The Kategoria Superiore, officially known as Abissnet Superiore for sponsorship reasons, is a professional league for men's association football clubs. At the top of the Albanian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 10 clubs, and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Kategoria e Parë. Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 36 matches each (playing each team in the league four times, twice at home and twice away).
The competition was founded in 1930 as the Albanian National Championship during the reign of King Zog, shortly after the creation of the Albanian Football Association. Since 1930, 45 clubs have competed in recognised competitions, while only nine clubs have won the title: Tirana (26), Dinamo Tirana (18), Partizani (16), Vllaznia (9), Skënderbeu (8), Elbasani (2), Teuta (2), Flamurtari (1), and Kukësi (1). The current champions are Tirana, who won their 26th title in 2021–22.
Football was first introduced to Albania by an English-Maltese priest named Gut Ruter, who visited the Saverian college in Shkodër in 1908. The first football club in Albania was Indipendenca, founded in Shkodër in 1912 by Palokë Nika.[2] The first 90-minute game to be played with two 45 minute halves took place in October 1913 between Indipendenca Shkodër and the occupying Austro-Hungarian Imperial Navy. The game is considered to be the first international game to be played in Albania, and it ended in a 2–1 loss for Indipendenca, with the captain and founder of the club Palokë Nika scoring the only goal for the Albanians.[2][3]
Albania was invaded by Italy in April 1939 and World War II soon broke out, meaning the Albanian Football Association, much like the other organisations in the country, ceased operating. Despite the war, three championships were held between 1939 and 1942, with Tirana winning the championships in 1939 and 1942 and Shkodra winning in 1940. Despite calls to recognise these championships, the Albanian Football Association maintains the position that the championships were not organised by them and cannot be formally recognised.[4][5][6]
Names
Name
Period
Notes
Albanian
English
Kampionati Kombëtar Shqiptar
Albanian National Championship
1930–2003
—
Kategoria Superiore
Superior Category
2003–present
The official name, even though from 2021 for sponsorship reasons the name changes.
Most points in a season 84 points. KF Tirana (2004–05)
Most points without winning the league title 79 points. KF Elbasani (2004–05)
First Albanian team to qualify for a European competition. KF Skenderbeu (2017–18) Europa League
First Albanian team to qualify for The Champions League. KF Vllaznia Women (2022–23)
Competition format
Since the 2014–15 Kategoria Superiore, the league consists of 10 clubs, who face each other four times in a conventional round-robin tournament for a total of 36 matches. At the end of the season, the two lowest-placed teams are relegated to the Kategoria e Parë, while two highest-placed teams of the Kategoria e Parë are promoted in their place. The 8th ranked team qualifies to the play-off round, which they play against the Kategoria e Parë play-off winner. Teams are ranked by total points, then head-to-head record, then goal difference, and then goals scored.
Since 1930, the competition has not been played a total of 9 times: 1935, 1938–44, 1949, 1962. Furthermore, the champion award was not given during the 1968–69 season.
Tirana and Vllaznia would have accordingly 28 and 10 titles, if the three seasons played during WW2 are officially recognised from AFA.
All time table
The all-time table of football clubs that have participated in the Kategoria Superiore, prior to the 2021–2022 season. The ranking is based on the total accumulated points by each club. Teams in bold are part of the 2022–23 season.[9]
^Admir Uruçi (12 January 2012). "Vioresin Sinani thotë mjaft: E mbyll si futbollist në fund të këtij edicioni" [Vioresin Sinani says enough: I finish as a player at the end of the season] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
^ abGjergj Kola. "Palokë Nika – personazhi historik i sportit Shqiptar" (in Albanian). Shkodra Sport. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
^ (in Albanian). Vllaznia.al. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
^"Giovanni Armillotta: "Drejt njohjes së tre Kampionate Kombëtare të Luftës: 1939, 1940 dhe 1942"".
^AFA's General Assembly: War championships are not legitimate 20 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
^"Firmoset marrëveshja, Kategoria Superiore do të quhet "Abissnet Superiore" për 3 sezonet e ardhshme" [The agreement is signed, the Kategoria Superiore will be called "Abissnet Superiore" for the next 3 seasons] (in Albanian). Albanian Football Association. 10 September 2021.
