What does it mean to be a member of the first roster in Chattanooga Red Wolves SC’s history?
It means a lot to me to be on the first roster and part of history. It’s giving me extra motivation to work hard and leave good memories.
How would you describe your style of play?
My playing style is about having good control and possession of the game—giving confidence to the rest of the defense, holding the ball when needed and playing vertical into the attack.
When did you know soccer was what you wanted to pursue? Did you always want to be a professional footballer?
I knew I wanted to be a professional player when I began playing with my local academy at seven years old.
Is there an iconic player that you’ve looked up to throughout your career?
Yes—for me that was former Italian professional footballer, Gianluca Zambrotta.
What made a move to Chattanooga the right one for you at this point in your career?
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC is a promising new team with big ambitions and a lot of opportunity. I’ve wanted to come to the United States to compete, and things fell into place for me to do so. Chattanooga will be a great fit.
With 2019 being USL League One’s debut season, what are you most excited about? What are your expectations for the 2019 season?
I’m excited to show the fans good games and positive results. My expectation for us as a team is to come out of this first season on top. I know it won’t be easy, but I’ve seen my teammates resumes, and I think it will be possible.
How are you prepping for your time here?
I’m preparing my focus to be only on soccer, and of course spending time with my family before my move to Chattanooga.
You have competed in two UEFA Champions League qualifying matches and in one Europa League qualifying match. What was it like participating in those events?
This competition is the biggest competition in Europe, so for me it was an unbelievable feeling and experience. Overall, our team had good results—we almost made it to group stage but ultimately fell short.
You’ve rostered with four Albanian Superliga teams throughout your career—describe what competition is like in that division.
It’s a really high level of competition—this may not be familiar for some people, but you can take a look at the results of Albanian teams playing in Champions League and Europa League competitions every year.
What did you enjoy most about playing in your native Albania?
I always enjoyed when we had games with our direct rival team FC Skenderbeu and of course when we had good results. We had very passionate fans who would cheer our names the entire game.
What are you most looking forward to about living in Chattanooga?
It’s simple: the fans. I can’t wait to give them good results and competitive games.
What is your favorite thing about your native Albania?
My favorite thing is traditional Albanian Food, which I’m sure I will be missing soon haha! It’s all made from scratch and fresh. Very good.
Vangjel is joining Chattanooga Red Wolves SC for the club’s 2019 Inaugural Season. Keep up with Vangjel on Instagram.
