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Football in Kosovo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Football in Kosovo is governed by the Football Federation of Kosovo, which was created in 1946 (79 years ago) (1946), as a branch of the Yugoslav Football Association. Prishtina, is the club from Kosovo with most participations in the Yugoslav First League. Football is the most popular sport in Kosovo. The Kosovo Superleague is the top division of football in Kosovo. The division was set up in 1945 as a regional league within the Yugoslav football league system.

In 2008, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia. Until 2016, membership in UEFA and FIFA had been denied due to Kosovo's disputed recognition as an independent state. However, Kosovo was also not a member of the NF Board, which represents non-FIFA territories, including unrepresented cultural groups and unrecognized states. Some football clubs, especially from North Kosovo, refuse to enter the Republic of Kosovo's institutions and continue to be part of the Football Association of Serbia. On 3 May 2016, Kosovo became the 55th member of UEFA after a 28-24 vote in their favour, and on 13 May 2016, Kosovo gained FIFA membership after a 141-23 vote in their favour.

History in Club Football

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Kosovo's under Yugoslavia

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The most popular sport in Kosovo is football. The playing of football in Kosovo is documented since at least 1914. However, only inIn 1922 were the two first football clubs were formed,: FC Gjakova and FC Prishtina. Until 1926 the clubs competed within the several levels of the Belgrade Football Subassociation, and after 1926, clubs from Kosovo were integrated into the newly formed Skopje Football Subassociation. The subassociations organised different levels of leagues which served as qualification leagues for the Yugoslav championship.[1] From 1945 until 1991, football in the former Yugoslavia advanced so fast that in 1946 the Football Federation of Kosovo was formed as a subsidiary of the Football Federation of Yugoslavia. The most successful team from Kosovo in the first league of Yugoslavia was FC Prishtina, while KF Trepça was part of the league for one year. In 1991 the Football Federation of Kosovo was refounded after all football players from Kosovo were banned from the First League in Yugoslavia. The first game was held in KF Flamurtari's stadium on 13 September 1991 in Pristina, which also marked the start of the first independent championship in Kosovo. The governing body in Kosovo is mainly responsible for the national team and for most of the main cup competitions.[2]

The two main clubs in football are FC Prishtina and KF Trepça who have achieved great success in football. The football club Prishtina FC was founded in 1922, while KF Trepça was founded ten years later in 1932. KF Trepça was part of the 1977–78 championship in the former Yugoslavia League in football. One year later they reached huge success since they were able to play in the finals for the former Yugoslavia Cup against HNK Rijeka in which they lost close.[3] They became the only Kosovan Football club ever to reach the finals in the Yugoslav Cup.[4] FC Prishtina became the first member of the league in 1983, and it achieved an impressive victory after beating Red Star in Belgrade with 3–1.

1983–84 Yugoslav First League starting lineup vs. Red Star Belgrade during their famous 1-3 away win (4–4–2)

During this time Fadil Vokrri impressed all with his talent as he was part of so-called "Golden Generation" of Prishtina.[citation needed] They would finish their first season in 8th place. FC Prishtina in the same season played in the Mitropa Cup, in which they came runners up to Eisenstadt from Austria. In the following seasons Prishtina were able to compete in the league until their last season in 1988. In the 1987–88 Yugoslav Cup Prishtina reached the semifinals, in which they would lose against Borac Banja Luka after penalties.