^"Kategoria Superiore: Summary". Soccerway. Perform. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
^Shifrat e 79 Kampionateve 24 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine
January 24, 2023
kategoria, superiore, officially, known, abissnet, superiore, sponsorship, reasons, professional, league, association, football, clubs, albanian, football, league, system, country, primary, football, competition, contested, clubs, operates, system, promotion, . The Kategoria Superiore officially known as Abissnet Superiore for sponsorship reasons is a professional league for men s association football clubs At the top of the Albanian football league system it is the country s primary football competition It is contested by 10 clubs and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Kategoria e Pare Seasons run from August to May with teams playing 36 matches each playing each team in the league four times twice at home and twice away Kategoria SuperioreOrganising bodyFSHFFounded6 June 1930 92 years ago 1930 06 06 CountryAlbaniaConfederationUEFANumber of teams10 from 2014 15 Level on pyramid1Relegation toKategoria e PareDomestic cup s Albanian CupAlbanian SupercupInternational cup s UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Europa Conference LeagueCurrent championsTirana 26th title 2021 22 Most championshipsTirana 26 titles Top goalscorerVioresin Sinani 207 goals note 1 TV partnersOversportRTSHWebsiteOfficial websiteCurrent 2022 23 Kategoria SuperioreThe competition was founded in 1930 as the Albanian National Championship during the reign of King Zog shortly after the creation of the Albanian Football Association Since 1930 45 clubs have competed in recognised competitions while only nine clubs have won the title Tirana 26 Dinamo Tirana 18 Partizani 16 Vllaznia 9 Skenderbeu 8 Elbasani 2 Teuta 2 Flamurtari 1 and Kukesi 1 The current champions are Tirana who won their 26th title in 2021 22 Contents 1 History 1 1 Early history 1 2 World War II championships 1 3 Names 1 4 Records 2 Competition format 3 Clubs 2022 2023 3 1 Current members 4 List of champions 5 Performance by club 6 All time table 7 UEFA rankings 7 1 Current rankings 2022 23 8 See also 9 ReferencesHistory EditEarly history Edit Football was first introduced to Albania by an English Maltese priest named Gut Ruter who visited the Saverian college in Shkoder in 1908 The first football club in Albania was Indipendenca founded in Shkoder in 1912 by Paloke Nika 2 The first 90 minute game to be played with two 45 minute halves took place in October 1913 between Indipendenca Shkoder and the occupying Austro Hungarian Imperial Navy The game is considered to be the first international game to be played in Albania and it ended in a 2 1 loss for Indipendenca with the captain and founder of the club Paloke Nika scoring the only goal for the Albanians 2 3 World War II championships Edit Main articles 1939 Albanian National Championship 1940 Albanian National Championship and 1942 Albanian National Championship Albania was invaded by Italy in April 1939 and World War II soon broke out meaning the Albanian Football Association much like the other organisations in the country ceased operating Despite the war three championships were held between 1939 and 1942 with Tirana winning the championships in 1939 and 1942 and Shkodra winning in 1940 Despite calls to recognise these championships the Albanian Football Association maintains the position that the championships were not organised by them and cannot be formally recognised 4 5 6 Names Edit Name Period NotesAlbanian EnglishKampionati Kombetar Shqiptar Albanian National Championship 1930 2003 Kategoria Superiore Superior Category 2003 present The official name even though from 2021 for sponsorship reasons the name changes Abissnet Superiore 2021 present