The '''Albania national association football team''' is the national [[association football]] team of [[Albania]] and is controlled by the [[Football Association of Albania]]. Although not considered as one of the strongest footballing sides in Europe, Albanians are passionate about their football and the national team has occasionally managed to perform well against more illustrious opponents.
Founded on June 6, 1930, Albania had to wait 16 years to play the first international match, debuting against [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] in 1946. In 1932, Albania had already joined [[FIFA]] (during the congress June 12 — June 16) and in 1954, it was one of the founding members of [[UEFA]]. Albania had been invited to play in [[1934 World Cup]], but owing to organizing difficulties, it didn't take part.
==History of football in Albania==
Football arrived in Albania at the beginning of the 20th century. The first recorded match was between students at a Christian mission in Shkodër. The game increased in popularity and by 1919 the first club, KS Vllaznia Shkodër had been founded. In 1920 SK Tirana was also founded, other towns and cities followed suit and on 6 June 1930 the Football Association of Albania (FSF) was established. The association became a member of football's governing body FIFA in 1932, and joined the UEFA in 1954 as a founding member.
A domestic championship began in 1930 with 6 teams. KF Tirana were the inaugural winners. They, together with such sides are KS Dinamo Tirana, Vllaznia Shkodër and FK Partizani, have continued to dominate the Albanian scene until the present day. The years following World War II saw a new political order, with the introduction of a communist system which had a positive impact as far as the game's appeal was concerned. Football became popularised. Its infrastructure grew stronger as the game was organised and developed in state enterprises, schools, villages and towns. New institutional clubs were founded such as Partizani Tirana (1946) and Dinamo Tirana (1950) (governed respectively by Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Internal Affairs). Until 1990 they were privileged in relation to the other clubs as they were able to get players from other teams.
From 1991, there were crucial political and economic changes that had a tremendous effect on the nation, as the centralised economy and political system came to an end. The result for the country's footballers was an opportunity to play their trade on foreign fields. Neighbouring Greece and the Balkan states were popular destinations for players who were good enough to go abroad.
== Recent developments ==
In December 2007, Football Association of Albania's president, [[Armand Duka]], announced [[Arie Haan]] would replace Croatia's [[Otto Barić]] as Albania's head coach. Haan signed a two-year contract on January 4, 2008.
Albania started their 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign against [[Sweden national football team|Sweden]] on September 6, 2008. They have been drawn in Group 1 with [[Sweden national football team|Sweden]], [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]], [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]], [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] and [[Malta national football team|Malta]].
On March 14, 2008, [[Albania]] was suspended from international football ([[FIFA]] and [[UEFA]]), due to heavy political interference in the Football Association. The suspension lasted 46 days.
=== FIFA World Cup 2010 ===
{{Main|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1}}
Albania kicked the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification off to a good start with a 0–0 tie against Sweden. Four days later, the Albanians defeated Malta by a score of 3–0 with 2 of the goals coming from [[Erion Bogdani]] [[Armend Dallku]] and another from [[Klodian Duro]]. On October 11 however, the Albanians lost to Hungary 2–0 in [[Budapest]]. But surprised the world by drawing 0–0 with Portugal in [[Braga]]. On February 11, Albania were only able to draw with Malta who fought hard at [[Ta'Qali]]. Albania then lost to Hungary at home 1–0 on March 28. And on April 1, Albania suffered a heavy blow to Denmark 3–0. In the home leg against Portugal, [[Hugo Almeida]] scored early for Portugal, but Albania quickly equalised with a goal from [[Erjon Bogdani]]. However, with just a few seconds left in the game, [[Bruno Alves]] scored the winner for Portugal, eliminating Albania. The last memorable result was a 1–1 tie with Denmark, drawing the game after being behind. Albania ended the campaign with a disappointing 4–1 loss against Sweden.
{{2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 1
| expanded = yes
| fixtures = yes
| tiebreakers =
}}
=== UEFA Euro Cup 2012 ===
{{Main|UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group D}}
The draw for the qualifying rounds of UEFA Euro 2012 was held on 7 February 2010 in [[Congress Hall (Warsaw)|Congress Hall]] of [[Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw]], with matches set to begin on 3–4 September 2010. Seedings were based on the [[UEFA coefficient#National team coefficient|UEFA national team coefficient]] ranking. Albania was drawn in Group D along with [[France national football team|France]], [[Romania national football team|Romania]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team|Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Belarus national football team|Belarus]], and [[Luxembourg national football team|Luxembourg]].
