San Michele Cattolica Virtus, an amateur football club from Florence renowned for nurturing young talent, has once again spotlighted a rising star. Gerard Mirashi, a 17-year-old defender of Albanian origin, has taken a significant step in his career by signing with professional club Benevento after spending eight years developing his skills at Cattolica Virtus.
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| Gerard Mirashi signing for Benevento |
Standing at an impressive 1.90 meters, Mirashi's physical presence and technical abilities have set him apart from his peers. His potential was noticed by Benevento scout Francesco Bianco, who recommended him for a ten-day trial with the youth team. After a successful trial, Mirashi earned a contract with the club.
“Joining a club with such a rich football tradition is a tough challenge, but it inspires me to train harder and justify the trust Benevento’s coaching staff has placed in me,” Mirashi said after signing his contract.
Gerard Mirashi's journey has two notable aspects. First, the colors of Cattolica Virtus and Benevento are similar, both donning the yellow and red stripes. Second, and more significantly, is his family’s connection to Benevento. Gerard’s father, Alfred Mirashi—now internationally known as the famous sculptor Milot—had his first Italian experience near Benevento, in Cervinara, after arriving in Italy as part of the wave of Albanian immigrants in the early 1990s.
For Gerard, Benevento could be the place where he follows in his father’s footsteps, striving to reach the heights of Italian football and potentially leading Benevento back to Serie A.