2015–16 Kategoria Superiore

The 2015–16 Kategoria Superiore was the 77th season of the top Albanian professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1930. It was organised by the Albanian Football Association and it was the 13th season under the name Kategoria Superiore, which took over from the Albanian National Championship in 2003. The season began on 21 August 2015 and concluded on 18 May 2016.

Kategoria Superiore
Season2015–16
Dates21 August 2015 –
18 May 2016
ChampionsSkënderbeu
7th Albanian title
RelegatedBylis
Tërbuni
Champions LeagueSkënderbeu[note 1]
Partizani
Europa LeaguePartizani
Kukësi
Teuta
Matches played180
Goals scored395 (2.19 per match)
Top goalscorerHamdi Salihi (27 goals)
Best goalkeeperAlban Hoxha (19 clean sheets)
Biggest home winFlamurtari 7–0 Tërbuni
(4 October 2015)
Skënderbeu 6–1 Laçi
(4 May 2016)
Biggest away winTërbuni 0–4 Vllaznia
(9 March 2016)
Highest scoringFlamurtari 7–0 Tërbuni
(4 October 2015)
Longest winning run9 games
Partizani
Longest unbeaten run16 games
Partizani
Longest winless run14 games
Tërbuni
Longest losing run5 games
Tërbuni
Flamurtari
All statistics correct as of 24 November 2016.

Skënderbeu began the season as defending champions of the 2014–15 season. Bylis and Tërbuni entered as the two promoted teams from the 2014–15 Albanian First Division, but they were both relegated at the end of the season.

Hamdi Salihi of Skënderbeu won the scoring title with 27 goals in 30 games. Alban Hoxha of Partizani led the league with 19 clean sheets in 32 games. Gugash Magani of Flamurtari and then Teuta won the Manager of the Season award.

Bylis, the 2014–15 Kategoria e Parë champion, returns to the top level after just one year of absence.


Team Home city Stadium Capacity 2014–15 season
Bylis Ballsh Adush Muça Stadium 5,200 Kategoria e Parë
Flamurtari Vlorë Flamurtari Stadium 8,200 6th
Kukësi Kukës Zeqir Ymeri Stadium 5,000 2nd
Laçi Laç Laçi Stadium 2,300 5th
Partizani Tiranë Qemal Stafa Stadium 12,800 3rd
Skënderbeu Korçë Skënderbeu Stadium 5,724 Champions
Teuta Durrës Niko Dovana Stadium 12,040 8th
Tirana Tiranë Selman Stërmasi Stadium 9,600 4th
Tërbuni Pukë Ismail Xhemali Stadium 1,950 Kategoria e Parë
Vllaznia Shkodër Reshit Rusi Stadium(2) 1,200 7th

Stadiums

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Bylis Flamurtari Kukësi Laçi Partizani
Adush Muça Stadium Flamurtari Stadium Zeqir Ymeri Stadium Laçi Stadium Qemal Stafa Stadium
Capacity: 5,200 Capacity: 8,200 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 2,300 Capacity: 19,700
       
Skënderbeu Teuta Tirana Tërbuni Vllaznia
Skënderbeu Stadium Niko Dovana Stadium Selman Stërmasi Stadium Ismail Xhemali Stadium Reshit Rusi Stadium
Capacity: 5,724 Capacity: 12,040 Capacity: 9,600 Capacity: 1,950 Capacity: 1,200
       

Personnel and kits

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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
Bylis   Agron Kapllanaj   Adnan Zildžović   Maringlen Shoshi Nike
Flamurtari   Sinan Idrizi   Zekirija Ramadani   Bruno Telushi Nike TRK/Atlasjet
Kukësi   Safet Gjici   Klodian Duro   Rrahman Hallaçi Nike Kevin Construction
Laçi   Pashk Laska   Ramadan Ndreu   Stipe Buljan Nike Top Sport
Partizani   Gazment Demi   Andrea Agostinelli   Alban Hoxha Nike
Skënderbeu   Ardian Takaj   Mirel Josa   Bledi Shkëmbi Nike Ama Cafè
Teuta   Edmond Hasanbelliu   Gugash Magani   Bledjan Rizvani Nike Caffè Pascucci
Tirana   Refik Halili   Ilir Daja   Ervin Bulku Nike
Tërbuni   Grand Frroku   Viktor Gjoni   Abaz Karakaçi Nike AML Leonard
Vllaznia   Bashkia Shkodër   Armando Cungu   Ndriçim Shtubina Nike