Sponsored by Abissnet 7 Records Edit Most points in a season 84 points KF Tirana 2004 05 Most points without winning the league title 79 points KF Elbasani 2004 05 First Albanian team to qualify for a European competition KF Skenderbeu 2017 18 Europa LeagueFirst Albanian team to qualify for The Champions League KF Vllaznia Women 2022 23 Competition format EditSince the 2014 15 Kategoria Superiore the league consists of 10 clubs who face each other four times in a conventional round robin tournament for a total of 36 matches At the end of the season the two lowest placed teams are relegated to the Kategoria e Pare while two highest placed teams of the Kategoria e Pare are promoted in their place The 8th ranked team qualifies to the play off round which they play against the Kategoria e Pare play off winner Teams are ranked by total points then head to head record then goal difference and then goals scored Clubs 2022 2023 Edit Bylis Egnatia Erzeni Kastrioti Kukesi Laci Partizani Teuta Tirana Vllazniaclass notpageimage 2022 23 Kategoria Superiore teams Current members Edit The following teams are competing in the Kategoria Superiore during the 2022 23 season 8 Club Positionin 2022 23Bylis 1st Kategoria e Pare Egnatia 8thErzeni 2nd Kategoria e Pare Kastrioti 7thKukesi 4thLaci 2ndPartizani 3rdTeuta 6thTirana 1stVllaznia 5thList of champions Edit Group tournament format Season was not played Season is not officially recognised Season Champion Runner up Third place Top scorer s Goals1930 KF Tirana 1 Skenderbeu Bashkimi Shkodran Selman Stermasi 51931 KF Tirana 2 Teuta Uneven group format Teli Samsuri 91932 KF Tirana 3 Bashkimi Shkodran Teuta Selman Stermasi 111933 Skenderbeu 1 Bashkimi Shkodran Teuta Teofik Agaj 71934 KF Tirana 4 Skenderbeu Bashkimi Shkodran Mark Gurashi 221935 Season was not played1936 KF Tirana 5 Vllaznia Besa Riza Lushta 111937 KF Tirana 6 Vllaznia Besa Riza Lushta 251938 Season was not played1939 Season played but not officially recognised1940 Season played but not officially recognised1941 Season was not played1942 Season played but not officially recognised1943 Season was not played1944 Season was not played1945 Vllaznia 1 SK Tirana Besa Xhevdet Shaqiri 91946 Vllaznia 2 Flamurtari 17 Nentori Xhevdet Shaqiri 111947 Partizani 1 Vllaznia Dinamo Korce Zihni Gjinali 131948 Partizani 2 Flamurtari Uneven group format Zihni Gjinali 121949 Partizani 3 Vllaznia Ylli i Kuq Durres Zihni Gjinali 141950 Dinamo 1 Partizani Shkodra Loro Borici 61951 Dinamo 2 Partizani Puna Tirane Refik Resmja 591952 Dinamo 3 Partizani Uneven group format Refik Resmja 101953 Dinamo 4 Partizani Puna Tirane Refik Resmja 91954 Partizani 4 Dinamo Puna Tirane Refik Resmja 131955 Dinamo 5 Partizani Puna Tirane Refik Resmja 141956 Dinamo 6 Partizani Puna Tirane Refik Resmja 171957 Partizani 5 Dinamo Puna Korce Niko Bespalla 121958 Partizani 6 Besa 17 Nentori Skender Jareci 131959 Partizani 7 17 Nentori Flamurtari Panajot Pano 91960 Dinamo 7 Partizani 17 Nentori Skender Jareci 131961 Partizani 8 Dinamo 17 Nentori Panajot Pano 141962 63 Partizani 9 Dinamo Besa Panajot Pano 121963 64 Partizani 10 Dinamo Besa Robert Jashari 181964 65 KF Tirana 7 Partizani Dinamo Robert Jashari 191965 66 KF Tirana 8 Partizani Dinamo Iljaz Ceco 121966 67 Dinamo 8 17 Nentori Besa Josif Kazanxhi 171968 KF Tirana 9 Partizani Dinamo Medin Zhega 191969 70 KF Tirana 10 Partizani Vllaznia Skender Hyka 191970 71 Partizani 11 Dinamo Vllaznia Panajot Pano 181971 72 Vllaznia 3 17 Nentori Dinamo Ilir Pernaska 191972 73 Dinamo 9 Partizani Besa Ilir Pernaska 171973 74 Vllaznia 4 Partizani Besa Ilir Pernaska 121974 75 Dinamo 10 Vllaznia Partizani Ilir Pernaska 161975 76 Dinamo 11 17 Nentori Vllaznia Ilir Pernaska 191976 77 Dinamo 12 Skenderbeu Vllaznia Ilir Pernaska 171977 78 Vllaznia 5 Luftetari Partizani Agim Murati 121978 79 Partizani 12 