AF Elbasani

Albanian football club

Not to be confused with KF Elbasani.

Football club

Elbasani

Full name| Akademia e Futbollit Elbasani
Nickname(s)| Tigrat
Founded| 2 August 2021; 4 years ago (2021-08-02)
Stadium| Elbasan Arena
Capacity| 12,800
Owner| Bashkia Elbasan
President| Kujtim Llupa
Manager| Ivan Gvozdenović
League| Kategoria Superiore
2024–25| Kategoria Superiore, 5th

Home colours

Away colours

|

AF Elbasani (Albanian: Akademia e Futbollit Elbasani), is an Albanian professional football club based in Elbasan. The club competes in Kategoria Superiore, the top tier of Albanian football. Their home ground is Elbasan Arena.

## History

[edit]

In 2021, the club was formed by the Elbasan Municipality after the disagreements with businessman Arben Laze who was the owner of the first football club KF Elbasani. Due to financial bankruptcy, Elbasani was seized by the Directorate of Taxes in Elbasan. So with the initiative of the fans they found the way and with the cooperation of Elbasan Municipality, AF Elbasani was created.[1] In the 2021–2022 season, they competed in the fourth tier of Albanian football, Kategoria e Tretë. In their first season, they achieved first place, gaining promotion to Kategoria e Dytë.[2] In the 2022–2023 season, AF Elbasani finished first in the Group B of the Kategoria e Dytë, which gained them promotion for the first time to the Kategoria e Parë.[3] In their first season, they finished in 1st place, and were crowned champions and were promoted to the Kategoria Superiore.[4]

## Players

[edit]

### Current squad

[edit]

As of 23 February 2025[5]

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

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

1  | GK |  ALB | Klevi Totoshi
2  | DF |  LTU | Sigitas Olberkis
4  | DF |  ALB | Bruno Lulaj (captain)
6  | MF |  MDA | Cristian Dros
7  | FW |  ISR | Roey Ben Shimon
8  | MF |  MKD | Donart Ibraimi
9  | FW |  CMR | Blaise Tsague
10  | FW |  MAR | Karim Loukili
11  | MF |  ALB | Klevis Kasa
12  | GK |  ALB | Redon Gega
14  | MF |  ALB | Xhonatan Lajthia
17  | FW |  NGA | Abbas Ibrahim
18  | MF |  ALB | Arsen Kasa
20  | FW |  POR | Zé Gomes
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

21  | MF |  KOS | Endi Halili
22  | FW |  ALB | Arsen Lleshi
25  | DF |  MNE | Emir Azemović
27  | FW |  KOS | Fatjon Bunjaku
29  | MF |  ALB | Emiljano Musta
30  | MF |  ALB | Eriol Alla
31  | GK |  CZE | Martin Janáček
41  | MF |  ALB | Armir Boriçi
42  | MF |  ALB | Kristi Qose
70  | FW |  CIV | Joël Doukouo
77  | MF |  ALB | Bledar Lila
79  | FW |  SEN | Ibrahima Diallo
-- | MF |  ALB | Ardit Hila
-- | MF |  ALB | Glenis Belloj

## Staff

[edit]

Name  | Position

|

Ivan Gvozdenovic | Head Coach
Orgest Gava | Assistant Coach
Elvis Kotorri | Goalkeeping Coach
Andrea Vezzu | Fitness coach
Mirko Panico | Video Analyst
Denis Asllani | Video Analyst
Orland Kastrati | Physio
Geris Lahi | Physio
Mark Doçi | Physio
Amarildo Hoxha | Doctor
Elton Guranjaku | Sports Director
Marenglen Çoku | Administrator
Armand Memetaj | Team Manager
Kristo Kristo | Marketing Director

## List of managers

[edit]

* Gentian Stojku (2 Aug 2021–11 Apr 2023)
* Eriol Merxha (12 Apr 2023 – 6 Jun 2023)
* Nevil Dede (7 Jun 2023– 1 Jul 2024)
* Roberto Bordin (8 Jul 2024– 5 Dec 2024)
* Ivan Gvozdenović (5 Dec 2024– )

## Honours

[edit]

* Kategoria e Parë
* Champions (1): 2023–24
* Kategoria e Tretë
* Champions (1): 2021-22

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "AF Elbasani, historia e re e futbollit në qytetin traditë! Drejtori i klubit: Tifozët na mirëpritën" [AF Elbasani, a new football history in the city of tradition! The Director of the club: The fans welcomed us] (in Albanian). Shqiptarja. 29 July 2021.
2. ^ "AF Elbasani shpallet kampion i Kategorisë së Tretë" [AF Elbasani become champions of Kategoria e Tretë] (in Albanian). FSHF.org. 6 May 2022.
3. ^ Kodra, Fatjon (2023-05-11). "Vora mposht AF Elbasanin në finale & shpallet fituese e Kategorisë së Dytë 2022/2023!". FSHF (in Albanian). Retrieved 2024-06-20.
4. ^ Sinani, Renaldo (2024-05-09). "AF Elbasani kurorëzohet ekipi kampion i Kategorisë së Parë për sezonin 2023-2024!". FSHF (in Albanian). Retrieved 2024-06-20.
5. ^ "AF Elbasani". Sofascore. 4 May 2022.

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Kategoria Superiore clubs

Current (2025–26)|

* Bylis
* Dinamo City
* Egnatia
* AF Elbasani
* Flamurtari
* Partizani
* Teuta
* Tirana
* Vora
* Vllaznia

*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template