2017–18 Kategoria Superiore

The 2017–18 Albanian Superliga was the 79th official season, or 82nd season of top-tier football in Albania (including three unofficial championships during World War II) and the 18th season under the name Kategoria Superiore. The season began on 9 September 2017 and ended on 18 May 2018.[1] Title record-holders KF Tirana did not participate in the top flight for the first time since competition's foundation. Kukësi are the defending champions.[2] Skënderbeu, won the league title on 9 May 2018 with 3 matches to spare.

Kategoria Superiore
Season2017–18
Dates9 September 2017 –
23 May 2018
ChampionsSkënderbeu
8th title
RelegatedLushnja
Vllaznia
Champions LeagueKukësi
Europa LeagueLaçi
Luftëtari
Partizani
Matches played180
Goals scored458 (2.54 per match)
Top goalscorerAli Sowe
(21 goals)
Biggest home winPartizani 6–0 Lushnja
(28 February 2018)
Biggest away winSkënderbeu 1–5 Vllaznia
(23 May 2018)
Highest scoringTeuta 6–2 Lushnja
(19 May 2018)
Longest winning run7 matches
Skënderbeu
Longest unbeaten run13 matches
Skënderbeu
Longest winless run22 matches
Lushnja
Longest losing run12 matches
Lushnja
All statistics correct as of 23 May 2018.

Since Skënderbeu is banned from UEFA competitions, the runners-up of this season's Superliga earned a place in the first qualifying round of the 2018−19 Champions League, with the third and fourth placed clubs earning a place in the first qualifying round of the 2018−19 Europa League.[3]

Teams

Two clubs earned promotion from the Kategoria e Parë, Kamza and Lushnja, and joined the Superliga this season.[1] Korabi Peshkopi and Tirana were relegated at the conclusion of last season.

Locations
Locations of the 2017–18 Kategoria Superiore teams
Team Home city Stadium Capacity 2016–17 season
Flamurtari Vlorë Flamurtari Stadium 8,200 8th
Kamza Kamëz Kamëz Stadium 5,500 Kategoria e Parë
Kukësi Kukës Zeqir Ymeri Stadium 10,000 Champions
Laçi Laç Laçi Stadium 4,300 6th
Luftëtari Gjirokastër Gjirokastra Stadium 8,400 4th
Lushnja Lushnjë Abdurrahman Roza Haxhiu Stadium 8,000 Kategoria e Parë
Skënderbeu Korçë Skënderbeu Stadium 8,724 3rd
Partizani Tirana Selman Stërmasi Stadium(1) 9,600 2nd
Teuta Durrës Niko Dovana Stadium 12,400 5th
Vllaznia Shkodër Loro Boriçi Stadium 18,022 7th

Stadiums
Flamurtari Kamza Kukësi Laçi Luftëtari
Flamurtari Stadium Kamëz Stadium Zeqir Ymeri Stadium Laçi Stadium Gjirokastra Stadium
Capacity: 8,200 Capacity: 5,200 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 2,300 Capacity: 8,400
Lushnja Partizani Skënderbeu Teuta Vllaznia
Abdurrahman Roza Haxhiu Stadium Selman Stërmasi Stadium Skënderbeu Stadium Niko Dovana Stadium Loro Boriçi Stadium
Capacity: 8,500 Capacity: 9,600 Capacity: 12,343 Capacity: 12,040 Capacity: 16,022

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
Flamurtari Sinan Idrizi Ardian Behari Franc Veliu Kappa —
Kamza Naim Qarri Julian Ahmataj Argjend Halili Uhlsport Mokador
Kukësi Safet Gjici Peter Pacult Ylli Shameti Macron Kevin Construction
Laçi Pashk Laska Gentian Mezani Taulant Sefgjinaj Uhlsport Baste Live
Luftëtari Grigor Tavo Hasan Lika Orjand Beqiri Legea −
Lushnja Fatos Tushe Ilir Gjyla Fatjon Sefa Legea −
Partizani Gazment Demi Klevis Dalipi Idriz Batha Joma —
Skënderbeu Ardian Takaj Ilir Daja Orges Shehi Puma Ama Cafè
Teuta Edmond Hasanbelliu Gentian Begeja Rustem Hoxha Kappa Caffè Pascucci
Vllaznia Municipality of Shkodër Ervis Kraja Ndriçim Shtubina Legea –

