Albania national under-17 football team

Albania Under-17
Nickname(s)	Kuq e Zinjtë (The Red and Blacks); Shqiponjat (The Eagles)
Association	Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit (FSHF)
Confederation	UEFA
Head coach	Ervin Bulku
Captain	Endri Çelaj
Most caps	Andi Lila (9); Vangjel Mile; Erlind Koreshi; Aldo Teqja; Endri Çekiçi
Top scorer	Mirel Çota (4)
Home stadium	Elbasan Arena; Loro Boriçi Stadium
FIFA code	ALB
First international
	Croatia 4–0 Albania ; (Vác, Hungary; 24 September 2001)
Biggest win
	Liechtenstein 0–6 Albania ; (Tatabánya, Hungary; 23 October 2012)
Biggest defeat
	Albania 0–7 Belarus ; (Riihimäki, Finland; 25 September 2008)
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Appearances	1 (first in 2025)
Best result	TBD (2025)
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Appearances	0
Best result	–

The Albania national under-17 football team represents Albania in international football at this age level in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, as well as any other under-17 international football tournaments. It is controlled by Albanian Football Association, the governing body for football in Albania.

Albania U17 has never qualified in an Under-17 major tournament, managing only "elite round" twice in 2012, 2014 managed by coach Džemal Mustedanagić in both cases and in 2023. Despite not Qualifying in the past Albania U17 will host the 2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, which will be held in Tirana- capital city of the country.^[1]

History[edit]

Before 2002, the event was classified as a U-16 tournament.

UEFA European Under-17 Championship record									UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification record						Manager(s)
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D *	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Manager(s)
2002	did not qualify								3	0	0	3	4	11	Ilir Spahiu
2003	did not qualify								6	2	2	2	8	7	Spahiu
2004	did not qualify								3	0	0	3	3	10	Spahiu
2005	did not qualify								3	1	0	2	8	7	Spahiu
2006	did not qualify								3	0	0	3	1	10	Ramadan Shehu
2007	did not qualify								3	0	1	2	2	7	Shpëtim Duro
2008	did not qualify								3	0	1	2	1	10	Duro
2009	did not qualify								3	0	1	2	3	14	Ardian Mema
2010	did not qualify								3	0	0	3	2	11	Mema
2011	did not qualify								3	0	1	2	1	5	Džemal Mustedanagić
2012	did not qualify								6	2	1	3	5	11	Mustedanagić
2013	did not qualify								3	1	0	2	2	6	Mustedanagić
2014	did not qualify								6	1	1	4	3	7	Mustedanagić
2015	did not qualify								3	1	0	2	5	6	Mustedanagić
2016	did not qualify								3	0	1	2	1	8	Mustedanagić
2017	did not qualify								3	0	0	3	1	5	Mustedanagić
2018	did not qualify								3	1	0	2	5	2	Mustedanagić
2019	did not qualify								3	1	0	2	2	9	Mustedanagić
~~2020~~	Tournament was cancelled								3	0	1	2	0	6	Elvin Beqiri
~~2021~~	Tournament was cancelled								Tournament was cancelled						Ervin Bulku
2022	did not qualify								3	0	1	2	4	10	Bulku
2023	did not qualify								6	1	3	2	5	8	Bulku
2024	did not qualify								3	1	0	2	3	9	Ardi Behari
2025	Qualified as hosts								Qualified as hosts
2026	To be determined								To be determined
2027	To be determined								To be determined
Total									78	12	14	52	69	179

Recent results[edit]

18 April 2024 (2024-04-18) Friendly	Slovenia	1–2	Albania	Ajdovščina
	Videnović 21'	Report	Kulla 41', 72'	Stadium: Ajdovščina Stadium

22 May 2024 (2024-05-22) Friendly	Montenegro	3–1	Albania	Podgorica
11:45	Vukoje 14' Anđelić 77' Gjokaj 80'	Report	Kulla 69'	Stadium: Podgorica City Stadium Referee: Miloš Bešović (Montenegro)

24 May 2024 (2024-05-24) Friendly	Albania	0–0	Montenegro	Shkodër
2:30		Report		Stadium: Loro Boriçi Stadium

17 June 2024 (2024-06-17) Friendly	Albania	v	Azerbaijan	Rrogozhinë
				Stadium: Egnatia Arena

19 June 2024 (2024-06-19) Friendly	Albania	v	Azerbaijan	Rrogozhinë
				Stadium: Egnatia Arena

Current squad[edit]

