RESCUE MISSION
Six teams in three years but ‘crazy’ adventurer Avdijaj is out to guide Hearts to safety
AT the tender age of 17, interest from Liverpool in Donis Avdijaj saw Schalke slap a massive £41million release clause on their up-and-coming winger.
The Kosovo international never did make that kind of big-money move away from the Bundesliga giants. But he did eventually leave Germany before experiencing the kind of ‘crazy’ adventures in football — and in life — that money can’t buy.
Spells in Austria with Sturm Graz, Holland with Roda and Willem II, and Turkey with Trabzonspor, have turned Avdijaj into a multi-lingual and worldly-wise 23-year-old.
And, after signing a short-term deal with Hearts until the end of the season, the ultra-confident attacker is keen to put down roots down in Scotland in the longer term.
But not before firing the rock-bottom Tynecastle club to Premiership survival and hopefully getting fans out of their seats in excitement along the way.
‘Some people might question (my career) because I’ve now had six teams in three years,’ said Avdijaj as he was unveiled at Tynecastle yesterday.
‘But I would say it has been a crazy experience and I learned a lot. I’ve had a good time at most of the teams.
‘I’ve played now in five countries and I can speak five languages.
‘I’ve had different foods, different people, different cultures, different stadiums, different fans. I’ve experienced different types of football and I’ve scored in every country I’ve played in.
‘For a 23-year-old, that is not bad. That mix can help me at Hearts.
‘What can the fans expect of me? Away from the football field, I am the guy you see now — a little bit nice to everyone, a little bit shy.
‘But on the field you will quickly see a change in me. I’m a very aggressive player, a very technical player and a very emotional player. It’s a mix that the fans will like. In home games I like to lift the fans. I can give them emotion and heart.
‘I’m looking forward to showing myself here and I hope I can find my best form as fast as I can.
‘I hope to settle for a longer period at Hearts but first we have one mission (survival) — and after we take this mission successfully then we can talk.’
Avdijaj, who will wear 99 on his back in tribute to the year his younger brother Qerim was born, knows Hearts boss Daniel Stendel from his youth days in German football.
When the chance arose to join the manager in Edinburgh, he admits it was an easy decision despite the team’s current plight.
‘After one or two discussions with the coach, it was clear to me I should come to Hearts and play in this beautiful stadium and in front of these beautiful fans,’ said Avdijaj, who is set to make his debut at Ross County tonight.
‘Although I had talks with other clubs, there was something about Hearts and Scotland. Everything I have seen so far has made me say: “Wow”.
‘Scottish football is like a brother to English football. I’ve seen a lot of games and I like the emotion and the way Scottish people all like their football.
‘Also, it was clear that I would have the coach here behind me and the club behind me, too. I want to give everything for the people here.
‘Does the team’s position worry me? I think the team has more quality than the table says.
‘Now they have made a winter signing, someone who is going to make a difference and help the team. That is my job.
‘I am going to try to do everything to help Hearts out of this position. But I am not the only one. We have a lot of players here who can help do that and who have the quality to get us out of this position.’
A former German youth international, Avdijaj has since declared for Kosovo and has represented them six times.
With a looming Euro 2020 play-off against North Macedonia in March — and either Georgia or Belarus awaiting in the final — he hopes helping Hearts can also see him make history at international level.
Accepted as a FIFA nation in 2016, Kosovo have never before featured at a major international finals.
‘I chose to represent Kosovo the way I made this decision now (to come to Hearts),’ said Germanborn Avdijaj.
‘I don’t want to be somewhere only because I’m really, really good. I want to be somewhere where they know I am good and where I have the people behind me.
‘Kosovo is like that. It’s the home country of my parents, I speak the language perfectly, I listen to the country’s music and I eat its food. So it was easy for me to choose my national team.
‘I have played a few games for them in the past and I want to go back to the national team in the future. But first it’s important to play for my club. I am not here at Hearts to waste time. I am here to do something with this club in the next six months.
‘But I do think Kosovo has a big chance to go to the Euros.
‘The quality of the team is very big and I hope the country can make history.’