Luftëtari FC
Full nameLuftëtari Football Club
Nickname(s)Bluzinjtë (Blue & blacks)
Short nameLuftëtari
Founded1929 (1929)
(as Shqiponja Gjirokastër)
Dissolved2020
GroundGjirokastra Stadium
Capacity8,400
OwnersBekim Halilaj (75%)
Municipality of Gjirokastër (25%)
PresidentBekim Halilaj
Head coachNeritan Novi
2019–20Kategoria Superiore, 10th (relegated)
WebsiteClub website

KF Luftëtari (Albanian pronunciation: [luftətaɾi ɟiɾɔkastəɾ]), also known as Luftëtari FC or simply Luftëtari, was an Albanian football club based in Gjirokastër, southern Albania. The club was founded on 1926 as Shqiponja Gjirokastër and has played at its home ground, the Gjirokastra Stadium, since 1973. They last competed in the Kategoria Superiore, the first tier of football in the country.

History

Early history

The club was founded in 1926 under the name Shqiponja Gjirokastër. It underwent many subsequent name changes over the years: Gjirokastër (1949), Puna Gjirokastër (1951), Luftëtari Gjirokastër (1958), Shqiponja Gjirokastër (1992) and to its current name Luftëtari Gjirokastër in 2002.

During the Communist Albania Luftetari was deemed to have a good football academy, which provided for several national team players, such as Theodhori Kalluci, Sefedin Braho, Lefter Millo, Arjan Xhumba, Arjan Bellaj, Altin Haxhi, and Gjergji Kalluci.

Luftëtari finished as the league runner-up in the 1977–78 season, their highest achievement ever.

Final years and collapse

On 2 July 2015 Mustafa Hysi was appointed as the club's head coach Gentian Nora as general sport director of the 2015–16 Albanian Superliga season, with the aim of achieving promotion back to the Albanian Superliga.[1]

Luftëtari were promoted back to Albanian Superliga after a three-year absence as they defeated Apolonia Fier on the last matchday of the regular season in Group B of the Albanian First Division.[2][3] They then faced Group A winners Korabi Peshkopi in the championship final at the Qemal Stafa Stadium on 19 May 2016, where they clinched their 8th First Division title as they won 11–10 in a penalty shootout that saw 24 penalties being taken following a goalless draw and extra time.[4] Making a surprise performance in 2016-2017 season Luftetari finished in 4th Position after more than 20 years with Mladen Milinkovic as Head coach and Gentian Nora as General and Sport Director By finishing third in the Albanian Superliga 2017–18 season with Hasan Lika as Head coach and Gentian Nora as Sport Director, they will make its debut in the 2018-19 UEFA Europa League season.[5]

The club collapsed in 2020 due to financial mismanagement and players were leaving the club to pursue careers elsewhere.[6] A new team was established and named AF Luftëtari which had to start at the third tier of Albanian football.[7]

Stadium

Gjirokastër Stadium

The club plays its home games at the Gjirokastra Stadium, which was built in 1973 and is located near the centre of Gjirokastër and holds 8,400 spectators.[8] Following Luftëtari's promotion back to the Albanian Superliga in 2016, the stadium required a complete renovation in order to meet the necessary requirements to host home games in the top flight. Work on the stadium began in August 2016 and the surface was to be replaced and plastic seats were to be installed throughout the stadium.[9] The first stage of the reconstruction was completed in November 2016, which meant that the stadium was able to host Albanian Superliga games once again. The first stage consisted of replacing the playing surface, the installation of 300 plastic seats in the main stand, the installation of CCTV as well as the refurbishment of the changing room for both players and officials. The cost of the work carried out totalled 15,000,000 Albanian lek, around €110,000 at the time, and it was a joint investment by the Municipality of Gjirokastër, the Albanian Football Association as well as the club's owner Grigor Tavo. The first game of the 2016–17 season to take place at the stadium came against Partizani which ended 1–1 with around 7,000 fans in attendance.[10]

Honours

Major trophies

League

Minor trophies

  • Zëri i Popullit Cup
    • Winners (1): 1977
  • Bashkimi Cup
    • Winners (1): 1983
  • Zëri i Rinisë Cup
    • Winners (1): 1982
  • Shtypi Popullor Shqiptar Cup
    • Winners (1): 1977
  • 50th Anniversary of Football in Albania Cup
    • Winners (1): 1963

