2020–21 Kategoria Superiore

The 2020–21 Kategoria Superiore was 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 ended on 26 May 2021.[1] It was initially planned to begin on 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 on 4 November 2020. Teuta won the league title on 26 May 2021, on the final matchday.

Kategoria Superiore
Season2020–21
Dates4 November 2020 –
26 May 2021
ChampionsTeuta
2nd title
RelegatedBylis
Apolonia
Champions LeagueTeuta
Europa Conference LeagueVllaznia
Partizani
Laçi
Matches played180
Goals scored378 (2.1 per match)
Top goalscorerDejvi Bregu
(16 goals)
Biggest home winLaçi 6–1 Apolonia
(29 November 2020)
Teuta 6–1 Apolonia
(26 May 2021)
Biggest away winApolonia 0–6 Vllaznia
(18 April 2021)
Highest scoringLaçi 6–1 Apolonia
(29 November 2020)
Skënderbeu 4–3 Bylis
(30 December 2020)
Teuta 6–1 Apolonia
(26 May 2021)
Tirana 5–2 Apolonia
(4 April 2021)
Longest winning run5 matches
Kukësi
Laçi
Longest unbeaten run12 matches
Teuta
Longest winless run15 matches
Apolonia
Longest losing run6 matches
Bylis
All statistics correct as of 26 May 2021.

The winners of this season's Kategoria Superiore earned 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 Albania Koço Kokëdhima Italy Fabrizio Cammarata Albania Romeo Harizaj Spain Joma Abissnet
Bylis Albania Besnik Kapllanaj Serbia Veljko Dovedan Albania Franc Ymeralilaj Germany Uhlsport −
Kastrioti Albania Petro Kumi Albania Ramadan Ndreu Albania Emiliano Çela Germany Uhlsport Qafshtama
Kukësi Albania Safet Gjici Albania Mirel Josa North Macedonia Agim Ibraimi Spain Joma Kevin Construction
Laçi Albania Pashk Laska Albania Shpëtim Duro Serbia Aleksandar Ignjatović Germany Uhlsport Arbëria Palace
Partizani Albania Gazmend Demi Albania Ilir Daja Albania Alban Hoxha Spain Joma −
Skënderbeu Albania Ardian Takaj Albania Migen Memelli Albania Jorgo Meksi Germany Uhlsport Tona
Teuta Albania Edmond Hasanbelliu Albania Edi Martini Albania Renato Arapi Italy Macron Caffè Pascucci
Tirana Albania Refik Halili Albania Orges Shehi Albania Idriz Batha Germany Uhlsport −
Vllaznia Albania Municipality of Shkodër Germany Thomas Brdarić Albania Erdenis Gurishta − Fujifilm

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure		 Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Kukësi Albania Orges Shehi Mutual consent 30 July 2020 Pre-season Albania Skënder Gega 30 July 2020
Partizani Albania Renaldo Kalari End of caretaker spell 10 August 2020 Albania Ilir Daja 10 August 2020
Vllaznia Albania Hysen Dedja End of contract 10 August 2020 Germany Thomas Brdarić 10 August 2020
Skënderbeu Albania Ilir Daja Signed for Partizani 10 August 2020 Albania Julian Ahmataj 19 August 2020
Apolonia Albania Artan Mërgjyshi Mutual consent 31 August 2020 Italy Giovanni Colella 1 September 2020
Tirana Nigeria Emmanuel Egbo Sacked 12 November 2020 5th Albania Nevil Dede 13 November 2020
Laçi Albania Armando Cungu Mutual consent 26 November 2020 8th Albania Stavri Nica 26 November 2020
Apolonia Italy Giovanni Colella Resigned 30 November 2020 10th Albania Nikolin Çoçlli 30 November 2020
Laçi Albania Stavri Nica Caretaker replaced 5 December 2020 6th Albania Klevis Hima 5 December 2020
Laçi Albania Klevis Hima End of caretaker spell 12 December 2020 7th Albania Shpëtim Duro 12 December 2020
Apolonia Albania Nikolin Çoçlli Sacked 17 December 2020 9th Albania Bledar Borova 17 December 2020
Kukësi Albania Skënder Gega Resigned 27 December 2020 4th Albania Rrahman Hallaçi 27 December 2020
Apolonia Albania Bledar Borova End of caretaker spell 2 January 2021 10th Italy Fabrizio Cammarata 2 January 2021
Kukësi Albania Rrahman Hallaçi End of caretaker spell 25 January 2021 5th Albania Mirel Josa 25 January 2021
Tirana Albania Nevil Dede Mutual consent 25 January 2021 6th Albania Orges Shehi 27 January 2021
Skënderbeu Albania Julian Ahmataj Mutual consent 31 January 2021 9th Albania Migen Memelli 3 February 2021

