FC Ballkani
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| Full name | Football Club Ballkani | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | Xhebrailat (The Gabriels) | |||
| Founded | 1947 as Rinia | |||
| Ground | Theranda City Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 3,000 | |||
| President | Arsim Kabashi | |||
| Manager | Mislav Karoglan | |||
| League | Kosovo Superleague | |||
| 2024–25 | Kosovo Superleague, 2nd of 10 | |||
| Website | fcballkani | |||
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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 Kosovo Superleague, which is the top tier of football in the country.
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. The following year, they managed to repeat the same achievement and qualified for the 2023–24 edition.
History
[edit]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 Suhareka Chemical and Rubber Industry took the ownership of the club.[1]
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.[1]
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 Suhareka 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]
After years of competing in the top tier of Kosovan football, Ballkani won their first league title in the 2021–22 season. Under the management of Ilir Daja, the team secured the trophy with several games remaining in the season. The club successfully defended their title in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, marking a period of domestic hegemony.
Stadium
[edit]The club plays its home matches at the Theranda City Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Suhareka, Kosovo. The stadium has a capacity of 1,500 people all-seater. However, for their inaugural European campaign, home matches were played in Pristina at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium, as the city's stadium in Suhareka did not meet UEFA requirements.
Honours
[edit]Domestic
[edit]Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]- As of 7 February 2026
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Academy players with first-team appearances
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Personnel
[edit]- As of 19 January 2021[2]
| Current technical staff | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Name | |
| Head coach |  Mislav Karoglan
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| Assistant coach |  Radostin Aleksandrov
| |
| Assistant coach |  Edon Gashi
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| Assistant coach | Ardi Kabashi
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| Conditional coach | Alban Shala
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| Goalkeeping coach | Labinot Qosa
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| Video analysis | Ardi Kabashi
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| Management | ||
| Sporting Director |  Nderim Nexhipi
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| Manager officer | Idriz Hajrizi
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| Administrator | Florim Elshani
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| Secretary | Arben Osmani
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| Lawyer | Ismail Selimi
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| Coordinator of football school | Driton Mamaj
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| Marketing and Media Director | Kushtrim Reshitaj
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| Information officer Marketing and media officer |
Jetullah Kuqi
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| Security officer | Blerim Kuqi
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| Scoutings | Ismet Maksutaj
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| Astrit Bekteshi
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| Medical Staff | ||
| Physiotherapist | Krenar Zenelaj
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| Arianit Bytyçi
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| Doctor | Hadi Hasanaj
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| Technical Staff | ||
| Kitmanager | Meriton Kryeziu
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| Cashier | Arbenita Sejdaj
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| Operational Support | Lirim Lezi
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| Board members | ||
| Office | Name | |
| President | Arsim Kabashi
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| Vice President | Visar Maksutaj
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List of managers
[edit]
Bekim Shotani (Feb 2018–2 Sep 2018)[3]- Sami Sermaxhaj (6 Sep 2018 – 14 Apr 2019)[4]
- Gani Sejdiu (16 Apr 2019–Jun 2019)[5]
- Ismet Munishi (8 Jun 2019–December 2020)[6]
- Ardian Basha (Dec 2020 – Feb 2021)
Bledi Shkëmbi (4 Jan 2021 – 6 May 2021)- Bekim Isufi (Jul 2021 – Dec 2021)
- Ilir Daja (5 Jan 2022 – 2 Sep 2024)
Artim Položani (9 Sep 2024 – 4 Dec 2024)- Orges Shehi (6 Dec 2024 – 19 November 2025)
Mislav Karoglan (25 Nov 2025 – )
Ballkani in Europe
[edit]Ballkani achieved a historic milestone for Kosovan football during the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League. After being eliminated in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round by Žalgiris, the team moved to the Conference League. They defeated La Fiorita, KÍ Klaksvík, and Shkupi in the qualifying rounds, becoming the first club from Kosovo to reach the group stage of a UEFA club competition.
In the 2022–23 group stage, Ballkani was drawn into Group G alongside Slavia Prague, CFR Cluj, and Sivasspor, finishing the group with 4 points.
The club repeated this achievement in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League. After elimination from the Champions League qualifiers by Ludogorets Razgrad, Ballkani again advanced through the Conference League qualifying rounds, defeating Larne, Lincoln Red Imps, and BATE Borisov to reach the group stage for a second consecutive year.
By competition
[edit]Fully up to date as of match played 14 August 2025
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Champions League | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 33.33 |
| UEFA Conference League | 32 | 16 | 4 | 12 | 53 | 35 | +18 | 50.00 |
| Total | 38 | 18 | 5 | 15 | 59 | 44 | +15 | 47.37 |
Matches
[edit]| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Agg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q |  Žalgiris
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1–1 | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | 1–2 |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | 2Q |  La Fiorita
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6–0 | 4–0 | 10–0 | |
| 3Q |  KÍ
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3–2 | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | 4–4 (4–3 p) | ||
| PO | Shkupi
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1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | ||
| GS |  Slavia Prague
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0–1 | 2–3 | 4th
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 CFR Cluj
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1–1 | 0–1 | ||||
 Sivasspor
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1–2 | 4–3 | ||||
| 2023–24 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q | Ludogorets Razgrad
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2–0 | 0–4 | 2–4 |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | 2Q |  Larne
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3–0 | 4–1 | 7–1 | |
| 3Q |  Lincoln Red Imps
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2–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | ||
| PO |  BATE Borisov
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4–1 | 0–1 | 4–2 | ||
| GS |  Dinamo Zagreb
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2–0 | 0–3 | 4th
| ||
| Viktoria Plzeň
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0–1 | 0–1 | ||||
 Astana
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1–2 | 0–0 | ||||
| 2024–25 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q |  UE Santa Coloma
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1–2 (a.e.t.) | 2–1 | 3–3 (5–6 p) |
| UEFA Conference League | 2Q |  Ħamrun Spartans
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0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
| 3Q | Larne
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0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 (1–4 p) | ||
| 2025–26 | UEFA Conference League | 2Q | Floriana
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4–2 | 1–1 | 5–3 |
| 3Q |  Shamrock Rovers
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1–0 | 0–4 | 1–4 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Historiku" [History] (in Albanian). KF Ballkani.
- ^ "F.C. Ballkani (kryesia e klubit)" [F.C. Ballkani (the club headship)] (in Albanian). KF Ballkani.
- ^ Vjen dorëheqja e parë në Superligën e Kosovës, Bekim Shotani largohet nga Ballkani - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
- ^ Zyrtare: Ballkani dhe Sermaxhaj shkëpusin marrëveshjen - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
- ^ Zyrtare: Gani Sejdiu prezantohet te Ballkani - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
- ^ Ismet Munishi bëhet trajner i Ballkanit - Telegrafi (in Albanian)
