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

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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

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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

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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

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

Managerial changes

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

League table

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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[a]
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

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

Relegation play-off

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

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[4]
1   Dejvi Bregu Teuta 16
2   Agim Ibraimi Kukësi 15
  Patrick Friday Eze Kukësi
4   Ardit Hoxhaj Vllaznia 12
5   Haris Dilaver Vllaznia 11
6   Beji Anthony Bylis 10
  Devid Kastrioti
  Lorenco Vila Teuta

Discipline

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Player

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Awards

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Annual awards

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

Source:[5]

See also

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Notes and references

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Notes

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  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

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  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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