Football Superleague of Kosovo

Football Superleague of Kosovo
Organising bodyFFK Competitions Commission
Founded1945; 79 years ago (1945)
as Kosovo Province League
1991; 33 years ago (1991)
as Independent League of Kosovo
First season1945 as Kosovo Province League
1991–92 as Independent League of Kosovo
Country Kosovo
ConfederationUEFA
Number of clubs10
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toFirst Football League of Kosovo
Domestic cup(s)Kosovar Cup
Kosovar Supercup
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
UEFA Conference League
Current championsBallkani (3rd title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsPrishtina (11 titles)
Most appearancesArtan Latifi (493)
TV partnersArtMotion, Klan Kosova
WebsiteOfficial website
Current: 2024–25 Football Superleague of Kosovo

The Football Superleague of Kosovo (Albanian: Superliga e Futbollit të Kosovës), also known as the ALBI MALL Superleague of Kosovo (Albanian: ALBI MALL Superliga e Kosovës) for sponsorship reasons with Albi Mall, is the top level of the Kosovar football league system. The Superleague is organized by the Football Federation of Kosovo and the division currently has a 10-team format. The clubs play each other four times during the season for a 36-match schedule. At the end of the season, the bottom two teams in the division are relegated to the second tier, First Football League of Kosovo.

The Superleague ran outside FIFA and UEFA until Kosovo was admitted to both organizations, on 3 May 2016.[1]

History

Prior to World War II, within Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Kosovan clubs competed in the provincial leagues of the Belgrade Football Subassociation. During World War II, between 1941 and 1944, when most of the region became part of the Albanian Kingdom, numerous Kosovan clubs played in the Albanian league system. In 1945, Kosovo was reincorporated to Serbia, and subsequently, into the SFR Yugoslavia. The league has its origins in 1945 when it became one of the subdivisions of the 5th level in the Yugoslav football league system. It gathered the best clubs from the SAP Kosovo except for those clubs competing in higher levels. In 1991, an unrecognised parallel league gathering ethnic Albanian pro-independence clubs was set, and was run till 1999. In the meantime, the best clubs competed in the leagues of FR Yugoslavia. In 1999, after the Kosovo War, a separate Kosovar league system was formed. It included most clubs from Kosovo except those from Serbian-dominated North Kosovo which remained in the Serbian football league system. Since 2000, the competition has been running continuously, and by 2017, after Kosovo gained membership in FIFA and UEFA, began acting as the national league of Kosovo, providing clubs for international tournaments.

Names

Name Period Notes
Albanian English
Liga e Provincës së Kosovës Kosovo Province League 1945–1991 Part of the Yugoslav football league system.[A]
Liga e Pavarur e Kosovës Independent League of Kosovo 1991–1999 Unrecognised competition parallel to Serbian league system.
Superliga e Futbollit të Kosovës Football Superleague of Kosovo 1999–present The official name, even though from 2008 for
sponsorship reasons the name changes.
Raiffeisen Superliga e Kosovës Raiffeisen Superleague of Kosovo 2008–2016 Sponsored by Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo, a subsidiary
of the Raiffeisen Bank International.
Vala Superliga e Kosovës Vala Superleague of Kosovo 2016–2018 Sponsored by Kosovo Telecom.[2]
IPKO Superliga e Kosovës IPKO Superleague of Kosovo 2018–2020 Sponsored by IPKO.[3]
BKT Superliga e Kosovës BKT Superleague of Kosovo 2021–2022 Sponsored by Banka Kombëtare Tregtare.[4]
ALBI MALL Superliga e Kosovës ALBI MALL Superleague of Kosovo 2022–present Sponsored by Albi Mall, a subsidiary of the Albi Commerce.[5]

Previous winners

This is a list of winners of Football Superleague of Kosovo since 1945.[6]

Clubs (2024–25)

The leаgue consisted of ten teams – the top eight teаms from the previous season and two teams promoted from the 2023–24 Kosovo First League.

The two directly promoted teаms were Suhareka and Ferizaj, winners of the 2023–24 Kosovo First League groups A and B, respectively.[7] They replaced the 2023–24 Kosovo Superleague bottom two teams, Liria Prizren and Fushë Kosova.

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2024–25 Football Superleague of Kosovo teams
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Club Town Stadium and capacity UEFA
license[8]
Ballkani Suharekë Suhareka City Stadium 1,500 Yes
Drita Gjilan Gjilan Synthetic Grass Stadium[D] 1,500 Yes
Dukagjini Klinë 18 June Stadium 3,000 No
Ferizaj Ferizaj Ferizaj Synthetic Grass Stadium 1,500 No
Feronikeli Drenas Rexhep Rexhepi Stadium 2,000 No
Gjilani Gjilan Gjilan Synthetic Grass Stadium[D] 1,500 Yes
Llapi Podujevë Zahir Pajaziti Stadium 8,000 Yes
Malisheva Malishevë Liman Gegaj Stadium 2,000 Yes
Prishtina Prishtinë Fadil Vokrri Stadium 13,000 Yes
Suhareka Suharekë Suhareka City Stadium 1,500 No

Seasons in Football Superleague of Kosovo

There are 36 teams that have taken part in the Football Superleague of Kosovo since 1999. Prishtina is the only team that has played in every season since 1999. As of 2024/25 season; teams in bold are part of current season.

