KF Tirana

KF Tirana

Full name	Klub i Futbollit Tirana
Nickname(s)	Legende bardh e blu
Founded	1920
Ground	Selman Stërmasi stadium in Tirana Albania (Capacity: 19,600 [1])
Chairman	Refik Halili
Manager	Sulejman Starova
League	Albanian Superliga
Website	Club home page
Supporters groups	Tirona Fanatics
Home colours Away colours
Current season

KF Tirana (Albanian: Klubi i Futbollit Tirana, in English Football club Tirana) is the most successful Albanian football club. It is also the most popular football club in the country with a considerable number of supporters. KF Tirana team plays its home games in the capital of Albania, Tirana, at the Selman Stërmasi stadium or at the Qemal Stafa stadium. The club was founded on August 16, 1920 under the name of "Agimi Sports Association". In 1927 the club was renamed to SK Tirana (Albanian: Sportklub Tirana), in 1947, to "17 Nëntori Tirana", from 1952 to 1956 to "Puna Tirana", and in 1991 the club was renamed KF Tirana. Tirana won its first title of Albanian champions in the first Albanian Football Championship. KF Tirana is also the only club in Albania to have played all the championships of the Albanian Superliga since 1930 and all the Albanian Cups started in 1938. The club participated in a European cup competition in 1965-66 for the first time. The club also has women's football team called Tirana AS who have won both of the official organised events held so far in Albania. They also have a futsal called Futsal Klub Tirana who have won the Albanian Mini-Football Championship 5 times out of a possible 7, and they have competed in the UEFA Futsal Cup on four occasions.

History

The '20s

In August 16, 1920, Albanian patriot P. Nika altogether with A. Erebara, P. Jakova, A. Hoxha, A. Koja, P. Berisha, A. Zajmi, H. Fortuzi, B. Pazari, L. Berisha, S. Frasheri, H. Alizoti, A. Gjitomi and V. Fekeci founded the "Agimi Sports Association". The association's favourite sport was football. In October of that same year the newly founded team played the first match against "Juventus" Shkodra. In 1925 the association's governing council was elected. Its members were A. Zajmi, S. Stermasi, B. Toptani, I. Gjinali and A. Koja. The team also played its first international match against the Montenegrin team "Crnagorec" Cetinje the same year. In 1927 on the initiative of Mr S. Stermasi, Mr A. Erebara, Mr A. Zajmi and Mr A. Koja, "Agimi" changed its name to Sportklub Tirana (SK Tirana). During the period 1927-1930 SK Tirana played many friendly matches against other Albanian teams.^[1]

The '30s and WW2

The onset of the Albanian national football championship was on April 6, 1930. At the end of the first championship the white-and-blue team finished at the leading position, thus becoming the first Albanian champions. Later on they won the championship six times out of seven during the pre-WW2 period, convincingly dominating the Albanian football scene. SK Tirana were the first Albanian football team to introduce the permanent role of a regular coach and also the first to secure the services of a foreign coach, the Hungarian Samo Singer, in 1934. From 1930 to 1944 Tirana won eight national championships (out of 11 organized by the FSHF during that period), however two of them, the "two war championships", are still not recognized by the FSHF. To this date there has never been an official position from FSHF as to why these two championships are not recognized by its own organizer.^[2][3]

1944-1957

After the war, KF Tirana made a good start reaching the second spot in 1945, after losing to Vllaznia Shkodër in the final. But soon the club would become a victim of the reigning communist regime in Albania. At the beginning of march 1946, at the "Nacional" movie theater in Tirana, as a result of instructions coming from the communist politburo, KF Tirana was forced to change its name to "17 Nentori". The club was thus denied its own name. The following decade would unroll in the same suffocating atmosphere, becoming even heavier after the foundation of two system-privileged teams that would follow the experiences of their sisters in the former USSR, former Yugoslavia, and the other eastern European countries: Partizani, the Defense Ministry team and Dinamo, the Internal Affairs Ministry team. Dozens of Tirana’s talented players were "convinced" to play during those years in either Partizani or Dinamo. As a result "17 Nentori" struggled to stay at the top during the years 1947-1957, however the team managed to gain some of the lost groung during the second part of the 50's after replacing in part some of the first choice players of its line up.