1991- From indenpendence to first three UEFA Club Football Achievements

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Currently, Kosovo has a football league system which incorporates a number of clubs. The top division, the Raiffeisen Super League, has 12 teams.[5] The league was founded in 1945 and is organized by the Football Federation of Kosovo.[2] The other three professional divisions are the first league which includes 16 teams, and the second and third league. There are also semi-professional and amateur football clubs that are active as well. The main cup competition in Kosovo is the Republic of Kosovo Cup, which is open to every men's football team that is part of the Football Federation of Kosovo. The most successful clubs are FC Prishtina (twenty championship titles), KF Vëllaznimi (eight championship titles), KF Trepça (seven championship titles), KF Liria (five championship titles), and KF Besa (three championship titles).[6] FC Ballkani being the most recent champion to win (three back to back Championship titles) from the season 2021-22, 2022-23 until the 2023-24 saison to win for the third time straight, in the history of the football club from Suhareka.[7][8]

The first unofficial Championship in Kosovo was held in 1991 in which 12 clubs participated.[9] After some years without UEFA Club European football Kosovo was finally recognized by the UEFA in 2016.[10]

FC Ballkani became the first Kosovan football Club to qualify for an UEFA Competition, as they beat KF Shkupi in the play-off round away and home to take place for the Groupstage of the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League.[11][12] In Group G Ballkani faced in Prishtina in the debut CFR Cluj from Romania. They drew their first ever UEFA Club competition game with 1-1 thanks to a goal from Armend Thaqi, securing Kosovo's first ever points in a UEFA club competition.[13] After a close loss to Slavia Prague away from home, Ballkani would than secure Kosovo, maiden win in a UEFA competition as they beat Turkish side Sivasspor with an entertaining 3–4 win away in Turkey.[14] Despite some good performances Ballkani could not progress further as they secure only four points in the process, finishing in last place. It is still Kosovo's highest European club football success, in the history of the country.[15]

Ballkani also secured its first ever win for the Country in the UEFA Champions League qualifying after beating in the first leg Bulgarian Football Champions Ludogorets Razgrad with 2–0 in Pristina.[16] After they lost to Ludogorets Razgrad away from home. Ballkani were able to win their next five matches in a row in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying against Larne F.C. 3-1[17] and away with 4-0[18] as well. They beat Lincoln Red Imps F.C. in the following third round from Gibraltar with 2–0 at home and 3–1 away, to qualify for the Playoffs for the second year running.[19] In the Playoffs Ballkani were able to beat Bate Borisov from Belarus at home in the first leg with 4-1 despite the loss away from home with 0-1 they would qualify still for the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League for the second straight time as a Football Club in the history of Kosovo.[20][21] They won their second Match in the Club History after Beating GNK Dinamo Zagreb at home 2-0 to secure Kosovo's most recent win at this competition.[22]

League system (2020–21)

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Men's

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Level Leagues/Divisions
1 Kosovo Superleague
(10 clubs)
2 Kosovo First League – Group A
(10 clubs) 		Kosovo First League – Group B
(10 clubs)
3 Kosovo Second League
(16 clubs)
4 Kosovo Third League – Group A
(16 clubs) 		Kosovo Third League – Group B
(18 clubs)
Dukagjini Plain's Group A
(8 clubs) 		Kosovo Plain's Group A
(8 clubs) 		Dukagjini Plain's Group B
(10 clubs) 		Kosovo Plain's Group B
(8 clubs)

Women's

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Level Leagues/Divisions
1 Kosovo Superleague
(Various by season, currently 8)
2 Kosovo First League
(Various by season, currently 5)

Kosovar footballers

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The "Fadil Vokrri" Stadium, the biggest stadium in Pristina

There are several ethnic Albanians from Kosovo who have played, or are playing, football for other national teams. Lorik Cana, who last played for French side Nantes, and represented the Albanian national football team. Valon Behrami is a Kosovo-born Swiss international who played for Udinese Calcio. Shefki Kuqi, who last played for Premier League side Newcastle United, is a naturalized citizen of Finland. Xhevat Prekazi, best known for his career with Turkish side Galatasaray S.K., is a naturalized citizen of Turkey. Xherdan Shaqiri is an ethnic Albanian born in Kosovo who plays for the Swiss national team and played for Premier League side Liverpool, Granit Xhaka is a Swiss-born footballer who plays for the Swiss national team and Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, originally from Kosovo of Albanian descent.

