Kosovo — A Country of talent
Stadiumi i qytetit, rr. Fehmi Agani p.n. 10000 Prishtinë, Kosovë
info@prishtinafc.com | prishtinafc.com tel.fax: +381 (0)38 226 968
THE CHAMPIONS
Dear friends, Football is a sport bringing people together regardless of religion, National Teamity, gender, race, and political beliefs. Hence it is no surprise that sport associations, in particular the football ones, are the most numerous in the world. This is a fact that binds us together and enables us to work with greater responsibility and respect for the fair-play principles and at the same time fight violence and intolerance. Football encompasses many various interests and as such it should be used to the fullest in accomplishing its purpose, bringing people closer. The Kosovo football, as well as my country, has been through troubled times and is now demanding its inclusion amongst European counties, where it has always belonged. Our presence in this tournament is of great significance to us, and to the big European football family as well. In a united Europe which Kosovo is expected to enter in the coming years, the Kosovar football must reach the European standards. This is the only path to follow. It is not simple or easy. Nonetheless, I believe that with your help, the help of UEFA and FIFA, and mutual cooperation through joint projects we can accomplish this goal. We have sent our signals to come closer to the world of football through our work and commitment, and at the same time we have done this with our talented players who continue to play for various clubs and European National Team teams. Names such as Xherdan Shaqiri, Valon Behrami, Lorik Cana, Granit Xhaka, Valdet Rama, Kristian Nushi, Debatik Curri, Armend Dallku, are known to all. They are excelling, though not wearing the Kosovo’s shirt, by all means sharing their successes with their country. The Kosovo football is unjustly being denied a part in the European football, being subjected to political conditions.Kosovo is ready to promote football, culture and educational values, as well as develop a modern and transparent football. I am certain that the remaining barriers will be broken soon and it will progress freely and give its contribution to the football of the old continent.
Remzi Ejupi President of FC Prishtina
3
The History of FC Prishtina The game of football started in Kosovo in 1919, shortly after the end of World War I. The first foot ball to arrive in Prishtina was in 1919 by a French student. Back then the city of Prishtina was merely a town of 16 thousand inhabitants. In 1920 the first blue club was formed named Kosova. The club was comprised of the Prishtina Garrison soldiers and since it was not registered it did not partake in any official matches. The oldest club of Kosovo did not compete in official levels but it held friendly matches with other teams formed inside the country and Macedonia during the meantime. The club embraced the name Prishtina, which it holds to this day, on 15 July 1956, the year in which it became a champion and rose to higher competitive ranks. It was no easy job for a Kosovo team to compete in the First or Second Federative League of former Yugoslavia. The competitions’ system was such that it hampered the qualification for Kosovar teams, making them play several playoff games with teams of other republics. After many attempts to become part of the First Federative League, Prishtina accomplished this in 1983, after 60 years of its existence.
4
More recent successes of Prishtina go hand in hand with the formation of the new country of Kosovo and the separation of football from the former Yugoslavian one. Ever since 1991 when the Kosovar football became independent the blue-and-white team dominated the football winning continuous titles and trophies. These successes were halted momentarily by the war of 1998-99. However, after Kosovo’s liberation, Prishtina continued its triumphant period in the Kosovar football, becoming the most awarded team and continues to be so in the present day. Kosovo Champion 1991/92, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2003/04, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2011/12, 2012/13. Kosovo Cup 1993/94, 1994/95, 2005/06, 2012/13. Kosovo Super-Cup 1994/95, 1995/96, 2000/01, 2003/04, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09.
The great guests FC Prishtina is proud of the visits paid by football legends across Europe. Prishtina guests include the great Franz “Kaiser” Beckenbaur, Franco Baresi, and many other well known football players…Beckenbaur was also declared Ambassador of the Kosovo football.
Baresi was in Prishtina for the junior camp organized by the renowned Italian club AC Milan.
