkumbini in Albanian Cup.

##### Loan at Ballkani

On 11 January 2020, Daku was loaned out to Football Superleague of Kosovo club Ballkani until the end of the 2019–20 season. On 29 February 2020, he made his debut in a 0–0 away draw against Prishtina after coming on as a 59th-minute substitute in place of Artur Magani.

#### Return from loan as first team player

On 24 June 2021, Daku returned to Croatian First League side Osijek. On 8 August 2021, he made his debut in a 2–1 away win against Hrvatski Dragovoljac after coming on as a 78th-minute substitute in place of Antonio Mance. A day after debut, he signed a four-year contract extension with Osijek. Three days later, Daku made his continental debut in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round against Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia after coming on as a second-half substitute in place of Yevhen Cheberko. On 15 September 2021, he scored his first goal for Osijek in his fifth appearance for the club in a 3–0 away win over Bednja Beletinec in Croatian Cup.

##### Loan at Mura

On 7 February 2022, Daku was loaned out to Slovenian PrvaLiga club Mura until the end of the 2021–22 season. Six days later, he made his debut against Bravo after being named in the starting line-up, and assisted his side's two goals during a 2–2 home draw.
After scoring 5 goals in 16 league appearances, his loan was extended for another season in June 2022.

### Rubin Kazan

On 11 July 2023, Daku signed a three-year contract with Russian Premier League club Rubin Kazan.

## International career
### Kosovo

On 21 March 2017, Daku received a call-up from the Kosovo national under-21 team for a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against the Republic of Ireland. He made his debut for the side on 9 November, in a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Israel, coming on as a 54th-minute substitute in place of Ardit Gashi.
On 22 January 2018, Daku received his first call-up from the Kosovo national senior team for a friendly match against Azerbaijan. The match, however, was cancelled two days later. He won his first cap for Kosovo on 11 November 2020, in a friendly match against Albania, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute in place of Florent Hadergjonaj.

### Albania

In June 2023, Daku obtained the Albanian passport, making him eligible to play for the Albania national team. On 1 September 2023, he received a call-up from Albania for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Czech Republic and Poland. He made his debut against the former on 7 September, coming on as a second-half substitution in a 1–1 draw.
On 8 June 2024, he was selected in the 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2024. On 19 June, after a 2–2 draw with Croatia, he shouted "fuck Macedonia" and "fuck Serbs" with fans using a megaphone at the Volksparkstadion. He later apologized for his actions. However, he was handed a two-game ban following the incident.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 12 March 2025
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 |
| Hajvalia | 2016–17 | Kosovo Superleague | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Llapi | 2016–17 | Kosovo Superleague | 15 | 6 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 7 |
| Llapi | 2017–18 | Kosovo Superleague | 30 | 17 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 20 |
| Llapi | Total | Total | 45 | 23 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 52 | 27 |
| Osijek II | 2018–19 | Croatian Second League | 15 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 2 |
| Kukësi (loan) | 2019–20 | Kategoria Superiore | 13 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| Ballkani (loan) | 2019–20 | Kosovo Superleague | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 5 |
| Ballkani (loan) | 2020–21 | Kosovo Superleague | 34 | 31 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 31 |
| Ballkani (loan) | Total | Total | 42 | 35 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 46 | 36 |
| Osijek | 2021–22 | Croatian First League | 12 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 4 |
| Mura (loan) | 2021–22 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 5 |
| Mura (loan) | 2022–23 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 33 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 38 | 23 |
| Mura (loan) | Total | Total | 49 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 54 | 28 |
| Rubin Kazan | 2023–24 | Russian Premier League | 28 | 10 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 10 |
| Rubin Kazan | 2024–25 | Russian Premier League | 19 | 11 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 11 |
| Rubin Kazan | Total | Total | 47 | 21 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 55 | 21 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 226 | 109 | 26 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 257 | 120 |
* ↑ Appearance in Albanian Supercup
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

### International

    As of match played 19 June 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Kosovo |
| Kosovo | 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| Kosovo | 2021 | 4 | 0 |
| Kosovo | Total | 5 | 0 |
| Albania |
| Albania | 2023 | 5 | 1 |
| Albania | 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| Albania | Total | 6 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | 11 | 1 |
    Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Daku goal.
List of international goals scored by Mirlind Daku :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 10 September 2023 | Arena Kombëtare, Tirana, Albania | Poland | 2–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |