The 2019–20 Kategoria Superiore was the 81st official season, or 84th season of top-tier football in Albania (including three unofficial championships during World War II) and the 20th season under the name Kategoria Superiore. The season began on 23 August 2019 and ended on 29 July 2020.[1] Tirana, won the league title on 19 July 2020 with 2 matches to spare.
| Season | 2019–20 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 23 August 2019 – 29 July 2020 |
| Champions | Tirana 25th title |
| Relegated | Flamurtari Luftëtari |
| Champions League | Tirana |
| Europa League | Kukësi Laçi Teuta |
| Matches played | 180 |
| Goals scored | 454 (2.52 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Kyrian Nwabueze (23 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Partizani 8–1 Luftëtari (14 June 2020) |
| Biggest away win | Luftëtari 0–5 Tirana (7 June 2020) |
| Highest scoring | Partizani 8–1 Luftëtari (14 June 2020) |
| Longest winning run | 7 matches Tirana |
| Longest unbeaten run | 14 matches Tirana |
| Longest winless run | 21 matches Flamurtari |
| Longest losing run | 10 matches Luftëtari |
← 2018–19 2020–21 →
All statistics correct as of 29 July 2020. | |
The winners of this season's Kategoria Superiore earned a place in the first qualifying round of the 2020-21 Champions League, with the second and third placed clubs earning a place in the first qualifying round of the 2020-21 Europa League. The competition was suspended from 12 March to 3 June 2020, due to a pandemic of COVID-19 in Albania.
Teams edit
Two clubs earned promotion from the Kategoria e Parë, Bylis and Vllaznia. Kastrioti was relegated to Kategoria e Parë at the conclusion of last season, Kamza was excluded from the championship and relegated to the Kategoria e Dytë, after a violent incident during a match against Laçi in the 24th round.[2]
Locations edit
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Locations of the 2019–20 Kategoria Superiore teams
| Team | Home city | Stadium | Capacity | 2018–19 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bylis | Ballsh | Adush Muça Stadium | 5,200 | Champion (Kategoria e Parë) |
| Flamurtari | Vlorë | Flamurtari Stadium | 8,500 | 5th |
| Kukësi | Kukës | Various | 2nd | |
| Laçi | Laç | Laçi Stadium | 2,300 | 6th |
| Luftëtari | Gjirokastër | Gjirokastra Stadium | 8,400 | 8th |
| Partizani | Tirana | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | 9,500 | Champion |
| Skënderbeu | Korçë | Skënderbeu Stadium | 12,343 | 4th |
| Teuta | Durrës | Niko Dovana Stadium | 12,040 | 3rd |
| Tirana | Tirana | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | 9,500 | 7th |
| Vllaznia | Shkodër | Loro Boriçi Stadium | 16,000 | Runner-up (Kategoria e Parë) |
- (1) Kukësi will play their 2019–20 home games at various stadiums, due to the reconstruction of the Zeqir Ymeri Stadium in Kukës.
- (2) Partizani will play their 2019–20 home games at the Selman Stërmasi Stadium in Tirana. Their new home ground, Partizani Complex, is currently under construction.
Stadiums edit
| Bylis | Flamurtari | Kukësi | Laçi | Luftëtari |
| Adush Muça Stadium | Flamurtari Stadium | Various | Laçi Stadium | Gjirokastra Stadium |
| Capacity: 5,200 | Capacity: 11,200 | Capacity: 5,300 | Capacity: 8,400 | |
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| Partizani | Skënderbeu | Teuta | Tirana | Vllaznia |
| Selman Stërmasi Stadium | Skënderbeu Stadium | Niko Dovana Stadium | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | Loro Boriçi Stadium UEFA stadium category 
|
| Capacity: 9,500 | Capacity: 12,343 | Capacity: 12,040 | Capacity: 9,500 | Capacity: 16,000 |
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Personnel and kits edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | President | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bylis |  Besnik Kapllanaj
|
 Veljko Dovedan
|
Valentino Murataj
|
 Uhlsport
|
− |
| Flamurtari | Sinan Idrizi
|
 Marcello Troisi
|
Andi Ribaj
|
 Joma
|
− |
| Kukësi | Safet Gjici
|
Orges Shehi
|
 Besar Musolli
|
 Macron
|
Kevin Construction |
| Laçi | Pashk Laska
|
Armando Cungu
|
Aleksandar Ignjatović
|
Uhlsport
|
Pavin Caffe |
| Luftëtari | Bekim Halilaj
|
Neritan Novi
|
Erald Hyseni
|
Macron
|
Energ Company |
| Partizani | Gazmend Demi
|
Renaldo Kalari
|
Alban Hoxha
|
Joma
|
MCN |
| Skënderbeu | Ardian Takaj
|
Ilir Daja
|
Bajram Jashanica
|
Joma
|
Fix |
| Teuta | Edmond Hasanbelliu
|
Edi Martini
|
Renato Arapi
|
Uhlsport
|
Caffè Pascucci |
| Tirana | Refik Halili
|
 Emmanuel Egbo
|
Erando Karabeci
|
Uhlsport
|
− |
| Vllaznia | Municipality of Shkodër
|
Hysen Dedja
|
Gilman Lika
|
Uhlsport
|
− |
Managerial changes edit
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partizani | Skënder Gega
|
Mutual consent | 2 June 2019 | Pre-season | Franco Lerda
|
17 June 2019 |
| Skënderbeu | Orges Shehi
|
Resigned | 8 June 2019 | Pre-season | Ilir Daja
|
8 August 2019 |
| Vllaznia | Agim Canaj
|
Mutual consent | 19 July 2019 | Pre-season |  Mirsad Jonuz
