Christian Jidayi (3 March 1987 â 17 February 2026) was an Italian football player and coach.
Born in Avellino, Campania, Jidayi began his career with A.C. Cesena in Romagna. He left the under-20 reserve team in 2006 for Bellaria â Igea Marina. Jidayi returned to Cesena for 2007âÂÂ08 Serie B, playing five times. Jidayi was swapped to Mantova on 30 June 2008 for Stefano Mondini in co-ownership deal, both 50% registration rights were tagged for â¬750,000. Jidayi spent half season with the Serie B club. On 2 February 2009, Jidayi left for Bassano. In June 2009 both Jidayi and Mondini returned to their mother clubs for the same price. Jidayi signed a two-year contract. Cesena swapped Jidayi again on 31 August 2009, with José Espinal of Novara Calcio. Both players were valued â¬1.5 million. Jidayi signed a five-year contract. However, except for the financial effect, Jidayi never had a chance with Novara. He left for Lecco in 2010 and became a ghost player of Novara in 2011âÂÂ12 Serie A. On 3 August 2012, he left for the fourth division club Saint-Christophe Vallée dâÂÂAoste. On 28 August 2013, he signed for Forlì, also in the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.
On 16 September 2015, he was signed by Pro Patria in a temporary deal. He then briefly served as assistant coach of San Marino from 2017 to 2019.
After retiring from active football, Jidayi became a policeman, serving in the city of Gambettola until the summer of 2025, and successively in the provincial police of Ravenna. On the night of 17âÂÂ18 February 2026, he was found dead in a pine forest in Ravenna. Jidayi was 38.
Christian's brother William was also a professional footballer.