2020–21 Kategoria Superiore

The 2020–21 Kategoria Superiore is 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 will end on 16 May 2021.[1] It was initially planned to begin in 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 in 4 November 2020.

Kategoria Superiore
Season2020–21
Dates4 November 2020 –
16 May 2021
Matches played90
Goals scored193 (2.14 per match)
Top goalscorerAgim Ibraimi
(9 goals)
Biggest home winLaçi 6–1 Apolonia
(29 November 2020)
Biggest away winSkënderbeu 0–4 Kukësi
(30 January 2021)
Highest scoringLaçi 6–1 Apolonia
(29 November 2020)
Skënderbeu 4–3 Bylis
(30 December 2020)
Longest winning run5 matches
Kukësi
Longest unbeaten run12 matches
Teuta
Longest winless run8 matches
Skënderbeu
Longest losing run5 matches
Bylis
2021–22 →
All statistics correct as of 7 February 2021.

The winners of this season's Kategoria Superiore will earn 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

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
Locations of the 2020–21 Kategoria Superiore teams
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
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
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

Personnel and kits

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 Benjamin Agyare 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 own brand Fujifilm

Managerial changes
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
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Vllaznia 18 11 4 3 25 11 +14 37 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Partizani 18 8 7 3 25 11 +14 31 Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round
3 Laçi 18 8 6 4 24 15 +9 30
4 Teuta 18 7 9 2 17 8 +9 30
5 Tirana 18 6 8 4 17 11 +6 26
6 Kukësi 18 8 2 8 24 22 +2 26
7 Kastrioti 18 6 6 6 17 20 −3 24
8 Apolonia 18 3 4 11 12 31 −19 13 Qualification for the relegation play-off
9 Skënderbeu 18 2 6 10 18 38 −20 12 Relegation to the 2021–22 Kategoria e Parë
10 Bylis 18 2 6 10 13 25 −12 12
Updated to match(es) played on 7 February 2021. Source: Albanian Football Association
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.

Results

Clubs will play each other four times for a total of 36 matches each.

Season statistics

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals[4]
1 Agim Ibraimi Kukësi 9
2 Ardit Hoxhaj Vllaznia 8
Patrick Friday Eze Kukësi
4 Devid Kastrioti 7
Kyrian Nwabueze Laçi
6 Alfred Mensah Skënderbeu 5
Ernest Muçi Tirana
Lorenco Vila Teuta
Mario Gjata Apolonia
Redon Xhixha Laçi

See also

Notes and references

Notes
  1. ^
    Kastrioti will play their 2020–21 home games at the Kamëz Stadium in Kamëz, since their venue, Kastrioti Stadium, is not suitable for Kategoria Superiore matches.
  2. ^
    Kukësi will temporarily play their 2020–21 home games at the Elbasan Arena in Elbasan, due to the reconstruction of the Zeqir Ymeri Stadium in Kukës.
  3. ^
    Partizani will play their 2020–21 home games at the Elbasan Arena in Elbasan. Their new home ground, Partizani Complex, is currently under construction.

References
  1. https://fshf.org/sq/komiteti-ekzekutiv-percakton-datat-e-sezonit-2020-2021/
  2. "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.
  3. "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.
  4. "2020-21 top scorers". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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