Emrah Klimenta

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Emrah Klimenta
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-02-13) February 13, 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Rožaje, SR Montenegro, Yugoslavia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Las Vegas Lights
Number 21
Youth career
1999–2009 ODP Cal North
2009 MŠK Žilina
2009–2010 FC Ingolstadt 04
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Bay Area Ambassadors 14 (12)
2014–2017 Sacramento Republic 91 (9)
2018 LA Galaxy 2 (0)
2018 → LA Galaxy II (loan) 2 (0)
2018 Sacramento Republic 11 (0)
2019 Reno 1868 18 (0)
2020 San Diego Loyal 12 (0)
2021–2023 Oakland Roots 81 (4)
2024– Las Vegas Lights 0 (0)
International career
2016–2018 Montenegro 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 22, 2023

Emrah Klimenta (Montenegrin pronunciation: [klǐmeːnta]; born February 13, 1991) is a Montenegrin professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights.

Early life[edit]

Emrah Klimenta, whose surname is derived from the Albanian highland tribe Kelmendi[1] was born in Rožaje, Montenegro during a time of turmoil in the Balkan region as the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia was breaking apart. Klimenta and his parents initially settled in Mainz, Germany. His family then moved to the United States in 1999. They settled in Oakland, California, but later moved to Walnut Creek, California.

Career[edit]

Club[edit]

Klimenta began his youth career in the United States, playing as a midfielder and forward. He also played for the Olympic Development Program (ODP) for Cal North.

Klimenta spent time in Europe playing for MŠK Žilina and FC Ingolstadt 04, before returning to California as a midfielder for NPSL club Bay Area Ambassadors.[2]

Klimenta joined United Soccer League club Sacramento Republic FC in March 2014, after being selected during an open tryout. Klimenta played as a defender and has started most of the league games in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 season.[3]

In January 2018 it was announced that Klimenta had signed for LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer, ending his tenure in Sacramento as the team's all-time leader in minutes, starts, and appearances.[4] He was released by the club on June 14, 2018.

Klimenta returned to Sacramento Republic FC for the remainder of the 2018 season.[5]

On 4 April 2019, Klimenta joined USL side Reno 1868.[6]

On 5 June 2021, Klimenta joined USL Championship club Oakland Roots SC.[7] After three seasons with the club, he was not re-signed for the 2024 season.[8]

Klimenta moved to the USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights on 13 February 2024.[9]

International[edit]

In May 2016, Klimenta was called up for to the Montenegro national team for the first time for a training camp and friendly against Turkey on 29 May. On this day, Emrah made his senior debut. In the process, he became the first Sacramento Republic player to receive a senior call-up while with the club.[10][11]

Honors[edit]

Sacramento Republic

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Wp/cnr/Crnogorska prezimena na K - Wikimedia Incubator". incubator.wikimedia.org. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  2. ^ "Sacramento Republic FC Emrah Klimenta » Sacramento Republic FC". sacrepublicfc.com. Archived from the original on 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
  3. ^ "Sacramento Republic FC Local Soccer Talent Max Alvarez and Emrah Klimenta Added to Sacramento Republic FC Roster » Sacramento Republic FC". sacrepublicfc.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
  4. ^ "LA Galaxy sign defender Emrah Klimenta". Los Angeles Galaxy. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Republic FC Re-Sign Former Defender Emrah Klimenta". 3 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Klimenta Links up with 1868 FC". 4 April 2019.
  7. ^ "OAKLAND ROOTS ADD VETERAN NORCAL DEFENDER EMRAH KLIMENTA". 5 June 2021. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  8. ^ Oakland Roots Sports Club Provide 2024 Roster Updates
  9. ^ "Las Vegas Lights FC adds quartet of new players".
  10. ^ "Sacramento Republic FC Defender Emrah Klimenta Called Up to Montenegro National Team". Sacramento Republic FC. Archived from the original on 21 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 2020-09-18.

External links[edit]

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