===Group D===
{{main|UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group D}}
{{UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group D|expanded=yes|fixtures=yes}}
==Results and fixtures==
Group D fixtures were negotiated between the participants at a meeting in [[Luxembourg (city)|Luxembourg]] on 19 February 2010.
{{footballbox
|date = 3 September 2010
|time = 21:00 [[UTC+3]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|ROU}}
|score = 1 – 1
|report = [http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002088/index.html Report]
|team2 = {{fb|ALB}}
|goals1 = [[Bogdan Stancu|Stancu]] {{goal|80}}
|goals2 = [[Gjergji Muzaka|Muzaka]] {{goal|87}}
|stadium = [[Stadionul Ceahlăul]], [[Piatra Neamţ]]
|attendance = 13,000
|referee = [[Robert Schörgenhofer]] ([[Austrian Football Association|Austria]]) }}
----
{{footballbox
|date = 7 September 2010
|time = 20:15 [[UTC+2]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|ALB}}
|score = 1 – 0
|report = [http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002104/index.html Report]
|team2 = {{fb|LUX}}
|goals1 = [[Hamdi Salihi|Salihi]] {{goal|37}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Qemal Stafa (stadium)|Qemal Stafa]], [[Tirana]]
|attendance = 11,800
|referee = [[Richard Trutz]] ([[Slovak Football Association|Slovakia]]) }}
----
{{footballbox
|date = 8 October 2010
|time = 20:30 [[UTC+2]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|ALB}}
|score = 1 – 1
|report = [http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002102/index.html Report]
|team2 = {{fb|BIH}}
|goals1 = [[Klodian Duro|Duro]] {{goal|45+2}}
|goals2 = [[Vedad Ibišević|Ibišević]] {{goal|21}}
|stadium = [[Qemal Stafa (stadium)|Qemal Stafa]], [[Tirana]]
|attendance = 19,600
|referee = [[Kristinn Jakobsson]] ([[Football Association of Iceland|Iceland]]) }}
----
{{footballbox
|date = 12 October 2010
|time = 20:30 [[UTC+3]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|BLR}}
|score = 2 – 0
|report = [http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002098/index.html Report]
|team2 = {{fb|ALB}}
|goals1 = [[Vitali Rodionov|Rodionov]] {{goal|10}}
[[Sergey Krivets|Krivets]] {{goal|77}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Dinamo Stadium (Minsk)|Dinamo Stadium]], [[Minsk]]
|attendance = 7,000
|referee = [[Peter Rasmussen (referee)|Peter Rasmussen]] ([[Danish Football Association|Denmark]]) }}
----
{{footballbox
|date = 26 March 2011
|time = 20:00 [[UTC+2]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|ALB}}
|score = 1 – 0
|report = [http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002103/index.html Report]
|team2 = {{fb|BLR}}
|goals1 = [[Hamdi Salihi|Salihi]] {{goal|62}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Qemal Stafa (stadium)|Qemal Stafa]], [[Tirana]]
|attendance = 18,000
|referee = [[Markus Strömbergsson]] ([[Swedish Football Association|Sweden]]) }}
----
{{footballbox
|date = 7 June 2011
|time = 20:15 [[UTC+2]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|BIH}}
|score = 2 – 0
|report = [http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002093/postmatch/report/index.html Report]
|team2 = {{fb|ALB}}
|goals1 = [[Haris Medunjanin|Medunjanin]] {{goal|67}}
[[Darko Maletić|Maletić]] {{goal|90+1}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Bilino Polje]], [[Zenica]]
|attendance = 9,000
|referee = [[Kevin Blom]] ([[Dutch Football Association|Netherlands]])}}
----
{{footballbox
|date = 2 September 2011
|time = 21:00 [[UTC+2]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|ALB}}
|score = 1 – 2
|report = [http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002100/index.html Report]
|team2 = {{fb|FRA}}