Meeting with President of FIFA, Mr. Sepp Blatter in Zürich, during FIFA Youth Cup 2013
5
Kosovar Stars
27
34
6
Lorik— Cana
Valon— Behrami
Birthday 27 July 1983 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Defender — Current Club SS Lazio Number 27 — National Team Albania
Birthday 19 April 1985 Place of birth Mitrovica, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club Napoli Number 85 — National Team Switzerland
85
Granit— Xhaka
Etrit— Berisha
Birthday 27 September 1992 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club Borussia Mönchengladbach Number 34 — National Team Switzerland
Birthday 10 March 1989 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Goalkeeper — Current Club Kalmar FF Number 99 — National Team Albania
99
04
11
Migjen— basha
Agon— MEHMEti
Birthday 5 January 1987 Place of birth Lausanne, Switzerland — Position Midfielder — Current Club Torino Number 4 — National Team Albania
Birthday 20 November 1989 Place of birth Besianë, Kosovë — Position Forward — Current Club Novara Number 25 — National Team Sweden U21
25
Xherdan— shaqiri
Alban— Meha
Birthday 10 October 1991 Place of birth Gjilan, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club Bayern Munich Number 11 — National Team Switzerland
Birthday 25 April 1986 Place of birth Mitrovica, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club SC Paderborn Number 17 — National Team Albania
27 5
7
8
FC Prishtina Junior Camp In addition to the football school of FC Prishtina, which has operated for dozens of years now, the blue-and-white team organizes junior football camps every year. On average 400 young people from all Albanian regions participate in the annual camps. These camps have discovered many talented people in the past as well as at present, who have been promoted to talented football players. A number of the selected from the camps are now involved with various regional clubs and beyond. These talents are an undistinguished part of the history of the largest football club in Kosovo.
9
Kosovar Stars
21
8
10
ANEL— rashkaj
Armend— dallku
Birthday 19 August 1989 Place of birth Prizren, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club Sandnes Ulf Number 21 — National Team Kosovo
Birthday 16 June 1983 Place of birth Vushtrri, Kosovë — Position Defender — Current Club Vorskla Poltava Number 4 — National Team Albania
4
Ardian— gashi
valdet— rama
Birthday 20 June 1981 Place of birth Gjakovë, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club Helsingborg Number 8 — National Team Norway
Birthday 20 November 1987 Place of birth Mitrovica, Kosovë — Position Forward — Current Club Real Valladolid Number 23 — National Team Albania
23
5
20
Mërgim— Mavraj
besart— berisha
Birthday 9 June 1986 Place of birth Hanau — Position Defender — Current Club SpVgg Greuther Fürth Number 5 — National Team Albania
Birthday 29 July 1985 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Forward — Current Club Brisbane Roar Number 7 — National Team Albania
7
Debatik— Curri
Shefki— kuqi
Birthday 28 December 1984 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Defender — Current Club Gençlerbirligi Number 20 — National Team Albania
Birthday 10 November 1976 Place of birth Vushtrri, Kosovë — Position Forward — Current Club Hibernian Edinburgh Number 17 — National Team Finland
17
11
Europe, this is us The 15th of June 2013 was a football festivity in Prishtina. On this day the Kosovo football Stars landed in Kosovo to have a friendly match with the FC Prishtina. Lorik Cana, Valon Behrami, Granit Xhaka, Shefki Kuqi, Valdet Rama, Migjen Basha, Samir Ujkani, and many others marched in the stadium presenting a spectacle to their fellow countrymen and at the same time shining a light to Kosovo’s football together with 20 thousand viewers. This is the first time for Kosovo to gather its football Stars, but not the last. This spectacle sent a message to UEFA and FIFA. “A magnificent football evening. We too know how to throw spectacles. This is our response to Europe and to the world of football”, was the message that the Stars sent to European and world football associations, which continue to keep the Kosovo football isolated five years after Independence and 14 years after the war.
