2018–19 Kategoria Superiore

The 2018–19 Kategoria Superiore was the 80th official season, or 83rd season of top-tier football in Albania (including three unofficial championships during World War II) and the 19th season under the name Kategoria Superiore. The season began on 17 August 2018 and ended on 30 May 2019. Partizani, won the league title on 12 May 2019 with 3 matches to spare.

Kategoria Superiore
Season2018–19
Dates17 August 2018 –
30 May 2019
ChampionsPartizani
16th title
RelegatedKastrioti
Champions LeaguePartizani
Europa LeagueKukësi
Laçi
Teuta
Matches played180
Goals scored375 (2.08 per match)
Top goalscorerReginaldo
(13 goals)
Biggest home winLaçi 5–0 Teuta
(6 April 2019)
Biggest away winKastrioti 0–4 Teuta
(16 December 2018)
Luftëtari 1–5 Kastrioti
(27 January 2019)
Highest scoringLuftëtari 1–5 Kastrioti
(27 January 2019)
Longest winning run5 matches
Partizani
Skënderbeu
Longest unbeaten run15 matches
Teuta
Longest winless run11 matches
Kastrioti
Longest losing run7 matches
Kastrioti
All statistics correct as of 30 May 2019.

The winners of this season's Superiore earned a place in the first qualifying round of the 2019−20 Champions League, with the second and third placed clubs earning a place in the first qualifying round of the 2019−20 Europa League.

Teams

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Two clubs earned promotion from the Kategoria e Parë, Kastrioti and Tirana, joined the Superiore this season. Lushnja and Vllaznia were relegated at the conclusion of last season, the latter for the second time in their history.

Locations

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Locations of the 2018–19 Kategoria Superiore teams
Team Home city Stadium Capacity 2017–18 season
Flamurtari Vlorë Flamurtari Stadium 8,200 6th
Kamza Kamëz Kamëz Stadium 5,200 7th
Kastrioti Krujë Redi Maloku Stadium 3,000 Runner-up (Kategoria e Parë)
Kukësi Kukës Kamëz Stadium 5,500 Runner-up
Laçi Laç Laçi Stadium 2,300 4th
Luftëtari Gjirokastër Gjirokastra Stadium 8,400 3rd
Partizani Tirana Selman Stërmasi Stadium 9,600 5th
Skënderbeu Korçë Skënderbeu Stadium 8,724 Champion
Teuta Durrës Niko Dovana Stadium 12,400 8th
Tirana Tirana Selman Stërmasi Stadium 9,600 Champion (Kategoria e Parë)

Stadiums

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Flamurtari Kamza Kastrioti Kukësi Laçi
Flamurtari Stadium Kamëz Stadium Redi Maloku Stadium Kamëz Stadium Laçi Stadium
Capacity: 8,200 Capacity: 5,500 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 5,500 Capacity: 2,300
       
Luftëtari Partizani Skënderbeu Teuta Tirana
Gjirokastra Stadium Selman Stërmasi Stadium Skënderbeu Stadium Niko Dovana Stadium Selman Stërmasi Stadium
Capacity: 8,400 Capacity: 9,600 Capacity: 12,343 Capacity: 12,040 Capacity: 9,600
         

Personnel and kits

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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
Flamurtari   Sinan Idrizi   Ilir Daja   Artim Pollozhani Kappa
Kamza   Naim Qarri   Gentian Stojku   Sebino Plaku Uhlsport Spital Continental
Kastrioti   Petro Kumi   Bledar Devolli   Emiliano Çela Uhlsport Universal
Kukësi   Safet Gjici   Ernest Gjoka   Ylli Shameti Macron Kevin Construction
Laçi   Pashk Lasa   Sulejman Starova   Gentian Selmani Uhlsport Pavin Caffe
Luftëtari   Grigor Tavo   Julian Ahmataj   Behar Ramadani Legea Replay
Partizani   Gazmend Demi   Skënder Gega   Alban Hoxha Joma MCN
Skënderbeu   Ardian Takaj   Orges Shehi   Marko Radaš Puma Ama Cafè
Teuta   Edmond Hasanbelliu   Bledi Shkëmbi   Tefik Osmani Kappa Caffè Pascucci
Tirana   Refik Halili   Ardian Mema   Erando Karabeci Macron

