FC Ballkani

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Ballkani
FC Ballkani.svg
Full nameFootball Club Ballkani
Nickname(s)Xhebrailat (The Gabriels)
Founded1947;77 years ago (1947) as Rinia
Ground Suva Reka City Stadium
Capacity3,000
ChairmanArsim Kabashi
Manager Ilir Daja
League Kosovo Superleague
2022–23 Kosovo Superleague, 1st of 10 (champions)
Website Club website

Football Club Ballkani (Albanian : Klubi Futbollistik Ballkani), commonly known as Ballkani, is a professional football club based in Suhareka, Kosovo. The club plays in the Football Superleague of Kosovo, which is the top tier of football in the country.

Contents

On 25 August 2022, after a victory over Shkupi of North Macedonia, Ballkani made history by qualifying for the group stages of the Europa Conference League; becoming the first ever side from Kosovo to reach the group stages of a UEFA club competition.

History

The club was established in 1947 under the name Rinia by some athletes whose purpose was to participate in various competitions and tournaments that were organized at that time. In 1952, the club was registered and started competing in official championships. In 1965, it changed the name from KF Rinia to KF Ballkani after Suva Reka Chemical and Rubber Industry took the ownership of the club.

The club progressively climbed the Yugoslav league system reaching the Kosovo Provincial League in the season 1973–74. They were relegated, but returned in 1977 and remained in the league until the 1990s. Ballkani was one of the first clubs in Kosovo to leave the league system managed by the Football Association of Yugoslavia, and played instead in the not officially recognized parallel First League of Kosovo until 2000.

In the league organized by the Football Federation of Kosovo, Ballkani played its first match against Liria at Studençan. In the youth levels of Ballkani, many prominent players from Suva Reka started their careers, such as Ali Elshani, Arsim Llapatinca, Avni Bytyçi, Bekim Suka, Dervish Shala, Esheref Berisha, Fillim Guraziu, Gafurr Kabashi, Hajrush Berisha, Hevzi Shalaj, Isuf Asllanaj, Isuf Kolgeci, Lulzim Kolgeci, Musli Bylykbashi, Naser Berisha, Nexhat Elshani, Osman Ramadani, Rexhep Kuçi, Salih Hoxha, Urim Bylykbashi, Visar Berisha and many others who made a valuable contribution to the affirmation of football as well as other human values and some still give their contribution to football pitches as managers and in various sports posts. [1]

Stadium

The club plays its home games at the Suva Reka City Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Suva Reka, Kosovo. The stadium has a capacity of 1,500 people all-seater. However, for their inaugural European campaign, home matches were played in Pristina, at the National Stadium, as Theranda City Stadium did not meet UEFA requirements.

Honours

Domestic

Players

Current squad

As of 5 February 2024

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Albania.svg  ALB Enea Koliçi
2 DF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Armend Thaqi
3 DF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Arbër Potoku
4 DF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Gentrit Halili
5 DF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Lumbardh Dellova
6 MF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Lindon Emërllahu
7 MF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Meriton Korenica (on loan from Manisa)
8 MF Flag of Germany.svg  GER Vesel Limaj
10 MF Flag of Albania.svg  ALB Nazmi Gripshi
11 MF Flag of Algeria.svg  ALG Walid Hamidi
13 DF Flag of Albania.svg  ALB Marsel Ismailgeci (on loan from Zrinjski Mostar)
15 MF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Arbnor Halitjaha
16 DF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Gentian Kabashi
18 MF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Leonard Shala
19 DF Flag of Albania.svg  ALB Lorenc Trashi
No.Pos.NationPlayer
20 MF Flag of Montenegro.svg  MNE Edvin Kuč (captain)
22 FW Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Krenar Dulaj
25 FW Flag of Albania.svg  ALB Bernard Karrica
27 FW Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Edi Maksutaj
28 MF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Arjol Bllaca
32 DF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Bajram Jashanica
33 MF Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  CIV Bangaly Diawara
80 FW Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Mamadou Danfa
88 MF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Queven
92 GK Flag of Montenegro.svg  MNE Damir Ljuljanović
98 FW Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Almir Kryeziu
99 FW Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Bleart Tolaj
— GK Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Art Miftari
— FW Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Pape Oumar Cissé

