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Altin Dodë Lala (; born 18 November 1975) is an Albanian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder and later worked as a football manager. He spent his entire professional club career in Germany, most notably with Hannover 96, and represented the Albania national team at international level.
Born and raised in Tirana, Lala began his football development with the youth academy of Dinamo Tirana before defecting to Germany in 1991 while on international duty with the Albania under-16 team. After adapting to life in Germany and playing for SpVgg Hosenfeld, he joined Borussia Fulda in 1994, where he became one of the club's standout players in the Regionalliga Süd. His consistent performances attracted interest from higher-division sides and ultimately led to his transfer to Hannover 96 in 1998.
During his fourteen-year spell with Hannover 96 (1998–2012), Lala grew into one of the club's most influential and longest-serving players, making more than 300 competitive appearances across all competitions. Renowned for his tireless work rate, aggressive yet fair tackling, and defensive discipline, he played a key role in the club's promotion to the Bundesliga in 2002 and went on to captain the team for several seasons. Under managers including Ralf Rangnick, Ewald Lienen and Peter Neururer, Lala became a symbol of leadership and determination at the club. Despite recurring injuries in his later years, he remained a central squad figure and made his European debut during the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League, helping Hannover reach the quarter-finals. His long tenure concluded in May 2012, when he received a standing ovation in his farewell appearance at the AWD-Arena.
After leaving Hannover, Lala initially intended to retire, but later that year he joined Bayern Munich II following a proposal from his former Hannover teammate Michael Tarnat, then working as a scout at the Bavarian club. In April 2012, he confirmed he would continue his career with Bayern's reserve team in the Regionalliga Bayern under coach Mehmet Scholl. Lala made three appearances before a series of injuries—including a recurring heel problem, an 11-millimetre thigh muscle tear, and a subsequent knee ligament rupture—forced him to retire from professional football in October 2012, bringing an end to his 18-year playing career.
Lala earned 79 caps for the Albania national team between 1998 and 2011, making him one of the country's most-capped players. He made his debut in January 1998 in a friendly match and was part of the squad that won the 2000 Rothmans International Tournament. Over the course of his international career, he represented Albania in seven qualification campaigns for the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA World Cup, and shares the national record for most appearances in UEFA European Championship qualifying matches. He scored three international goals, the first of which came in March 2003 during a UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying victory over Russia. From the beginning of his international tenure, Albania consistently finished above bottom place in every qualifying campaign in which he featured — a marked improvement compared to earlier decades. Appointed captain in 2007 following Igli Tare’s retirement, under coach Otto Barić, he went on to lead the team throughout the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaigns before retiring from international football in 2011.
After retiring from playing, Lala transitioned into coaching, initially serving as assistant coach of the Albania national football team in 2014 before taking charge of the Albania national under-19 football team. His early managerial work focused on developing youth talent within the national setup, continuing his long association with Albanian football. However he left after less than 2 years of work.
Outside football, Lala has lived in Germany since the late 1990s and later became a German citizen; he currently resides in Hanover, where he is also involved in business and player management.
In November 1991, aged 15, while playing with the Albania under-16 team in a friendly match in Offenbach, West Germany, Lala was among ten players who remained in Germany after the game and did not return to Albania. Albania was undergoing political and economic transition at the time, and Lala later described living conditions as difficult. He initially stayed with a former school friend in Offenbach before being placed in an asylum centre near Frankfurt. Despite not speaking German, he began adjusting to life in Germany and soon resumed playing football. He joined the local amateur club SpVgg Hosenfeld, where he played alongside other Albanian refugees.
His performances attracted the attention of a coach from Borussia Fulda, who offered him an opportunity to join the club. As an asylum seeker, Lala was not permitted to attend school, so he worked various manual jobs while continuing to train and play football. At the age of 18, he signed his first professional contract with Borussia Fulda, earning 1,200 Deutsche Mark per month.
Following the club's unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the Regionalliga, new head coach Martin Hohmann rebuilt the squad largely around local talents and young players, including Lala, then 19 years old. He quickly became one of the key figures of the team and, according to Fuldaer Zeitung, made “a huge career leap within a few months.” Lala established himself as a regular starter during the 1995–96 campaign, making 24 appearances and scoring his first goal for the club that season. Borussia Fulda finished first in the table, earning promotion to the Regionalliga Süd for the following season.
