2019–20 Kategoria Superiore

The 2019–20 Kategoria Superiore was the 81st official season, or 84th season of top-tier football in Albania (including three unofficial championships during World War II) and the 20th season under the name Kategoria Superiore. The season began on 23 August 2019 and ended on 29 July 2020.[1] Tirana, won the league title on 19 July 2020 with 2 matches to spare.

Kategoria Superiore
Season2019–20
Dates23 August 2019 –
29 July 2020
ChampionsTirana
25th title
RelegatedFlamurtari
Luftëtari
Champions LeagueTirana
Europa LeagueKukësi
Laçi
Teuta
Matches played180
Goals scored454 (2.52 per match)
Top goalscorerKyrian Nwabueze
(23 goals)
Biggest home winPartizani 8–1 Luftëtari
(14 June 2020)
Biggest away winLuftëtari 0–5 Tirana
(7 June 2020)
Highest scoringPartizani 8–1 Luftëtari
(14 June 2020)
Longest winning run7 matches
Tirana
Longest unbeaten run14 matches
Tirana
Longest winless run21 matches
Flamurtari
Longest losing run10 matches
Luftëtari
All statistics correct as of 29 July 2020.

The winners of this season's Kategoria Superiore earned a place in the first qualifying round of the 2020-21 Champions League, with the second and third placed clubs earning a place in the first qualifying round of the 2020-21 Europa League. The competition was suspended from 12 March to 3 June 2020, due to a pandemic of COVID-19 in Albania.

Teams

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Two clubs earned promotion from the Kategoria e Parë, Bylis and Vllaznia. Kastrioti was relegated to Kategoria e Parë at the conclusion of last season, Kamza was excluded from the championship and relegated to the Kategoria e Dytë, after a violent incident during a match against Laçi in the 24th round.[2]

Locations

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Locations of the 2019–20 Kategoria Superiore teams
Team Home city Stadium Capacity 2018–19 season
Bylis Ballsh Adush Muça Stadium 5,200 Champion (Kategoria e Parë)
Flamurtari Vlorë Flamurtari Stadium 8,500 5th
Kukësi Kukës Various 2nd
Laçi Laç Laçi Stadium 2,300 6th
Luftëtari Gjirokastër Gjirokastra Stadium 8,400 8th
Partizani Tirana Selman Stërmasi Stadium 9,500 Champion
Skënderbeu Korçë Skënderbeu Stadium 12,343 4th
Teuta Durrës Niko Dovana Stadium 12,040 3rd
Tirana Tirana Selman Stërmasi Stadium 9,500 7th
Vllaznia Shkodër Loro Boriçi Stadium 16,000 Runner-up (Kategoria e Parë)

Stadiums

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Bylis Flamurtari Kukësi Laçi Luftëtari
Adush Muça Stadium Flamurtari Stadium Various Laçi Stadium Gjirokastra Stadium
Capacity: 5,200 Capacity: 11,200 Capacity: 5,300 Capacity: 8,400
     
Partizani Skënderbeu Teuta Tirana Vllaznia
Selman Stërmasi Stadium Skënderbeu Stadium Niko Dovana Stadium Selman Stërmasi Stadium Loro Boriçi Stadium
UEFA stadium category
    
Capacity: 9,500 Capacity: 12,343 Capacity: 12,040 Capacity: 9,500 Capacity: 16,000
         

Personnel and kits

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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
Bylis   Besnik Kapllanaj   Veljko Dovedan   Valentino Murataj   Uhlsport
Flamurtari   Sinan Idrizi   Marcello Troisi   Andi Ribaj   Joma
Kukësi   Safet Gjici   Orges Shehi   Besar Musolli   Macron Kevin Construction
Laçi   Pashk Laska   Armando Cungu   Aleksandar Ignjatović   Uhlsport Pavin Caffe
Luftëtari   Bekim Halilaj   Neritan Novi   Erald Hyseni   Macron Energ Company
Partizani   Gazmend Demi   Renaldo Kalari   Alban Hoxha   Joma MCN
Skënderbeu   Ardian Takaj   Ilir Daja   Bajram Jashanica   Joma Fix
Teuta   Edmond Hasanbelliu   Edi Martini   Renato Arapi   Uhlsport Caffè Pascucci
Tirana   Refik Halili   Emmanuel Egbo   Erando Karabeci   Uhlsport
Vllaznia   Municipality of Shkodër   Hysen Dedja   Gilman Lika   Uhlsport

