The 2020–21 Kategoria Superiore was the 82nd official season, or 85th season of top-tier football in Albania (including three unofficial championships during World War II) and the 21st season under the name Kategoria Superiore. The season ended on 26 May 2021.[1] It was initially planned to begin on 12 September 2020 but it was delayed after all participating clubs decided to boycott the competition, until the government would meet their demands. After 2 months of negotiations, the clubs ended the boycott and agreed to begin the season on 4 November 2020. Teuta won the league title on 26 May 2021, on the final matchday.
| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 4 November 2020 – 26 May 2021 |
| Champions | Teuta 2nd title |
| Relegated | Bylis Apolonia |
| Champions League | Teuta |
| Europa Conference League | Vllaznia Partizani Laçi |
| Matches played | 180 |
| Goals scored | 378 (2.1 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Dejvi Bregu (16 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Laçi 6–1 Apolonia (29 November 2020) Teuta 6–1 Apolonia (26 May 2021) |
| Biggest away win | Apolonia 0–6 Vllaznia (18 April 2021) |
| Highest scoring | Laçi 6–1 Apolonia (29 November 2020) Skënderbeu 4–3 Bylis (30 December 2020) Teuta 6–1 Apolonia (26 May 2021) Tirana 5–2 Apolonia (4 April 2021) |
| Longest winning run | 5 matches Kukësi Laçi |
| Longest unbeaten run | 12 matches Teuta |
| Longest winless run | 15 matches Apolonia |
| Longest losing run | 6 matches Bylis |
← 2019–20 2021–22 →
All statistics correct as of 26 May 2021. | |
The winners of this season's Kategoria Superiore earned a place in the first qualifying round of the 2021-22 Champions League, with the second and third placed clubs earning a place in the first qualifying round of the 2021-22 Europa Conference League.
Teams edit
Two clubs have earned promotion from the Kategoria e Parë, Apolonia[2] and Kastrioti.[3] Flamurtari and Luftëtari were relegated to Kategoria e Parë at the conclusion of last season.
Locations edit
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| Team | Home city | Stadium | Capacity | 2019–20 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apolonia | Fier | Loni Papuçiu Stadium | 6,800 | Champion (Kategoria e Parë) |
| Bylis | Ballsh | Adush Muça Stadium | 5,200 | 7th |
| Kastrioti | Krujë | Kamëz Stadium[a] | 5,500[a] | Runner-up (Kategoria e Parë) |
| Kukësi | Kukës | Elbasan Arena[b] | 12,800[b] | 2nd |
| Laçi | Laç | Laçi Stadium | 2,300 | 3rd |
| Partizani | Tirana | Elbasan Arena[c] | 12,800[c] | 6th |
| Skënderbeu | Korçë | Skënderbeu Stadium | 12,343 | 4th |
| Teuta | Durrës | Niko Dovana Stadium | 12,040 | 5th |
| Tirana | Tirana | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | 9,500 | Champion |
| Vllaznia | Shkodër | Loro Boriçi Stadium | 16,000 | 8th |
Stadiums edit
| Apolonia | Bylis | Kastrioti | Kukësi | Laçi |
| Loni Papuçiu Stadium | Adush Muça Stadium | Kamëz Stadium | Elbasan Arena UEFA stadium category 
|
Laçi Stadium |
| Capacity: 6,800 | Capacity: 5,200 | Capacity: 5,500 | Capacity: 12,800 | Capacity: 5,300 |
|
|
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| Partizani | Skënderbeu | Teuta | Tirana | Vllaznia |
| Elbasan Arena UEFA stadium category
|
Skënderbeu Stadium | Niko Dovana Stadium | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | Loro Boriçi Stadium UEFA stadium category
|
| Capacity: 12,800 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apolonia |  Koço Kokëdhima
|
 Fabrizio Cammarata
|
Romeo Harizaj
|
 Joma
|
