The 2017–18 Albanian Superliga was the 79th official season, or 82nd season of top-tier football in Albania (including three unofficial championships during World War II) and the 18th season under the name Kategoria Superiore. The season began on 9 September 2017 and ended on 18 May 2018. Title record-holders KF Tirana did not participate in the top flight for the first time since competition's foundation. Kukësi are the defending champions. Skënderbeu, won the league title on 9 May 2018 with 3 matches to spare.
Since Skënderbeu is banned from UEFA competitions, the runners-up of this season's Superliga earned a place in the first qualifying round of the 2018−19 Champions League, with the third and fourth placed clubs earning a place in the first qualifying round of the 2018−19 Europa League.
Teams Two clubs earned promotion from the Kategoria e Parë, Kamza and Lushnja, and joined the Superliga this season. Korabi Peshkopi and Tirana were relegated at the conclusion of last season.
Locations
Team Home city Stadium Capacity 2016–17 season Flamurtari Vlorë Flamurtari Stadium 8th Kamza Kamëz Kamëz Stadium Kategoria e Parë Kukësi Kukës Zeqir Ymeri Stadium Champions Laçi Laç Laçi Stadium 6th Luftëtari Gjirokastër Gjirokastra Stadium 4th Lushnja Lushnjë Abdurrahman Roza Haxhiu Stadium Kategoria e Parë Skënderbeu Korçë Skënderbeu Stadium 3rd Partizani Tirana Selman Stërmasi Stadium 2nd Teuta Durrës Niko Dovana Stadium 5th Vllaznia Shkodër Loro Boriçi Stadium 7th
Stadiums FlamurtariKamzaKukësiLaçiLuftëtariFlamurtari StadiumKamëz StadiumZeqir Ymeri StadiumLaçi StadiumGjirokastra Stadium Capacity: 8,200 Capacity: 5,200 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 2,300 Capacity: 8,400 LushnjaPartizaniSkënderbeuTeutaVllazniaAbdurrahman Roza Haxhiu StadiumSelman Stërmasi StadiumSkënderbeu StadiumNiko Dovana StadiumLoro Boriçi Stadium Capacity: 8,500 Capacity: 9,600 Capacity: 12,343 Capacity: 12,040 Capacity: 16,022
Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Team President Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Flamurtari Sinan Idrizi Ardian Behari Franc Veliu Kappa — Kamza Naim Qarri Julian Ahmataj Argjend Halili Uhlsport Mokador Kukësi Safet Gjici Peter Pacult Ylli Shameti Macron Kevin Construction Laçi Pashk Laska Gentian Mezani Taulant Sefgjinaj Uhlsport Baste Live Luftëtari Grigor Tavo Hasan Lika Orjand Beqiri Legea − Lushnja Fatos Tushe Ilir Gjyla Fatjon Sefa Legea − Partizani Gazment Demi Klevis Dalipi Idriz Batha Joma — Skënderbeu Ardian Takaj Ilir Daja Orges Shehi Puma Ama Cafè Teuta Edmond Hasanbelliu Gentian Begeja Rustem Hoxha Kappa Caffè Pascucci Vllaznia Municipality of Shkodër Ervis Kraja Ndriçim Shtubina Legea –
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner ofdepartureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate ofappointmentLuftëtari Mladen MilinkovićEnd of contract30 June 2017Pre-season Daniel Fernández10 August 2017Partizani Mutual consent6 July 2017 22 July 2017Kukësi Sacked23 July 2017 29 July 2017Laçi Resigned26 September 20177th 26 September 2017Luftëtari Daniel FernándezSacked15 October 20177th 18 October 2017Vllaznia Mutual consent19 October 20178th 19 October 2017Lushnja Resigned23 October 201710th 31 October 2017Partizani Mutual consent5 November 2017 7 November 2017Kukësi Resigned23 December 20174th 3 January 2018Teuta Resigned26 December 2017 4 January 2018Teuta Resigned12 February 20189th 12 February 2018Lushnja Resigned14 February 201810th 20 February 2018Partizani Mutual consent5 March 20185th 5 March 2018Lushnja End of caretaker spell21 March 201810th 21 March 2018Kamza Sacked10 April 20187th 11 April 2018Flamurtari Resigned18 April 20186th 18 April 2018Vllaznia Resigned14 May 20189th 14 May 2018
League table
Results Clubs will play each other four times for a total of 36 matches each.
First half of season
Second half of season
Season statistics
Scoring
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Ali Sowe Skënderbeu212 Sindrit GuriKukësi203 ReginaldoLaçi184 Kristal AbazajLuftëtari13 Sebino PlakuKamza6 Elis BakajKukësi127 Fatjon SefaLushnja10 James AdeniyiSkënderbeu Myrto UzuniLaçi Xhevahir SukajVllaznia
Hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Ref Reginaldo Laçi Flamurtari 4–2 (H) Kukësi Partizani 4–0 (H) Skënderbeu Lushnja 4–2 (A) Note 4 Player scored 4 goals; (H) – Home; (A) – Away
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubCleansheets1 Alban HoxhaPartizani142 Gentian SelmaniLaçi133 Adis NurkovićFlamurtari124 Shkëlzen RuçiLuftëtari95 Orges ShehiSkënderbeu86 Enea KoliçiKukësi7
Discipline
Most yellow cards: 11 Taulant Sefgjinaj (Laçi)
Most red cards: 2 Taulant Sefgjinaj (Laçi) Ditmar Bicaj (Vllaznia)
Attendances
# Club Average 1 Skënderbeu 2,772 2 Vllaznia 1,800 3 Flamurtari 1,684 4 Partizani 1,565 5 Luftëtari 1,033 6 Kukësi 882 7 Kamza 817 8 Teuta 617 9 Laçi 550 10 Lushnja 542Source:
See also Albanian Superliga
References
External links
Superliga at uefa.com