17 Nentori Besa Agim Murati 131979 80 Dinamo 13 17 Nentori Vllaznia Perparim Kovaci 181980 81 Partizani 13 Dinamo 17 Nentori Dashnor Bajaziti 121981 82 KF Tirana 11 Flamurtari Dinamo Vasil Ruci 121982 83 Vllaznia 6 Partizani 17 Nentori Dashnor Bajaziti 161983 84 Elbasani 1 KF Tirana Partizani Vasil Ruci 121984 85 KF Tirana 12 Dinamo Vllaznia Arben Minga Faslli Fakja 131985 86 Dinamo 14 Flamurtari 17 Nentori Kujtim Majaci 201986 87 Partizani 14 Flamurtari Vllaznia Arben Arberi 141987 88 KF Tirana 13 Flamurtari Labinoti Agustin Kola 181988 89 KF Tirana 14 Partizani Dinamo Agustin Kola 191989 90 Dinamo 15 Partizani Flamurtari Kujtim Majaci 191990 91 Flamurtari 1 Partizani Besa Kliton Bozgo 291991 92 Vllaznia 7 Partizani Teuta Edmir Bilali 221992 93 Partizani 15 Teuta Besa Edmond Dosti 211993 94 Teuta 1 KF Tirana Flamurtari Edi Martini 141994 95 KF Tirana 15 Teuta Partizani Arben Shehu 211995 96 KF Tirana 16 Teuta Partizani Altin Cuko 211996 97 KF Tirana 17 Vllaznia Flamurtari Viktor Paco 141997 98 Vllaznia 8 Tirana Partizani Dorjan Bubeqi 261998 99 KF Tirana 18 Vllaznia Bylis Artan Bano 231999 00 KF Tirana 19 Tomori Teuta Klodian Arberi 182000 01 Vllaznia 9 Tirana Dinamo Indrit Fortuzi 302001 02 Dinamo 16 Tirana Partizani Indrit Fortuzi 242002 03 KF Tirana 20 Vllaznia Partizani Mahir Halili 202003 04 KF Tirana 21 Dinamo Vllaznia Vioresin Sinani 362004 05 KF Tirana 22 Elbasani Dinamo Dorian Bylykbashi 242005 06 Elbasani 2 Tirana Dinamo Hamdi Salihi 292006 07 KF Tirana 23 Teuta Vllaznia Vioresin Sinani 232007 08 Dinamo 17 Partizani Besa Vioresin Sinani 202008 09 KF Tirana 24 Vllaznia Dinamo Migen Memelli 222009 10 Dinamo 18 Besa Tirana Daniel Xhafaj 182010 11 Skenderbeu 2 Flamurtari Vllaznia Daniel Xhafaj 182011 12 Skenderbeu 3 Teuta Tirana Roland Dervishi 202012 13 Skenderbeu 4 Kukesi Teuta Migen Memelli 192013 14 Skenderbeu 5 Kukesi Laci Pero Pejic 202014 15 Skenderbeu 6 Kukesi Partizani Pero Pejic 312015 16 Skenderbeu 7 Partizani Kukesi Hamdi Salihi 272016 17 Kukesi 1 Partizani Skenderbeu Pero Pejic 272017 18 Skenderbeu 8 Kukesi Luftetari Ali Sowe 212018 19 Partizani 16 Kukesi Teuta Reginaldo 132019 20 KF Tirana 25 Kukesi Laci Kyrian Nwabueze 232020 21 Teuta 2 Vllaznia Partizani Dejvi Bregu 162021 22 KF Tirana 26 Laci Partizani Saliou GuindoTaulant Seferi 19Since 1930 the competition has not been played a total of 9 times 1935 1938 44 1949 1962 Furthermore the champion award was not given during the 1968 69 season Performance by club EditClub Champions Runners up Third places SeasonsTirana 26 13 14 1930 1931 1932 1934 1936 1937 1939 not yet officially recognized from AFA 1942 not yet officially recognized from AFA 1964 65 1965 66 1968 1969 70 1981 82 1984 85 1987 88 1988 89 1994 95 1995 96 1996 97 1998 99 1999 2000 2002 03 2003 04 2004 05 2006 07 2008 09 2019 20 2021 22Dinamo 18 9 10 1950 1951 1952 1953 1955 1956 1960 1966 67 1972 73 1974 75 1975 76 1976 77 1979 80 1985 86 1989 90 2001 02 2007 08 2009 10Partizani 16 21 11 1947 1948 1949 1954 1957 1958 1959 1961 1962 63 1963 64 1970 71 1978 79 1980 81 1986 87 1992 93 2018 19Vllaznia 9 12 13 1940 not yet officially recognized from AFA 1945 1946 1971 72 1973 74 1977 78 1982 83 1991 92 1997 98 2000 01Skenderbeu 8 3 3 1933 2010 11 2011 12 2012 13 2013 14 2014 15 2015 16 2017 18Teuta 2 6 7 1993 94 2020 21Elbasani 2 1 1 1983 84 2005 06Flamurtari 1 7 4 1990 91Kukesi 1 6 1 2016 17Besa 2 12 Luftetari 1 1 Tomori 1 Laci 1 2 Bylis 1 Tirana and Vllaznia would have accordingly 28 and 10 titles if the three seasons played during WW2 are officially recognised from AFA All time table EditThe all time table of football clubs that have participated in the Kategoria Superiore prior to the 2021 2022 season The ranking is based on the total accumulated points by each club Teams in bold are part of the 2022 23 season 9 Club was disbanded No Club