|goals1 = [[Erjon Bogdani|Bogdani]] {{goal|46}}
|goals2 = [[Karim Benzema|Benzema]] {{goal|11}}
[[Yann M'Vila|M'Vila]] {{goal|18}}
|stadium = [[Qemal Stafa]], [[Tirana]]
|attendance =
|referee = [[Aleksei Nikolaev (Russian referee)|Aleksei Nikolaev]] ([[Russian Football Union|Russia]])}}
----
{{footballbox
|date = 6 September 2011
|time = 20:15 [[UTC+2]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|LUX}}
|score = 2 – 1
|report = [http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002109/index.html Report]
|team2 = {{fb|ALB}}
|goals1 = [[Gilles Bettmer|Bettmer]] {{goal|27}}
[[Aurélien Joachim|Joachim]] {{goal|78}}
|goals2 = [[Erjon Bogdani|Bogdani]] {{goal|64}}
|stadium = [[Stade Josy Barthel]], [[Luxembourg City]]
|attendance =
|referee = [[Petteri Kari]] ([[Football Association of Finland|Finland]])}}
----
{{footballbox
|date = 7 October 2011
|time = 21:00 [[UTC+2]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|FRA}}
|score = 3 – 0
|report = [http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002083/postmatch/report/index.html Report]
|team2 = {{fb|ALB}}
|goals1 = [[Florent Malouda|Malouda]] {{goal|11}} [[Loïc Rémy|Rémy]] {{goal|37}} [[Anthony Réveillère|Réveillère]] {{goal|66}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Stade de France]], [[Saint-Denis]]
|attendance = 67,000
|referee =[[Michael Koukoulakis]] ([[Hellenic Football Federation|Greece]]) }}
----
{{footballbox
|date = 11 October 2011
|time = 20:00 [[UTC+2]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|ALB}}
|score = 1 – 1
|report = [http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/matches/season=2012/round=15171/match=2002101/index.html Report]
|team2 = {{fb|ROU}}
|goals1 = [[Hamdi Salihi|Salihi]] {{goal|24}}
|goals2 = [[Srdjan Luchin|Luchin]] {{goal|77}}
|stadium = [[Qemal Stafa (stadium)|Qemal Stafa]], [[Tirana]]
|attendance =
|referee =[[Gediminas Mažeika]] ([[Lithuanian Football Federation|Lithuania]]) }}
----
===Friendlies===
----
{{footballbox
|date = 9 February 2011
|time = 20:00 [[UTC+2]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|ALB}}
|score = 1 – 2
|team2 = {{fb|SLO}}
|goals1 = [[Ervin Bulku|Bulku]] {{goal|62}}
|goals2 = [[Milivoje Novakovič|Novakovič]] {{goal|24}}
[[Zlatko Dedič|Dedič]] {{goal|90}}
|stadium = [[Qemal Stafa]], [[Tirana]]
|attendance =
|referee = [[Michael Koukoulakis]] ([[Hellenic Football Federation|Greece]]) }}
----
{{footballbox
|date = 20 june 2011
|time = 23:10 [[UTC+3]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|ARG}}
|score = 4 – 0
|team2 = {{fb|ALB}}
|goals1 = [[Ezequiel Lavezzi|Lavezzi]] {{goal|6}}
[[Lionel Messi|Messi]] {{goal|43}}
[[Sergio Agüero|Agüero]] {{goal|75}}
[[Carlos Tévez|Tévez]] {{goal|90}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = [[Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti|El Monumental]], [[Argentina]]
|attendance =
|referee = [[Jorge Larrionda]] ([[Uruguayan Football Association|Uruguay]]) }}
----
{{footballbox
|date = 10 August 2011
|time = 20:00 [[UTC+2]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|ALB}}
|score = 3 – 2
|team2 = {{fb|Montenegro}}
|goals1 = [[Erjon Bogdani|Bogdani]] {{goal|33}} [[Jahmir Hyka|Hyka]] {{goal|64}} [[Hamdi Salihi|Salihi]] {{goal|69}}
|goals2 = [[Stefan Savić|Savić]] {{goal|40}} [[Stefan Savić|Savić]] {{goal|47}}
|stadium = [[Loro Boriçi]], [[Shkodër]]
|attendance =
|referee =[[Anton Genov]] ([[Bulgarian Football Union|Bulgaria]]) }}
== Current squad ==
Players called up for [[Exhibition game|Friendly]] matches against [[Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan|Azerbaijan]] on 11 November 2011, and [[Football Federation of Macedonia|Macedonia]] on 15 November 2011.
Caps and goals as of ''16 November 2011''.
