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Besnik Hasi

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Besnik Hasi
Hasi with Anderlecht in 2016
Personal information
Date of birth (1971-12-29) 29 December 1971 (age 54)
Place of birth Djakovica, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia (present-day Kosovo)
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Amedspor (head coach)
Youth career
Vëllaznimi
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1990 Liria Prizren 46 (7)
1990–1991 Zagreb 5 (1)
1991–1992 Prishtina 1 (0)
1993–1994 Samobor
1994–1997 Genk 79 (18)
1997–1998 1860 Munich 7 (0)
1998–2000 Genk 61 (3)
2000–2006 Anderlecht 108 (1)
2006–2007 Lokeren 35 (1)
2007–2008 Cercle Brugge 31 (0)
Total 373 (31)
International career
2000–2007 Albania 43 (2)
2007 Kosovo 1 (0)
Managerial career
2008–2014 Anderlecht (assistant)
2014–2016 Anderlecht
2016 Legia Warsaw
2017 Olympiacos
2018–2021 Al-Raed
2021–2022 Al-Ahli
2023–2025 Mechelen
2025–2026 Anderlecht
2026– Amedspor
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Besnik Hasi (Albanian pronunciation: [besˈnik ˈhasi]; born 29 December 1971) is a professional football coach and former player who manages Süper Lig club Amedspor. During his playing career, he was known for his versatility as a midfielder and his strong leadership qualities on the field. Hasi spent most of his club career playing in Belgium, where he became a key figure at Anderlecht, one of the country’s most successful teams. Born in Yugoslavia, he made 47 appearances for the Albania national team, before playing one friendly for the Kosovo national team before they applied for FIFA membership.

After retiring as a player, he transitioned into coaching, where he gained recognition for his tactical approach and ability to develop young players. Hasi has managed several clubs across different countries, including stints in Belgium, Poland, Greece, and Saudi Arabia. He was particularly successful during his tenure at Anderlecht, leading them to domestic league success and competing in European tournaments such as the Champions League and the Europa League.

Known for his strategic mindset and disciplined coaching style, Hasi continues to be involved in football management, frequently working with clubs aiming to establish themselves on the European stage.

Club career

[edit]

Born in Djakovica, SAP Kosovo, SFR Yugoslavia, he began playing with his hometown team Vëllaznimi at an early age before joining Liria playing back then in the Yugoslav Second League where he began playing as a senior. He moved to NK Zagreb during the 1990–91 Yugoslav Second League. He then played one game with Prishtina in the 1991–92 Yugoslav Second League.[1] In 1993–94, he played with NK Samobor in Croatia's second division before moving to Belgium.

Hasi moved to Genk in mid-1994, then to 1860 Munich where he played only seven times during the 1997–98 season. He returned to Genk establishing himself in starting lineup, winning the Belgian Title in the 1998–99 season. During his time at Genk, his family were forced to flee Kosovo to Albania during the Kosovo War.[2]

Hasi moved to Anderlecht in May 2000 and, despite only playing 16 matches in his first season due to injury problems, helped the club retain their league title. He played 30 games the following year, including five in the UEFA Champions League to add to his five of the previous season.

Groin and knee problems restricted Hasi to eleven league appearances and four UEFA Cup games in 2002–03, however, but he returned to fitness to help Anderlecht win back the Belgian crown the following season.

In the 2004–05 season, he suffered torn ligaments in his left knee and was out for three months, when he came back he was limited to just 14 starts as Anderlecht relinquished the title.

Hasi moved to Lokeren during the 2005–06 season. On 11 June 2007, he signed a two-year contract with Cercle Brugge.

International career

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Albania

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On 15 November 2000, Hasi made his debut with Albania in a friendly match against Malta after coming on as a substitute at half-time in place of Devi Muka,[3] and he was one of the first Kosovo Albanian to play for Albania.[4] Hasi received the Albanian citizenship on 21 February 2001.[5]

Kosovo

[edit]

Six months after retiring from international football with Albania, on 15 June 2007, Hasi made his debut with Kosovo in a friendly match against Saudi Arabia after being named in the starting line-up and acting as captain of the team.[6][7][8]

Managerial career

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Anderlecht

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Hasi retired at the end of the 2007–08 season and subsequently joined Anderlecht as an assistant manager. He signed a two-year contract with the Belgian club in 2008 and remained in his role for six years, assisting multiple head coaches during his tenure. During this period, he played a crucial role in the development of young players and the tactical setup of the team.

