Armando Dobra (born 14 April 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League club Chesterfield. Born in England, he represents Albania's youth teams internationally.
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Armando Dobra[1] | ||
Date of birth | (2001-04-14) 14 April 2001 (age 21)[2] | ||
Place of birth | Redbridge, England | ||
Position(s) | Attacking midfielder / Winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Chesterfield | ||
Number | 17 | ||
Youth career | |||
2017–2019 | Ipswich Town | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019–2022 | Ipswich Town | 22 | (0) |
2021–2022 | → Colchester United (loan) | 11 | (1) |
2022– | Chesterfield | 7 | (2) |
National team‡ | |||
2019 | Albania U19 | 7 | (1) |
2020– | Albania U21 | 11 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:11, 9 August 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:09, 7 June 2022 (UTC) |
Dobra joined the Ipswich Town academy in 2017, progressing through the youth system at Portman Road. He signed his first professional contract on 27 February 2019, signing an 18-month deal with the option of a further years extension.[3] He scored on his first-team debut for the club in a 3–1 loss to Luton Town in an EFL Cup first round tie, on 13 August 2019.[4]
His second appearance with the Ipswich Town first-team saw him assist both goals in a 2–1 win against Tottenham Hotspur U21s in the EFL Trophy group stage on 3 September 2019.[5] The following month he appeared in another group stage match, coming on as a substitute to assist the final goal in a 4–0 win against Gillingham.[6] Dobra made his first league appearance for Ipswich on 20 October 2019, coming on from the bench in a 2–0 loss against Accrington Stanley.[7] On 6 May 2020, Ipswich took up the option to extend Dobra's contract by a further year, keeping him at the club until 2021.[8] He signed a new three-year contract with Ipswich on 20 May 2020, keeping him at the club until 2023 with the option of a further year extension.[9]
On 4 July 2022, Dobra left Ipswich by mutual consent.[10]
Dobra moved to Colchester United on 31 August 2021 on a season-long loan.[11] He made his club debut on 7 September in Colchester's 1–0 defeat to Gillingham in the EFL Trophy.[12] He scored his first goal for the club in Colchester's 1–0 win against West Ham United Under-21s in the EFL Trophy on 28 September.[13]
On 5 July 2022, Dobra joined National League club Chesterfield on a two-year contract.[14] He scored on his debut for the club in a 2–2 draw against Dorking.[15]
Born in England, Dobra qualifies to play for Albania through his father.[16] He made his debut for the Albania U19 team in a friendly on 24 March 2019, featuring in a 1–1 draw with Macedonia U19 in Korça. He won his second cap in another friendly with Macedonia on 26 March 2019, coming on as a half-time substitute in a 2–1 defeat in Ohrid.[17]
In August 2019, Dobra was called up to the Albania U19s for two friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He featured in both friendly matches, with the first game ending in a 0–0 draw and the second result a 2–0 loss, winning his fourth and fifth caps respectively for the U19s.[18]
On 13 November 2019, Dobra scored his first international goal in a 5–1 loss against Greece U19s in the 2020 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification stage.[19]
On 11 March 2020, Dobra received his first call up to the Albania U21 national team for a UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Kosovo U21,[20] although the matches were postponed due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus. He was called up to the U21 side again in August 2020 for 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers in September 2020.[21] He made his debut for the Albania U21's on 4 September in a 5–1 win against Austria U21.[22]
Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | |||||
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Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
Ipswich Town | 2019–20[23] | League One | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 8 | 1 |
2020–21[24] | League One | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | 19 | 1 | |
2021–22[25] | League One | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
Total | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 30 | 2 | ||
Colchester United (loan) | 2021–22[25] | League Two | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 4[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | 17 | 2 | |
Career total | 33 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 47 | 4 |
Chesterfield F.C. – current squad | |
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