KF Tirana
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| Full name | KF Tirana | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Tirona | ||
| Founded | 1920 | ||
| Ground | Qemal Stafa (stadium) in Tirana Albania (Capacity: 27,529) |
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| Chairman |  Refik Halili |
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| Manager |  Ilija Lončarević |
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| League | Albanian Superliga | ||
| 2008-09 | 1st (champions) | ||
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 Current season |
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Futbollklub / KF Tirana is the most famous and successful Albanian football club. It is the most popular club in the country with an enormous number of supporters, home and abroad. KF Tirana is an Albanian football team, playing in the capital, Tirana, founded August 16, 1920 under name of "Agimi Sports Association". In 1927 the club was renamed to "Sportklub Tirana", in 1947, to "17 Nëntori Tirana", from 1952 to 1956 renamed to "Puna Tirana", and in 1991 they returned to their original name. The club first participated in a European cup competition in 1965-66. Football Club Tirana was founded on 15 August 1926. This date is specified by reporting No.1 self-collected in assembly of senile of sport club on 3 January 1926. In issue 1 was written: “ As initiators of club of football of Tirana founded on 15 August 1920 decided to reopen it, named Club of football” with center in Tirana. They play at the Selman Stërmasi stadium which has a capacity of 12,500. Tirana won first title of champion in the first Albanian championship of football, which begun on 6 April 1930 and finished on 22 June 1930.
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[edit] History
In august the 16th 1920, the patriot P. Nika altogether with gentlemen 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 "Agimi Sports Association". The association's favourite sport was football and therefore in October of that year its team played the first match against "Juventus" Shkodra. In 1925 the association's governing council was elected and its members were A. Zajmi, S. Stermasi, B. Toptani, I. Gjinali and A. Koja. The team also played its first international match against "Crnagorec" Cetina 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. The onset of the Albanian national football championship was on April the 6th, 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 have introduced the permanent role of a regular coach and also the first to have secured the services of a foreign coach, the Hungarian Samo Singer, in 1934.
After the war, SK Tirana made a good start reaching the second spot in 1945, after losing to "Vllaznia" Shkoder 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 highest power authorities, SK Tirana would change its name to "17 Nentori", thus denying the club its past tradition. The following decade would unroll in the same suffocating atmosphere, becoming even heavier after the foundation of two system-privileged teams following the experiences of their sisters in the U.S.S.R. and the other eastern European countries: "Partizani", the Defense Ministry team and "Dinamo", the Internal Affairs Ministry team. Tens of Tirana’s talented players were "stolen" all over those years by these two Albanian sports monsters. As a result "17 Nentori" struggled to stay at the top during the years 1947-1957 but managed to gain some of the lost groung during the second part of the decade after replacing in part some of the first choice players of its line up.
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 Lym (Myslym) Alla. At the end of the 28th national championship Tirana became champions more than twenty years after their last title. They 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". Although being a victim of disgusting manipulations and unjustice, Tirana won the championship two years in a row in some style, losing two matches in 1968-1969 and only one during the 1969-1970 season.
During the seventies Tirana struggled hard to stay at the top, the best result being the second spot and the worst the thirteenth. Yet they 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 and the national cup three other times during the eighties. The club was also successful in the European clubs competitions and many of the team players made up the core of the best national team the country has ever had.
During the first half of the nineties 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 can't stand being too long too far from the leading spots. Thus at the end of the 1994-1995 season Tirana once again won the championship five matches in advance, being 12 points ahead of the second placed team. But at this point it's not about history; it's about the present well known to everyone in Albania. During the recent years Tirana has dominated the Albanian football, thus giving a huge joy and satisfaction to all of their fans, to all those who think that white-and-blue it's not a mere passion, but faith and religion.
[edit] Stadium
The home ground of KF Tirana is Qemal Stafa stadium. This stadium is also used by the Albanian National Football Team. The stadium has a capacity of 29,594 and has night projectors, so some derbies between the Tirana teams are played in the night. The most famous team to play in this stadium against KF Tirana was A.C. Milan in a friendly match in 2008, won 2–1 by Tirana.
When the Qemal Stafa stadium is needed by the Albanian National Football Team, KF Tirana play at Selman Stërmasi stadium. This stadium though doesn't have night projectors and the matches are played in the day. The stadium has a capacity of 10,000.
[edit] Achievements
KF Tirana are regarded as the Albania's top football team having won:
24 times - 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1964-1965, 1965-1966, 1967-1968, 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
13 times - 1938, 1963, 1976, 1977, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2006.
7 times - 1994, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007.
[edit] KF Tirana in Europe
As of June 22, 2009.
- QR = Qualifying Round
- 1R = 1st Round
- 2R = 2nd Round
[edit] Current squad
As of July 2009 [1]
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[edit] Former notable players
- See also Cat:KF Tirana players.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- non official Website (English)
- Fan Website
- KF Tirana fan website in albanian & 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
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