On 10 March 2014, Hasi was promoted to head coach following the dismissal of John van den Brom, after Anderlecht struggled in the league, winning only three of their eight post-Christmas matches and facing the risk of missing out on the title.[9][10] Under Hasi’s leadership, the club managed a strong turnaround, winning eight of their remaining eleven games, including a crucial final stretch of five consecutive victories. This remarkable run secured Anderlecht’s third consecutive Belgian Championship and reaffirmed their dominance in domestic football.

Following two and a half seasons as head coach with the club, Hasi was sacked on 26 May 2016 after losing the league title to rivals Club Brugge.[11][12]

Legia Warsaw

[edit]

On 4 June 2016, Hasi was appointed new manager of Legia Warsaw.[13] Due to poor results, notably the disastrous 6–0 home defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League, Hasi was relieved of his duties on 18 September 2016.[14][15]

Olympiacos

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On 9 June 2017, Hasi was unveiled as the new manager of the Greek team Olympiacos, penning a two-year contract worth €600k per annum.[16] The board chose him over other candidates based on his experience in UEFA Champions League qualifying matches, with the objective of leading the Reds to the competition's group stage after a year's absence. The feat was officially accomplished on 22 August 2017, as the team pulled off a 3–1 aggregate victory (2–1 at home and 1–0 away) over Rijeka in the competition's playoffs.[17] Criticized for his substandard defensive coaching and man management, Hasi was relieved of his duties on 25 September 2017,[18] due to a string of negative results including a 2–3 Champions League group stage home defeat against Sporting CP, and successive league fixtures without a win, culminating to a 3–2 away loss to arch-rivals AEK despite being 0–2 up after just over 60 minutes of play.[19]

Saudi Pro League

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Al-Raed

[edit]

On 26 July 2018, Hasi was appointed as the manager of Al-Raed in the Saudi Pro League.[20] During his tenure, he successfully led the team to one of their highest-ever finishes in the league. In the 2018–19 season, Hasi guided Al-Raed to an 8th-place finish, a significant improvement for the club. The following season, 2019–20, the team continued to progress under his management, securing a 6th-place finish, which marked one of the best seasons in the club’s history. However, in the 2020–21 season, Al-Raed finished in 10th place, and on 30 June 2021, Hasi officially left the club after spending nearly three years in charge.

Al-Ahli

[edit]

On 6 June 2021, Hasi was appointed as the head coach of Al-Ahli.[21] His tenure with Al-Ahli, however, proved to be more challenging. The team struggled to maintain consistency in the league, and after 247 days in charge, On 5 March 2022, Hasi was sacked after a 1–0 defeat to Al-Ettifaq.[22]

Despite facing challenges at Al-Ahli, Hasi’s managerial career in Saudi Arabia demonstrated his ability to elevate mid-table teams like Al-Raed into competitive league positions. His tactical approach and leadership played a key role in improving Al-Raed’s performances, while his time at Al-Ahli reflected the pressures and high expectations associated with managing one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent clubs.

Return to Anderlecht

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On 20 March 2025, Anderlecht announced the appointment of Hasi as the new head coach, signing a contract until the end of the season with an option for an indefinite extension. This marks Hasi’s return to the club where he previously achieved significant success both as a player and a coach.[23][24] He was sacked on 2 February 2026, after a string of poor results.[25]

Amedspor

[edit]

On 27 August 2026, Hasi was appointed as the head coach of Amedspor.[26]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[27][28]
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liria Prizren 1988–89 Yugoslav Second League 273—273
1989–90 Yugoslav Second League 194—194
Total 467—467
Zagreb 1990–91 Yugoslav Second League 51——51
Prishtina[1] 1991–92 Yugoslav Second League 10——10
Samobor[29] 1993–94 Druga HNL ——
Genk 1994–95 Belgian Second Division 3314—3314
1995–96 Belgian Second Division 282—282
1996–97 Belgian First Division 182—182
Total 79187918
1860 Munich 1997–98 Bundesliga 7000—70
Genk 1998–99 Belgian First Division 3223050402
1999–2000 Belgian First Division 2916120372
Total 6139170774
Anderlecht 2000–01 Belgian First Division 1601060230
2001–02 Belgian First Division 3011091402
2002–03 Belgian First Division 1503041221
2003–04 Belgian First Division 28040100420
2004–05 Belgian First Division 1600070230
2005–06 Belgian First Division 30101050
Total 10811003721573
Lokeren 2005–06 Belgian First Division 15100—151
2006–07 Belgian First Division 20010—210
Total 35110—361
Cercle Brugge 2007–08 Belgian First Division 31040—350
Career total 3733124144244134