1958-1970

From 1958 to 1964 Tirana kept on producing some good football and finishing the championship almost always at the third spot. These years were a prelude to what was about to happen later: Tirana reexperienced its pre-war glory spell under the services of the unforgettable coach Lym (Myslym) Alla. At the end of the 28th national championship Tirana became champions of Albania more than twenty years after their last title. The team repeated the success the year after, but this was an obvious challenge to Partizani's generals and Dinamo's secret service bosses. After having practically won the 1966-1967 title three matches in advance, Tirana was banned from the competition and the title was assigned to Dinamo. After this, Tirana won the championship two years in a row in style, losing only two matches in 1968 and only one during the 1969-1970 season.

The 70's and 80's

During the seventies Tirana struggled hard to stay at the top, the best result being the second place and the worst the thirteenth. Yet the club won the national cup twice. The old players' generation reaching its career sunset, this could only mark the end of a highly successful era. But the unsuccessful spell wouldn't last long this time. Tirana won the championship at the end of the 1981-1982 season, and they went on to win the title three other times during the eighties, in 1984-1985, 1987-1988, and 1988-1989 and the Albanian Cup in 1983, 1984, and 1986. The club was also successful in the European clubs competitions and many of the team players made up the core of the best Albania the country had ever had.

The '90s and 00's

During the first half of the nineties KF Tirana (which in August 1991 regained its old name), likewise the whole Albanian society, went through a period of profound changes. Almost all the best Albanian players left the country and went abroad looking for a richer team who could hire them. But it seems that the club simply couldn't stand being too long from the leading spots. Thus at the end of the 1994-1995 season, KF Tirana once again won the championship five matches in advance with 12 points ahead of the second placed team. During the recent years Tirana has dominated the Albanian football by winning 10 out of the last 15 Albania's championships.

KF Tirana in Europe

In addition to being the best team in all domestic competitions, KF Tirana has also given the best appearances in Europe among Albanian teams. Although Tirana have passed 10 times the first European round, they have never gone further than that.

The most decent team to compete in Europe was that of season 2004/05. After having easily passed FC Gomel of Belarus in the first round, Tirana played against Ferencvarosi TC in the second round. Having lost the first leg at home 2-3, KF Tirana produced a fantastic football in Budapest and was leading 1-0, after which the team missed a penalty and ball hit woodwork twice , but just couldn't score the qualifying goal and therefore were eliminated with a 3-3 in aggregates.

Recent seasons and the present

Even though KF Tirana shone through the last 20 years, the last three recent seasons displayed instability. Despite the fact that most of the key players remained in the team, other factors affected negatively the presentation, not only in the domestic league, but also the international appearances. KF Tirana's last solid dominating season was the one 2006/07, when the title was easily achieved. However,since the team failure in Champions League qualifications (two losses against Slovenians of NK Domzale) which interrupted the chain of successes in first leg's European league matches, KF Tirana started an unexplainable downfall. The season 2007/08 found them in 6-th spot, an unusual position for this team for last 18 years.

Although Tirana won the title in 2008/09, it was a glowless season. The problems started again in 2009/10 where the club just couldn't be a match for champions KS Dinamo in Superior League and were eliminated early in the Cup from KS Besa.

The only consolation of another failed season was the achievement of Europa League first qualifying round participation. Having a coefficient of 1.799 KF Tirana ranked among seeded teams on the first round. The draw goggles in Nyon revealed Zalaegerszegi TE as first round opponent. Having drawn goalless at the first leg in home soil, KF Tirana won their second away match 1-0 in 107' of extra time via a marvellous free kick from Erindo Karabeci and KF Tirana qualified with a scoreline 1-0 in aggregates. The following round gave Tirana a much tougher opponent, FC Utrecht. The Dutch team beat the white and blues 4-0 in the first away leg, as the second leg ended 1-1 draw.Thus KF Tirana were eliminated with a 1-5 aggregate scoreline, focusing the attention in the incoming Domestic League which starts on August, 21-st.

