Igli Tare
Albanian former footballer and sporting director (born 1973)

Igli Tare
Tare with Lazio in 2007
Personal information
Date of birth (1973-07-25) 25 July 1973 (age 52)
Place of birth Vlorë, PR Albania
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
 AC Milan (sporting director)
Youth career
1981–1982 Flamurtari Vlorë
1982–1993 Partizani Tirana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1994 Partizani 14 (2)
1994–1995 VfR Mannheim 23 (5)
1995–1996 SV Südwest Ludwigshafen 21 (5)
1996–1997 Karlsruher SC II 23 (4)
1996–1997 Karlsruher SC 8 (0)
1997–1999 Fortuna Düsseldorf 63 (24)
1999–2001 1. FC Kaiserslautern 26 (4)
2001–2003 Brescia 75 (15)
2003–2005 Bologna 55 (11)
2005–2008 Lazio 46 (5)
Total 372 (74)
International career
1989 Albania U18 2 (0)
1990 Albania U21 2 (0)
1997–2007 Albania 68 (10)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Igli Tare (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈiɡli 'taɾɛ]; born 25 July 1973) is an Albanian football executive and former football player who played as a forward. He is currently the sporting director of Serie A club AC Milan.[1] He played as a forward in Germany and Italy, and later served as sporting director of Lazio from 2008 to 2023.[2]

Tare joined Partizani Tirana as a 9-year-old in 1982, and would later go on to make his debut as a 15-year-old in 1988 before leaving Albania in 1992 to emigrate to Germany. He played in the lower leagues of Germany for Südwest Ludwigshafen and VfR Mannheim before joining Bundesliga side Karlsruher SC in 1996, initially playing for their reserve side before making his Bundesliga debut in 1996. He then joined Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga,[3] where he scored 24 league goals in 63 games in two seasons before returning to the Bundesliga with 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 1999, where he netted four league goals in 26 appearances in one year and a half at the club.[4]

After falling out of favour at 1. FC Kaiserslautern he joined Serie A side Brescia in January 2001, where he helped the side finish in a respectable 8th place.[5] He remained at Brescia for a further two seasons, and he scored a total of 15 league goals in 75 games before joining fellow Serie A side Bologna in 2003.[6] He spent two years at the club and scored 11 league goals in 55 games, before joining Lazio in a surprise move in 2005 following Brescia's relegation to Serie B. He was primarily used as a backup player at Lazio and he only scored four goals in 54 league games before retiring as a player at the age of 34 in 2008.[7]

Early life

Igli Tare studied at the Qemal Stafa High School, in Tirana, Albania.[8]

Club career

Tare began his professional career in 1996 with Karlsruher SC in Germany where he remained until 1997 before moving to Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga.

In 1999, Tare moved to 1. FC Kaiserslautern, where he played for a season before being signed by veteran Italian manager Carlo Mazzone. For five seasons, Tare played with Mazzone's Brescia, where he was able to play alongside Roberto Baggio, before again transferring, this time to Bologna where he was reunited with Mazzone once again.

At Bologna, Tare was popular amongst the fans and scored an important goal in the relegation play-off against fierce rivals Parma, however Tare's goal was not enough and they lost the return leg at home, being relegated to Serie B.

Following Bologna's relegation, Tare was loaned out to capital club Lazio scoring just three goals in his first season. Following this loan period, Tare joined the club on a permanent basis.

Tare was not a regular starter under Delio Rossi, but was able to play and score vital goals when others were out with injuries. In late 2007 away to Palermo, Tare scored off a Lorenzo De Silvestri cross, ending a scoring drought which stretched back for almost two years. He backed this goal up with another vital goal in the Coppa Italia against Napoli, which proved to be the winner.

International career

Tare was capped 68 times by the Albania national team and scored ten goals.[9] As one of the most experienced members of the side, Tare was long time captain of the national team.

Tare's most impressive performance for his national side came during his nation's match against Russia in the UEFA Euro 2004 qualifiers, when he helped Albania to a 3–1 victory, scoring his team's third goal.

In 2007, Tare's international career was effectively ended, after being dropped by manager Otto Barić.

