AF Elbasani

Albanian football club
Football club
AF Elbasani
Full nameAkademia e Futbollit Elbasani
Nickname(s)Tigrat
Short nameAF Elbasani
Founded2 August 2021; 2 years ago (2021-08-02)
StadiumElbasan Arena
Capacity12,800
OwnerBashkia Elbasan
PresidentKujtim Llupa
ManagerNevil Dede
LeagueAbissnet Superiore
2023–24Kategoria e Parë, 1st (promoted)
Home colours
Away colours

AF Elbasani (Albanian: Akademia e Futbollit Elbasani), is an Albanian professional football club based in Elbasan. The club competes in the Abissnet Superiore, the top tier of Albanian football. Their home ground is Elbasan Arena.

History

In 2021, the club was formed by the Elbasan Municipality after the disagreements with businessman Arben Laze who was the owner of the first football club KF Elbasani. Due to financial bankruptcy, Elbasani was seized by the Directorate of Taxes in Elbasan. So with the initiative of the fans they found the way and with the cooperation of Elbasan Municipality, AF Elbasani was created.[1] In the 2021–2022 season, they competed in the fourth tier of Albanian football, Kategoria e Tretë. In their first season, they achieved first place, gaining promotion to Kategoria e Dytë.[2] In the 2022–2023 season, AF Elbasani finished first in the Group B of the Kategoria e Dytë, which gained them promotion for the first time to the Kategoria e Parë.[3] In their first season, they finished in 1st place, and were crowned champions and were promoted to the Abissnet Superiore.[4]

Players

Current squad

As of 1 February 2024[5]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Albania ALB Klevi Totoshi
2 DF Albania ALB Rei Zaimi
3 DF Albania ALB Kledis Hida
5 DF Albania ALB Miklovan Pere
6 MF Albania ALB Abaz Karakaçi
7 FW Albania ALB Bedri Greca
8 FW Brazil BRA Léo Melo
9 MF England ENG Kron Abdiu
10 MF Albania ALB Orgest Gava (captain)
11 MF Albania ALB Klevis Kasa
12 DF Brazil BRA Gustavo Salomão
14 MF Albania ALB Bledar Lila
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF Albania ALB Edon Hasani
17 DF Albania ALB Bruno Telushi
18 MF Albania ALB Arsen Kasa
22 FW Albania ALB Arsen Lleshi
23 GK Albania ALB Klajdi Kuka
27 FW Albania ALB Ardit Hoxhaj
33 DF Albania ALB Klajdi Broshka
49 FW Nigeria NGA Bobby Clement
66 DF Albania ALB Reild Kurti
77 MF Albania ALB Ardit Hila
95 MF Slovakia SVK Dávid Ivan
96 MF Brazil BRA Léo Fernandes

Honours

League titles

Champions (1): 2023–24
Runner-up (1): 2022–23
Champions (1): 2021-22

Staff

Name Position
Albania Nevil Dede Head Coach
Albania Eriol Merxha Assistant Coach
Albania Elvis Kotorri Goalkeeping Coach
Albania Artan Skenderi Fitness coach
Albania Denis Asllani Video Analyst
Albania Geris Lahi Physio
Albania Anis Carku Physio
Albania Amarildo Hoxha Doctor
Albania Elton Guranjaku Sports Director
Albania Armand Memetaj Team Manager

References

  1. ^ "AF Elbasani, historia e re e futbollit në qytetin traditë! Drejtori i klubit: Tifozët na mirëpritën" [AF Elbasani, a new football history in the city of tradition! The Director of the club: The fans welcomed us] (in Albanian). Shqiptarja. 29 July 2021.
  2. ^ "AF Elbasani shpallet kampion i Kategorisë së Tretë" [AF Elbasani become champions of Kategoria e Tretë] (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 6 May 2022.
  3. ^ Kodra, Fatjon (2023-05-11). "Vora mposht AF Elbasanin në finale & shpallet fituese e Kategorisë së Dytë 2022/2023!". FSHF (in Albanian). Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  4. ^ Sinani, Renaldo (2024-05-09). "AF Elbasani kurorëzohet ekipi kampion i Kategorisë së Parë për sezonin 2023-2024!". FSHF (in Albanian). Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  5. ^ "AF Elbasani". Sofascore. 4 May 2022.