Stadiums

Qemal Stafa Stadium

The home ground of KF Tirana is Selman Stermasi stadium which is shared with city rivals Dinamo Tirana and Partizani Tirana. However, most derby and significant matches are played at the national team's Qemal Stafa stadium, the stadium is also used if the Selman Stermasi Stadium is unavailable as it is used by three different teams. The club has expressed it's desire to rebuild the current Selman Stermasi Stadium into a modern complex with around 15,000 to 20,000 season. They want it to be Albania's first modern post Communism stadium without an athletic track around the field, which they hope will provide more atmosphere and attract more fans. However has not yet been decided when this will be built but it is rumoured to be the club's 100th anniversary present in 2020.^[4]

Selman Stërmasi Stadium

KF Tirana plays most of its official and friendly games st the Selman Stërmasi stadium in Tirana. The Selman Stermasi Stadium was built in 1956 and was previously named the 'Dinamo' Stadium till 1991 when it was permanently given its new name. The Football Association of Albania an the club decided to name the stadium post mortem after the eminent KF Tirana player, coach and president, Selman Stërmasi. The stadium has a capacity of 12,500 (of which 6000 seated) and has recently ended a long phase of construction, involving development of the main pitch, central seated area, facilities around the ground and general lineaments. There are still improvements expected to be made soon, as side seated areas, an electronic clock and a KF Tirana shopping centre just under central seated. The internal facilities include a press conference room, journalist's corner and modern showers. The main parking area is located at the front of the stadium which leads to the entrance. The whole external part of the stadium is surrounded by a 9 ft. rail fence.^[5]

Ranking

UEFA club coefficient ranking

(As of 22 July 2010), Source: Bert Kassies website

Rank	Team	Points
276	Iskra-Stal	2.299
277	Renova	2.291
278	The New Saints	2.283
279	Mogren Budva	2.275
0280	KF Tirana	2.274
281	TPS Turku	2.273
282	Dundalk	2.241
0=	Sporting Fingal	2.241
0284	Skonto Riga	2.233

IFHHS world club ranking

(1 January 2009 - 31 December 2009; Previous year listed in brackets), Source: IFHHS

0286 0(313) Blackburn

=286 0(299) Avellaneda

=286 0(267) CA Huracán

=286 0(284) MFK Košice

=286 0(299) KF Tirana

=286 0(257) Osasuna

0292 0(289) FC Honka

0293 0(313) Inti Gas Deportes

=293 0(313) Tacuary

Achievements

KF Tirana are regarded as the Albania's top football team having won:

Domestic

• Kategoria Superiore / Albanian Superior League

24 times (Record) - 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1964-1965, 1965-1966, 1968, 1969-1970, 1981-1982, 1984-1985, 1987-1988, 1988-1989, 1994-1995, 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2006-2007, 2008-2009

• Albanian Cup

13 times - 1938, 1963, 1976, 1977, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2006.

• Albanian Supercup

8 times (Record) - 1994, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009.

Europe

• Balkans Cup

Runners Up - 1983.

As of July 22, 2010.

Season	Competition	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away
1965/66	European Champion Clubs' Cup	1R		Kilmarnock F.C.	0-0	0-1
1969/70	European Champion Clubs' Cup	1R		Standard Liege	1-1	0-3
1970/71	European Champion Clubs' Cup	1R		AFC Ajax	2-2	0-2
1982/83	European Champion Clubs' Cup	1R		Linfield	1-0	1-2
		2R		Dynamo Kyiv	n.d.	n.d.
1983/84	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1R		Hammarby IF	2-1	0-3
1986/87	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1R		FC Dinamo Bucureşti	1-0	2-1
		2R		Malmö FF	0-3	0-0
1988/89	European Champion Clubs' Cup	1R		Ħamrun Spartans	2-0	1-2
		2R		IFK Göteborg	0-3	0-1
1989/90	European Champion Clubs' Cup	1R		Sliema Wanderers	5-0	0-1
		2R		FC Bayern Munich	0-3	1-3
1994/95	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	QR		FC Bobruisk	3-0	1-4
		1R		Brøndby IF	0-1	0-3
1995/96	UEFA Cup	QR		Hapoel Be'er Sheva FC	0-1	0-2
1996/97	UEFA Cup	1QR		NK Dinamo Zagreb	2-6	0-4
1998/99	UEFA Cup	1QR		FK Inter Bratislava	0-2	0-2
1999/00	UEFA Champions League	1QR		Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja	1-2	0-1
2000/01	UEFA Champions League	1QR		FC Zimbru Chisinau	2-3	2-3
2001/02	UEFA Cup	QR		Apollon Limassol	3-2	1-3
2002/03	UEFA Cup	QR		FC Naţional Bucureşti	0-1	2-2
2003/04	UEFA Champions League	1QR		Dinamo Tbilisi	3-0 (4-2 pen.)	0-3
		2QR		Grazer AK	1-5	1-2
2004/05	UEFA Champions League	1QR		FC Gomel	0-1	2-0
		2QR		Ferencvárosi TC	2-3	1-0
2005/06	UEFA Champions League	1QR		ND Gorica	3-0	0-2
		2QR		CSKA Sofia	0-2	0-2
2006/07	UEFA Cup	1QR		NK Varteks	2-0	1-1
		2QR		Kayserispor	0-2	1-3
2007/08	UEFA Champions League	1QR		NK Domžale	1-2	0-1
2009/10	UEFA Champions League	2QR		Stabæk	1-1	0-4
2010/11	UEFA Europa League	1QR		Zalaegerszegi TE	0-0	1-0 (AET)
		2QR		FC Utrecht	1-1	0-4