Titles by club

Number of titles since Independent League of Kosovo became the first tier of Kosovar league system.

Club Wins Winning Years
Prishtina 11 1991–92, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2020–21
Ballkani 3 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
Drita 2002–03, 2017–18, 2019–20
Feronikeli 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19
Besa Pejë 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07
Trepça 2 1992–93, 2009–10
Trepça '89 1 2016–17
Vushtrria 2013–14
Hysi 2010–11
Besiana 2001–02
Liria Prizren 1994–95
Dukagjini 1993–94

Kosovo football clubs in European competitions

Main article: Kosovo football clubs in European competitions

Active

UEFA Champions League

Performances by clubs
Club Pld W D L Win %
Drita 6 3 0 3 050.00
Ballkani 6 2 1 3 033.33
Prishtina 4 2 0 2 050.00
Feronikeli 4 2 1 1 050.00
Trepça '89 2 0 0 2 000.00
Total 22 9 2 11 040.91
Season Team Round Opponent Home Away Agg.
2017–18 Trepça '89 1Q Faroe Islands Víkingur Gøta 1–4 1–2 2–6
2018–19 Drita PR Andorra FC Santa Coloma 2–0 (a.e.t.)
Gibraltar Lincoln Red Imps 4–1 (a.e.t.)
1Q Sweden Malmö 0–3 0–2 0–5
2019–20 Feronikeli PR Gibraltar Lincoln Red Imps 1–0
Andorra FC Santa Coloma 2–1
1Q Wales The New Saints 0–1 2–2 2–3
2020–21 Drita PR Andorra Inter d'Escaldes 2–1
Northern Ireland Linfield 0–3 (awarded)
2021–22 Prishtina PR San Marino Folgore 2–0
Andorra Inter d'Escaldes 2–0
1Q Hungary Ferencváros 1–3 0–3 1–6
2022–23 Ballkani 1Q Lithuania Žalgiris 1–1 0–1 (a.e.t.) 1–2
2023–24 1Q Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad 2–0 0–4 2–4
2024–25 1Q Andorra UE Santa Coloma 1–2 (a.e.t.) 2–1 3–3 (5–6 p)

UEFA Europa League

Performances by clubs
Club Pld W D L Win %
Prishtina 9 1 3 5 011.11
Drita 4 1 1 2 025.00
Gjilani 2 1 0 1 050.00
Feronikeli 2 0 0 2 000.00
Llapi 2 0 0 2 000.00
Total 19 3 4 12 015.79
Season Team Round Opponent Home Away Agg.
2017–18 Prishtina 1Q Sweden Norrköping 0–1 0–5 0–6
2018–19 PR Gibraltar Europa 5–0 1–1 6–1
1Q Luxembourg Fola Esch 0–0 (4–5 p) 0–0 0–0 (4–5 p)
Drita 2Q Luxembourg F91 Dudelange 1–1 1–2 2–3
2019–20 Prishtina PR Gibraltar St Joseph's 1–1 0–2 1–3
Feronikeli 2Q Slovakia Slovan Bratislava 0−2 1−2 1−4
2020–21 Prishtina PR Gibraltar Lincoln Red Imps 0–3 (awarded)
Gjilani San Marino Tre Penne 3–1
1Q Cyprus APOEL 0–2 (a.e.t.)
Drita 2Q North Macedonia Sileks 2–0
3Q Poland Legia Warsaw 0–2
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24 		did not qualify
2024–25 Llapi 1Q Poland Wisła Kraków 1–2 0–2 1−4