{{nat fs g start}}
{{National football squad player (goals)||no=1|pos=GK|name=[[Orges Shehi]]|age={{Birth date and age|1977|9|20}}| caps=0|goals=0|club=[[KF Skënderbeu Korçë|Skënderbeu Korçë]]|clubnat=ALB}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=12|pos=GK|name=[[Isli Hidi]]|age={{Birth date and age|1980|10|15}}| caps=17|goals=0|club=[[AEL Limassol]]|clubnat=CYP}}
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=2|pos=DF|name=[[Andi Lila]]|age={{birth date and age|1986|2|12}}|caps=25|goals=0|club=[[PAS Giannina F.C.|PAS Giannina]]|clubnat=GRE}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=3|pos=DF|name=[[Kristi Vangjeli]]|age={{Birth date and age|1985|9|5}}|caps=32|goals=0|club=[[FC Chornomorets Odesa|Chornomorets Odesa]]|clubnat=UKR}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=4|pos=DF|name=[[Armend Dallku]]|age={{Birth date and age|1983|6|16}}|caps=48|goals=2|club=[[FC Vorskla Poltava|Vorskla Poltava]]|clubnat=UKR}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=6|pos=DF|name=[[Franc Veliu]]|age={{Birth date and age|1988|11|11}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=[[Flamurtari Vlorë]]|clubnat=ALB|latest=v. {{fb|Argentina}}}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=7|pos=DF|name=[[Ansi Agolli]]|age={{birth date and age|1982|10|11}}|caps=29|goals=2|club=[[FK Qarabağ|Qarabağ]]|clubnat=AZE}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=16|pos=DF|name=[[Admir Teli]]|age={{Birth date and age|1981|6|2}}|caps=15|goals=0|club=[[FK Qarabağ|Qarabağ]]|clubnat=AZE}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=6|pos=DF|name=[[Debatik Curri]]|age={{Birth date and age|1983|28|12}}|caps=34|goals=1|club=[[Gençlerbirligi ]]|clubnat=TUR}}
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=5|pos=MF|name=[[Lorik Cana]] ''([[Captain (association football)|captain]])''|age={{Birth date and age|1983|7|27}}|caps=56|goals=1|club=[[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]]|clubnat=ITA}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=8|pos=MF|name=[[Ervin Bulku]]|age={{Birth date and age|1981|3|3}}|caps=36|goals=1|club=[[AZAL PFC|AZAL Baku]]|clubnat=AZE}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=10|pos=MF|name=[[Jahmir Hyka]]|age={{Birth date and age|1988|3|8}}|caps=27|goals=2|club=[[FC Luzern|Luzern]]|clubnat=SUI}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=11|pos=MF|name=[[Emiljano Vila]]|age={{Birth date and age|1988|3|12}}|caps=11|goals=1|club=[[PAS Giannina F.C.|PAS Giannina]]|clubnat=GRE}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=13|pos=MF|name=[[Sabjen Lilaj]]|age={{birth date and age|1989|02|10}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=[[NK Lokomotiva|Lokomotiva]]|clubnat=CRO}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=19|pos=MF|name=[[Elis Bakaj]] |age={{Birth date and age|1975|11|18}}|caps=23|goals=0|club=[[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo Bucureşti]]|clubnat=ROU}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=17|pos=MF|name=[[Gilman Lika]]|age={{Birth date and age|1987|1|13}}|caps=15|goals=0|club=[[KF Tirana|Tirana]]|clubnat=ALB}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=20|pos=MF|name=[[Gjergji Muzaka]]|age={{Birth date and age|1984|9|26}}|caps=20|goals=1|club=[[KF Skënderbeu Korçë|Skënderbeu Korçë]]|clubnat=ALB}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=21|pos=MF|name=[[Odise Roshi]]|age={{Birth date and age|1991|5|22}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=[[1. FC Köln|Köln]]|clubnat=GER}}
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=9 |pos=FW|name=[[Edmond Kapllani]]|age={{Birth date and age|1982|7|31}}|caps=36|goals=6|club=[[FC Augsburg|Augsburg]]|clubnat=GER}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=15|pos=FW|name=[[Ahmed Januzi]]|age={{Birth date and age|1988|7|8}}|caps=5|goals=0|club=[[FC Vorskla Poltava|Vorskla Poltava]]|clubnat=UKR|latest=v. {{fb|Argentina}}}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=18|pos=FW|name=[[Hamdi Salihi]]|age={{Birth date and age|1984|1|19}}|caps=38|goals=9|club=[[SK Rapid Wien|Rapid Wien]]|clubnat=AUT}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=23|pos=FW|name=[[Xhevahir Sukaj]]|age={{Birth date and age|1987|10|5}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=[[Vllaznia Shkodër]]|clubnat=ALB}}
{{National football squad player (goals)|no=22|pos=FW|name=[[Erjon Bogdani]]|age={{Birth date and age|1977|4|14}}|caps=65|goals=15|club=[[A.C. Cesena|Cesena]]|clubnat=ITA}}
{{National football squad end}}
===Recent call-ups===
The following players have been called up in the last 12 months.