• QR = Qualifying Round
• 1R = 1st Round
• 2R = 2nd Round

UEFA club competition record

Last Update: 22 July 2010^[6]

Players

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Blendi Nallbani (captain) 2 DF Elvis Sina 3 DF Rezart Dabulla 5 DF Entonio Pashaj 6 DF Andi Lila 7 MF Blerti Hajdari 9 FW Sebino Plaku 10 FW Mladen Žižović 11 FW Ergys Sorra 12 GK Ilion Lika 13 MF Erando Karabeci 17 MF Afrim Taku 18 DF Rrahman Hallaçi 19 DF Tefik Osmani MF Igor Gvozdenovic

No. Position Player MF Devi Muka FW Alban Bushi 22 FW Pero Pejic 23 MF Sabien Lilaj 24 MF Gerald Tusha 25 MF Migen Metani 28 DF Artūrs Silagailis 30 MF Marvin Nallbani FW Enco Malindi MF Shpetim Babaj DF Erjon Dushku DF Ognjen Šinik MF Gentian Gjondeda FW Oriand Abazaj

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 24 DF Mario Shehu (on loan to Kamza) -- DF Gentjan Muça (on loan to Dinamo) -- DF Besian Celiku (on loan to Skënderbeu) -- FW Hendrit Ferra (on loan to Elbasani) -- FW Samet Gjoka (on loan to Partizani) -- DF Albi Çeliku (on loan to Lushnja) -- DF Tedi Baholli (on loan to KF Liria)

No. Position Player -- GK Eni Malaj (on loan to Turbina) -- DF Elio Rapo (on loan to Turbina) -- DF Redi Papinari (on loan to Turbina) -- DF Florenc Çaushi (on loan to Turbina) -- DF Klejdi Nela (on loan to Turbina) -- GK Ilir Ndoj (on loan to Partizani) 17 MF Afrim Taku

International players

Foreign players

• Pero Pejic

Reserves and academy

For the reserve and academy squads, see KF Tirana Reserves and Academy

Former players

For details on former players, see Category:KF Tirana players.

Player records

Most goals

(after the 26th week of 2009-2010 season)

#	Name	Career	Goals	Appearances	Goals/Game Ratio
1	Indrit Fortuzi	1993–2008	152	210	0.724
2	Agustin Kola	1979–1997	133	?	?
3	Arben Minga	1977–1996	105	?	?
4	Petrit Dibra	1971–1980	70	?	?
5	Skënder Hyka	1965–1974	60	?	?
6	Devi Muka	1999–present	61	196	0.311
7	Niko Xhaçka	1961–1972	53	?	?
8	Ali Mema	1963–1972	52	?	?
9	Shkëlqim Muça	1979–1988	51	?	?
10	Mahir Halili	2001–2005	46	133	0.346
11	Pavllo Bukoviku	1964–1970	45	?	?
12	Mirel Josa	1982–1991	44	?	?
13	Hamdi Salihi	2005–2006	42	52	0.808
14	Josif Kazanxhi	1966–1972	42	?	?
15	Eldorado Merkoçi	1994–2008	40	162	0.247

For full list KF Tirana's top scorers in Albanian Superliga

Managerial

Name	Superliga	Albanian Cup	Supercup	Total
Stërmasi, SelmanSelman Stërmasi	6	0	0	6
Starova, SulejmanSulejman Starova	1	0	0
Josa, MirelMirel Josa	1	1	1
Muça, ShkëlqimShkëlqim Muça	3	0	1
Mema, SulejmanSulejman Mema	2	0	1	4
Alla, MyslymMyslym Alla	3	0	0	3
Shehu, EnverEnver Shehu	3	3	0	6
Rreli, ShyqyriShyqyri Rreli	2	0	0	2
Tafaj, AlbanAlban Tafaj	1	0	0	1
Kola, AgustinAgustin Kola	0	1	0	1
Frasheri, FatmirFatmir Frasheri	1	0	0	1
Jareci, SkënderSkënder Jareci	1	0	0	1
Loncarevic, IlijaIlija Loncarevic	0	0	1	1
Menichini, LeonardoLeonardo Menichini	0	0	0	0
Hadžiabdić, EnverEnver Hadžiabdić	0	0	1	1
Temesvari, MiklosMiklos Temesvari	0	0	1	1

