Alessandro Albanese

Belgian footballer (born 2000)

Alessandro Albanese
Personal information
Date of birth	(2000-01-12) 12 January 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Lier, Belgium
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	HJK
Number	99
Youth career
2003–2007	Herstal
2007–2015	Standard Liège
2015–2016	Porto
2016–2018	Hoffenheim
2018–2019	Eintracht Frankfurt
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2022	Waasland-Beveren	27	(1)
2022–2024	Oostende	23	(2)
2023	→ Virton (loan)	8	(0)
2024–	HJK	0	(0)
International career^‡
2016	Belgium U16	3	(0)
2016–2017	Belgium U17	6	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 July 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 November 2020

Alessandro Albanese (born 12 January 2000) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Veikkausliiga club HJK Helsinki.

Club career

Albanese began playing football at the age of 3 at Herstal, and continued his football training in the academies of Standard Liège, Porto, Hoffenheim, and Eintracht Frankfurt.^[1] After a year without a club, Albanese signed a professional contract with Waasland-Beveren in the summer of 2020.^[2] Albanese made his professional debut with Waasland-Beveren in a 3-1 Belgian First Division A win over K.V. Kortrijk, assisting his side's first goal in the 10th minute.^[3]

On 4 January 2022, Albanese moved to Belgian Pro League club Oostende and signed a contract until 2025.^[4] On 18 January 2023, he was loaned by Challenger Pro League side Virton.^[5]

On 4 July 2024, Albanese signed with HJK Helsinki in Finnish Veikkausliiga.^[6]

International career

Albanese is a former youth international for Belgium, having represented the country at under-16 and under-17 levels.

Personal life

Born in Belgium, Albanese is of Italian descent.^[7]

Career statistics

As of 4 July 2024.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	Division	League		Cup^[a]		Europe		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Waasland-Beveren	2021–22	Belgian Pro League	24	1	2	0	–		–		26	1
	2021–22	Challenger Pro League	4	0	1	0	–		–		5	0
	Total		28	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	31	1
Oostende	2021–22	Belgian Pro League	8	1	–		–		–		8	1
	2022–23	Belgian Pro League	11	0	1	0	–		–		12	0
	2023–24	Challenger Pro League	4	1	0	0	–		–		4	1
	Total		23	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	24	2
Virton (loan)	2022–23	Challenger Pro League	8	0	–		–		–		8	0
HJK	2024	Veikkausliiga	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career total			59	3	4	0	0	0	0	0	63	3

^ Includes Belgian Cup

References

^ Sports+, DH Les (November 13, 2020). "Albanese, un petit bout de Herstal à Waasland: "J'ai pu y jouer contre Neymar et Mbappé!"". DH Les Sports +.
^ "Standard, Porto, Waasland-Beveren,...: le fabuleux destin d'Alessandro Albanese". Le Soir Plus. August 13, 2020.
^ "Kortrijk vs. Waasland-Beveren - 9 August 2020 - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
^ "NEW PLAYER: ALESSANDRO ALBANESE" (Press release). Oostende. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
^ "Alessandro Albanese" (in French). Virton. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
^ Alessandro Albanese HJK:n hyökkäykseen, hjk.fi, 4 July 2024
^ "'Waasland-Beveren test spelers van Frankfurt en Emmen'". www.voetbalnieuws.be.