European record

As of 12 July 2018

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Agg.
2018–19 UEFA Europa League 1QR Latvia Ventspils 3–3 0−5 3–8
Notes
  • QR: Qualifying round

Current squad

As of 17 June 2020

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Albania ALB Avernold Qyrani
2 DF Albania ALB Aurel Demo
3 DF Albania ALB Enes Isufi
5 DF Albania ALB Armenis Kukaj
6 DF Albania ALB Donald Açka
7 MF Albania ALB Rimal Haxhiu
7 FW Albania ALB Serxhio Emini
8 MF Albania ALB Erald Hyseni
9 FW Albania ALB Joan Çela
11 FW Albania ALB Jurgen Dushkaj
15 DF Albania ALB Stiven Puci
16 DF Albania ALB Klaus Alinani
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF Albania ALB Alvi Ahmetaj
19 DF Albania ALB Franci Lala
21 MF Albania ALB Gresild Lika
22 MF Albania ALB Klinti Qato
24 GK Albania ALB Sadik Basha
27 DF Albania ALB Redon Dragoshi
28 DF Albania ALB Mikel Brahilika
44 DF Albania ALB Amer Duka
45 FW Albania ALB Arbër Mehmetllari (on loan from Lokomotiva)
66 MF Albania ALB Elian Çelaj
88 GK Albania ALB Arlis Shala
99 MF Albania ALB Aldrit Oshafi

Other players under contract

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Albania ALB Rudion Mahmutaj
— MF Albania ALB Kostantinos Kondili
— DF Albania ALB Brunild Naçi
— DF Albania ALB Klevan Kendella
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Albania ALB Sebastian Molla
— GK Albania ALB Andrea Shumeli
— FW Albania ALB Dhimiter Andoni
— MF Albania ALB Erind Jahelezi

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF Albania ALB Stivian Janku (FK Bylis)

Historical list of coaches

Presidents

Name Nationality Years
Grigor Tavo[12] Albania 1999–2001
Flamur Bime Albania 2003–2004
Flamur Bime[13] Albania 2012–2015
Zamira Rami[14] Albania 2015–2016
Grigor Tavo Albania 2016–2019
Bekim Halilaj Albania 2019-

References

  1. ↑ Luftëtari, Hysi merr “timonin” Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "Luftëtari 2–1 Apolonia". Archived from the original on 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  3. ↑ "Luftëtari hap shampanjën e elitës". Archived from the original on 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  4. ↑ "Luftëtari kampion i Kategorisë së Parë pas 24 penalltive". Archived from the original on 2016-05-19. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  5. ↑ JUGUnews (2018-05-25). "VIDEO/Festa e Luftëtarit për në Europa League". Archived from the original on 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
  6. ↑ Kurrë më parë në këtë situatë/ Shkërmoqet ekipi i Kategorisë së Parë, ikin 2 titullarët e radhës Archived 2023-03-30 at the Wayback Machine - Panorama (in Albanian)
  7. ↑ Ndryshime rrënjësore në Gjirokastër, ja si do të quhet ekipi i ri Archived 2020-11-26 at the Wayback Machine - Panorama (in Albanian)
  8. ↑ Worldstadiums. "Stadia in Albania". Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  9. ↑ Panorama Sport (9 August 2016). "Nis puna në stadium, Luftëtari luan një muaj jashtë Gjirokastrës" (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  10. ↑ "Luftëtari 1–1 Partizani". Archived from the original on 2018-08-26. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  11. ↑ Kohë të Shkuara por të Paharruara të Futbollit Gjirokastrit me Trajner Hito Hitaj! Archived 2020-10-27 at the Wayback Machine - Gjirokastra Online (in Albanian)
  12. ↑ "Tavo: Kemi projekt, mos u çudisni nëse mundim edhe Kukësin". Archived from the original on 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
  13. ↑ "Luftëtari, Bime hap "thesin" para Elbasanit". Archived from the original on 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
  14. ↑ "Luftëtari, Hysi merr "timonin"". Archived from the original on 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2016-11-08.

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