Managerial changes

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Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure
Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Kamza   Julian Ahmataj Mutual consent 25 May 2018 Pre-season   Bledar Devolli 9 July 2018
Kastrioti   Samuel Nikaj Mutual consent 28 May 2018   Elvis Plori 28 May 2018
Laçi   Gentian Mezani Resigned 1 June 2018   Artan Mërgjyshi 7 August 2018
Luftëtari   Hasan Lika Resigned 1 June 2018   Miloš Kostić 5 June 2018
Teuta   Gentian Begeja Mutual consent 4 June 2018   Bledi Shkëmbi 4 June 2018
Partizani   Klevis Dalipi Mutual consent 16 June 2018   Skënder Gega 18 June 2018
Skënderbeu   Ilir Daja Resigned 19 June 2018   Orges Shehi 5 July 2018
Flamurtari   Ardian Behari End of caretaker spell 13 July 2018   Ilir Daja 13 July 2018
Kamza   Bledar Devolli Sacked 2 September 2018 7th   Klodian Duro 4 September 2018
Luftëtari   Miloš Kostić Mutual consent 20 September 2018 10th   Gentian Mezani 20 September 2018
Tirana   Zé Maria Mutual consent 11 October 2018 7th   Ardian Mema 12 October 2018
Kastrioti   Elvis Plori Resigned 21 October 2018 10th   Stavri Nica 22 October 2018
Laçi   Artan Mërgjyshi Resigned 30 October 2018 4th   Migen Memelli 31 October 2018
Kamza   Klodian Duro Mutual decision 8 November 2018 9th   Ernest Gjoka 15 November 2018
Laçi   Migen Memelli End of caretaker spell 14 December 2018 5th   Besnik Prenga 14 December 2018
Kastrioti   Stavri Nica Resigned 23 December 2018 10th   Bledar Devolli 7 January 2019
Luftëtari   Gentian Mezani Sacked 28 January 2019 8th   Julian Ahmataj 29 January 2019
Kamza   Ernest Gjoka Resigned 17 February 2019 10th   Gentian Stojku 19 February 2019
Laçi   Besnik Prenga Resigned 15 March 2019 4th   Sulejman Starova 15 March 2019
Kukësi   Armando Cungu Mutual consent 19 March 2019 2nd   Ramadan Ndreu 19 March 2019
Kukësi   Ramadan Ndreu End of caretaker spell 6 April 2019 2nd   Ernest Gjoka 6 April 2019

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Partizani (C) 36 20 10 6 45 22 23 70 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Kukësi 36 17 8 11 42 29 13 59 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[a]
3 Teuta 36 15 12 9 43 36 7 57
4 Skënderbeu[b] 36 17 4 15 45 30 15 55
5 Flamurtari[c] 36 15 9 12 35 32 3 54
6 Laçi 36 12 13 11 33 30 3 49 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[a]
7 Tirana 36 12 11 13 44 35 9 47
8 Luftëtari 36 13 8 15 37 39 −2 47
9 Kastrioti (R) 36 12 6 18 35 53 −18 42 Relegation to the 2019–20 Kategoria e Parë
10 Kamza[d] (R, D) 36 4 5 27 13 66 −53 17 Excluded from the league
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.[3]
(C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Since the winners of the 2018–19 Albanian Cup, Kukësi, qualified for European competition based on league position, the spot awarded to the cup winners was passed down to the sixth-placed team, Laçi, since the fourth-placed team and the fifth-placed team failed to obtain a UEFA license.
  2. ^ In March 2018, Skënderbeu was handed a 10-year ban from UEFA club competitions over match fixing.[1]
  3. ^ Flamurtari failed to obtain a UEFA license.
  4. ^ Kamza was excluded from the league and relegated to the Kategoria e Dytë for the next season, after a violent incident during a match against Laçi in the 24th round.[2]

Positions by round

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Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
Partizani953232111221111111111111111111111111
Kukësi586421444335554332222322222222222222
Teuta675786766554333423333233333444443343
Skënderbeu[a]111113222112222245554555566656566654
Flamurtari[b]732355555666666666666666645333335435
Laçi[c]424544333443445554445444454565654566
Tirana1099878677777888787777777788888878887
Luftëtari81010101010899888777878888888877777787778
Kastrioti348999101010101010101091010101099999999999999999
Kamza[d]267667988999991099991010101010101010101010101010101010
Leader and UEFA Champions League first qualifying round
UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
2019–20 Kategoria e Parë
  1. ^ In March 2018, Skënderbeu was handed a 10-year ban from UEFA club competitions over match fixing.[4]
  2. ^ Flamurtari failed to obtain a UEFA license.
  3. ^ Since the winners of the 2018–19 Albanian Cup, Kukësi, qualified for European competition based on league position, the spot awarded to the cup winners was passed down to the sixth-placed team, Laçi, since the fourth-placed team and the fifth-placed team failed to obtain a UEFA license.
  4. ^ Kamza was excluded from the league and relegated to the Kategoria e Dytë for the next season, after a violent incident during a match against Laçi in the 24th round.[5]
Source: [citation needed]

Results

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Clubs will play each other four times for a total of 36 matches each.[3]

Season statistics

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Scoring

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals[6]
1   Reginaldo Kukësi 13
2   Edon Hasani Tirana 12
  Vasil Shkurtaj Luftëtari/Kukësi
4   Ndriçim Shtubina Laçi 10
  Roger Kastrioti
6   Latif Amadu Teuta 9
7   Dejvi Bregu Skënderbeu 8
  Gjergji Muzaka Skënderbeu
  Jasir Asani Partizani

Hat-tricks

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Player For Against Result Date Ref
  Reginaldo Kukësi Tirana 3–1 (H) 2 September 2018 [7]

Discipline

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Albania's Skenderbeu handed 10-year ban over match-fixing in worst ever UEFA punishment". Tirana Times. 29 March 2018.
  2. ^ AP (6 March 2019). "Albanian soccer club expelled after referee attack". USA Today. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Superliga: Season rules". Scoresway. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Albania's Skenderbeu handed 10-year ban over match-fixing in worst ever UEFA punishment". Tirana Times. 29 March 2018.
  5. ^ AP (6 March 2019). "Albanian soccer club expelled after referee attack". USA Today. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  6. ^ "topscorers". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Rexhinaldo i pamëshirshëm, zhyt Tiranën në krizë".
  8. ^ a b "disciplinary record". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
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