2018–19 KF Tirana season

On 1 June 2018, Tirana announced to have signed a new two-year contract with manager Zé Maria, making him the highest paid coach in Albania.^[1] The defender Erion Hoxhallari agreed a new contract until June 2020 despite interest from several European clubs.^[2] Then he was sent on loan at fellow Superliga side Laçi on a short-term contract only for their UEFA Europa League campaign.^[3]

On 14 June, Tirana reached a principal agreement with striker Michael Ngoo for the contract renewal.^[4] The club announced their first summer transfer nine days later, the Macedonian striker Dejan Blazhevski, who signed a 1+1 contract.^[5]

On 29 June, the youngster Ernest Muçi signed his first professional contract that would link him with Tirana for the next three years.^[6] The club also presented their second signing of summer transfer window, the midfielder Eni Imami who signed for the next two seasons.^[7]

Tirana begun the month by completing the signing of Vincent Atinga on a contract until June 2021.^[8] Youngsters Jurgen Çelhaka and Marsel Ismailgeci both signed three-year contracts, their firsts as professionals.^[9][10] The club then announced the next signing, the Ghanaian midfielder Winful Cobbinah, who signed a three-year deal.^[11]

The club did not offer a new deal the youngster Patrik Bardhi who left as a free agent and later signed for Kastrioti Krujë.^[12] After one season, Alked Çelhaka left the club by terminating the contract by mutual consent.^[13]

On 16 July, Asion Daja and Dorian Kërçiku both signed contracts for the new season.^[14][15] On 23 July, Tirana beat the concurrence of their rivals Partizani and signed the midfielder Edon Hasani on a two-year contract.^[16] The next days, Tirana announced that they were going to play friendly matches with Apolonia Fier, Flamurtari Pristina and Prishtina.^[17]

In the first friendly, Tirana recorded a 2–0 win at Selman Stërmasi Stadium against Apolonia Fier with the goal coming from newcomers Dejan Blazhevski and Edon Hasani.^[18] On 27 July, Sedat Berisha was unveiled as Tirana's newest player by signing a one-year contract with an option to renew.^[19] In the second one, Tirana won again, this time 3–0 versus Flamurtari Pristina.^[20]

Club vice-captain Gentian Muça returned in training after more than a year after healing from the Spinal disc herniation and a neck tumor which he discovered in July of the previous year.^[21][22] In the third and final friendly against Prishtina, Tirana suffered the first loss, as the Football Superleague of Kosovo side won 3–1 with Albi Doka scoring the consolation goal for the team.^[23]

On 14 August, Tirana acquired the services of goalkeeper Shpëtim Moçka as a free agent. Moçka, who previously played for Teuta Durrës, signed a contract running until the end of the 2018–19 season.^[24] Tirana commenced the Kategoria Superiore season four days later by playing against Kamza at home; the team surprisingly lost via a Sebino Plaku late winner.^[25] The following week, Tirana didn't go more than a goalless draw against Teuta Durrës, earning their first championship point.^[26]

Players such as Rei Qilimi, Alvaro Bishaj, Jurgen Vrapi, Hardy Binguila and Kenneth Muguna were all released by the club.^[27][28][29]

On 29 August, Tirana was drawn in the first round of the 2018–19 Albanian Cup against Iliria Fushë-Krujë.^[30]

On 31 August 2018, Nnamdi Oduamadi joined the club on a two-year contract.^[31]

Tirana begun the new month by playing in the third league match against Kukësi at Loro Boriçi Stadium; youngster Ernest Muçi scored the consolation goal for the team which was defeated 3–1.^[32] Two goals from Cobbinah and one each from Blazhevski and Turtulli secured a 4–1 victory in the first leg of the Albanian Cup, first round, over Iliria Fushë-Krujë.^[33]

Back in league, Tirana won their first championship match on 16 September by defeating Luftëtari Gjirokastër 3–1 at home; Blazhevski, Turtulli and Greca gave Tirana their first top-flight win after 484 days.^[34] The team then played Skënderbeu Korçë away in the matchday 5; despite opening the score with a header from Edon Hasani, the team conceded in the last minutes in a match which was marred by referee's mistakes.^[35]

On 25 September, Tirana won comfortably the second leg of Albanian Cup first round against Iliria Fushë-Krujë; Sentamu scored a hat-trick which was followed by Ngoo's goal.^[36] The team will play Flamurtari Vlorë in the second round.^[37]