Style of play

A tall, physical, and combative forward, Tare usually played as a centre-forward or as a striker, and was mainly known for his ability in the air, as well his work-rate, professionalism, solid technique, and capacity to link-up with teammates, despite not being a significantly elegant or prolific player.[10][11][12][13]

Post-playing career

Tare's Lazio contract expired at the end of the 2007–08 season. He then accepted a non-playing role at Lazio, becoming the club's team manager.[14] In April 2009 he completed a course in order to receive his qualification to be sporting director, a post he has held at Lazio until 5 June 2023.[15] On 26 May 2025, Tare was appointed as the sporting director of AC Milan.[16]

Personal life

Tare has long been publicly supportive of Albanian national causes. During the Kosovo War, he expressed support for the Kosovo Liberation Army and assisted Albanian refugees displaced by the conflict with financial help and accommodation in Albania.

An incident involving Tare occurred during the 2005–06 Serie A match between Inter and Lazio, when tensions escalated between him and Siniša Mihajlović. Tare stated that Mihajlović had provoked him throughout the first half, leading to a confrontation during the interval, an episode he later said he did not regret.[17]

Their rivalry resurfaced in 2016, when Lazio president Claudio Lotito considered appointing Mihajlović as head coach. Despite ongoing discussions and Lotito’s long-standing friendship with Mihajlović, Tare reportedly opposed the appointment and ultimately played a role in preventing the move.[18][19]

His father Isa also played for Partizani Tirana and later served as a club director.[20][21]

He is one of three brothers, along Auron, a well-known Albanian journalist and historian,[22] while another brother, Agron (also referred as "Genti"), who has served as Consul General of Albania in Istanbul and later as director of the Port of Durrës.[23][24][25]

He has two sons, Etienne (born 2003), a professional footballer, who started as a youth at Lazio[26] and Liam.[27]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[28][29][30][31]
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Partizani Tirana 1993–94 Albanian Superliga 14 2 — — 14 2
VfR Mannheim 1994–95 2. Bundesliga 23 5 — — 23 5
SV Südwest Ludwigshafen 1995–96 Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar 21 5 — — — 21 5
Karlsruher SC II 1996–97 Regionalliga Süd 23 4 — — — 23 4
Karlsruher SC 1996–97 Bundesliga 8 0 4 0 — — 12 0
Fortuna Düsseldorf 1997–98 2. Bundesliga 34 13 0 0 — — 34 13
1998–99 29 11 3 3 — — 32 14
Total 63 24 3 3 — — 66 27
1. FC Kaiserslautern 1999–2000 Bundesliga 22 4 1 0 2[b] 0 — 25 4
2000–01 4 0 3 1 2[b] 1 — 9 2
Total 26 4 4 1 4 1 — 34 6
Brescia 2000–01 Serie A 17 4 — — — 17 4
2001–02 25 5 5 1 — — 30 6
2002–03 33 6 1 0 — — 34 6
Total 75 15 6 1 — — 81 16
Bologna 2003–04 Serie A 29 6 3 1 — — 32 7
2004–05 26 5 2 0 — 2[c] 1 30 6
Total 55 11 5 1 — 2 1 62 13
Lazio 2005–06 Serie A 22 3 4 0 2 0 — 28 3
2006–07 14 0 3 0 — — 17 0
2007–08 18 1 6 1 1[d] 0 — 25 2
Total 54 3 13 1 3 0 — 70 4
Career total 372 74 35 7 7 1 2 1 416 83
  1. ^ Includes DFB-Pokal, Coppa Italia
  2. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in Serie A relegation play-offs
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Albania 1997 6 2
1998 8 0
1999 8 2
2000 5 0
2001 6 1
2002 5 2
2003 10 2
2004 7 0
2005 7 0
2006 5 1
2007 1 0
Total 68 10
Scores and results list Albania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Tare goal.
List of international goals scored by Igli Tare
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 October 1997 Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, Germany  Germany 2–2 3–4 1998 World Cup qualifier
2 14 October 1998 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Norway 2–2 2–2 UEFA Euro 2000 qualification
3 5 June 1999 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania  Norway 1–1 1–2 UEFA Euro 2000 qualification
4 27 March 2002 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania  Azerbaijan 1-0 1-0 Friendly
5 29 March 2003 Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër, Albania  Russia 3–1 3–1 UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
6 10 September 2003 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania  Georgia 2–0 3–1 UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
7 11 October 2003 Restelo, Lisbon, Portugal  Portugal 2–1 3–5 Friendly
8 4 June 2005 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania  Georgia 1–0 3–2 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 3–0
10 16 August 2006 Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marino  San Marino 1–0 3–0 Friendly [32]