{{National football squad start (recent)}}
|-----
! colspan="9" bgcolor="B0D3FB" align="left" |
|----- bgcolor="#DFEDFD"
{{nat fs r player |no=|pos=DF |name=[[Renato Arapi]] |age={{birth date and age|1986|9|28|df=y}} |caps=1 |goals=0 |club=[[KF Skënderbeu Korçë|Skënderbeu Korçë]] |clubnat=ALB| latest=v. {{fb|ARG}}, 20 June 2011}}
{{nat fs r player |no=|pos=DF |name=[[Ditmar Bicaj]] |age={{birth date and age|1989|2|26|df=y}} |caps=2 |goals=0 |club=[[KF Skënderbeu Korçë|Skënderbeu Korçë]] |clubnat=ALB| latest=v. {{fb|ARG}}, 20 June 2011}}
{{nat fs r player |no=|pos=DF |name=[[Endrit Vrapi]] |age={{birth date and age|1982|3|23|df=y}} |caps=11 |goals=0 |club=[[KF Skënderbeu Korçë|Skënderbeu Korçë]] |clubnat=ALB| latest=v. {{fb|ARG}}, 20 June 2011}}
|-----
! colspan="9" bgcolor="B0D3FB" align="left" |
|----- bgcolor="#DFEDFD"
{{nat fs r player |no=|pos=MF |name=[[Ervin Skela]] |age={{birth date and age|1976|11|17|df=y}} |caps=75 |goals=13 |club=[[TuS Koblenz]] |clubnat=GER| latest=v. {{fb|LUX}}, 6 September 2011}}
{{nat fs r player |no=|pos=MF |name=[[Ledian Memushaj]] |age={{birth date and age|1986|12|7|df=y}} |caps=2 |goals=0 |club=[[Carpi F.C. 1909|Carpi]] |clubnat=ITA| latest=v. {{fb|SLO}}, 9 February 2011}}
{{nat fs r player |no=|pos=MF |name=[[Igli Allmuça]] |age={{birth date and age|1980|10|25|df=y}} |caps=1 |goals=0 |club=[[KF Skënderbeu Korçë|Skënderbeu Korçë]] |clubnat=ALB| latest=v. {{fb|ARG}}, 20 June 2011}}
{{nat fs r player |no=|pos=MF |name=[[Armando Vajushi]] |age={{birth date and age|1991|12|3|df=y}} |caps=1 |goals=0 |club=[[KS Vllaznia Shkodër|Vllaznia Shkodër]] |clubnat=ALB| latest=v. {{fb|ARG}}, 20 June 2011}}
{{nat fs r player |no=|pos=MF |name=[[Altin Lala]] |age={{birth date and age|1975|18|11|df=y}} |caps=79 |goals=3 |club=[[Hannover 96]] |clubnat=GER| latest=v. {{fb|ROU}}, 11 October 2011}}
{{nat fs r player |no=|pos=MF |name=[[Klodian Duro]] |age={{birth date and age|1977|21|12|df=y}} |caps=77 |goals=6 |club=[[KF Tirana]] |clubnat=ALB| latest=v. {{fb|FRA}}, 7 October 2011}}
|-----
! colspan="9" bgcolor="B0D3FB" align="left" |
|----- bgcolor="#DFEDFD"
{{nat fs r player |no=|pos=FW|name=[[Besart Berisha]] |age={{birth date and age|1985|7|29|df=y}} |caps=14 |goals=2 |club=[[Brisbane Roar FC|Brisbane Roar]] |clubnat=AUS| latest=v. {{fb|SWE}}, 14 October 2009}}
{{National football squad end}}
=== Coaching staff ===
According to the [[FSHF]] website, the following is the current coaching staff:
{|
|-
| '''Head Coach''' || ''Vacant''
|-
| '''Assistant Coach''' || [[Džemal Mustedanagić]]
|-
| '''Goalkeeping Coach''' ||
[[Ilir Bozhiqi]]
|-
| '''National Team Manager''' ||
[[Denis Bastari]]
|-
| '''Team Doctor''' ||
[[Arben Celiku]]
|- valign=top
| rowspan=3|'''Physios''' ||
Achim Bullinger
|-
|
Ylli Mihali
|-
|}
==Stadium==
[[File:QemalStafaStadiumTirana.JPG|200px|thumb|Old Qemal Stafa Stadium as seen from the Sheraton hotel.]]