Managerial changes

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Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure
Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Partizani   Skënder Gega Mutual consent 2 June 2019 Pre-season   Franco Lerda 17 June 2019
Skënderbeu   Orges Shehi Resigned 8 June 2019 Pre-season   Ilir Daja 8 August 2019
Vllaznia   Agim Canaj Mutual consent 19 July 2019 Pre-season   Mirsad Jonuz 19 July 2019
Kukësi   Ernest Gjoka Sacked 19 July 2019 Pre-season   Shpëtim Duro 25 July 2019
Flamurtari   Gerd Haxhiu Resigned 14 August 2019 Pre-season   Dritan Sadedini 14 August 2019
Luftëtari   Klevis Dalipi Resigned 23 August 2019 Pre-season   Klodian Duro 23 August 2019
Luftëtari   Klodian Duro Mutual consent 5 September 2019 10th   Georgios Marantas 6 September 2019
Laçi   Sulejman Starova Mutual consent 15 October 2019 8th   Armando Cungu 15 October 2019
Flamurtari   Dritan Sadedini Mutual consent 24 October 2019 10th   Luan Birçe 24 October 2019
Tirana   Ardian Mema Mutual consent 25 October 2019 6th   Julian Ahmataj 25 October 2019
Tirana   Julian Ahmataj Resigned 9 December 2019 8th   Ndubuisi Egbo 9 December 2019
Luftëtari   Georgios Marantas Sacked[3] 14 December 2019 9th   Neritan Novi 14 December 2019
Partizani   Franco Lerda Sacked[3] 14 December 2019 3rd   Renaldo Kalari 14 December 2019
Teuta   Bledi Shkëmbi Sacked[3] 14 December 2019 7th   Edi Martini 15 December 2019
Luftëtari   Neritan Novi End of caretaker spell 3 January 2020 9th   Nikolin Çoçlli 3 January 2020
Partizani   Renaldo Kalari End of caretaker spell 4 January 2020 5th   Adolfo Sormani 4 January 2020
Flamurtari   Dritan Resuli End of caretaker spell 25 January 2020 10th   Marcello Troisi 25 January 2020
Luftëtari   Nikolin Çoçlli Resigned 24 February 2020 9th   Neritan Novi 24 February 2020
Kukësi   Shpëtim Duro Sacked 29 February 2020 2nd   Orges Shehi 2 March 2020
Vllaznia   Mirsad Jonuz End of contract 5 June 2020 8th   Hysen Dedja 9 June 2020
Partizani   Adolfo Sormani Mutual consent 13 July 2020 6th   Renaldo Kalari 9 June 2020

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Tirana (C) 36 21 7 8 67 35 +32 70 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Kukësi 36 19 9 8 59 31 +28 66 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round
3 Laçi 36 19 7 10 61 34 +27 64
4 Skënderbeu 36 17 7 12 42 43 −1 58
5 Teuta 36 15 12 9 41 34 +7 57 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[a]
6 Partizani 36 15 8 13 51 40 +11 53
7 Bylis 36 12 15 9 46 38 +8 51
8 Vllaznia (O) 36 12 10 14 36 41 −5 46 Qualification for the relegation play-off
9 Flamurtari (R) 36 2 9 25 32 72 −40 15 Relegation to the 2020–21 Kategoria e Parë
10 Luftëtari (R) 36 2 8 26 19 86 −67 14
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.[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Teuta qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round as the 2019–20 Albanian Cup winners.

Results

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Clubs will play each other four times for a total of 36 matches each.[4]

Relegation play-off

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Vllaznia3−1Besëlidhja
Kruja   15'
Marku   19'
Lika   78'
Djordjević   33'
Attendance: 0
Referee: Laver Alla

Both clubs remained in their respective leagues.

Season statistics

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Scoring

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals[5]
1   Kyrian Nwabueze Laçi 23
2   Vasil Shkurtaj Kukësi 22
3   Sherif Kallaku Teuta 14
4   Michael Ngoo Tirana 13
5   Redon Xhixha Laçi 12
6   Dejvi Bregu Skënderbeu 10
  Eraldo Çinari Partizani
  Gilman Lika Vllaznia
  Idriz Batha Tirana
  Kristal Abazaj Kukësi
  Saliou Guindo Bylis

Discipline

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Player

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Zyrtare, Kategoria Superiore rinis më 3 qershor, vjen ok nga Ministria e Shëndetësisë! – SuperSport". 29 May 2020.
  2. ^ AP (6 March 2019). "Albanian soccer club expelled after referee attack". USA Today. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Nuk ndalet vala e shkarkimeve të trajnerëve, Luftëtari largon Marantas". 14 December 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Superliga: Season rules". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  5. ^ "2019-20 top scorers". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
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