Full name | Klubi i Futbollit Tirana |
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Nickname(s) | Tirona Bardheblutë (White and blues) |
Short name | Tirana |
Founded | August 15, 1920 as Shoqata Sportive Agimi |
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Ground | Selman Stërmasi Stadium |
Capacity | 9,600 |
President | Refik Halili |
Head coach | Mirel Josa |
League | Albanian Superliga |
2015–16 | Albanian Superliga, 5th |
Website | Club home page |
Active branches of KF Tirana | |||
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Football (Men's) | Football (Women's) | Football (B team) | |
Football (Youth) | Futsal | Basketball (Men's) | |
Basketball (Women's) | Volleyball (Men's) | Volleyball (Women's) |
KF Tirana (Albanian: Klubi i Futbollit Tirana) is an Albanian football club based in the country's capital city, Tirana. The men's football club is part of the multi-disciplinary sports club SK Tirana, and is the most successful in Albania, having won 49 recognized major trophies. They play their home games at the Selman Stërmasi Stadium in Tirana and they compete in Albania's highest tier of football, the Albanian Superliga.
The club was founded on 15 August 1920 as Shoqata Sportive Agimi, which translates to the Agimi Sports Association, and they have since participated in all the top tier national championships ever held in Albania, making KF Tirana and their historic rivals, KF Vllaznia the only sides in Albania to have never been relegated. They have competed under the name of SK Tirana between 1927 and 1947, when the communist regime forcibly renamed the club 17 Nëntori Tirana, Puna Tirana and KS 17 Nëntori. In 1991 KF Tirana retook its pre-1947 name and was divided into two branches, the multi disciplinary SK Tirana and the football branch of KF Tirana.
KF Tirana is the most successful Albanian team in European competitions, having progressed from the first rounds on 11 occasions since making their European debut in the 1965–66 European Cup. The club also holds the record of being the highest ever ranking Albanian club according to IFFHS, having been ranked 31st in the world in 1987, as a result of the success in their 1986–87 campaign. In addition, KF Tirana is an ECA member.
Although still an unofficial event in the official FSHF footballing history, in 2012 historians revealed what is believed to be the first ever competitive football tournament in the country. It took place in Fier between 7 and 14 April 1911. The tournament featured 8 teams and was played in a one-legged format, similar to that of other European competitions at the time. Tirana was represented with what is believed to be the predecessor of KF Tirana, and in their first game on 7 April 1911 against Elbasani they won 9–4 to progress to the semi-finals, where they defeated Kavajë 4–0 to reach the final. The final was held on 14 April and was contested between Tirana and Peqini, and ended 6–1 to Tirana, making them Albania's first ever champions, although this is still not officially recognised by the Albanian Football Association.