The following players were called up for the friendly matches.^[2]
Match dates: 17–19 June 2024
Opposition: Azerbaijan
Caps and goals correct as of: 24 May 2024, after the match against Montenegro

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Erno Mustafa	(2008-10-23) 23 October 2008 (age 15)	2	0	Partizani U15
1GK	Daniel Culi	(2008-10-24) 24 October 2008 (age 15)	1	0	Ternana U16

2DF	Kris Gecaj	(2008-11-14) 14 November 2008 (age 15)	10	1	Juventus U15
2DF	Fabian Nuhaj	(2008-04-06) 6 April 2008 (age 16)	5	0	Olympiacos U17
2DF	Darli Kurti	(2008-09-20) 20 September 2008 (age 15)	3	0	Genoa U16
2DF	Spasian Nasto	(2008-06-04) 4 June 2008 (age 16)	2	0	Skënderbeu U17
2DF	Alerio Kola	(2008-03-04) 4 March 2008 (age 16)	0	0	Shënkolli U16
2DF	Kleo Lika	(2008-08-02) 2 August 2008 (age 15)	0	0	Tirana U17

3MF	Ernesto Marqeshi	(2008-01-07) 7 January 2008 (age 16)	3	0	Tirana U17
3MF	Lukas Çekrezi	(2008-03-05) 5 March 2008 (age 16)	3	0	Torino U16
3MF	Serxho Vogli	(2008-03-21) 21 March 2008 (age 16)	3	0	Akademia U15
3MF	Leo Begolli	(2008-02-15) 15 February 2008 (age 16)	2	0	Skënderbeu U17
3MF	Alen Vukaj	(2008-01-22) 22 January 2008 (age 16)	0	0	Inter U16
3MF	Andreas Llana	(2008-01-26) 26 January 2008 (age 16)	0	0	Olympiacos U17
3MF	Amer Kthupi	(2008-03-16) 16 March 2008 (age 16)	0	0	Vllaznia U17

4FW	Emiljano Mihana	(2008-03-18) 18 March 2008 (age 16)	6	0	Tirana U17
4FW	Gabriel Kulla	(2008-02-20) 20 February 2008 (age 16)	3	3	Sasso Marconi Giovanili
4FW	Rikardo Sheji	(2008-03-05) 5 March 2008 (age 16)	3	0	Torino U16
4FW	Flavio Shkëmbi	(2008-09-17) 17 September 2008 (age 15)	2	0	Skënderbeu U17
4FW	Aurel Prendi	(2008-01-01) 1 January 2008 (age 16)	0	0	Bashkimi

Recent call-ups[edit]

The following players have been called up last 12 months and are still eligible to represent the under-17 side:

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Klevi Hasa	(2008-09-22) 22 September 2008 (age 15)	0	0	Tirana U17	v. Montenegro, 24 May 2024
GK	Alain Taho	(2007-04-30) 30 April 2007 (age 17)	3	0	Inter U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
GK	Darius Zadeja	(2007-05-07) 7 May 2007 (age 17)	0	0	Tirana U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023

DF	Frensi Mali	(2009-04-29) 29 April 2009 (age 15)	2	0	Tomori U17	v. Montenegro, 24 May 2024
DF	Hassan Haradini	(2008-01-01) 1 January 2008 (age 16)	1	0	Schalke U16	v. Montenegro, 24 May 2024
DF	Rikardo Smajlaj	(2008-01-01) 1 January 2008 (age 16)	1	0	Empoli U17	v. Montenegro, 24 May 2024
DF	Endri Agolli	(2008-01-27) 27 January 2008 (age 16)	1	0	Skënderbeu U15	v. Slovenia, 18 April 2024
DF	Agon Bajrami	(2008-02-08) 8 February 2008 (age 16)	1	0	Düsseldorf U16	v. Slovenia, 18 April 2024
DF	Milan Kovaçi	(2008-03-17) 17 March 2008 (age 16)	1	0	Peterborough U16	v. Slovenia, 18 April 2024
DF	Matia Koçi	(2008-09-20) 20 September 2008 (age 15)	1	0	Novara U16	v. Slovenia, 18 April 2024
DF	Davide Avdullari	(2007-01-13) 13 January 2007 (age 17)	14	0	Hellas U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
DF	Renato Halili	(2007-10-25) 25 October 2007 (age 16)	12	2	Südtirol U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
DF	Kleo Shpuza	(2007-01-07) 7 January 2007 (age 17)	9	0	Udinese U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
DF	Enea Elmazi	(2007-05-12) 12 May 2007 (age 17)	6	0	Tirana U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
DF	Samuele Sina	(2007-02-14) 14 February 2007 (age 17)	4	0	Feralpisalò U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
DF	Rinaldo Nela	(2007-01-20) 20 January 2007 (age 17)	2	0	Partizani U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023