International

[edit]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Albania[30] 200010
200160
200250
2003111
200470
200570
200651
200710
Total432
Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hasi goal.
List of international goals scored by Besnik Hasi
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
110 September 2003Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania Georgia1–03–1Euro 2004 qualifying
22 September 2006Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus Belarus2–22–2Euro 2008 qualifying

Managerial statistics

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As of 31 August 2026
Team From To Record
G W D L Win % Ref.
Anderlecht 10 March 2014 26 May 2016 119642827053.78 [31]
Legia Warsaw 4 June 2016 18 September 2016 18567027.78
Olympiacos 8 June 2017 25 September 2017 11632054.55 [32]
Al-Raed 28 July 2018 31 May 2021 97372238038.14 [33]
Al-Ahli 1 July 2021 5 March 2022 256109024.00
Mechelen 8 November 2023 3 March 2025 56231221041.07
Anderlecht 20 March 2025 1 February 2026 4318916041.86
Amedspor 10 June 2026 Present 3201066.67
Total 37216190121043.28 —

Honours

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Player

[edit]

Genk

Anderlecht

Manager

[edit]

Anderlecht

Individual

References

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  1. 1 2 "Tempo Almanah 1991-1992". Yumpu. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  2. ↑ "Hasi counts among the lucky ones". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  3. ↑ "Match Report: Albania vs. Malta". National Football Teams. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  4. ↑ "Archived: Besnik Hasi's career details". Sport Ekspres (Archived). 25 April 2012. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  5. ↑ "Presidential Decree No. 2907, 21 February 2001". Qendra e Botimeve Zyrtare (Albanian Official Gazette) (in Albanian). 21 February 2001. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  6. ↑ "Match Report: Kosovo vs. Saudi Arabia". National Football Teams. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  7. ↑ "Rrëfimi i Besnik Hasit: Debutimi me Shqipërinë, Kosova, klubet e drejtuara dhe ëndrra për stolin kuqezi". Telegrafi (in Albanian). Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  8. ↑ "Archived: Besnik Hasi's football career overview". Futbolli.com (Archived). 30 November 2007. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  9. ↑ "Besnik Hasi becomes Anderlecht head coach". Sporza (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  10. ↑ "Anderlecht appoint Besnik Hasi as head coach". UEFA. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  11. ↑ "RSCA and Besnik Hasi ending cooperation". R.S.C. Anderlecht website. 26 May 2016. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Besnik Hasi no longer Anderlecht head coach". Bruzz (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  13. ↑ "Besnik Hasi is the new head coach of Legia Warsaw". Legia Warsaw. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  14. ↑ "Legia Warsaw sack coach Besnik Hasi after poor start to season". ESPN. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  15. ↑ "Besnik Hasi denies being sacked by Legia Warsaw". Przegląd Sportowy (in Polish). Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  16. ↑ "The details of Besnik Hasi's contract with Olympiacos". Sport FM (in Greek). Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  17. ↑ "UEFA Champions League match report: Olympiacos vs. Partizan (2017–18 season)". UEFA. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  18. ↑ "Besnik Hasi sacked as Olympiacos manager". AS English. 25 September 2017. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  19. ↑ "AEK beats Olympiacos 3-2, stays top in Greece". Fox Sports. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  20. ↑ "Besnik Hasi departs Al-Ahli Saudi FC". Sabq (in Arabic). Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  21. ↑ "Al-Ahli Saudi FC dismisses Besnik Hasi". Arriyadiyah (in Arabic). Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  22. ↑ "Besnik Hasi sacked as Al-Ahli Jeddah head coach". Al Arabiya (in Arabic). 5 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  23. ↑ "Besnik Hasi Returns as Anderlecht's Head Coach". Evrim Ağacı. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  24. ↑ "Besnik Hasi". RSC Anderlecht. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  25. ↑ karaxha, besnik (2 February 2026). "Anderlecht shkarkon Besnik Hasin pas rezultateve negative". Paparaci. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  26. ↑ "Besnik Hasi Amedspor'da". Amedspor (in Turkish). Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "Besnik Hasi". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  28. ↑ Besnik Hasi at WorldFootball.net
  29. ↑ "Archived: Croatian League Appearances - Besnik Hasi". HrRepka (Archived). Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  30. ↑ Besnik Hasi at EU-Football.info (archived)
  31. ↑ "RSC Anderlecht - Matches & Results". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  32. ↑ "Olympiacos CFP - Matches & Results". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  33. ↑ "Al-Raed - Matches & Results". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
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