Abissnet |
| Bylis | Besnik Kapllanaj
|
 Veljko Dovedan
|
Franc Ymeralilaj
|
 Uhlsport
|
− |
| Kastrioti | Petro Kumi
|
Ramadan Ndreu
|
Emiliano Çela
|
Uhlsport
|
Qafshtama |
| Kukësi | Safet Gjici
|
Mirel Josa
|
 Agim Ibraimi
|
Joma
|
Kevin Construction |
| Laçi | Pashk Laska
|
Shpëtim Duro
|
Aleksandar Ignjatović
|
Uhlsport
|
Arbëria Palace |
| Partizani | Gazmend Demi
|
Ilir Daja
|
Alban Hoxha
|
Joma
|
− |
| Skënderbeu | Ardian Takaj
|
Migen Memelli
|
Jorgo Meksi
|
Uhlsport
|
Tona |
| Teuta | Edmond Hasanbelliu
|
Edi Martini
|
Renato Arapi
|
Macron
|
Caffè Pascucci |
| Tirana | Refik Halili
|
Orges Shehi
|
Idriz Batha
|
Uhlsport
|
− |
| Vllaznia | Municipality of Shkodër
|
Thomas Brdarić
|
Erdenis Gurishta
|
− | Fujifilm |
Managerial changes edit
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure |
Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kukësi | Orges Shehi
|
Mutual consent | 30 July 2020 | Pre-season | Skënder Gega
|
30 July 2020 |
| Partizani | Renaldo Kalari
|
End of caretaker spell | 10 August 2020 | Ilir Daja
|
10 August 2020 | |
| Vllaznia | Hysen Dedja
|
End of contract | 10 August 2020 | Thomas Brdarić
|
10 August 2020 | |
| Skënderbeu | Ilir Daja
|
Signed for Partizani | 10 August 2020 | Julian Ahmataj
|
19 August 2020 | |
| Apolonia | Artan Mërgjyshi
|
Mutual consent | 31 August 2020 | Giovanni Colella
|
1 September 2020 | |
| Tirana |  Emmanuel Egbo
|
Sacked | 12 November 2020 | 5th | Nevil Dede
|
13 November 2020 |
| Laçi | Armando Cungu
|
Mutual consent | 26 November 2020 | 8th | Stavri Nica
|
26 November 2020 |
| Apolonia | Giovanni Colella
|
Resigned | 30 November 2020 | 10th | Nikolin Çoçlli
|
30 November 2020 |
| Laçi | Stavri Nica
|
Caretaker replaced | 5 December 2020 | 6th | Klevis Hima
|
5 December 2020 |
| Laçi | Klevis Hima
|
End of caretaker spell | 12 December 2020 | 7th | Shpëtim Duro
|
12 December 2020 |
| Apolonia | Nikolin Çoçlli
|
Sacked | 17 December 2020 | 9th | Bledar Borova
|
17 December 2020 |
| Kukësi | Skënder Gega
|
Resigned | 27 December 2020 | 4th | Rrahman Hallaçi
|
27 December 2020 |
| Apolonia | Bledar Borova
|
End of caretaker spell | 2 January 2021 | 10th | Fabrizio Cammarata
|
2 January 2021 |
| Kukësi | Rrahman Hallaçi
|
End of caretaker spell | 25 January 2021 | 5th | Mirel Josa
|
25 January 2021 |
| Tirana | Nevil Dede
|
Mutual consent | 25 January 2021 | 6th | Orges Shehi
|
27 January 2021 |
| Skënderbeu | Julian Ahmataj
|
Mutual consent | 31 January 2021 | 9th | Migen Memelli
|
3 February 2021 |
League table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teuta (C) | 36 | 17 | 15 | 4 | 42 | 16 | +26 | 66 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Vllaznia | 36 | 19 | 9 | 8 | 44 | 22 | +22 | 66 | Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round[a] |
| 3 | Partizani | 36 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 53 | 23 | +30 | 65 | |
| 4 | Laçi | 36 | 16 | 13 | 7 | 41 | 26 | +15 | 61 | |
| 5 | Tirana | 36 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 41 | 26 | +15 | 58 | |
| 6 | Kukësi | 36 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 47 | 48 | −1 | 45 | |
| 7 | Skënderbeu | 36 | 9 | 10 | 17 | 34 | 55 | −21 | 37 | |
| 8 | Kastrioti (O) | 36 | 8 | 11 | 17 | 26 | 44 | −18 | 35 | Qualification for the relegation play-off |
| 9 | Bylis (R) | 36 | 7 | 10 | 19 | 28 | 51 | −23 | 31 | Relegation to the 2021–22 Kategoria e Parë |
| 10 | Apolonia (R) | 36 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 22 | 67 | −45 | 21 |
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.