The most famous player in women's football from Kosovo is the former German international Fatmire Alushi, who last played for French side Paris Saint-Germain, she is married to Enis Alushi, a former Kosovo international.

Naim Kryeziu born in Mitrovica in Kosovo started his long footballing career in SK Tirana where he played for six seasons winning four Kategoria Superiore between 1934 and 1939 as well as one Albanian Cup title in 1938-39. He then played for Roma between 1939 and 1947 scoring 27 goals and winning with them the 1941–42 Serie A title. His biggest achievement in his football career. Being the first Albanian footballer to win a Serie A title. He later would play successfully for S.S.C. Napoli scoring in five seasons 39 goals for the Gli Azzurris. Before retiring his footballing career in 1954. He scored 68 goals in the Seria A and is still even to this day one of the most successful Albanian footballers in the football history in Europe.

He later started a coaching career, serving also as AS Roma head coach for a short time during the 1963–64 season as a replacement for Alfredo Foni. he would coach A.S. Roma once more between 1970 and 1973 in his career.

Riza Lushta is a well known footballer from Kosovo. He started his football career in KF Tirana where he won the Kategoria Superiore four times in six seasons, he played with. He would then play for Seria A side S.S.C. Bari for the upcoming season. Where he scored three times in sixteen matches. His performances with Bari attracted the interest of Juventus Turin who he joined in 1940 after just one year with Bari. He would play for the Old Lady for five seasons. His most successful season came in the 1941–42 Serie A where he scored 15 goals for Juve being the highest foreigner goalscorer in the Seria in that particular season. Lushta made history as he won with Juventus Turin the 1941–42 Coppa Italia. Where he is known for his hattrick he scored against A.C. Milan in the second leg of the finals. Riza Lushta would be the first Albanian footballer to be a record goalscorer in the Coppa Italia with 8 goals in 6 matches

References

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  1. ^ Milorad Sijić: "Football in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia" Archived 2012-05-12 at the Wayback Machine, pags. 135-140 (in Serbian)
  2. ^ a b "History of Football in Kosovo". Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  3. ^ Historiku i Klubit kftrepca.com
  4. ^ "Kur Trepça luante në finalen e Kupës Jugosllave dhe priste New Yorkun në Mitrovicë".
  5. ^ "Kosovo Football Federation". Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Tables of Kosovo Football Champions since 1945". Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Ballkani, kampion i Kosovës për herën e tretë rresht". 18 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Ballkani shkruan historinë, e fiton tri herë rresht titullin". 18 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Historiku i FFK-së". 29 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Kosova Pranohet në UEFA". 3 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Ballkani fiton kundër Shkupit". 18 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Ballkani shkruan histori, kalon në fazën e grupeve të Ligës së Konferencës - Dukagjini". 25 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Ballkani debuton në Ligën e Konferencës me barazim ndaj Clujit". 8 September 2022.
  14. ^ Pireva, Lavdim (20 September 2022). "Ballkani sjell Evropën në Kosovë, Armend Thaqi në një intervistë për mediumin Goal: Krenar që po shkruajmë historinë - Telegrafi". Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Kosova Në 2022!".
  16. ^ "Shkëlqen Ballkani, fiton 2:0 ndaj kampionit bullgar - KOHA.net". 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Ballkani heroik". 25 July 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Ballkani fiton thellë në Belfast dhe siguron raundin tjetër të UEFA Conference League". 3 August 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Ballkani mposht Linconin dhe kalon në Play-off të Ligës së Konferencës". zeri.info. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  20. ^ Gashi, Liman (31 August 2023). "Fantastike, Ballkani sërish në grupet e Ligës së Konferencës". Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  21. ^ Hashani, Donat (31 August 2023). "Fantastike: Ballkani për vitin e dytë me rradhë në grupe të një gare evropiane". Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  22. ^ https://klankosova.tv/ballkani-realizon-endrra-ne-fadil-vokrri-fitore-historike-ndaj-dinamo-zagrebit-1/
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