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.
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| Full name | Football Club Ballkani | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Xhebrailat (The Gabriels) | |||
| Founded | 1947 as Rinia | |||
| Ground | Theranda City Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 3,000 | |||
| President | Arsim Kabashi | |||
| Manager | Artim Pollozhani | |||
| League | Kosovo Superleague | |||
| 2023–24 | Kosovo Superleague, 1st of 10 (champions) | |||
| Website | http://www.fcballkani.com/ | |||
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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. The following year, it managed to repeat the same achievement and qualified for the 2023-24 edition.
History
editThe 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 Suhareka Chemical and Rubber Industry took the ownership of the club.[1]
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.[1]
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 Suhareka 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]
Under the guidance of albanian coach Ilir Daja, Ballkani won three consecutive league titles in the seasons 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24. Also, the club qualified for the group stage of 2022-23 UEFA Conference League and 2023-24 UEFA Conference League.
Stadium
editThe club plays its home matches at the Theranda City Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Suhareka, 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 Fadil Vokrri Stadium, as the city's stadium in Suhareka did not meet UEFA requirements.
Honours
editDomestic
editPlayers
editCurrent squad
edit- As of 1 September 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Academy players with first-team appearances
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Personnel
edit- As of 19 January 2021[2]
| Current technical staff | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Name | |
| Head coach |  Ilir Daja
| |
| Assistant coach |  Edon Gashi
| |
| Assistant coach | Glen Daja
| |
| Assistant coach | Ardi Kabashi
| |
| Conditional coach | Alban Shala
| |
| Goalkeeping coach | Labinot Qosa
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| Video analysis | Ardi Kabashi
| |
| Management | ||
| Sporting Director |  Omer Bunjaku
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| Manager officer | Idriz Hajrizi
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| Administrator | Florim Elshani
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| Secretary | Arben Osmani
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| Lawyer | Ismail Selimi
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| Coordinator of football school | Driton Mamaj
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| Marketing and Media Director | Kushtrim Reshitaj
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| Information officer Marketing and media officer |
Jetullah Kuqi
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| Security officer | Blerim Kuqi
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| Scoutings | Ismet Maksutaj
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| Astrit Bekteshi
| ||
| Medical Staff | ||
| Physiotherapist | Krenar Zenelaj
| |
| Arianit Bytyçi
| ||
| Doctor | Hadi Hasanaj
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| Technical Staff | ||
| Kitmanager | Meriton Kryeziu
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| Cashier | Arbenita Sejdaj
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| Operational Support | Lirim Lezi
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| Board members | ||
| Office | Name | |
| President | Arsim Kabashi
| |
| Vice President | Visar Maksutaj
| |
List of managers
edit- Bekim Shotani (Feb 2018–2 Sep 2018)[3]
- Sami Sermaxhaj (6 Sep 2018 – 14 Apr 2019)[4]
- Gani Sejdiu (16 Apr 2019–Jun 2019)[5]
- Ismet Munishi (8 Jun 2019–December 2020)[6]
Ballkani in Europe
editBy competition
editFully up to date as of match played 9 July 2024
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Cup/UEFA Champions League | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 40.00 |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | 24 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 44 | 27 | +17 | 50.00 |
| Total | 29 | 14 | 3 | 12 | 49 | 34 | +15 | 48.28 |
Matches
edit| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Agg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q |  Žalgiris
|
1–1 | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | 1–2 |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | 2Q |  La Fiorita
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6–0 | 4–0 | 10–0 | |
| 3Q |  KÍ
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3–2 | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | 4–4 (4–3 p) | ||
| PO | Shkupi
|
1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | ||
| GS |  Slavia Prague
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0–1 | 2–3 | 4th
| ||
 CFR Cluj
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1–1 | 0–1 | ||||
 Sivasspor
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1–2 | 4–3 | ||||
| 2023–24 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q |  Ludogorets Razgrad
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2–0 | 0–4 | 2–4 |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | 2Q |  Larne
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3–0 | 4–1 | 7–1 | |
| 3Q |  Lincoln Red Imps
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2–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | ||
| PO |  BATE Borisov
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4–1 | 0–1 | 4–2 | ||
| GS |  Dinamo Zagreb
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2–0 | 0–3 | 4th
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| Viktoria Plzeň
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0–1 | 0–1 | ||||
 Astana
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1–2 | 0–0 | ||||
| 2024–25 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q |  UE Santa Coloma
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1–2 (a.e.t.) | 2–1 | 3–3 (5–6 p) |
| UEFA Conference League | 2Q |  Ħamrun Spartans
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0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
| 3Q | Larne
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0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 (1–4 p) |
References
edit- ^ a b c "Historiku" [History] (in Albanian). KF Ballkani.
- ^ "F.C. Ballkani (kryesia e klubit)" [F.C. Ballkani (the club headship)] (in Albanian). KF Ballkani.
- ^ Vjen dorëheqja e parë në Superligën e Kosovës, Bekim Shotani largohet nga Ballkani - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
- ^ Zyrtare: Ballkani dhe Sermaxhaj shkëpusin marrëveshjen - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
- ^ Zyrtare: Gani Sejdiu prezantohet te Ballkani - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
- ^ Ismet Munishi bëhet trajner i Ballkanit - Telegrafi (in Albanian)