Apps Matches Wins Ties Losses Goals GDif Points Titles1 Tirana 81 2024 1037 529 458 3318 1813 1505 2992 252 Partizani 68 1706 1052 332 291 3040 1480 1560 2707 163 Vllaznia 80 1991 911 470 612 3181 2053 1128 2638 94 Dinamo 61 1715 852 467 396 2769 1520 1249 2349 185 Teuta 80 2016 750 569 717 2020 2247 227 2312 26 Flamurtari 73 1906 663 516 727 2150 2320 170 2060 17 Besa 63 1575 542 444 589 1790 1908 118 1670 8 Skenderbeu 65 1529 520 397 602 1651 1861 210 1655 89 Elbasani 65 1593 513 423 654 1673 2029 356 1626 210 Lushnja 41 1139 299 326 511 1069 1559 490 1046 11 Luftetari 43 1132 322 270 550 1047 1616 569 1014 12 Tomori 44 1052 297 321 471 1026 1487 461 938 13 Apolonia 37 989 277 232 465 984 1505 521 879 14 Laci 21 675 251 153 271 733 839 106 848 15 Shkumbini 18 553 211 107 228 660 708 48 713 16 Kukesi 9 311 159 78 74 455 277 178 554 117 Bylis 15 448 142 112 194 486 596 110 535 18 Beselidhja 22 575 148 167 260 556 721 165 497 19 Kastrioti 13 422 134 92 195 413 567 154 449 20 Naftetari 16 384 90 109 185 322 635 313 289 21 Shkendija 10 258 68 87 103 217 283 66 223 22 Albpetrol 6 167 49 33 85 158 259 101 136 23 Pogradeci 9 210 38 39 133 167 466 299 118 24 Sopoti 4 112 36 25 51 107 150 43 110 25 Kamza 4 98 23 21 54 72 139 67 90 26 Erzeni 6 98 22 20 56 104 208 104 83 27 Burreli 5 109 23 23 63 96 183 87 77 28 Luftetari Tirane 5 50 19 7 24 60 64 4 45 29 Spartaku Tirane 3 66 10 17 39 68 132 64 37 30 Spartaku Shkoder 2 38 12 10 16 45 82 37 34 31 Dinamo Shkoder 1 30 13 7 10 46 41 5 33 32 Dinamo Durres 3 40 8 13 19 30 71 41 29 33 Egnatia 1 36 7 7 22 26 48 22 28 34 Selenica 1 30 10 7 13 33 54 21 27 35 Gramozi 1 33 6 8 19 25 43 18 26 36 Kombinati Tirane 2 30 7 11 12 28 39 11 25 37 Korabi 2 58 3 13 42 21 116 95 21 38 Terbuni 1 36 4 6 26 22 81 59 18 39 Dinamo Vlore 1 20 6 4 10 19 48 29 16 40 Iliria 1 30 7 2 21 22 64 42 16 41 24 Maj Permet 1 26 4 5 1 9 44 35 13 42 Ylli Shkoder 1 10 5 1 4 29 15 14 11 43 Liria Korce 1 10 3 2 5 16 15 1 8 44 Studenti 1 26 1 6 19 9 43 34 8 45 Spartaku Korce 1 12 2 1 9 10 45 35 5 UEFA rankings EditCurrent rankings 2022 23 Edit UEFA Country Ranking for league participation in 2022 23 European football season Previous year rank in italics 37 42 League of Ireland Premier Division 38 39 Macedonian First Football League 39 36 Armenian Premier League 40 37 Latvian Higher League 41 38 Kategoria Superiore 42 48 NIFL Premiership 43 44 Erovnuli Liga 44 43 Veikkausliiga 45 41 Moldovan National DivisionSee also EditList of football clubs in Albania List of Kategoria Superiore all time goalscorersReferences EditNotes 208 goals acccoring to Albanian media 1 Citations Admir Uruci 12 January 2012 Vioresin Sinani thote mjaft E mbyll si futbollist ne fund te ketij edicioni Vioresin Sinani says enough I finish as a player at the end of the season in Albanian Panorama Sport Retrieved 1 January 2015 a b Gjergj Kola Paloke Nika personazhi historik i sportit Shqiptar in Albanian Shkodra Sport Retrieved 5 February 2014 Nje historik i shkurter i futbollit ne Shkoder in Albanian Vllaznia al Archived from the original on 22 February 2014 Retrieved 5 February 2014 RSSSF Giovanni Armillotta Drejt njohjes se tre Kampionate Kombetare te Luftes 1939 1940 dhe 1942 AFA s General Assembly War championships are not legitimate Archived 20 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Firmoset marreveshja Kategoria Superiore do te quhet Abissnet Superiore per 3 sezonet e ardhshme The agreement is signed the Kategoria Superiore will be called Abissnet Superiore for the next 3 seasons in Albanian Albanian Football Association 10 September 2021 Kategoria Superiore Summary Soccerway Perform Retrieved 23 February 2017 Shifrat e 79 Kampionateve Archived 24 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kategoria Superiore amp oldid 1132825769, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
