Gentian Muça (born 13 May 1987 in Tirana) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Albanian club Tirana. A product of the KF Tirana academy, he spent much of his early career in the lower leagues of Germany before returning to Albania, and indeed Tirana in 2008.
Following his return to Tirana, Muça spent one season on loan at Bylis Ballsh and another one at Dinamo Tirana, where he won the league for the first time in his career. After his successful spell at Dinamo Tirana, Muça returned to Tirana where he played during the 2010–11 season.
Then, his contract was not extended so he decided to join Vllaznia Shkodër where he played only in the first part of 2011–12 season before spending the other part at Flamurtari Vlorë. Following this, Tirana brought him back and even since that he become a regular member in the starting lineup, making more than 100 appearances in all competitions. During the summer of 2015 and 2016, he was loaned to Kukësi for the club's European campaign.
Muça represented Albania at youth level, playing for the under-19 in 2005. In 2009, he was called up for the first in the senior team where he made his unofficial debut against Kosovo.
Club career
Early career
Muça started his early career by playing in the Germany lower leagues with teams like Bonner SC, SC Vahr-Blockdiek and Osterholz-Scharmbeck.
Tirana
After his spell in the lower leagues of Germany, Muça returned to Tirana in the summer of 2008, but the coach at that time Blaz Sliskovic suggested him to go on loan to another club to gain experience, as playing for Tirana for a youngster like him would have been quite difficult. Muça spent the 2008–09 season on loan at fellow top flight side Bylis Ballsh, collecting 28 league appearances, scoring twice, as the team finished 9th in league, which sent them to relegation play-offs where they faced Gramozi Ersekë, suffering a 2–5 loss after extra time which eventually relegated them.
2009–2010: Loan to Dinamo
Muça completed a transfer to Dinamo Tirana on a long-season loan. He made his UEFA Europa League debut on 9 July 2009 in the returning leg of the first qualifying round against Finnish club Lahti, playing full-90 minutes in a 2–0 home win at Qemal Stafa Stadium. However, despite winning 2–0 at home, Dinamo was eliminated from the competition after losing the first match 4–1.
Muça's league debut occurred on 23 August in the opening match against Kastrioti Krujë, helping his side with a goal in an eventual 3–1 win. He netted a header in the 68th minute via a corner kick. On 21 February of the following year, during the 3–0 away defeat to Apolonia Fier, Muça was substituted in 18th minute after suffering an injury in his right knee. The injury required surgery, which took place at the start of May in Austria, which kept him sidelined for 4 months, thus ending his season.
He finished the season 19 league matches, as Dinamo Tirana was crowned the Champions of Albania by winning the Albanian Superliga title for the 18th time in history. This was also Muça's first major trophy as a professional footballer.
2010–2011: Return and departure
Muça returned to Tirana ahead of 2010–11 season, making his official debut on 17 December 2010 in a 4–0 home win over Kastrioti; he came on as a 77th-minute substitute for Sabien Lilaj.
Vllaznia Shkodër
Muça made his competitive debut with Vllaznia Shkodër on 10 September 2011 against Laçi at home, playing full-90 minutes in a 3–1 win. He terminated his contract with Vllaznia Shkodër on 14 January 2012 after falling out of favour with the coach Rudi Vata. He ended his short spell with the club by playing 16 matches between league and cup, failing to score in the process. Following his departure, Muça expressed his disappointing for the way Vllaznia released him, after he had decided to remain at the club until the end of the season.
Flamurtari Vlorë
Muça joined Flamurtari Vlorë on a free transfer in January 2012, signing an initial 6-month contract with the option of a further one year. He was handed squad number 19, and made his debut on 11 February in the match against Kazma. Muça scored his first goal in his six appearances for club during the 3–1 away win to Apolonia Fier, netting the third of the match. He completed the remainder of the 2011–12 season, featuring in 10 league games. Muça left the club following the end of the season.
Tirana
2012–2014: First seasons and position change
In July 2012 he began negotiating with his former club Tirana about a possible return to the capital. On 14 August 2012, Muça was transferred to Tirana after he left Flamurtari a month earlier.