Lala debuted in the 1996–97 Regionalliga season, when Borussia Fulda was regarded as one of the stronger sides in the league, featuring Lala and top scorer Olivier Djappa among its key players. He made 23 league appearances, including 14 starts and nine as a substitute, scoring two goals in consecutive home victories in mid-March 1997 — a 4–1 win against VfR Mannheim and a 3–1 win over KSV Hessen Kassel — contributing to Fulda's fourth-place finish.
In the following 1997–98 Regionalliga season, Lala became an undisputed starter, appearing in 33 league matches. The few games he missed were due to suspensions, as he collected seven yellow cards and one red card during the campaign. He also scored four goals, three of which were decisive in Fulda's victories.
That season marked one of the club's most successful periods in the 1990s. Under coach Martin Hohmann, Borussia Fulda was briefly in contention for promotion to the 2. Bundesliga, attracting crowds of up to 18,000 spectators at the Johannisau Stadium. Local reports later described this period as a “golden era” for the club, with players such as Lala and Djappa gaining recognition and subsequently progressing to higher divisions.
During the 1999–2000 season, Lala was part of Hannover's core midfield under coach Branko Ivanković. He featured regularly in both league and cup matches. After missing several games early due to a knee injury, he returned to the starting lineup in August. In September 1999, Lala received a four-match suspension following a red card against SC Fortuna Köln, returning in October to remain a regular for the rest of the season. He scored in a 2–1 home win over 1. FSV Mainz 05 on 18 March 2000, and again in a 3–5 loss to 1. FC Köln on 9 May 2000. He finished the campaign with 29 total appearances, as Hannover 96 secured a mid-table position.
In the 2000–01 2. Bundesliga season, Lala remained a key midfielder for Hannover 96. He started regularly, contributing in both defensive and attacking phases, and helped integrate younger players such as Sebastian Kehl and Daniel Stendel. Lala scored three league goals that season: in a 5–1 win over SSV Reutlingen 05 on 1 October 2000, a 3–0 win against 1. FC Saarbrücken on 10 February 2001, and a 3–0 victory over Rot-Weiß Oberhausen on 1 April 2001. He was also part of Hannover's 2–1 DFB-Pokal win over FC Hansa Rostock, highlighting his impact in cup competitions. His performances earned him the club's “Player of the Month” award in March 2001. Hannover finished the campaign in mid-table, with Lala recognized as one of the team's experienced leaders.
He began the season as vice-captain, forming part of the leadership group alongside Jörg Sievers, Carsten Linke, and Steve Cherundolo. Within coach Ralf Rangnick's system, Lala operated primarily as a defensive midfielder and remained a regular starter throughout the campaign. Despite sustaining minor injuries — including a broken hand in October 2001 and a muscle strain in March 2002 — he missed few matches and consistently returned to the lineup. His only league goal came in a 4–2 away win against Alemannia Aachen on 28 January 2002, a result that extended Hannover's unbeaten run. In November 2001, Lala was voted the club's “Player of the Month,” and he later finished second in the end-of-season “Player of the Season” poll behind Jan Šimák and ahead of Nebojša Krupniković. In March 2002, he extended his contract with Hannover 96 until June 2005, turning down interest from clubs including Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Hamburger SV. The new contract included a release clause allowing a transfer only to a Champions League club for a fixed fee of €4 million. On 31 March 2002, Hannover secured promotion with a 6–0 home victory over 1. FC Schweinfurt 05. Lala concluded the campaign as one of the squad's most regularly used players, contributing both in midfield and within the team's leadership structure.
For the 2003–04 season, Lala was appointed club captain by Rangnick and continued to feature regularly in Hannover's midfield. He entered the campaign as a first-team fixture and was noted for his consistency across the opening months. A series of minor injuries limited his involvement between November 2003 and February 2004, but he regained his place in the lineup after returning to full fitness. In March 2004, following a prolonged run of poor results, Rangnick was replaced by Ewald Lienen, who maintained Lala as captain for the remainder of the season. Under Lienen, Hannover secured their Bundesliga status through several positive results in the closing rounds. Lala made 27 appearances in all competitions during the campaign, with the team finishing in mid-table.
During the 2005–06 season, Lala continued as captain under both Lienen and his successor Peter Neururer. He dealt with recurring injury issues in pre-season and early in the campaign but remained part of the regular rotation in Hannover's midfield. Lala missed several matches due to suspensions and injuries, including a three-match DFB ban in January 2006 following a red card against Hertha BSC and another dismissal in April during a 3–3 draw with VfB Stuttgart. He finished the season with 29 league appearances as Hannover placed 12th in the Bundesliga. He also made three DFB-Pokal appearances, with Hannover reaching the round of 16 before being eliminated by SV Werder Bremen.