|
19 July 2019 |
| Kukësi | Ernest Gjoka
|
Sacked | 19 July 2019 | Pre-season | Shpëtim Duro
|
25 July 2019 |
| Flamurtari | Gerd Haxhiu
|
Resigned | 14 August 2019 | Pre-season | Dritan Sadedini
|
14 August 2019 |
| Luftëtari | Klevis Dalipi
|
Resigned | 23 August 2019 | Pre-season | Klodian Duro
|
23 August 2019 |
| Luftëtari | Klodian Duro
|
Mutual consent | 5 September 2019 | 10th |  Georgios Marantas
|
6 September 2019 |
| Laçi | Sulejman Starova
|
Mutual consent | 15 October 2019 | 8th | Armando Cungu
|
15 October 2019 |
| Flamurtari | Dritan Sadedini
|
Mutual consent | 24 October 2019 | 10th | Luan Birçe
|
24 October 2019 |
| Tirana | Ardian Mema
|
Mutual consent | 25 October 2019 | 6th | Julian Ahmataj
|
25 October 2019 |
| Tirana | Julian Ahmataj
|
Resigned | 9 December 2019 | 8th | Ndubuisi Egbo
|
9 December 2019 |
| Luftëtari | Georgios Marantas
|
Sacked[3] | 14 December 2019 | 9th | Neritan Novi
|
14 December 2019 |
| Partizani | Franco Lerda
|
Sacked[3] | 14 December 2019 | 3rd | Renaldo Kalari
|
14 December 2019 |
| Teuta | Bledi Shkëmbi
|
Sacked[3] | 14 December 2019 | 7th | Edi Martini
|
15 December 2019 |
| Luftëtari | Neritan Novi
|
End of caretaker spell | 3 January 2020 | 9th | Nikolin Çoçlli
|
3 January 2020 |
| Partizani | Renaldo Kalari
|
End of caretaker spell | 4 January 2020 | 5th | Adolfo Sormani
|
4 January 2020 |
| Flamurtari | Dritan Resuli
|
End of caretaker spell | 25 January 2020 | 10th | Marcello Troisi
|
25 January 2020 |
| Luftëtari | Nikolin Çoçlli
|
Resigned | 24 February 2020 | 9th | Neritan Novi
|
24 February 2020 |
| Kukësi | Shpëtim Duro
|
Sacked | 29 February 2020 | 2nd | Orges Shehi
|
2 March 2020 |
| Vllaznia | Mirsad Jonuz
|
End of contract | 5 June 2020 | 8th | Hysen Dedja
|
9 June 2020 |
| Partizani | Adolfo Sormani
|
Mutual consent | 13 July 2020 | 6th | Renaldo Kalari
|
9 June 2020 |
League table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tirana (C) | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 67 | 35 | +32 | 70 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Kukësi | 36 | 19 | 9 | 8 | 59 | 31 | +28 | 66 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 3 | Laçi | 36 | 19 | 7 | 10 | 61 | 34 | +27 | 64 | |
| 4 | Skënderbeu | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 42 | 43 | −1 | 58 | |
| 5 | Teuta | 36 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 41 | 34 | +7 | 57 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[a] |
| 6 | Partizani | 36 | 15 | 8 | 13 | 51 | 40 | +11 | 53 | |
| 7 | Bylis | 36 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 46 | 38 | +8 | 51 | |
| 8 | Vllaznia (O) | 36 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 36 | 41 | −5 | 46 | Qualification for the relegation play-off |
| 9 | Flamurtari (R) | 36 | 2 | 9 | 25 | 32 | 72 | −40 | 15 | Relegation to the 2020–21 Kategoria e Parë |
| 10 | Luftëtari (R) | 36 | 2 | 8 | 26 | 19 | 86 | −67 | 14 |
Source: Albanian Football Association, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Draw.[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Draw.[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Teuta qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as the 2019–20 Albanian Cup winners.
Results edit
Clubs will play each other four times for a total of 36 matches each.[4]
Relegation play-off edit
| Vllaznia | 3−1 | Besëlidhja |
|---|---|---|
Kruja  15'Marku 19'Lika 78' |
Djordjević 33' |
Both clubs remained in their respective leagues.
Season statistics edit
Scoring edit
Top scorers edit
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[5] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyrian Nwabueze
|
Laçi | 23 |
| 2 | Vasil Shkurtaj
|
Kukësi | 22 |
| 3 | Sherif Kallaku
|
Teuta | 14 |
| 4 |  Michael Ngoo
|
Tirana | 13 |
| 5 | Redon Xhixha
|
Laçi | 12 |
| 6 | Dejvi Bregu
|
Skënderbeu | 10 |
| Eraldo Çinari
|
Partizani | ||
| Gilman Lika
|
Vllaznia | ||
| Idriz Batha
|
Tirana | ||
| Kristal Abazaj
|
Kukësi | ||
 Saliou Guindo
|
Bylis |
Discipline edit
Player edit
- Most yellow cards: 14
Albano Aleksi (Teuta)
- Most red cards: 2
Agustín Torassa (Tirana)
Blagoja Todorovski (Teuta)- Donald Mëllugja (Bylis)
- Fabian Beqja (Teuta)
- Erion Hoxhallari (Tirana)
Theophilus Solomon (Partizani)- Valdo Zeqaj (Flamurtari)
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Zyrtare, Kategoria Superiore rinis më 3 qershor, vjen ok nga Ministria e Shëndetësisë! – SuperSport". 29 May 2020.
- ^ AP (6 March 2019). "Albanian soccer club expelled after referee attack". USA Today. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- ^ a b c "Nuk ndalet vala e shkarkimeve të trajnerëve, Luftëtari largon Marantas". 14 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Superliga: Season rules". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ "2019-20 top scorers". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
External links edit
- Official website (in Albanian)
- Kategoria Superiore at uefa.com