Klubi i Futbollit Elbasaniwas anAlbanianprofessionalfootballclub based in the city ofElbasan,that last competed in theKategoria e Dytë,the third tier offootball in the country.

KF Elbasani
Full nameKlubi i Futbollit Elbasani
Founded1929;95 years ago(1929)[1]
Dissolved2022(2022)
GroundElbasan Arena
Capacity12,500[2]
ManagerAnxhelo Suta
2021–22Kategoria e Dytë,Group A, 7th

History

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The club was formed in 1929 as Klubi i Futbollit Urani Elbasan, the result of the fusion between two clubs,Afërdita ElbasanandPërparimi Elbasan.Urani translates to uranium in Albanian, and the club was named this due to the city's association with the metal. The club changed its name toKS Skampa Elbasanbriefly before 1930. They first participated in a nationally recognised competition in the first top flight football league in Albania, the1930 Kategoria e Parë,where the club finished in 5th place, second from bottom, with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses.[3]The following season they again finished in penultimate place, this time in 7 team league format.[4]In the 1932 champion, they finished bottom of the league, gaining no points after 8 straight losses, which meant that Elbasani were relegated for the first time.[5]

The club changed its name toBashkimi Elbasanasin 1933, when they were playing in the second division, which they won and earned promotion back to the top flight, winning their first trophy in the process.[6]In their first season back in the Kategoria e Parë, they once again finished second form bottom with 2 wins, 2 draws and 8 losses.[7]No competition was held during 1935 and when the league restarted in 1936 Bashkimi finished once again second from bottom, with 3 wins, 2 draws and 9 losses, but the team below themIsmail Qemali Vlorëplayed 2 fewer games and finished on the same points tally.[8]The 1937 championship proved to be more successful as the club finished in 5th place out of 10 teams, with a record of 7 wins, 3 draws and 8 losses.[9]

The league officially restarted followingWorld War IIin 1945, where Bashkimi finished 3rd in Group B of the new league format, out of 6 teams.[10]The following season they finished 2nd in Group B, just one point behind runners-upFlamurtari Vlorë.[11]For the 1947 season, the league changed to a single 9 team competition, where Bashkimi finished in 8th place.[12]The following season the league returned to the 2 group format, where the club again finished second by one point to Flamurtari Vlorë. The club changed names again toKS Elbasaniin 1949 andKF Puna Elbasanin 1950.

Labinoti Elbasan

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Between 1958 and 1991, the club was forcibly namedKS Labinoti Elbasan,after anearby villagewhich had been the center of the first nationwide conference of theParty of Labour of AlbaniaduringWorld War II.[13]In 1984, they won their first and only league title, featuring players likeRoland Agalliu,Vladimir TafaniandMuharrem Dosti.[14]

The club's first participation in a European competition came in 1984, where they metDanishsideLyngby Boldklubin the first round of theChampions Leaguequalification stage. The first leg was played at theRuzhdi Bizhuta Stadiumand KF Elbasani were beaten 3–0 at home,[15]and along with another 3–0 loss in Denmark the aggregate result was 6–0 to Lyngby Boldklub.[16][17]

KF Elbasani

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Following thefall of communism,the club changed its name again to KF Elbasani, which they have not changed ever since. During the 2005–06 season, the team of Elbasani dominated theAlbanian Superligaand won the second title in their history, finishing the competition with 11 points more than their rivals inSK Tirana.

In 2006–07, 1st qualifying round for theChampions Leaguethey were eliminated byFK EkranasfromLithuania(1–3 aggregate). On 24 December 2006, coachLuan Deliuwas fired and replaced byEdmond Gezdari.The team now is seized by the Directorate of Taxes in Elbasan.