(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.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Vllaznia, the winners of the 2020–21 Albanian Cup, already qualified for European competition based on league position. Therefore, the Europa Conference League berth awarded to the Albanian Cup winners transfers to the fourth-placed team.
Results edit
Clubs will play each other four times for a total of 36 matches each.
Relegation play-off edit
Both clubs remained in their respective leagues.
Season statistics edit
Scoring edit
Top scorers edit
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dejvi Bregu
|
Teuta | 16 |
| 2 | Agim Ibraimi
|
Kukësi | 15 |
| Patrick Friday Eze
|
Kukësi | ||
| 4 | Ardit Hoxhaj
|
Vllaznia | 12 |
| 5 |  Haris Dilaver
|
Vllaznia | 11 |
| 6 | Beji Anthony
|
Bylis | 10 |
 Devid
|
Kastrioti | ||
| Lorenco Vila
|
Teuta |
Discipline edit
Player edit
- Most yellow cards: 15
Indrit Prodani (Kastrioti)
- Most red cards: 2
Kyrian Nwabueze (Laçi)
Awards edit
Annual awards edit
| Award | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Manager of the Season | Thomas Brdarić
|
Vllaznia |
| Player of the Season | Dejvi Bregu
|
Teuta |
| Young Player of the Season | Marsel Ismailgeci
|
Tirana |
| Team of the Year | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper |  Visar Bekaj (Tirana)
| |||||||||||
| Defenders | Erdenis Gurishta (Vllaznia)
|
Mevlan Adili (Vllaznia)
|
Egzon Belica (Partizani)
|
Erion Hoxhallari (Tirana)
| ||||||||
| Midfielders | Juljan Shehu (Laçi)
|
Regi Lushkja (Laçi)
|
Albano Aleksi (Teuta)
| |||||||||
| Forwards | Jasir Asani (Partizani)
|
Dejvi Bregu (Teuta)
|
Agim Ibraimi (Kukësi)
| |||||||||
Source:[5]
See also edit
Notes and references edit
Notes edit
- ^ Kastrioti played their 2020–21 home games at the Kamëz Stadium in Kamëz, since their venue, Kastrioti Stadium, is not suitable for Kategoria Superiore matches.
- ^ Kukësi played their 2020–21 home games at the Elbasan Arena in Elbasan, due to the reconstruction of the Zeqir Ymeri Stadium in Kukës.
- ^ Partizani played their 2020–21 home games at the Elbasan Arena in Elbasan. Their new home ground, Partizani Complex, is currently under construction.
References edit
- ^ "Komiteti Ekzekutiv përcakton datat e sezonit 2020-2021". 20 August 2020.
- ^ "FK Apolonia shpallet fituese e Grupit B në Kategorinë e Parë" [FK Apolonia is declared the winner of Group B in the First Category] (in Albanian). Football Association of Albania. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "KS Kastrioti shpallet fitues i Grupit A në Kategorinë e Parë" [KS Kastrioti is declared the winner of Group A in the First Category] (in Albanian). Football Association of Albania. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "2020-21 top scorers". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ^ "Më të mirët e sezonit! FSHF dhe RTSH shpallin kampionët e futbollit". 30 December 2021.
External links edit
- Official website (in Albanian)
- Kategoria Superiore at uefa.com