KF Skënderbeu Korçë

For other uses, see Skanderbeg (disambiguation).

K.F. Skënderbeu Korçë

Full name	Klubi Futbollistik Skënderbeu Korçë
Nickname(s)	Ujqërit e Dëborës (The snow wolves) Bardhekuqtë (The White and Reds) Juglindorët (The Southeasterners)
Founded	15 April 1909
Ground	Stadiumi Skënderbeu, Korçë, Albania (capacity: 12,000)
Owner	Municipality of Korça
President	Ardian Takaj
Head Coach	Mirel Josa
League	Albanian Superliga (level 1)
2012–13	Albanian Superliga, 1st
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

K.F. Skënderbeu Korçë (Albanian: Klubi futbollistik Skënderbeu Korçë, in English: Football Club Skenderbeu Korce) is a football club based in Korçë, a city in southeastern Albania . They play in the Albanian Superliga, which is the top tier in the country and are currently reigning champions. The club is named after Albania's greatest hero of all time, Skanderbeg (Skënderbeu). The club plays its home games at Stadiumi Skënderbeu which is one of the largest stadiums in the country, with a seating capacity of over 12,000.

History

The first years

The first team in the city of Korçë was created on 15 April 1909 under the name "Vllazëria" by politician and poet Hilë Mosi. During the years 1920 and 1922 there were football associations made in Korçë for the first time, such as Përparimi and Sport Klub Korça, in 1923 the Shpresa society was founded under the Albanian National Lyceum. But it was not until 1925 that Skënderbeu would be born, as football began to become more popular in this city of Albania, almost every field would be used as a football ground for locals to play and enjoy the sport. This led to many neighbourhoods in Korçës trying to form their own small football teams. In 1926 the Zhgaba society was created, and in 1927 many neighbourhood teams were finally set up, such as Leka i Madh, Pirro, Brekverdhit, Zjarri, Tigri and Diamanti. However there was still a main squad representing the city, which was Skënderbeu who managed to overcome problems in the start, some even political.

1930s Championships

The club participated for the first time in the Albanian Superliga in 1930, which was the first Albanian tournament. At this time the entire city was behind the club, which helped Skënderbeu, along with the likes of KF Tirana and Vllaznia Shkodër earn a big name for themselves in this early chapter of Albanian football. During the 1930 championship, Skënderbeu finished runners up to KF Tirana, after forfeiting both championship playoff matches. The club managed to win its first ever Albanian Championship just 3 years later in 1933, finishing 2 points ahead of Vllaznia. The championship winning side was: Klani Marjani, Kristaq Bimbli, Andrea Çani, Andon Miti, Lefter Petra, Flori Stasa, Nexhat Dishnica, Tomor Ypi, Thoma Vangjeli, Servet Teufik Agaj, Enver Kulla, Vasil Trebicka, Stavri Kondili, Aristotel Samsuri, with Qemal Omari as their manager.

Skënderbeu is also a three time finalist in the Albanian Cup in 1958, 1965 and 1976, in which they lost all three finals. They did however win the Albanian First Division in 1976/77 as well as three other times with the last win in 2008–2009 season where Skënderbeu won the rights to move into the Albanian Superliga where they have never looked back. As of 8 May 2011 they are the current champions in Albanian Superliga, thanks to their devoted manager of Czech Nationality Stanislav Levý their generous and son of this city, president Agim Zeqo, and of course a very supportive fan base. The greatest managers in the club's history are Kosta Koça and Aleko Pilika who were also their most successful manager ever, with the first team and youth teams.

File:JPEG image (.jpg)

G Lici at Skenderbeu

Players over the ages

Some players over the ages include: Kleo Marjani, Servet Gora, Aristotel Samsuri, Teodor Vaso, Koço Dinella, Jani Kaçi, Dhimitër Dëmbo, Aleko Toshi, Gaqo Lara, Tefik Osmani, Stavrion Lako, Bledi Shkëmbi, Paulin Dhëmbi, Dhimitraq Xhambazi, Gjergji Ballço, Aleko Pilika, Zhani Pilika, Maksim Tuxhari, Petro Mile, Hektor Shkurti, Gjergo Shule, Ridvan Shëllira, Ëngjëll Dvorani, Servet Teufik Agaj, Gentian Liçi, Gëzim Muhaxhiri,Kristi Vangjeli and Petrika Tole.

Stadium

K.F. Skënderbeu Korçë play their home games at Stadiumi Skënderbeu, a multi-purpose stadium in Korçë. It has a seating capacity of 12,000 people all seater with HD night lighting.

Supporters

KF Skenderbeu is one of the teams with the greatest number of supporters in Albania. The Ultras group was formed in 2005 under the name "Ujqërit e Deborës" (Snow wolves). "Snow wolf" is a nick name Skenderbeu's fans used for one of the most famous football players and captains of this team Mr. Gentian Lici. The Skenderbeu's fans are well known for their special choreographies and for their enthusiasm even outside the city.

