Luftetari Gjirokaster
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| Full name | Luftëtari Gjirokastër Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Bluzinjtë (Blue & blacks) |
| Short name | Luftëtari |
| Founded | 13 March 1930 (as Shqiponja Gjirokastër) |
| Ground | Gjirokastra Stadium |
| Capacity | 8,400 |
| Owners | Grigor Tavo (75%) Municipality of Gjirokastër (25%) |
| President | Grigor Tavo |
| Head Coach | Mladen Milinković |
| League | Albanian Superliga |
| 2015–16 | Albanian First Division, Group B, 1st (promoted) |
Luftëtari Gjirokastër Football Club (Albanian pronunciation: [luftətaɾi ɟiɾɔkastəɾ]), also known as Luftëtari FC or simply Luftëtari is an Albanian football club based in Gjirokastër southern Albania. The club was founded on 13 March 1930 as Shqiponja Gjirokastër and has played at its home ground, the Gjirokastra Stadium, since 1973. They currently compete in the Albanian Superliga, the top flight of football in the country.
The club was founded on 13 March 1930 under the name Shqiponja Gjirokastër. It underwent many subsequent name changes over the years: Gjirokastër (1949), Puna Gjirokastër (1951), Luftëtari Gjirokastër (1958), Shqiponja Gjirokastër (1992) and to its current name Luftëtari Gjirokastër in 2002.
During the Communist Albania Luftetari was deemed to have a good football academy, which provided for several national team players, such as Theodhori Kalluci, Sefedin Braho, Lefter Millo, Arjan Xhumba, Arjan Bellaj, Altin Haxhi, and Gjergji Kalluci.
Luftëtari finished as the league runner-up in the 1977–78 season, their highest achievement to date.
On 2 July 2015 Mustafa Hysi was appointed as the club's head coach and Kristaq Ciko was given the role of his assistant ahead of the 2015–16 Albanian Superliga season, with the aim of achieving promotion back to the Albanian Superliga.
Luftëtari were promoted back to Albanian Superliga after a three-year absence as they defeated Apolonia Fier on the last matchday of the regular season in Group B of the Albanian First Division. They then faced Group A winners Korabi Peshkopi in the championship final at the Qemal Stafa Stadium on 19 May 2016, where they clinched their 8th First Division title as they won 11–10 in a penalty shootout that saw 24 penalties being taken following a goalless draw and extra time.
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