12
15 june 2013
13
Kosovar Stars
10
9
14
Fatmire— Bajramaj
Kosovare— Asllani
Birthday 1 April 1988 Place of birth Istog, Kosovë — Position Attacking midfielder — Current Club FFC Frankfurt Number 10 — National Team Germany
Birthday 29 July 1989 Place of birth Kristianstad, Sweden — Position Forward — Current Club Paris Saint Germain Number 29 — National Team Sweden
5
Arbnora— Robelli
Burim — Kukeli
Birthday 3 September 1992 Place of birth Prishtinë, Kosovë — Position Forward — Current Club IS Halmia Number 33 — National Team Albania
Birthday 16 January 1984 Place of birth Gjakovë, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC Zürich Number 20 — National Team Albania
7
44
13
adnan— jonuzaj
Samir— ujkani
Birthday 5 February 1995 Place of birth Brüssel — Position Midfielder — Current Club Manchester United Number 44
Birthday 5 July 1988 Place of birth Vushtrri, Kosovë — Position Goalkeeper — Current Club Palermo Number 44 — National Team Albania
27
taulant— Xhaka
Përparim— hetemaj
Birthday 28 March 1991 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Defender — Current Club FC Basel Number 13 — National Team Switzerland U-21
Birthday 12 December 1986 Place of birth Skenderaj, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club Chievo Number 56 — National Team Finland
56
15
16
Plisat— the blue and white pride In the usual place, the eastern steps of the stadium, is positioned the FC Prishtina’s best friend. This is the club’s most ardent fan group named Plisat. This is an army of 7 to 77 year olds that has supported the club since the earliest years and most difficult times, when it was dangerous to mention the name Albanian, Prishtina and Kosovo. The saying EHO originated from the Plisat, which sent a part of them in the infamous prisons of the Serbian occupation. The blueand-white fans could be found wherever the club of their hearts was. Plisat are synonymous to the modern Albanian fandom and are found in all Albanian regions. All this is continuing and will continue for as long as Prishtina exists. FC Prishtina’s best friend was never absent, and never will be…FOREVER PLISAT… 17
Kosovar Stars
21
33
18
fatos— beqiraj
ilir— berisha
Birthday 5 May 1988 Place of birth Pejë, Kosovë — Position Forward — Current Club Dinamo Zagreb Number 21 — National Team Montenegro
Birthday 25 June 1991 Place of birth Prishtinë, Kosovë — Position Defender — Current Club Örebro SK Number 5 — National Team Albania
5
Ilir— Azemi
Kristian— nushi
Birthday 21 February 1992 Place of birth Prishtinë, Kosovë — Position Forward — Current Club SpVgg Greuther Fürth Number 33 — National Team Albania U-21
Birthday 21 July 1982 Place of birth Klinë, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC St. Gallen Number 7 — National Team Kosovo
7
FC PRishtina u-19
u-19 TEAM
19
FC PRishtina u-19
12
20
Afrim— Tovërlani
fadil— berisha
Birthday 17 January 1967 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Head Coach — Current Club FC Prishtina
Birthday 15 May 1964 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Coach — Current Club FC Prishtina
Alban— Muçiqi
bledar— hajdini
Birthday 10 November 1995 Place of birth Mitrovicë, Kosovë — Position Goalkeeper — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 12
Birthday 19 June 1995 Place of birth Germany — Position Goalkeeper — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 1
1
17
7
5
Agron— Gashi
Enis— gavazaj
Birthday 30 June 1995 Place of birth Germany, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 17
Birthday 21 March 1995 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 9
9
Liridon— latifi
Shend— kelmendi
Birthday 6 February 1994 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Forward — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 7
Birthday 21 September 1994 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Forward — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 11
11
Akil— Makolli
taulant— haliti
Birthday 2 August 1994 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 5
Birthday 16 February 1994 Place of birth Viti, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 6
6
21
FC PRishtina u-19
10
14
22
Berat— Ahmeti
Arbër — Pira
Birthday 26 January 1995 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 10
Birthday 9 February 1995 Place of birth Gjilan, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 2
2
Qëndrim— Jahaj
Argjent — MALAJ
Birthday 29 April 1994 Place of birth Istog, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 14
Birthday 16 October 1994 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 18
18
4
3
8
Albert— Stublla
Albert— Kaqiku
Birthday 3 May 1996 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 4
Birthday 21 January 1995 Place of birth Mitrovicë, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 24
24
valentin — lezi
visar — plakaj
Birthday 12 February 1995 Place of birth Bllacë, Kosovë — Position Midfielder — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 3
Birthday 28 January 1994 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Defender — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 13
27
lorik— aliu
Labinot— Shabani
Birthday 7 May 1996 Place of birth Prishtina, Kosovë — Position Forward — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 8
Birthday 7 September 1995 Place of birth Ferizaj, Kosovë — Position Forward — Current Club FC Prishtina U-19 Number 19
19
23
Internationale Jugendbegegnungen in Kultur und Sport e. V.
China U19 Borussia Dortmund
FC Zenit St. Petersburg VfL Wolfsburg
Arsenal London
Olympiakos Piräus
Hamburger SV
Borussia M‘gladbach
FC Valencia
FC Prishtina