Before he became the coach of the Kosovo national football team, Edmond Rugova was a famous football player in Kosovo playing for FC Prishtina during the 1980s as part of the so-called "Golden Generation" of Kosovar football players that included Fadil Vokrri, Agim Cana, Fadil Muriqi and others.
In his early career he also represented RHMK Kosovo (1977, loan) and KF Liria Prizren (1975–1979).
He left tension-filled Kosovo for the US and joined New York Cosmos in 1985,[2] then also had a spell with MISL outfit Kansas City Comets.
[5] While Kosovo was not allowed to UEFA nor FIFA, it was hard to play regular games in the early years.
[7] His son Max[8] was born in Kansas City and plays for FC Pristina.