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Teuta (C) 36 17 15 4 42 16 +26 66 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Vllaznia 36 19 9 8 44 22 +22 66 Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 1]
3 Partizani 36 17 14 5 53 23 +30 65
4 Laçi 36 16 13 7 41 26 +15 61
5 Tirana 36 15 13 8 41 26 +15 58
6 Kukësi 36 13 6 17 47 48 −1 45
7 Skënderbeu 36 9 10 17 34 55 −21 37
8 Kastrioti (O) 36 8 11 17 26 44 −18 35 Qualification for the relegation play-off
9 Bylis (R) 36 7 10 19 28 51 −23 31 Relegation to the 2021–22 Kategoria e Parë
10 Apolonia (R) 36 4 9 23 22 67 −45 21
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.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Vllaznia, the winners of the 2020–21 Albanian Cup, already qualified for European competition based on league position. Therefore, the Europa Conference League berth awarded to the Albanian Cup winners transfers to the fourth-placed team.

Results

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

Relegation play-off
Kastrioti2−1Tomori
Mehmeti 45'
Rezi 62'		 Qato 90+3'
Referee: Kridens Meta

Both clubs remained in their respective leagues.

Season statistics

Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals[4]
1 Albania Dejvi Bregu Teuta 16
2 North Macedonia Agim Ibraimi Kukësi 15
Nigeria Patrick Friday Eze Kukësi
4 Albania Ardit Hoxhaj Vllaznia 12
5 Bosnia and Herzegovina Haris Dilaver Vllaznia 11
6 Nigeria Beji Anthony Bylis 10
Brazil Devid Kastrioti
Albania Lorenco Vila Teuta

Player

Awards

Annual awards
Award Winner Club
Manager of the Season Germany Thomas Brdarić Vllaznia
Player of the Season Albania Dejvi Bregu Teuta
Young Player of the Season Albania Marsel Ismailgeci Tirana
Team of the Year
Goalkeeper Kosovo Visar Bekaj (Tirana)
Defenders Albania Erdenis Gurishta (Vllaznia) North Macedonia Mevlan Adili (Vllaznia) North Macedonia Egzon Belica (Partizani) Albania Erion Hoxhallari (Tirana)
Midfielders Albania Juljan Shehu (Laçi) Albania Regi Lushkja (Laçi) Albania Albano Aleksi (Teuta)
Forwards Albania Jasir Asani (Partizani) Albania Dejvi Bregu (Teuta) North Macedonia Agim Ibraimi (Kukësi)

Source:[5]

See also

Notes and references

Notes
  1. ^
    Kastrioti played 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 played their 2020–21 home games at the Elbasan Arena in Elbasan, due to the reconstruction of the Zeqir Ymeri Stadium in Kukës.
  3. ^
    Partizani played their 2020–21 home games at the Elbasan Arena in Elbasan. Their new home ground, Partizani Complex, is currently under construction.

References
  1. "Komiteti Ekzekutiv përcakton datat e sezonit 2020-2021". 20 August 2020.
  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.
  5. "Më të mirët e sezonit! FSHF dhe RTSH shpallin kampionët e futbollit". 30 December 2021.
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