KF Butrinti is an Albanian football club based in the southern city of Sarandë. The club's home ground is the Andon Lapa Stadium and they currently compete in the Kategoria e Dytë. The club falls under the KS Butrinti sports club which also features one of the most successful swimming teams in the country, with football being the second priority by the club. Their best season was in 2014–15 when they finished third in the Kategoria e Parë.

KF Butrinti
Full nameKlubi i Futbollit Butrinti Sarandë
Nickname(s)Detarët
Piratët e Jonit
Founded25 January 1936; 88 years ago (1936-01-25)
as Butrinto
Butrinto (1936–45)
Butrinti (1945–49)
Saranda (1949–50)
Puna Sarandë (1951–57)
Butrinti (1958–present)
GroundAndon Lapa Stadium
Capacity5,500
ManagerSokol Bogdo
LeagueKategoria e Dytë, Group B
2023–24Kategoria e Dytë, Group B, 5th

History

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The first sports club in the city of Sarandë was formed by Kristoforidh Harito, Ruhi Selfo and Nazar Sefo on 25 January 1936 as the Shoqeria Sportive Butrinti, which translates to the Butrint Sports Society. The name is taken from the Ancient Greek city of Buthrotum, which in Albanian is called Butrint. The current club was merely a continuation of the original Butrint Sports Society and it was formed on 2 March 1963 as Klubi Sportive Butrinti, which in English would be Butrint Sports Club. However, other sources including prominent football historian Giovanni Armillotta believe the club was formed in the mid-1940s as Butrinti Sarandë and they changed their name shortly after in 1949 to simply Sarandë for two years before being renamed Puna Sarandë by the ruling Party of Labour of Albania between 1951 and 1958. In 1958, the club reverted to its original name of Butrinti Sarandë. The club's rivals are Delvina.

Honours

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Albanian Second Division
  • Winners (3): 1961, 1963–64, 1979–80
Sporti Popullor Cup
  • Winners (1): 1980

Current squad

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As of 23 March 2022[1]

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   ALB Ariol Kaloshi
3 DF   ALB Joni Nurja
5 DF   BRA Glauber
6 MF   JPN Yuta Takahashi
8 MF   ALB Salvador Gjonaj
9 FW   ALB Ervin Brahimi
10 FW   ALB Gëzim Hyska
11 MF   ALB Alesio Kolonja
12 GK   ALB Fabjo Alinani
13 DF   ALB Selidon Zholi
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 MF   ALB Stiliani Barka (captain)
16 DF   ALB Klaus Alinani (on loan from Bylisi Ballsh)
17 MF   ALB Benito Çulli
18 MF   ALB Françesk Toma
19 DF   BRA Jefferson Pereira
20 FW   ALB Ardit Jaupaj
21 MF   ALB Ermanel Llojaj
23 FW   NGA Chinonso Onuh
29 DF   ALB Xhuljano Buxhelaj
85 GK   ALB Arlindo Nanaj

References

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  1. ^ "Albania - KS Butrinti Sarandë - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 26 October 2021.