In the 2006–07 Bundesliga season, Lala began as a first-team regular but was sidelined in October after sustaining a knee ligament injury while on international duty. Although fitness issues persisted throughout the season, he returned during the second half of the campaign and made several appearances before recurring knee problems ruled him out of the final matches. On 31 January 2007, he scored his only goal of the season in a 5–0 home win over Hertha BSC. Lala concluded the season with 17 Bundesliga appearances as Hannover finished 11th. He also captained the team to the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal, where Hannover were eliminated by 1. FC Nürnberg after a penalty shoot-out.
During the 2008–09 Bundesliga season, Lala started the opening matches but gradually lost his regular place as Hannover went through an inconsistent period. He sustained a back injury in the autumn that sidelined him for several months. By early 2009, Lala was working toward full fitness and made several appearances for Hannover 96 II in the Regionalliga Nord, scoring once against Altona 93 on 28 February 2009. After nearly 100 days out, he returned to the first-team squad in March 2009, shortly after Albanian media reported his recovery. In April 2009, Hannover offered Lala a new two-year contract extension, which included a salary adjustment in line with the club's policy for senior players. The decision was supported by club president Martin Kind. Lala made three substitute appearances during the remainder of the campaign, finishing the season with 12 Bundesliga matches as Hannover placed 11th.
At the start of the 2009–10 Bundesliga season, Lala was still recovering from a persistent back injury that had sidelined him since April 2009. He returned to competitive action in early February 2010, starting four consecutive league matches before sustaining a leg injury that required surgery and ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign. Hannover 96 experienced a difficult season, further impacted by the death of captain Robert Enke in November 2009, and ultimately finished 15th, narrowly avoiding relegation.
During the 2011–12 season, Lala made his European debut in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League group stage on 29 September 2011, providing an assist for the opening goal scored by Mohammed Abdellaoue in a 2–1 away win against Vorskla Poltava. He also appeared in the following group match against København on 20 October and later captained Hannover in the home encounter with Vorskla Poltava on 15 December 2011, a 3–1 win that secured qualification for the knockout stage. Hannover advanced to the quarter-finals, with Lala making five Europa League appearances during the campaign.
In the 2011–12 Bundesliga, Lala played a more limited role: he started one match, played 45 minutes in another, and made four late substitute appearances. He remained an active member of the squad until the end of the season, when he announced his departure from the club, concluding a 14-year tenure with Hannover 96 that included over 300 competitive appearances. On 5 May 2012, Lala made his final appearance for Hannover in the home fixture against 1. FC Kaiserslautern, receiving a standing ovation from 49,000 spectators at the AWD-Arena, as the club honoured his long-time service from 1998 to 2012. Lala finished his Bundesliga career with 181 appearances and one goal, earning recognition for his consistency, work rate and defensive discipline.
He was an important member of the squad during this period, featuring regularly in the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying campaign — his first major international qualification cycle. Lala made his competitive debut on 5 September 1998 in the opening Group 2 match against Georgia, which ended in a 1–0 defeat. This era marked a transitional phase for the Albanian national team under coach Hafizi, as several younger players such as Lala and Erjon Bogdani became regular selections alongside experienced figures including Rudi Vata, Foto Strakosha, Bledar Kola, Alban Bushi, Igli Tare and Altin Rraklli. Throughout the Euro 2000 qualifying campaign, Lala remained a consistent presence in Albania's midfield, starting and completing 90 minutes in eight of the team's ten group matches. Operating primarily as a central or defensive midfielder, he balanced defensive duties with forward support, contributing to the team's improved stability. Although Albania were still rebuilding, the campaign was regarded as one of the most encouraging in years. The team secured four draws against stronger opponents and concluded with a 2–1 home victory over Georgia, allowing Albania to surpass them in the standings by two points and finish second from bottom — the first time in any European Championship qualifying campaign that Albania avoided last place. Lala remained a regular selection during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign as well. Competing in a difficult Group 9 that included world-class sides such as Germany and England, Albania struggled to obtain results and failed to record a point in the matches in which Lala featured. He registered an assist in the home fixture against England, which ended in a 3–1 defeat.