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure		 Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Luftëtari Mladen Milinković End of contract 30 June 2017 Pre-season Daniel Fernández 10 August 2017
Partizani Sulejman Starova Mutual consent 6 July 2017 Mark Iuliano 22 July 2017
Kukësi Ernest Gjoka Sacked 23 July 2017 Mladen Milinković 29 July 2017
Laçi Stavri Nica Resigned 26 September 2017 7th Gentian Mezani 26 September 2017
Luftëtari Daniel Fernández Sacked 15 October 2017 7th Hasan Lika 18 October 2017
Vllaznia Armando Cungu Mutual consent 19 October 2017 8th Ernest Gjoka 19 October 2017
Lushnja Artan Bano Resigned 23 October 2017 10th Hysen Dedja 31 October 2017
Partizani Mark Iuliano Mutual consent 5 November 2017 Sulejman Starova 7 November 2017
Kukësi Mladen Milinković Resigned 23 December 2017 4th Peter Pacult 3 January 2018
Teuta Gugash Magani Resigned 26 December 2017 Stavri Nica 4 January 2018
Teuta Stavri Nica Resigned 12 February 2018 9th Gentian Begeja 12 February 2018
Lushnja Hysen Dedja Resigned 14 February 2018 10th Dritan Çuko 20 February 2018
Partizani Sulejman Starova Mutual consent 5 March 2018 5th Klevis Dalipi 5 March 2018
Lushnja Dritan Çuko End of caretaker spell 21 March 2018 10th Ilir Gjyla 21 March 2018
Kamza Ramadan Ndreu Sacked 10 April 2018 7th Julian Ahmataj 11 April 2018
Flamurtari Shpëtim Duro Resigned 18 April 2018 6th Ardian Behari 18 April 2018
Vllaznia Ernest Gjoka Resigned 14 May 2018 9th Ervis Kraja 14 May 2018

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Skënderbeu[lower-alpha 1] (C) 36 22 6 8 68 41 +27 72
2 Kukësi 36 18 9 9 61 41 +20 63 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
3 Luftëtari 36 16 11 9 47 37 +10 59 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 2]
4 Laçi 36 16 8 12 45 39 +6 56
5 Partizani 36 15 8 13 41 36 +5 53
6 Flamurtari 36 11 13 12 37 37 0 46
7 Kamza 36 12 10 14 37 41 −4 46
8 Teuta 36 12 10 14 55 58 −3 46
9 Vllaznia (R) 36 12 8 16 38 42 −4 44 Relegation to the Kategoria e Parë
10 Lushnja (R) 36 2 5 29 29 86 −57 11
Source: Albanian Football Association (in Albanian), 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.[5]
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. In March 2018, Skënderbeu was handed a 10-year ban from UEFA club competitions over match fixing.[4]
  2. Skënderbeu qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2017–18 Albanian Cup. However, since they were banned from entering UEFA competitions, the spot awarded to the cup winners was passed down the league.

Results

Clubs will play each other four times for a total of 36 matches each.[6]

Season statistics

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals[7]
1 Ali Sowe Skënderbeu 21
2 Sindrit Guri Kukësi 20
3 Reginaldo Laçi 18
4 Kristal Abazaj Luftëtari 13
Sebino Plaku Kamza
6 Elis Bakaj Kukësi 12
7 Fatjon Sefa Lushnja 10
James Adeniyi Skënderbeu
Myrto Uzuni Laçi
Xhevahir Sukaj Vllaznia

Hat-tricks
Main article: List of Albanian Superliga hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef
ReginaldoLaçiFlamurtari4–2 (H)10 March 2018[8]
Sindrit GuriKukësiPartizani4–0 (H)14 April 2018[9]
Ali SoweSkënderbeuLushnja4–2 (A)9 May 2018[10]
Note

4 Player scored 4 goals; (H) – Home ; (A) – Away

Clean sheets
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 Alban Hoxha Partizani 14
2 Gentian Selmani Laçi 13
3 Adis Nurković Flamurtari 12
4 Shkëlzen Ruçi Luftëtari 9
5 Orges Shehi Skënderbeu 8
6 Enea Koliçi Kukësi 7

Discipline

See also

References
  1. "Superliga". soccerway.com. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  2. "Superliga". soccerway.com. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  3. "Preliminary Access List 2018/19". Bert Kassies. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. 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. "Superliga: Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  6. "Superliga: Season Rules". scoresway.com. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  7. "topscorers". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  8. "VIDEO/ Tripleta e Rexhinaldos, Laçi shkërmoq Flamurtarin" [VIDEO/ Reginaldo's hat-trick, Laçi crumble Flamurtari] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  9. "Kukësi shpartallon Partizanin dhe arratiset i dyti, Guri superstar" [Kukësi winnows Partizani and escapes second, Guri superstar] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  10. "Ndeshje e hapur dhe gola në Lushnjë, Soue heroi i Skënderbeut" [Open game and goals at Lushnje, Sowe hero of Skënderbeu] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  11. "disciplinary record". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
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