Stadium

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Elbasan Arena Stadium 2014

The club plays its home games at theElbasan Arena,which was originally built in 1967 and named the Labinot Stadium after the club's name at the time, which was Labinot Elbasan. The stadium was previously called Ruzhdi Bizhuta, after one of the club's most famous players. In January 2014 it was announced that the stadium would take over from theQemal Stafa Stadiumas the home of theAlbania national teamuntil Qemal Stafa is reconstructed. Prime ministerEdi Ramavisited the stadium on 28 January 2014 and he confirmed that work on the stadium would begin shortly, in order for Albania to be able to play their home games in the country as no other stadiums met the minimum requirements forEuro 2016 qualifiers.[18][19][20]Works on the stadium began in February, and they were completed in time for Albania's opening qualifying fixture againstDenmarkin October 2014.[21]The overall reconstruction costs amounted to5.5 million, which included works being completed on everything from the parking lot to the installation of new floodlights, and the stadium now has an official seated capacity of 12,800.[2][22][23]

Honours

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European competitions record

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Competition Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA GD
UEFA competitions 6 1 2 3 2 10 −8
Season Competition Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate
1984–85 European Cup 1R Lyngby BK 0–3 0–3 0–6
2005–06 UEFA Cup 1QR FK Vardar 1–1 0–0 1–1
2006–07 UEFA Champions League 1QR FK Ekranas 1–0 0–3 1–3
  • 1QR = 1st Qualifying Round
  • 1R = 1st Round

Balkans Cup

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Competition Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA GD
Balkans Cup 7 3 1 3 8 10 −2
Season Competition Group Country Club Home Away Aggregate
1973 Balkans Cup A Sutjeska Nikšić 1–0 0–1 1–1
ASA Târgu Mureș 2–0 1–5 3–5
1988–89 Balkans Cup A Malatyaspor 3–0 [a] 3–0
OFI Crete 1–1 0–3 1–4
  1. ^Malatyaspor withdrew during the first leg which was awarded 3–0 to Elbasan

Current squad

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As of 8 December 2019

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK ALB Ergys Dosti
2 MF ALB Bektash Vasha
3 DF ALB Enis Dishani
4 DF ALB Arlind Ballgjini
5 DF ALB Geri Selimaj
7 DF ALB Ilirian Dushaj
8 FW ALB Mateo Allkja
9 FW ALB Arsen Lleshi
10 MF ALB Klodian Nuri
11 MF ALB Ergys Peposhi
12 GK ALB Ferit Moli
14 FW ALB Valentino Baro
15 DF ALB Klaudio Çema
16 FW ALB Iris Bushi
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF ALB Serxhjo Bajrami
19 FW ALB Kejdi Balla
21 MF ALB Mikel Ferhati
23 DF ALB Alberto Nikehasani
24 DF ALB Kejsi Skënderi
25 MF ALB Kristian Mataj
26 DF ALB Flavio Xhakerri
29 MF ALB Renato Hyshmeri
99 MF ALB Endri Duka
DF ALB Jurgen Lleshi
GK ALB Fatjon Çollari
GK ALB Igli Harja
MF BRA Abner
FW ALB Kejvin Gica

Staff

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Role Name
President Arben Laze
Manager Shkëlqim Lleshanaku
Athletic director Blendi Hoxholli
Club doctor Mehmet Berzoxhuni