Honours

Individual
  • Career Award: 2018[33]

References

  1. ^ Passerini, Carlos (26 May 2025). "Milan, ufficiale Tare: ora dovrà scegliere il nuovo tecnico e risolvere la grana Reijnders". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  2. ^ Sereni, Andrea (26 May 2025). "Tare al Milan, è ufficiale: i talenti scoperti dal ds e la passione per Allegri". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Igli Tare – Club Management Profile". Fortuna Düsseldorf (in German). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Igli Tare: "Wir wollen mehr erreichen als bei der EM" – Interview". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 18 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Igli Tare, da calciatore in Bundesliga a ds: il rapporto con Baggio e Lazio". Goal Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Igli Tare – Bologna FC 1909". Bologna FC 1909 (in Italian). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Chi è Igli Tare: il mercato, i colpi, il metodo, il rapporto con Lotito alla Lazio". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  8. ^ Q. Stafa High School website. "Historiku". Archived from the original on 12 January 2014.
  9. ^ "Albania – Record International Players". Rsssf. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Si riparte da Mazzone" (in Italian). Eurosport. 6 September 2004. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  11. ^ DESALVO, VALENTINA (12 March 2005). "Tare, un calcio all' ignoranza Il razzismo si può battere". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Tare: "Brescia scusami"". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 24 September 2002. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Mazzone su Tare: "Professionista molto serio"" (in Italian). Tutto Brescia. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Tare dietro la scrivania" (in Italian). Sportal.it. 13 July 2008. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  15. ^ Cieri, Stefano (6 June 2023). "Tare-Lazio è finita". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). RCS. p. 21. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  16. ^ "AC Milan appoints Igli Tare as Sporting Director". AC Milan. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  17. ^ "SPECIALE/ "Shqiponja" TARE dhe "çetniku" MIHAJLOVIC, kur drejtori i LACIOS i "mësoi" shqipen me grushta ish-yllit serb të futbollit" (in Albanian). newsport. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Igli Tare "godet" Sinisa Mihajlovicin" (in Albanian). lajmi. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  19. ^ "FOCUS – Sinisa? Tare vorrebbe qualcun altro sulla panchina laziale…" (in Italian). Cittaceleste. 25 March 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Ekskluzive: Igli Tare, karriera e një ylli përmes syve të babait". Shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). 7 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Dosja e kompleksit Partizani, pyetet ish-drejtori i klubit Isa Tare" (in Albanian). Euronews Albania. 7 December 2025.
  22. ^ ""Na kurseni urimet hipokrite", si reagoi Auron Tare pas emërimit të vëllait te Milani". Gazeta Shqip (in Albanian). 31 October 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  23. ^ "Vëllai i Igli dhe Auron Tares emërohet në portin e Durrësit, afera 'mafioze' për të cilën u përfol". TPZ.al (in Albanian). 22 January 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  24. ^ "Surpriza e Igli Tares: një mesazh për vëllain që e njihni të gjithë". Gazeta Dita (in Albanian). 19 March 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  25. ^ "Lirohet nga detyra drejtori i Agjencisë së Bregdeteve, Auron Tare (DOKUMENTI)". Newsbomb (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 9 November 2019.
  26. ^ "Lazio, di padre in figlio: Etienne Tare aggregato alla Primavera" (in Italian). Gianluca Di Marzio.com. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Igli Tare: Nuk dëshiroj që vuajtjet që unë kam kaluar ti kalojnë fëmijët e mi". OraNews (in Albanian). 14 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  28. ^ "Igli Tare Player Profile – ESPN FC". ESPN FC. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  29. ^ "Albania – I. Tare – Profile with news career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  30. ^ "Player Profile: Igli Tare". FootyMania.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  31. ^ "Igli Tare". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  32. ^ "Igli Tare international goals". eu-football.info. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  33. ^ "Ndahen çmimet e "Albanian Sports Ambassador", ish-kapiteni kuqezi Lorik Cana merr trofeun kryesor të mbrëmjes" [The "Albanian Sports Ambassador" awards are allocated, former red&black captain Lorik Cana takes evening's most important trophy] (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
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