Drilon Shala (born 20 March 1987) is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is of Albanian origin. His brother Driton is also a footballer.
Club career Shala progressed playing while at the Reipas youth academy. He made his breakthrough as a senior player for Lahti, playing for the club from 2006 to 2012.
On 17 January 2013, Shala moved to TFF First League club Tavşanlı Linyitspor. At the end his first season at the club, his contract was terminated by mutual agreement. Eventually he returned to Lahti, signing a two-year contract with his former club on 5 November 2013. There, he won the Finnish League Cup in 2016 with a 4–3 victory against SJK in the final; his third League Cup playing for Lahti. He retired from professional football in February 2020 returning for only one more season to play for his childhood club Reipas in the third-tier Kakkonen.
International career On 27 February 2006, five months after having been granted Finnish nationality, Shala made his debut for the Finland U19s as a substitute for Jami Puustinen during a 1–0 win against Norway.
Career statistics Drilon Shala stats, Football Association of Finland + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLahti2006Veikkausliiga10–––102007Veikkausliiga30–––302008Veikkausliiga204–––2042009Veikkausliiga26832606041102010Veikkausliiga214–––2142011Ykkönen21920––2392012Veikkausliiga3072130–358Total1223273906014435PP-70 (loan)2006Ykkönen152–––152City Stars (loan)2007Kakkonen40–––40Hämeenlinna (loan)2010Ykkönen20–––20Tavşanlı Linyitspor2012–13TFF 1. Lig140–––140PK-35 Vantaa2013Ykkönen50–––50Lahti2014Veikkausliiga2244141–3062015Veikkausliiga2532030203232016Veikkausliiga602161–1422017Veikkausliiga10010––1102018Veikkausliiga0000––002019Veikkausliiga2000––20Total65791132208910Reipas Lahti2019Kakkonen10–––102020Kakkonen20–––202021Kakkonen80–––80Total110000000110Kuusysi2024Kolmonen6210––72Career total244431742228029149
Honours Lahti Ykkönen: 2011 Finnish League Cup: 2007, 2013, 2016
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