Historical list of coaches

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Recent seasons

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Season Division Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Cup Europe Notes
1999–00 National Championship ↓13/14 27 8 5 14 20 34 29 Second Round Lost 2–1 toBesa Kavajëin relegation playoff.
2000–01 Kategoria e Dytë 1/11 21 17 1 3 57 13 52 Second Round Finished third of six teams in promotion playoff.
2001–02 Kategoria e Dytë ↑1/12 22 17 3 2 53 13 51 Semi Finals DefeatedBesa Kavajë3–0 in championship final.
2002–03 National Championship 8/14 26 10 6 10 33 35 36 Second Round
2003–04 Kategoria Superiore 8/10 36 10 10 16 47 55 40 Quarter Finals
2004–05 Kategoria Superiore 2/10 36 24 7 5 59 27 79 Quarter Finals Finished runners–up in theKategoria Superiore.
2005–06 Kategoria Superiore 1/10 36 21 10 5 50 22 73 Semi Finals UC 1st Qualifier Won their secondKategoria Superioretitle.
2006–07 Kategoria Superiore 7/12 33 10 10 13 34 39 40 Play-off UCL 1st Qualifier
2007–08 Kategoria Superiore 4/12 33 13 13 7 40 24 52 Semi Finals
2008–09 Kategoria Superiore ↓12/12 33 7 14 12 28 39 35 Quarter Finals
2009–10 Kategoria e Parë ↑2/16 24 5 7 12 19 32 22 1st Preliminary
2010–11 Kategoria Superiore ↓12/12 30 19 5 6 56 25 62 Second Round
2011–12 Kategoria e Parë 6/16 30 11 6 13 44 48 39 Second Round
2012–13 Kategoria e Parë 12/16 30 12 4 14 42 46 40 First Round
2013–14 Kategoria e Parë ↑1/16 30 18 6 6 46 32 60 First Round
2014–15 Kategoria Superiore ↓10/10 36 4 2 30 19 74 14 Second Round
2015–16 Kategoria e Parë 6/10 27 8 5 14 27 45 29 First Round
2016–17 Kategoria e Parë ↓10/10 26 5 8 13 26 45 15 First Round
2017–18 Kategoria e Dytë ↑1/14 26 21 5 0 61 14 68 First Round
2018–19 Kategoria e Parë 9/10 8 4 1 3 23 44 19 Preliminary round DefeatedLuzi 20083–0 in relegation playoff.
2019–20 Kategoria e Parë 7/10 28 12 1 15 42 50 37 First round
2020–21 Kategoria e Parë ↓8/8 20 3 2 15 13 40 11 Second round
2021–22 Kategoria e Dytë First round

References

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  1. ^"Elbasani".panorama-sport.Retrieved10 April2018.
  2. ^abInagurohet ‘Elbasan Arena’, Rama: Ky vetëm fillimiArchived2014-10-10 at theWayback Machine
  3. ^"Unofficial Site of Albanian Football since 1913: Season 1930".giovanniarmillotta.it.Retrieved10 April2018.
  4. ^"Unofficial Site of Albanian Football since 1913: Season 1931".giovanniarmillotta.it.Retrieved10 April2018.
  5. ^"Unofficial Site of Albanian Football since 1913: Season 1932".giovanniarmillotta.it.Retrieved10 April2018.
  6. ^"Unofficial Site of Albanian Football since 1913: Season 1933".giovanniarmillotta.it.Retrieved10 April2018.
  7. ^"Unofficial Site of Albanian Football since 1913: Season 1934".giovanniarmillotta.it.Retrieved10 April2018.
  8. ^"Unofficial Site of Albanian Football since 1913: Season 1936".giovanniarmillotta.it.Retrieved10 April2018.
  9. ^"Unofficial Site of Albanian Football since 1913: Season 1937".giovanniarmillotta.it.Retrieved10 April2018.
  10. ^"Unofficial Site of Albanian Football since 1913: Season 1945".giovanniarmillotta.it.Retrieved10 April2018.
  11. ^"Unofficial Site of Albanian Football since 1913: Season 1946".giovanniarmillotta.it.Retrieved10 April2018.
  12. ^"Unofficial Site of Albanian Football since 1913: Season 1947".giovanniarmillotta.it.Retrieved10 April2018.
  13. ^Labinoti i Elbasanit 1984 dhe Bujar Gogunja “1037”- Panorama(in Albanian)
  14. ^Albania - Championship Winning Teams- RSSSF
  15. ^"Elbasan 0–3 Lyngby".uefa.Retrieved10 April2018.
  16. ^"Lyngby 3–0 Elbasan".uefa.Retrieved10 April2018.
  17. ^"UEFA Champions League 1984–85".uefa.Retrieved10 April2018.
  18. ^Rama: Elbasani pret kombëtarenArchived2014-02-20 at theWayback Machine
  19. ^"- Bota Sot".botasot.info.Retrieved10 April2018.
  20. ^"Lajmet e fundit - KOHA.net".KOHA.net.Retrieved10 April2018.
  21. ^"Sot përballja I në Elbasan Arena Shqipëri-Danimarkë, në 20:45".shqiptarja.Retrieved10 April2018.
  22. ^""Ruzhdi Bizhuta", plani për ta kthyer stadium ndërkombëtar ".ikub.al.Retrieved10 April2018.
  23. ^Stadiumi ne Elbasan: Rama, per te mos i mbetur hatri Vlores dhe ShkodresArchived2014-10-11 at theWayback Machine
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