He remained an ever-present figure in the following 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, appearing in all but one of Albania's twelve matches in a challenging seven-team group. The campaign began with a 2–1 home victory over reigning European champions (2004) Greece on 4 September 2004. That same night, a tragic incident occurred in Greece when an Albanian immigrant supporter celebrating the win was attacked and killed by local hooligans. Despite the promising start, Albania faced a demanding schedule against opponents such as Ukraine, Denmark and Turkey, suffering a series of narrow defeats — five of them by identical 2–0 scores — but securing further wins against Kazakhstan twice and Georgia once, along with a draw against Ukraine. The team ultimately collected a total of 13 points, finishing third from bottom in the group — its highest points tally and best World Cup qualifying placement up to that time.
During the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, Lala was a regular starter, featuring in ten of Albania's twelve matches. He missed two fixtures in June 2007 due to a knee problem. In the opening phase of the qualifiers, he was substituted in all three early matches in 2006, each ending by a two-goal margin and yielding one point. After the mid-campaign retirement of Igli Tare from international duty, Lala was appointed team captain by manager Otto Barić in early 2007. He occasionally shared the captaincy with Ervin Skela and Klodian Duro before becoming the full-time captain later that year. Albania produced several competitive results, including three goalless draws and a 1–1 draw against Bulgaria and Slovenia in two legs each. The team finished the campaign in fifth place in the seven-team group.
During the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Lala began as a key starter for Albania, featuring in back-to-back clean sheets — a goalless draw against Sweden and a 3–0 home win over Malta.
In October 2008, he played the entire match in a 0–0 draw away to Portugal, achieved despite Albania being reduced to ten men after Admir Teli’s red card involving Cristiano Ronaldo. He completed two further matches against Hungary, both ending in defeat. His involvement for the remainder of the campaign was reduced due to injury problems, including a herniated disc and a torn muscle fiber, which sidelined him for several months as Albania finished fifth in the group.
By the end of the decade, Lala had become one of Albania's most capped and longest-serving internationals.
During the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, Lala missed the opening four matches due to knee surgery. He returned in March 2011, playing the full match in a 1–0 victory over Belarus, marking his 74th appearance and surpassing Foto Strakosha as Albania's most-capped player. He then featured regularly throughout the remainder of the campaign, which included four consecutive defeats — among them a loss to Luxembourg — before concluding with a 1–1 home draw against Romania on 11 October 2011, his final international appearance.
In August 2015, Lala stepped down from his position as Albania U19 head coach for personal reasons, and was succeeded by Arjan Bellai.
Following his retirement as a player, Lala founded a football agency and has since worked as a players’ manager and agent, most notably representing Albanian-Kosovar winger Milot Rashica in his transfers and career development.
| + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||
| Borussia Fulda | 1993–94 | Oberliga Hessen | 2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2|0 |
| 1994–95 | 8||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8|0 | ||
| 1995–96 | 24||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24|1 | ||
| 1996–97 | Regionalliga Süd | 23||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||23|2 | |
| 1997–98 | 33||4||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||33|4 | ||
| Hannover 96 | 1998–99 | 2. Bundesliga | 24||3||1||0||colspan="2"|—||25|3 |
| 1999–2000 | 29||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29|2 | ||
| 2000–01 | 31||3||2||1||colspan="2"|—||33|4 | ||
| 2001–02 | 31||1||3||0||colspan="2"|—||34|1 | ||
| 2002–03 | Bundesliga | 32||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||34|0 | |
| 2003–04 | 12||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12|0 | ||
| 2004–05 | 32||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||36|0 | ||
| 2005–06 | 29||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||32|0 | ||
| 2006–07 | 17||1||3||0||colspan="2"|—||20|1 | ||
| 2007–08 | 27||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||28|1 | ||
| 2008–09 | 12||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||13|0 | ||
| 2009–10 | 4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4|0 | ||
| 2010–11 | 10||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10|0 | ||
| 2011–12 | 6||0||0||0||4||0||10|0 | ||
| Hannover 96 II | 2008–09 | Regionalliga Nord | 3||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3|1 |
| 2010–11 | 2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2|0 | ||
| Bayern Munich II | 2012–13 | Regionalliga Bayern | 3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3|0 |
| + Appearances and goals by national team and year | |
| Albania | 0 |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 2 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 1 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
|+ List of international goals scored by Altin Lala |- |style="text-align:center"|1 |29 March 2003 |Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër, Albania | |style="text-align:center"|2–1 |style="text-align:center"|3–1 |rowspan="2"|UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying | |- |style="text-align:center"|2 |11 June 2003 |Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland | |style="text-align:center"|1–1 |style="text-align:center"|2–3 | |- |style="text-align:center"|3 |16 August 2006 |Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marino | |style="text-align:center"|3–0 |style="text-align:center"|3–0 |Friendly | |}
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