The Qemal Stafa Stadium (Albanian: Stadiumi Qemal Stafa), named after Qemal Stafa, a World War II hero, is a national stadium and the largest football stadium in Tirana, Albania. Construction started in 1939 and the stadium was inaugurated in 1946 for the Balkan Cup, which was won by the Albania national football team. The stadium has been used for football matches of the Albanian Superliga and the national team, for athletic events, and for the six Albanian Spartakiads. Although it was enlarged in 1974 to accommodate up to 35,000 spectators, in the 1990s it became an all-seater stadium, and its capacity was reduced to the current 19,600.
Plans to demolish the current stadium and begin construction of a new one right after the Qualifiers for Euro 2012 have already been approved by the Football Association of Albania and the Albanian government, which will divide the property rights to the stadium between them; the football association will hold 75% rights and the government 25%. A new stadium with a capacity of over 33,000 spectators will be built at a cost of €60 million. The new stadium will be football-only; the athletics track will be eliminated. It will have the shape of the map of Albania, and its outside will be black and red, the colours of the Albanian flag. The outside shape will be rugged to harmonise with the mountainous skyline of Tirana. The stadium is expected to meet the highest UEFA category.
===Renaming===
In January 2010, after the death of notable Albanian player [[Panajot Pano]], an official request from the Partizani Tirana club and from the Albanian Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports was addressed to the Albanian government, that the stadium be renamed for the famous footballer.
== Supporters ==
[[Tifozat Kuq e Zi]] (English: Red and Black Fans, also known as the Albania National Football Team Supporters Club) is a non-profit football supporters' association for the Albania national football team and various national team sportive activities. It was founded on December 25, 2003. In cooperation with FSHF, it organises trips for football fans to visit games, and develops and sells merchandise to support itself and fund sporting related projects.
Tifozat Kuq e Zi stands firm in the political view that Albanians should share only one national team and have continuous aspirations to join in one state. In this sense, TKZ is joined by different supporters' associations throughout Albanian-speaking regions mainly in Kosovo (Plisat-Dardanët of Pristina etc.), Republic of Macedonia (Ballistët of Tetovo, Ilirët of Kumanovo, etc.) and in Albania itself.
The ongoing dispute between the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Football Association of Albania has been seen as a political intrusion by FIFA and UEFA, which led to the banning of Albania from international sportive activities.
==Kit History==
The Albanian Uniform has been mostly red and black with small changes through years.
'''
== Managerial History ==
This is a chronological list of the 22 managers who have guided Albania since 1946 (note that Bejkush Birçe and Agron Sulaj have had the job twice):
{{div col|4}}
#
[[Ljubiša Broćić]]
#
[[Adem Karapici]]
#
[[Sllave Llambi]]
#
[[Ludovik Jakova]]
#
[[Myslim Alla]]
#
[[Miklos Vadas]]
#
[[Loro Boriçi]]
#
[[Nikolai Ljuksinov]]
#
[[Zyber Konçi]]
#
[[Ilia Shuke]]
#
[[Shyqyri Rreli]]
#
[[Agron Sulaj]]
#
[[Bejkush Birçe]]
#
[[Agron Sulaj]]
#
[[Bejkush Birçe]]
#
[[Neptun Bajko]]
#
[[Astrit Hafizi]]
#
[[Medin Zhega]]
#
[[Sulejman Demollari]]
#
[[Giuseppe Dossena]]
#
[[Hans-Peter Briegel]]
#
[[Otto Baric]]
#
[[Arie Haan]]
#
[[Josip Kuže]]
{{div col end}}
=== Most appearances ===
Below is a list of the 10 players with the most appearances for Albania, as of November 16, 2011 (* denotes players still available for selection):
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!No!!Name!!Matches!!Goals!!First game (age)!!Last game (age)
|-
| 1 || [[Altin Lala]]* || 79 || 3 || 1998 || 11-10-2011 (35)
|-
| 2 || [[Klodian Duro]]* || 77 || 6 || 2001 (23) || 07-10-2011 (33)
|-
| 3 || [[Ervin Skela]]* || 75 || 13 || 2000 (22) || 06-09-2011 (34)
|-
| 4 || [[Foto Strakosha]] || 73 || 0 || 5-30-1990 || 08-13-2004 (39)
|-