MF	Arian Gavelli	(2008-05-30) 30 May 2008 (age 16)	3	0	L'Hospitalet U16	v. Montenegro, 24 May 2024
MF	Othonas Karo	(2008-01-01) 1 January 2008 (age 16)	1	0	PAOK U17	v. Montenegro, 24 May 2024
MF	Elio Gjoshi	(2008-07-01) 1 July 2008 (age 15)	1	0	Tirana U15	v. Montenegro, 24 May 2024
MF	Ardit Muldakaj	(2008-01-01) 1 January 2008 (age 16)	1	0	Bochum U16	v. Slovenia, 18 April 2024
MF	Leon Myrtaj	(2008-03-24) 24 March 2008 (age 16)	1	0	Tottenham U16	v. Slovenia, 18 April 2024
MF	Alex Ramku	(2008-05-20) 20 May 2008 (age 16)	1	0	Udinese U16	v. Slovenia, 18 April 2024
MF	Matteo Dashi	(2007-01-22) 22 January 2007 (age 17)	10	0	Crystal Palace U18	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
MF	Eraldo Karaj	(2007-02-17) 17 February 2007 (age 17)	9	0	Darmstadt U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
MF	Jetmir Laze	(2007-07-22) 22 July 2007 (age 16)	7	0	Skënderbeu U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
MF	Mattia Huqi	(2007-06-21) 21 June 2007 (age 16)	4	0	Empoli U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023

FW	Jordan Kinnavong	(2008-01-10) 10 January 2008 (age 16)	3	0	Köln U16	v. Montenegro, 24 May 2024
FW	Tedi Malaj	(2007-07-02) 2 July 2007 (age 16)	12	1	Partizani U19	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
FW	Oresti Rifa	(2007-02-08) 8 February 2007 (age 17)	10	3	Partizani U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
FW	Matias Gici	(2007-05-18) 18 May 2007 (age 17)	10	7	Venezia U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
FW	Xheto Joi Nuredini	(2007-08-05) 5 August 2007 (age 16)	7	3	Genoa U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
FW	Brayan Gjyla	(2007-07-26) 26 July 2007 (age 16)	6	0	Feralpisalò U19	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023
FW	Gabrian Cani	(2008-09-05) 5 September 2008 (age 15)	1	0	Vllaznia U17	v. Montenegro, 21 November 2023

Notes

Coaching staff[edit]

Current coaching staff:^[3]

Position	Name
Head Coach	Ardian Behari
Assistant Coach	Agron Kërçova
Goalkeeping Coach	Elvis Kotorri
Team doctor	Adriatik Shahini
Physiotherapists	Sabri Nurce
Athletic preparator	Ardi Bekteshi
Videoanalystic	Edon Beliu
Team manager	Eno Xhaferraj

References[edit]

^ https://shqiptarja.com/lajm/kampionati-europian-u17-do-te-mbahet-ne-tirane-rama-gjera-te-paimagjinueshme-vite-me-pare
^ "Elite Round i Europianit / Shqipëria U-17 nis grumbullimin, trajneri Bulku shpall listën me emrat e 25 lojtarëve të ftuar" (in Albanian). Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
^ "Kombëtarja U-17". FSHF.org. Retrieved 28 March 2023.

External links[edit]

Albania national under-17 football team profile at Soccerway
Under-17 - Albania – UEFA.com

[1] ttps://shqiptarja.com/lajm/kampionati-europian-u17-do-te-mbahet-ne-tirane-rama-gjera-te-paimagjinueshme-vite-me-pare

[2] "Elite Round i Europianit / Shqipëria U-17 nis grumbullimin, trajneri Bulku shpall listën me emrat e 25 lojtarëve të ftuar" (in Albanian). Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.

[3] "Kombëtarja U-17". FSHF.org. Retrieved 28 March 2023.

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