FC Ballkani

Ballkani

Full name	Football Club Ballkani
Nickname(s)	Xhebrailat (The Gabriels)
Founded	1947; 77 years ago (1947) as Rinia
Ground	Suva Reka City Stadium
Capacity	3,000
Chairman	Arsim Kabashi
Manager	Ilir Daja
League	Kosovo Superleague
2022–23	Kosovo Superleague, 1st of 10 (champions)
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

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.^[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 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 matches at the Suva Reka 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

Domestic

• Superliga e Kosovës
  • Winners (3): 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
• Kupa e Kosovës
  • Winners (1): 2023–24
  • Runners-up (1): 2019–20
• Superkupa e Kosovës
  • Winners (2): 2022, 2024
  • Runners-up(1): 2023

Players

Current squad

As of 9 July 2024

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  ALB Enea Koliçi 2 DF  ALB Geralb Smajli 3 DF  KOS Arbër Potoku (captain) 4 DF  KOS Gentrit Halili 5 DF  KOS Egzon Sinani 6 MF  KOS Lindon Emërllahu 8 MF  GER Vesel Limaj 9 FW  NGA Sunday Adetunji 10 FW  KOS Almir Kryeziu 11 MF  ALG Walid Hamidi 13 GK  KOS Art Miftari 14 DF  ALB Marsel Ismailgeci 15 MF  KOS Arbnor Halitjaha 16 DF  KOS Gentian Kabashi 17 FW  KOS Edi Maksutaj

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 MF  KOS Engjëll Ajazaj 20 DF  KOS Astrit Thaqi 22 FW  KOS Krenar Dulaj 25 FW  ALB Bernard Karrica 28 MF  KOS Arjol Bllaca 32 DF  KOS Bajram Jashanica 33 MF  CIV Bangaly Diawara 37 FW  BRA Giovanni 77 MF  KOS Eris Abedini 88 MF  BRA Queven 92 GK  MNE Damir Ljuljanović 99 FW  KOS Bleart Tolaj — DF  KOS Merlind Kodra — MF  ALB Uheid Hoxha

Other players under contract

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 12 GK  KOS Malsor Bajraktari 18 MF  KOS Leonard Shala

No. Pos. Nation Player 23 MF  KOS Ramush Ramadani 45 MF  KOS Loris Kolgeci

Personnel

As of 19 January 2021^[2]

Current technical staff
Position	Name
Head coach	Ilir Daja
Asisten coach	Edon Gashi
Assistant coach	Glen Daja
Assistant coach	Ardi Kabashi
Conditional coach	Alban Shala
Goalkeeping coach	Labinot Qosa
Video analysis	Ardi Kabashi
Management
Sporting Director	Omer Bunjaku
Manager officer	Idriz Hajrizi
Administrator	Florim Elshani
Secretary	Arben Osmani
Lawyer	Ismal Selimi
Coordinator of football school	Driton Mamaj
Marketing and Media Director	Kushtrim Reshitaj
Information officer Marketing and media officer	Jetullah Kuqi
Security officer	Blerim Kuqi
Scoutings	Ismet Maksutaj
	Astrit Bekteshi
Medical Staff
Physiotherapist	Krenar Zenelaj
	Arianit Bytyqi
Doctor	Hadi Hasanaj
Technical Staff
Kitmanager	Meriton Kryeziu
Cashier	Arbenita Sejdaj
Operational Support	Lirim Lezi
Board members
Office	Name
President	Arsim Kabashi
Vice President	Visar Maksutaj

Historical list of coaches

Ballkani in Europe

By competition

Fully up to date as of match played 9 July 2024

Matches

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	6–0	4–0	10–0
		3Q	KÍ	3–2	1–2 (a.e.t.)	4–4 (4–3 p)
		PO	Shkupi	1–0	2–1	3–1
		GS	Slavia Prague	0–1	2–3	4th
			CFR Cluj	1–1	0–1
			Sivasspor	1–2	4–3
2023–24	UEFA Champions League	1Q	Ludogorets Razgrad	2–0	0–4	2–4
	UEFA Europa Conference League	2Q	Larne	3–0	4–1	7–1
		3Q	Lincoln Red Imps	2–0	3–1	5–1
		PO	BATE Borisov	4–1	0–1	4–2
		GS	Dinamo Zagreb	2–0	0–3	4th
			Viktoria Plzeň	0–1	0–1
			Astana	1–2	0–0
2024–25	UEFA Champions League	1Q	UE Santa Coloma	—	2–1	—

References