| 5 || [[Igli Tare]] || 68 || 10 || 1997 || 07-02-2007 (33)
|-
| 5 || [[Alban Bushi]] || 68 || 14 || 1995 || 17-11-2007 (34)
|-
| 7 || [[Altin Haxhi]] || 67 || 3 || 1995 || 14-11-2009 (32)
|-
| 8 || [[Erion Bogdani]]* || 65 || 15 || 1996 || 11-11-2011 (34)
|-
| 9 || [[Altin Rraklli]] || 63 || 11 || 1992 || 30-03-2005 (34)
|-
| 10 || [[Rudi Vata]] || 59 || 5 || 30-5-1990 (21) || 01-09-2001 (32)
|}
=== Top goalscorers ===
Below is a list of the 10 players with the most goals for Albania, as of November 16, 2011 (* denotes players still available for selection):
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!No!!Name!!First game !!Last game!!Goals!!Caps!!Goals per Match
|-
| 1 || [[Erion Bogdani]]* || 1996 || 2011 || 15 || 65 || 0.22
|-
| 2 || [[Alban Bushi]] || 1995 || 2007 || 14 || 68 || 0.21
|-
| 3 || [[Ervin Skela]]* || 2000 || 2011 || 13 || 75 || 0.17
|-
| 4 || [[Altin Rraklli]] || 1992 || 2005 || 11 || 61 || 0.17
|-
| 5 || [[Sokol Kushta]] || 1987 || 1996 || 10 || 31 || 0.32
|-
| 5 || [[Igli Tare]] || 1997 || 2007 || 10 || 68 || 0.15
|-
| 7 || [[Hamdi Salihi]]* || 2006 || 2011 || 9 || 38 || 0.24
|-
| 8 || [[Adrian Aliaj]] || 2002 ||2006|| 8|| 29 || 0.28
|-
| 9 || [[Bledar Kola]] || 1994 || 2007 || 6 || 39 || 0.15
|-
| 9 || [[Klodian Duro]]* || 2001 || 2011 || 6 || 77 || 0.08
|-
| 10 || [[Edmond Kapllani]]* || 2004 || 2011 || 6 || 36 || 0.17
|}
== Honours ==
* Winners of VIII [[Balkan Cup]] ([[Tirana]], October 1946)
* Winners of Rothmans Football International Tournament ([[Valletta]], February 4 — February 10, 2000)
== World Cup record ==
* [[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]] to [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]] – ''Did not participate''
* [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]] – ''Did not qualify''
* [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]] – ''Did not participate''
* [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]] – ''Did not qualify''
* [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]] – ''Did not participate''
* [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]] to [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]] – ''Did not qualify''
== UEFA European Championship record ==
* [[1960 European Nations' Cup|1960]] - ''Did not enter''
*[[1964 European Nations' Cup|1964]] - [[UEFA Euro 1972|1972]] - ''Did not qualify''
*[[UEFA Euro 1976|1976]] - [[UEFA Euro 1980|1980]] - ''Did not enter''
*[[UEFA Euro 1984|1984]] - [[UEFA Euro 2012|2012]] - ''Did not qualify''
==Head-to-Head records against other countries==
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Opponent
!Games
!Wins
!Draws
!Losses
!Goals For
!Goals Against
!Goal Differential
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|ALG}}
|1
|1
|0
|0
|3
|0
| +3
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|AND}}
|3
|2
|0
|1
|4
|2
| +2
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|ARG}}
|1
|0
|0
|1
|0
|4
| -1
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|ARM}}
|2
|0
|1
|1
|1
|4
| -4
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|AUT}}
|6
|0
|0
|6
|1
|17
| -16
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|AZE}}
|5
|3
|1
|1
|5
|3
| +2
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|BHR}}
|1
|0
|0
|1
|0
|3
| -3
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|BLR}}
|4
|1
|1
|2
|5
|8
| -3
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|BEL}}
|2
|1
|0
|1
|3
|3
| =0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|BIH}}
|4
|1
|2
|1
|3
|3
| =0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|BUL}}
|11
|2
|4
|5
|8
|15
| -7
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|CHN}}
|1
|0
|1
|0
|1
|1
| =0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|CUB}}
|1
|0
|1
|0
|0
|0
| =0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|CZE}}
|5
|2
|0
|3
|6
|10
| -4
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|DEN}}
|8
|1
|1
|6
|3
|18
| -15
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|ENG}}
|4
|0
|0
|4
|1
|12
| -11
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|EST}}
|3
|1
|2
|0
|3
|1
| +2
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|FIN}}
|7
|2
|1
|4
|6
|8
| -2
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|FRA}}