Three days later, Tirana played their first derby match against Partizani Tirana after more than a year; the team lost again, making it 14 consecutive matches without winning.^[38] The loss also meant the team's worst Kategoria Superiore start since 2007–08 season.^[39]

Tirana's October begun with a 3–2 win at Kastrioti Krujë for the second win of the season. A brace by Blazhevski and an owngoal from Stijepović sealed the victory for the white&blues.^[40] It was Tirana's first away win in Kategoria Superiore since February 2016.^[41]

In the next league match, Tirana fell at the hands of Laçi; the guests won 1–0 at Selman Stërmasi Stadium thanks to a goal of Redon Xhixha while Blazhevski missed a crucial penalty in the last minutes.^[42] Following the match, striker Nnamdi Oduamadi was sent to hospital with a broken rib due to heavy challenges from Laçi players.^[43]

As of 28 September 2018^[44]

Squad no.	Name	Nationality	Position	Date of birth (age)
Goalkeepers
1	Ilion Lika		GK	(1980-05-17)17 May 1980 (aged 38)
81	Alessio Abibi		GK	(1996-12-04)4 December 1996 (aged 21)
89	Shpëtim Moçka		GK	(1989-10-20)20 October 1989 (aged 28)
Defenders
2	Marsel Ismailgeci		LB	(2000-03-14)14 March 2000 (aged 18)
3	Klisman Cake		CB	(1999-05-02)2 May 1999 (aged 19)
4	Gentian Muça		CB / DM	(1987-05-13)13 May 1987 (aged 31)
5	Marvin Turtulli		CB	(1994-10-17)17 October 1994 (aged 23)
17	Albi Doka		RB	(1997-06-26)26 June 1997 (aged 21)
28	Erion Hoxhallari		LB	(1993-02-26)26 February 1993 (aged 25)
21	Vincent Atinga		CB	(1993-10-30)30 October 1993 (aged 24)
23	Sedat Berisha		CB	(1989-09-03)3 September 1989 (aged 28)
Midfielders
6	Tony Mawejje		DM	(1990-12-15)15 December 1990 (aged 27)
7	Bedri Greca		CM	(1990-10-23)23 October 1990 (aged 27)
8	Winful Cobbinah		AM	(1991-09-06)6 September 1991 (aged 26)
13	Erando Karabeci		CM / DM / AM	(1988-09-06)6 September 1988 (aged 29)
14	Asion Daja		CM / RB	(1990-03-14)14 March 1990 (aged 28)
16	Edon Hasani		CM / DM / AM	(1992-01-09)9 January 1992 (aged 26)
18	Dorian Kërçiku		CM / RB / LB	(1993-07-30)30 July 1993 (aged 24)
19	Eni Imami		CM / LM / CB / LB	(1992-12-19)19 December 1992 (aged 25)
Forwards
9	Grend Halili		CF	(1998-05-24)24 May 1998 (aged 20)
10	Nnamdi Oduamadi		CF	(1990-10-17)17 October 1990 (aged 27)
11	Yunus Sentamu		CF	(1994-08-13)13 August 1994 (aged 23)
45	Michael Ngoo		CF	(1992-10-23)23 October 1992 (aged 25)
77	Dejan Blazhevski		CF	(1985-12-06)6 December 1985 (aged 32)

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

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
22	MF	ALB	Jurgen Vrapi
25	MF	ALB	Andri Stafa

No.	Pos.	Nation	Name	Kategoria Superiore	Albanian Cup	Total
77	FW		Dejan Blazhevski	3	1	4
11	FW		Yunus Sentamu	0	3	3
8	MF		Winful Cobbinah	0	2	2
5	DF		Marvin Turtulli	1	1	2
7	MF		Bedri Greca	1	0	1
16	MF		Edon Hasani	1	0	1
20	FW		Ernest Muçi	1	0	1
45	FW		Michael Ngoo	0	1	1
#	Own goals			1	0	1
TOTAL				8	8	16

Last updated: 3 October 2018

The list is sorted by shirt number when total appearances are equal.

Rnk	No.	Player	Kategoria Superiore	Albanian Cup	Total
1	81	Alessio Abibi	1	0	1
2	89	Shpëtim Moçka	0	1	1
TOTALS			1	1	2

Last updated: 25 September 2018

• Official website