Award winners

Albanian Golden Boot

The following players have won the Albanian Golden Boot whilst playing for KF Tirana:

• Mark Gurashi – 1934
• Riza Lushta – (2) 1936, 1937
• Enver Shehu – 1958
• Skënder Hyka – 1968
• Petrit Dibra – 1979
• Arben Minga – 1985
• Agustin Kola – (2) 1988, 1989
• Indrit Fortuzi – (2) 2001, 2002
• Mahir Halili – 2003
• Hamdi Salihi – 2006
• Vioresin Sinani – 2007
• Migen Memelli – 2009

Presidents

KF Tirana has historically been managed and owned by one president. The only exception is during period of 2007-2008, when the presidency was vacant and club was managed by a number of sponsors. KF Tirana has had numerous presidents over the course of its history, most of which have also been the owners of the club, whilst others have only been honorific presidents such as Bamir Topi and Fatmir Frasheri. The club has had a total of 13 presidents, in total from 1920 until the present day. The most successful president in history is considered to be the Egyptian millionaire Metwally El Sayed who was president of the club during the period 1999-2004. The president who has had the longest management over the club has been Selman Stermasi who was owner and president from 1936 until 1960, whilst the president with the shortest management has been Fatmir Frasheri, who only lasted a single year from 2004-2005. Below is the official presidential history of KF Tirana, from when the club was formed, until the present day.^[7]

Name	Nationality	From	To	Honours
Toptani, BahriBahri Toptani	Albania	1920	1933	3 Albanian Superliga
Shundi, StefanStefan Shundi	Albania	1933	1936	2 Albanian Superliga
Stermasi, SelmanSelman Stermasi	Albania	1936	1960	1 Albanian Superliga, 1 Albanian Cup
Konomi, LameLame Konomi	Albania	1960	1970	4 Albanian Superliga, 1 Albanian Cup
Bylyku, NuriNuri Bylyku	Albania	1970	1983	1 Albanian Superliga, 3 Albanian Cup
Hysi, ClirimClirim Hysi	Albania	1983	1985	1 Albanian Superliga, 1 Albanian Cup
Shaba, ZijaZija Shaba	Albania	1985	1993	2 Albanian Superliga, 1 Albanian Cup
Seferi, MetushMetush Seferi	Albania	1993	1998	3 Albanian Superliga, 2 Albanian Cup, 1 Albanian Supercup
Nuri, LutfiLutfi Nuri	Albania	1998	1999	1 Albanian Superliga, 1 Albanian Cup
El Sayed, MetwallyMetwally El Sayed	Egypt	1999	2004	3 Albanian Superliga, 2 Albanian Cup, 3 Albanian Supercup
Frasheri, FatmirFatmir Frasheri	Albania	2004	2005	1 Albanian Superliga
Topi, BamirBamir Topi	Albania	2005	2007	1 Albanian Superliga, 1 Albanian Cup, 2 Albanian Supercup
Halili, RefikRefik Halili	Albania	02008-05-29 May 29, 2008		1 Albanian Superliga, 1 Albanian Supercup

KF Tirana Statistics in Albanian Superliga

Since the Kategoria superiore began in 1930, KF Tirana have scored 2915 goals and conceded 1528. The club has won 895 games, drawn 430 and lost 366. The club's goal difference is +1387 and the winning difference is +529.^[8]

Data correct up to the end of the 2009-2010 season.

See also KF Tirana Statistics in Albanian Superliga

KF Tirana's champions

(4 times or more)

References

External links

• Unofficial website (Albanian & English)
• Fan Website (English)
• Fan Website
• Dedicated to KF Tirana (English)
• TIRONA FANS FORUM Website
• KF Tirana at UEFA.COM
• KF Tirana at EUFO.DE
• KF Tirana at Weltfussball.de
• KF Tirana at Playerhistory.com
• KF Tirana at Transfermarkt.de
• KF Tirana at Football-Lineups.com
• Shqiperia-Futboll