Elvir Gigolaj
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 Gigolaj in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Elvir Gigolaj | ||
| Date of birth | 30 June 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Croatia | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Waterloo United | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2011 | Saint Mary's | 26 | (11) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011 | London City | ||
| 2012–2013 | FC Edmonton | 6 | (1) |
| 2016–2017 | FC London | 39 | (40) |
| 2021 | St. Catharines Hrvat | ||
| 2024 | Hamilton City | ||
| 2025 | Waterloo United | 9 | (3) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 5 July 2025 | |||
Elvir Gigolaj (Albanian: Elvir Gegollaj; born 30 June 1992) is a Bosnian footballer who plays with Waterloo United in League1 Ontario.
Gigolaj was born in Croatia to a Kosovar Albanian father and Bosniak mother from Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was raised in London, Ontario, where his father owns a bakery that carries the family name.[1]
Club career
Early career
He, at one point, played for London City's soccer side who participated in the Canadian Soccer League and with whom he had a good relationship with his coach, Luka Shaqiri.[1][2]
Gigolaj attended St. Mary's University for two years from 2010 to 2012, playing for the Huskies in the 2010 and 2011 varsity seasons, scoring 11 goals in 26 appearances.[3][4]
FC Edmonton
In January 2012, after training with the team, Gigolaj officially joined FC Edmonton of the North American Soccer League.[1] Gigolaj then made his debut for FC Edmonton in the NASL on 3 June 2012 in which he came on as an 85th-minute substitute for Yashir Pinto as FC Edmonton went on to lose the match 2–1.[5]
He then scored his first professional goal of his career on 23 September 2012 against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in which he found the net in the 90th minute to start a late comeback for Edmonton as they went from 2–0 down to finishing the match drawing 2–2.[6]
On 30 June 2013, it was announced that Gigolaj was released by FC Edmonton.[7]
Germany
After being released by FC Edmonton, Gigolaj attempted to join the reserve team of German Bundesliga side, Hertha BSC but he had hit paperwork problems.[8]
FC London
Gigolaj spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons with League1 Ontario club FC London.[9][10]
CSL
In 2021, he returned to the Canadian Soccer League to play with St. Catharines Hrvat.[11] Gigolaj signed with league rivals Hamilton City in 2024.[12]
Waterloo United
In 2025, he returned to League1 Ontario with Waterloo United, reuniting him with his old coach, Michael Marcoccia.
Honours
FC London
- League1 Ontario First Team All Star: 2016[13]
- League1 Ontario Third Team All Star: 2017[14]