Out on loan

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
11 MF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Qëndrim Zyba (at Legia Warsaw until 30 June 2024)
23 MF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Ramush Ramadani(at Dinamo Ferizaj until 30 June 2024)

Personnel

As of 19 January 2021 [2]
Current technical staff
PositionName
Head coach Flag of Albania.svg Ilir Daja
Asisten coach Flag of Kosovo.svg Edon Gashi
Asistent coach Flag of Albania.svg Glen Daja
Asistent coach Flag of Kosovo.svg Ardi Kabashi
Conditional coach Flag of Kosovo.svg Alban Shala
Goalkeeping coach Flag of Kosovo.svg Labinot Qosa
Video analysis Flag of Kosovo.svg Ardi Kabashi
Management
Sporting Director Flag of North Macedonia.svg Omer Bunjaku
Manager officer Flag of Kosovo.svg Idriz Hajrizi
Administrator Flag of Kosovo.svg Florim Elshani
Secretary Flag of Kosovo.svg Arben Osmani
Lawyer Flag of Kosovo.svg Ismal Selimi
Coordinator of football school Flag of Kosovo.svg Driton Mamaj
Marketing and Media Director Flag of Kosovo.svg Kushtrim Reshitaj
Information officer
Marketing and media officer		 Flag of Kosovo.svg Jetullah Kuqi
Security officer Flag of Kosovo.svg Blerim Kuqi
Scoutings Flag of Kosovo.svg Ismet Maksutaj
Flag of Kosovo.svg Astrit Bekteshi
Medical Staff
Physiotherapist Flag of Kosovo.svg Krenar Zenelaj
Flag of Kosovo.svg Arianit Bytyqi
Doctor Flag of Kosovo.svg Hadi Hasanaj
Technical Staff
Kitmanager Flag of Kosovo.svg Meriton Kryeziu
Cashier Flag of Kosovo.svg Arbenita Sejdaj
Operational Support Flag of Kosovo.svg Lirim Lezi
Board members
OfficeName
President Flag of Kosovo.svg Arsim Kabashi
Vice President Flag of Kosovo.svg Visar Maksutaj

Historical list of coaches

Ballkani in Europe

By competition

Fully up to date as of match played 14 December 2023

CompetitionPldWDLGFGAGDWin%
European Cup/UEFA Champions League 411236−3025.00
UEFA Europa Conference League 24122104427+17050.00
Total28133124733+14046.43

Matches

SeasonCompetitionRoundOpponentHomeAwayAgg.
2022–23 UEFA Champions League 1Q Flag of Lithuania.svg Žalgiris 1–10–1 ( a.e.t. )1–2
UEFA Europa Conference League 2Q Flag of San Marino.svg La Fiorita 6–04–010–0
3Q Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg KÍ 3–21–2 ( a.e.t. )4–4 (4–3 p)
PO Flag of North Macedonia.svg Shkupi 1–02–13–1
GS Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Slavia Prague 0–12–3
4th
Flag of Romania.svg CFR Cluj 1–10–1
Flag of Turkey.svg Sivasspor 1–24–3
2023–24 UEFA Champions League 1Q Flag of Bulgaria.svg Ludogorets Razgrad 2–00–42–4
UEFA Europa Conference League 2Q Ulster Banner.svg Larne 3–04–17–1
3Q Flag of Gibraltar.svg Lincoln Red Imps 2–03–15–1
PO Flag of Belarus.svg BATE Borisov 4–10–14–2
GS Flag of Croatia.svg Dinamo Zagreb 2–00–3
4th
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Viktoria Plzeň 0–10–1
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Astana 1–20–0

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References

  1. ↑ "F.C. Ballkani (historia)" [F.C. Ballkani (history)] (in Albanian). KF Ballkani.
  2. ↑ "F.C. Ballkani (kryesia e klubit)" [F.C. Ballkani (the club headship)] (in Albanian). KF Ballkani.
  3. ↑ Vjen dorëheqja e parë në Superligën e Kosovës, Bekim Shotani largohet nga Ballkani - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
  4. ↑ Zyrtare: Ballkani dhe Sermaxhaj shkëpusin marrëveshjen - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
  5. ↑ Zyrtare: Gani Sejdiu prezantohet te Ballkani - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
  6. ↑ Ismet Munishi bëhet trajner i Ballkanit - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
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