|4
|0
|0
|4
|1
|11
| -10
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|GEO}}
|11
|3
|2
|6
|9
|17
| -8
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|GER}}
|14
|0
|1
|13
|10
|38
| -28
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|GRE}}
|14
|5
|3
|6
|13
|13
| =0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|HUN}}
|5
|0
|1
|4
|0
|18
| -18
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|ISL}}
|3
|2
|0
|1
|3
|3
| =0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|KAZ}}
|2
|2
|0
|0
|3
|1
| +2
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|LAT}}
|5
|0
|5
|0
|6
|6
| =0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|LIE}}
|1
|1
|0
|0
|2
|0
| +2
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|LIT}}
|3
|1
|0
|2
|3
|5
| -2
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|LUX}}
|5
|3
|1
|1
|7
|2
| +5
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|MLT}}
|7
|4
|2
|1
|12
|3
| +9
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|MEX}}
|1
|0
|0
|1
|0
|4
| -4
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|MKD}}
|8
|1
|3
|4
|4
|10
| -6
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|MDA}}
|2
|2
|0
|0
|6
|2
| +4
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|NED}}
|4
|0
|0
|4
|1
|7
| -6
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|NIR}}
|8
|1
|2
|5
|4
|13
| -9
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|NOR}}
|4
|1
|1
|2
|2
|3
| -1
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|POL}}
|11
|1
|3
|7
|7
|14
| -7
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|POR}}
|5
|0
|1
|4
|4
|12
| -8
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|IRL}}
|4
|0
|1
|3
|2
|6
| -4
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|ROM}}
|15
|2
|3
|10
|9
|40
| -31
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|RUS}}
|2
|1
|0
|1
|4
|5
| -1
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|SMR}}
|1
|1
|0
|0
|3
|0
| +3
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|SCO}}
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
| =0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|YUG}}
|5
|0
|1
|4
|4
|13
| -9
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|SLO}}
|5
|0
|2
|3
|1
|5
| -4
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|ESP}}
|5
|0
|0
|5
|2
|24
| -22
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|SWE}}
|5
|1
|1
|3
|5
|10
| -5
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|SWI}}
|4
|0
|1
|3
|3
|7
| -4
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|TUR}}
|9
|3
|2
|4
|11
|8
| +3
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|UKR}}
|4
|0
|1
|3
|2
|6
| -4
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|UZB}}
|1
|1
|0
|0
|1
|0
| +1
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|VIE}}
|1
|1
|0
|0
|5
|0
| +5
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{fb|WAL}}
|2
|0
|1
|1
|1
|3
| -2
|-
|- class="sortbottom"
! 53 Countries || 249 || 54 || 53 || 142 || 203 || 421 || −218
|}
* Last updated: 15.11.2011 after the 0-0 away friendly match against [[FYR of Macedonia]].
== See also ==
* [[Kategoria superiore]]
* [[Albania national under-21 football team]]
* [[Albania national under-19 football team]]
* [[Albania national under-17 football team]]
* [[List of Albanian footballers]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.futbollishqiptar.net/ FutbolliShqiptar.net]
* [http://www.kftirana.webs.com/ Fan Website]
* [http://www.albaniasoccer.com/ AlbaniaSoccer.com]
* [http://www.staff.city.ac.uk/r.j.gerrard/cgi-bin/rdifarch_21.pl?SECONDARY=any&PRIMARY=alb&FROMYEAR=1940&TOYEAR=2001&COMP=0&SUMMARY=on&TABULAR=0&DATAVER=10.0 AIFR archive of results: 1946-2000/01]
* [http://www.tifozatkuqezi.com/ Tifozat Kuq e Zi / Red and Black Fan Club]
* [http://foreignaffairs.tripod.com/armillotta/albanian_cups.html Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation – Albania]
* [http://www.albania-sport.com/ Albania Sport]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/albsoccer/ Albanian Soccer News]
{{Football in Albania}}
{{International football}}
{{UEFA teams}}
{{National sports teams of Albania}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Albania National Football Team}}