UEFA Europa Conference League

Performances by clubs
Club Pld W D L Win %
Ballkani 28 14 4 10 050.00
Drita 16 6 3 7 037.50
Prishtina 4 2 0 2 050.00
Dukagjini 4 2 0 2 050.00
Gjilani 4 1 1 2 025.00
Llapi 6 0 3 3 000.00
Malisheva 2 1 0 1 050.00
Total 62 26 11 25 041.94
Season Team Round Opponent Home Away Agg.
2021–22 Llapi 1Q North Macedonia Shkupi 1–1 0–2 1–3
Drita Montenegro Dečić 2–1 1–0 3–1
2Q Netherlands Feyenoord 0–0 2–3 2–3
Prishtina Wales Connah's Quay Nomads 4–1 2–4 6–5
3Q Norway Bodø/Glimt 2–1 0–2 2–3
2022–23 Gjilani 1Q Latvia Liepāja 1–0 1–3 2–3
Llapi Montenegro Budućnost Podgorica 2–2 0–2 2–4
Drita Finland Inter Turku 3–0 0–1 3–1
2Q Belgium Antwerp 0–2 0–0 0–2
Ballkani San Marino La Fiorita 6–0 4–0 10–0
3Q Faroe Islands KÍ 3–2 1–2 (a.e.t.) 4–4 (4–3 p)
PO North Macedonia Shkupi 1–0 2–1 3–1
GS Czech Republic Slavia Prague 0–1 2–3 4th
Romania CFR Cluj 1–1 0–1
Turkey Sivasspor 1–2 4–3
2023–24 Gjilani 1Q Luxembourg Progrès Niederkorn 0–2 2–2 2-4
Dukagjini Gibraltar Europa 2–1 3–2 5–3
2Q Croatia Rijeka 0–1 1–6 1–7
Drita Czech Republic Viktoria Plzeň 1–2 0–0 1–2
Ballkani Northern Ireland Larne 3–0 4–1 7–1
3Q Gibraltar Lincoln Red Imps 2–0 3–1 5–1
PO Belarus BATE Borisov 4–1 0–1 4–2
GS Croatia Dinamo Zagreb 2–0 0–3 4th
Czech Republic Viktoria Plzeň 0–1 0–1
Kazakhstan Astana 1–2 0–0
2024–25 Malisheva 1Q Montenegro Budućnost Podgorica 1–0 0–3 1–3
Llapi 2Q Denmark Brøndby 2–2 0–6 2–8
Ballkani Malta Ħamrun Spartans 0–0 2–0 2–0
3Q Northern Ireland Larne 0–1 1–0 (a.e.t.) 1–1 (1–4 p)
Drita 2Q Iceland Breiðablik 1–0 2–1 3–1
3Q Latvia Auda 3–1 (a.e.t.) 0–1 3–2
PO Poland Legia Warsaw 0–2 0–1 0–3

Defunct

Mitropa Cup

Performances by clubs
Club Pld W D L Win %
Prishtina 6 2 1 3 033.33
Total 6 2 3 1 033.33
Season Team Round Opponent Home Away Agg.
1983–84 Prishtina RR Austria Eisenstadt 3–3 2–4 Runners-up[10]
Hungary Vasas 4–2 1–1
Czechoslovakia Teplice 2–0 1–1

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ a b It was one of the leagues forming the 4th level of the Yugoslav football league system. The champion would gain promotion to Yugoslav Inter-Republic League East, one of Yugoslav 3rd tiers.
  2. ^ Unrecognised competition parallel to Serbian league system.
  3. ^ Drita and Gjilani use this stadium together and have named the stadium with different names. Drita and their fans named the stadium as Selami Osmani-Bezi Stadium, while Gjilan and their fans named the stadium as Agim Ramadani Stadium, but officially the stadium is named Gjilan City Stadium.[9]
  4. ^ a b Drita and Gjilani will play their home matches at the Gjilan Synthetic Grass Stadium, instead of their regular stadium Gjilan City Stadium,[C] which was under reconstruction.

References

  1. ^ "Football Federation of Kosovo joins UEFA". UEFA. 3 May 2016. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Vala sponzoron Superligën e Kosovës" [Vala sponsors the Kosovo Super League] (in Albanian). Bota Sot. 18 August 2016. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  3. ^ "IPKO, sponsor gjeneral i Kombëtares së Kosovës në Futboll dhe i Super Ligës së Kosovës në Futboll" [IPKO, general sponsor of the Kosovo national football team and the Kosovo Superleague in football] (in Albanian). IPKO. 9 August 2018. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Banka Kombëtare Tregtare sponsor gjeneral i Superligës së Kosovës në futboll" [Banka Kombëtare Tregtare general sponsor of the Kosovo Superleague in football] (in Albanian). Football Superleague of Kosovo. 30 August 2021. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  5. ^ "ALBI MALL sponsor gjeneral i Superligës së Kosovës në futboll" [ALBI MALL general sponsor of the Kosovo Superleague in football] (in Albanian). Football Superleague of Kosovo. 18 August 2022. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Kosovo - List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  7. ^ "Ferizaj dhe Suhareka sigurojnë inkuadrimin në Superligën e Kosovës" [Ferizaj and Suhareka secure inclusion in the Kosovo Superleague] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 4 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Shtatë klube licencohen për garat evropiane" [Seven clubs are licensed for European competitions] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 2 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Çfarë emri duhet të ketë stadiumi i qytetit në Gjilan" [What should be the name of the city stadium in Gjilan]. RajoniPress (in Albanian). 31 January 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Mitropa Cup 1983/84". RSSSF. Retrieved 5 March 2015.