Honours and achievements

Domestic

League

• Albanian Superliga (level 1)
  • Winners (4): 1933, 2010–11, 2011–12, & 2012–13
  • Runners-up (3): 1930, 1934 & 1976–77
• Albanian First Division (level 2)
  • Winners (3): 1975–76, 2004–05 & 2006–07
  • Runners-up (3): 1989–90, 1994–95 & 2004–05

Cups

• Albanian Cup
  • Runners-up (4): 1958, 1964–65, 1975–76 & 2011–12
• Albanian Supercup
  • Runners-up (2): 2011, 2012

Tournaments

• SuperSport Trophy
  • Winners (1): 2011

Seasons top scorers

Season	Player	Club	Goals
1931	Aristotel Samsuri	Skënderbeu	7
1933	Servet Teufik Agaj	Skënderbeu	7
2010–11	Alfredo Rafael Sosa	Skënderbeu	13
2011–12	Daniel Xhafaj	Skënderbeu	11
2012–13	Pero Pejić	Skënderbeu	12

Records

• Biggest ever European home defeat: Skënderbeu Korçë 0:2 APOEL - 13 July 2011
• Biggest ever European away defeat: APOEL 4:0 Skënderbeu Korçë - 20 July 2011

European competitions record

By competition

(As of 1 September 2012)

Competition	Total
	App	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
UEFA Champions League	2	4	1	0	3	1	9
UEFA Cup/Europa League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Intertoto Cup	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
UEFA Super Cup	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Intercontinental Cup	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	2	4	1	0	3	1	9

#Q = #preliminary, #PO = #play-offs, #G = #Group stage, #R = #round, 1/8 = quarter finals

Season	Competition	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate	Qual/Elim
2011–12	UEFA Champions League	2QR		APOEL	0–2	0–4	0–6
2012–13	UEFA Champions League	2QR		Debrecen	1–0	0–3	1–3
2013–14	UEFA Champions League	2QR

• 1QR = 1st Qualifying Round
• 2QR = 2nd Qualifying Round
• 3QR = 3rd Qualifying Round
• PO = Play-off Round

Balkans Cup

Competition	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GF	GA	GD
Balkans Cup	4	2	0	2	3	8	-5

Season	Competition	Group	Country	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1978	Balkans Cup	B		Aris Thessaloniki	2–0	0–2	2–2
				HNK Rijeka	1–0	0–6	1–6

Ranking

UEFA club coefficient ranking

(As of 5 June 2013)

Rank	Team	Points
331	Újpest FC	2.850
331	Szombathelyi Haladás	2.850
333	MFK Petržalka	2.841
334	Lillestrøm SK	2.835
334	Viking FK	2.835
336	KF Skënderbeu Korçë	2.833
337	HB Tórshavn	2.816
338	FK Rudar Pljevlja	2.800
339	TPS Turku	2.701
340	FC Lahti	2.701

Players

Current squad

(As of 1 September 2012)

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Orges Shehi (vice-captain) 12 GK Erjon Llapanji 20 DF Ademir 15 DF Ditmar Bicaj 78 DF Ivan Gvozdenović 3 DF Renato Arapi 7 DF Erbim Fagu 33 DF Marko Radas 4 DF Endrit Vrapi 23 MF Željko Tomić 88 MF Sabien Lilaj 8 MF Nurudeen Orelesi TBD MF Gilman Lika

No. Position Player 10 MF Bledi Shkëmbi (captain) 31 MF Jetmir Sefa 18 MF Dorian Kërçiku 2 MF Amarildo Dimo TBD MF Leonit Abazi TBD MF Klajdi Hyseni 22 FW Pero Pejić 19 FW Nimaga Bakary 24 FW Artnant Tahirllari TBD FW Mario Kame

Current staff

Headship

Position	Name
President	Ardian Takaj
Co President	Agim Zeqo

Current coaching staff

Position	Name
Head Coach	Mirel Josa
Assistant Coach	Milutin Kërçiç
Goalkeeping Coach	Ilir Bozhiqi
Athletic Coach	Ilir Selimi

Medical staff

Position	Name
Club Doctor
Physiotherapist	Jorgo Pantazi
Masseur	Denis Rrushi

Managers

• Gerd Haxhiu (July 2009–Jan 2010)
• Andrea Marko (Jan 2010–Feb 2010)
• Mirel Josa (Feb 2010–June 2010)
• Shkëlqim Muça (June 2010–Feb 2011)
• Shpëtim Duro (Feb 2011–Oct 2011)
• Stanislav Levy (Oct 2011–July 2012)
• Mirel Josa (July 2012–)

Sponsorship

Main Sponsors

• Official shirt sponsor – Ama Coffee
• Official host broadcaster – SuperSport Albania
• Official sport clothing provider – Legea

Other Sponsors

• Red Bull Albania
• Birra Korça
• Plus Communication
• Qëndra Tregtare Univers
• Ama Coffee
• Tropikal Resort Durres
• Birra Moretti
• Almeco

External links

• Official Website (Albanian)
• Faqja e Tifozave te Skenderbeut (Albanian)
• Albanian Football Association Official Website (Albanian) (English)
• KF Skënderbeu at UEFA.com (English)

Sponsor links

• Red Bull Albania (Albanian)
• Ama Coffee (English) (Spanish)
• Birra Korça (Albanian) (English)
• SuperSport Albania (Albanian)
• Plus Communication (Albanian) (English)
• Qëndra Tregtare Univers (QTU) (Albanian)