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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.

Ballkani

Full name	Football Club Ballkani
Nickname(s)	Xhebrailat (The Gabriels)
Founded	1947; 75 years ago (1947) as Rinia
Ground	Suhareka City Stadium
Capacity	1,500
Chairman	Arsim Kabashi
Manager	Ilir Daja
League	Football Superleague of Kosovo
2021–22	Football Superleague of Kosovo, 1st of 10 (champions)
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

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.

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.

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 games at the Suva Reka City Stadium (Albanian: Stadiumi i Qytetit të Suharekës) is a multi-purpose stadium in Suva Reka, Kosovo. The stadium has a capacity of 1,500 people all-seater. However, for their inaugural European campaign, home matches were played in Prishtina, at the National Stadium, as Suva Reka City Stadium did not meet UEFA requirements.

Honours

Domestic

• Superliga e Kosovës
  • Winners (1): 2021–22

Players

Current squad

As of 13 November 2022

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  KOS Dashnor Balaj 2 DF  KOS Armend Thaqi 3 DF  KOS Arbër Potoku 4 DF  KOS Astrit Thaqi 5 DF  KOS Lumbardh Dellova 6 MF  KOS Lindon Emërllahu 7 MF  KOS Meriton Korenica 8 FW  MNE Dejan Zarubica 9 FW  KOS Albion Rrahmani 10 MF  ALB Nazmi Gripshi 11 MF  KOS Qëndrim Zyba 14 DF  KOS Egzon Sinani 17 FW  KOS Ermal Krasniqi 18 MF  KOS Leonard Shala 19 DF  ALB Rustem Hoxha

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 MF  MNE Edvin Kuč (captain) 21 DF  KOS Albin Kapra 23 DF  KOS Leonit Abazi 25 FW  KOS Veton Tusha 27 FW  KOS Edi Maksutaj 28 DF  KOS Leotrim Bekteshi 32 DF  KOS Bajram Jashanica 77 GK  ALB Stivi Frashëri 80 FW  KOS Albin Berisha 92 GK  MNE Damir Ljuljanović 99 FW  BRA Lucas Cardoso — MF  KOS Endrit Asllanaj — FW  BRB Abiola Grant — FW  LBR Van-Dave Harmon

Personnel

As of 19 January 2021[2]

Current technical staff
Position	Name
Head coach	Ilir Daja
Assistant coach(es)	Artim Položani
	Edon Gashi
Conditional coach	Alban Shala
Goalkeeping coach	Labinot Qosa
Manager officer	Idriz Hajrizi
Secretary	Arben Osmani
Lawyer	Ismal Selimi
Coordinator of football school	Driton Mamaj
Information - Marketing and Media officer	Jetullah Kuqi
Security officer	Blerim Kuqi
Scoutings	Ismet Maksutaj
	Astrit Bekteshi
Medical Staff
Physiotherapist	Kastriot Llugagjiu
Physiotherapist	Krenar Zenelaj
Doctor	Kastriot Llugaxhija
Doctor	Hadi Hasanaj
Cashier	Arbenita Sejdaj
Operational Support	Lirim Lezi
Technical Staff
Kitmanager	Meriton Kryeziu
Kitmanager	Ardi Kabashi
Board members
Office	Name
President	Arsim Kabashi
Vice President	Visar Maksutaj
Manager Director	Shyçeri Hoxha
Sports director	Nderim Nexhipi

Historical list of coaches

Ballkani in Europe

Matches

Season	Competition	Round	Opponent	Home	Away	Agg.
2022–23	UEFA Champions League	1Q	Žalgiris	1–1	0–1 (a.e.t.)	1–2
2022–23	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

References

External links

• Official website (in Albanian)

На других языках

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[de] KF Ballkani

KF Ballkani (albanisch kurz für Klubi Futbollistik Ballkani Therandë) ist ein kosovarischer Fußballverein aus Suhareka.

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- [en] FC Ballkani

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[es] KF Ballkani

El KF Ballkani (en albanés, Klubi Futbollistik Ballkani) es un club de fútbol profesional con sede en Suva Reka, Kosovo. El club juega en la Superliga de Kosovo, que es el nivel más alto de fútbol en el país.

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[ru] Балкани (футбольный клуб, Сува-Река)

ФК Балкани (алб. Klubi i Futbollistik Ballkani, KF Ballkani) — профессиональный футбольный клуб, базирующийся в Сува-Реке, Косово. Клуб играет в Футбольной Суперлиге Косово, высшем футбольном дивизионе страны.

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