Ballkani
Full nameFootball Club Ballkani
Nickname(s)Xhebrailat (The Gabriels)
Founded1947 (1947) as Rinia
GroundSuva Reka City Stadium
Capacity3,000
ChairmanArsim Kabashi
ManagerIlir Daja
LeagueKosovo Superleague
2022–23Kosovo Superleague, 1st of 10 (champions)
WebsiteClub website

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.

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.

History

The 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 Suva Reka Chemical and Rubber Industry took the ownership of the club.

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.

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 Suva Reka 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]

Stadium

The club plays its home games at the Suva Reka City Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Suva Reka, 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 National Stadium, as Theranda City Stadium did not meet UEFA requirements.

Honours

Domestic

Players

Current squad

As of 3 October 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Albania ALB Enea Koliçi
2 DF Kosovo KOS Armend Thaqi
3 DF Kosovo KOS Arbër Potoku
4 DF Kosovo KOS Gentrit Halili
5 DF Kosovo KOS Lumbardh Dellova
6 MF Kosovo KOS Lindon Emërllahu
7 MF Algeria ALG Walid Hamidi
8 MF Germany GER Vesel Limaj
9 FW Kosovo KOS Albin Berisha
10 MF Albania ALB Nazmi Gripshi
11 MF Kosovo KOS Qëndrim Zyba
12 GK Albania ALB Andrea Hoxha
13 DF Albania ALB Marsel Ismailgeci (on loan from Zrinjski)
14 FW England ENG Yoan Marc-Olivier
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF Kosovo KOS Leonard Shala
19 DF Albania ALB Lorenc Trashi
20 MF Montenegro MNE Edvin Kuč (captain)
21 DF Kosovo KOS Albin Kapra
22 DF Kosovo KOS Leonit Abazi
23 MF Kosovo KOS Ramush Ramadani
25 FW Albania ALB Bernard Karrica
27 FW Kosovo KOS Edi Maksutaj
30 FW Kosovo KOS Arb Manaj
32 DF Kosovo KOS Bajram Jashanica
88 MF Kosovo KOS Arbnor Halitjaha
92 GK Montenegro MNE Damir Ljuljanović
98 FW Kosovo KOS Almir Kryeziu
99 FW Kosovo KOS Bleart Tolaj

Personnel

As of 19 January 2021[2]
Current technical staff
Position Name
Head coach Albania Ilir Daja
Assistant coach(es) North Macedonia Artim Pollozhani
Kosovo Edon Gashi
Albania Glen Daja
Kosovo Ardi Kabashi
Conditional coach Kosovo Alban Shala
Goalkeeping coach Kosovo Labinot Qosa
Video analysis Kosovo Ardi Kabashi
Manager officer Kosovo Idriz Hajrizi
Administrator Kosovo Florim Elshani
Secretary Kosovo Arben Osmani
Lawyer Kosovo Ismal Selimi
Coordinator of football school Kosovo Driton Mamaj
Information officer
Marketing and media officer		 Kosovo Jetullah Kuqi
Security officer Kosovo Blerim Kuqi
Scoutings Kosovo Ismet Maksutaj
Kosovo Astrit Bekteshi
Medical Staff
Physiotherapist Kosovo Krenar Zenelaj
Kosovo Arianit Bytyqi
Doctor Kosovo Hadi Hasanaj
Cashier Kosovo Arbenita Sejdaj
Operational Support Kosovo Lirim Lezi
Technical Staff
Kitmanager Kosovo Meriton Kryeziu
Board members
Office Name
President Kosovo Arsim Kabashi
Vice President Kosovo Visar Maksutaj

Historical list of coaches

  • Kosovo Bekim Shotani (Feb 2018–2 Sep 2018)[3]
  • Kosovo Sami Sermaxhaj (6 Sep 2018–14 Apr 2019)[4]
  • Kosovo Gani Sejdiu (16 Apr 2019–Jun 2019)[5]
  • Kosovo Ismet Munishi (8 Jun 2019–December 2020)[6]

Ballkani in Europe

By competition

Fully up to date as of match played 14 December 2023

Competition Pld W D L GF GA GD Win%
European Cup/UEFA Champions League 4 1 1 2 3 6 −3 025.00
UEFA Europa Conference League 24 12 2 10 44 27 +17 050.00
Total 28 13 3 12 47 33 +14 046.43

Matches

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Agg.
2022–23 UEFA Champions League 1Q Lithuania Žalgiris 1–1 0–1 (a.e.t.) 1–2
UEFA Europa Conference League 2Q San Marino La Fiorita 6–0 4–0 10–0
3Q Faroe Islands KÍ 3–2 1–2 (a.e.t.) 4–4 (4–3 p)
PO North Macedonia Shkupi 1–0 2–1 3–1
GS Czech Republic Slavia Prague 0–1 2–3
4th
Romania CFR Cluj 1–1 0–1
Turkey Sivasspor 1–2 4–3
2023–24 UEFA Champions League 1Q Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad 2–0 0–4 2–4
UEFA Europa Conference League 2Q Northern Ireland Larne 3–0 4–1 7–1
3Q Gibraltar Lincoln Red Imps 2–0 3–1 5–1
PO Belarus BATE Borisov 4–1 0–1 4–2
GS Croatia Dinamo Zagreb 2–0 0–3
4th
Czech Republic Viktoria Plzeň 0–1 0–1
Kazakhstan Astana 1–2 0–0

References

  1. ↑ "F.C. Ballkani (historia)" [F.C. Ballkani (history)] (in Albanian). KF Ballkani.
  2. ↑ "F.C. Ballkani (kryesia e klubit)" [F.C. Ballkani (the club headship)] (in Albanian). KF Ballkani.
  3. ↑ Vjen dorëheqja e parë në Superligën e Kosovës, Bekim Shotani largohet nga Ballkani - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
  4. ↑ Zyrtare: Ballkani dhe Sermaxhaj shkëpusin marrëveshjen - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
  5. ↑ Zyrtare: Gani Sejdiu prezantohet te Ballkani - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
  6. ↑ Ismet Munishi bëhet trajner i Ballkanit - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
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