Managerial changes

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Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Partizani   Shpëtim Duro End of contract 29 May 2015 Pre-season   Sulejman Starova 30 May 2015
Tirana   Ndubuisi Egbo End of tenure as a caretaker 30 May 2015   Shkëlqim Muça 30 May 2015
Teuta   Gentian Begeja End of contract 31 May 2015   Gugash Magani 1 June 2015
Bylis   Roland Nenaj End of contract 31 May 2015   Agim Canaj 28 July 2015
Flamurtari   Ernestino Ramella Mutual consent 31 May 2015   Stanislav Levý 6 July 2015
Kukësi   Miodrag Radanović Mutual consent 14 June 2015   Marcello Troisi 15 June 2015
Tërbuni   Elvis Plori End of contract 14 June 2015   Samuel Nikaj 11 July 2015

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Skënderbeu[a] (C) 36 25 4 7 73 27 +46 79
2 Partizani 36 21 11 4 51 21 +30 74 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
3 Kukësi 36 18 9 9 41 25 +16 63[b] Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[c]
4 Teuta 36 18 9 9 43 28 +15 63[b]
5 Tirana 36 13 14 9 37 25 +12 53
6 Vllaznia 36 11 6 19 36 42 −6 39
7 Laçi 36 8 12 16 30 48 −18 36
8 Flamurtari[d] 36 9 11 16 34 44 −10 35
9 Bylis (R) 36 8 8 20 27 53 −26 32 Relegation to the 2016–17 Kategoria e Parë
10 Tërbuni (R) 36 4 6 26 22 81 −59 18
Source: Albanian Football Association (in Albanian), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Draw.[4]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Skënderbeu would have qualified for the Champions League second qualifying round, but were excluded from participating in the 2016–17 European competitions by UEFA for match-fixing.[1][2]
  2. ^ a b Kukësi ahead of Teuta on head-to-head record; Kukësi–Teuta 3–0, Teuta–Kukësi 1–0, Kukësi–Teuta 2–2, Teuta–Kukësi 0–0.
  3. ^ Kukësi qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2015–16 Albanian Cup.
  4. ^ Flamurtari were deducted three points.[3]

Results

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Each team plays every opponent four times, twice at home and twice away, for a total of 36 games.

Season statistics

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Scoring

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Top scorers

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As of matches played on 21 May 2016.[5]
Rank Player Club Goals
1   Hamdi Salihi Skënderbeu 27
2   Xhevahir Sukaj Partizani 21
3   James Adeniyi Laçi/Skënderbeu 15
4   Elis Bakaj Tirana 14
5   Peter Olayinka Skënderbeu 10
  Izair Emini Kukësi
7   Artur Magani Teuta 9
7   Mateus Lima Kukësi 7
  Emiljano Musta Teuta
  Ardit Hoxhaj Bylis
10   Eraldo Çinari Vllaznia 6
  Erick Flores Kukësi
  Valdan Nimani Laçi
  Stevan Račić Partizani
  Ndriçim Shtubina Vllaznia
  Bruno Telushi Flamurtari

Hat-tricks

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Player For Against Result Date Ref
  Hamdi Salihi Skënderbeu Flamurtari 5–2 20 March 2016 [6]
  Elis Bakaj Tirana Tërbuni 3–0 3 April 2016 [7]
  Xhevahir Sukaj Partizani Tërbuni 4–0 30 April 2016 [8]

Clean sheets

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As of matches played on 21 May 2016.[5]
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1   Alban Hoxha Partizani Tirana 19
2   Edvan Bakaj Tirana 17
3   Orges Shehi Skënderbeu Korçë 16
4   Shpëtim Moçka Teuta Durrës 15
5   Ervis Koçi Kukësi 10
  Andrija Dragojević Vllaznia Shkodër
7   Stivi Frashëri Tirana/Bylis Ballsh 9
8   Argjent Halili Flamurtari Vlorë 8
9   Enea Koliqi Kukësi 7

Discipline

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As of 21 May 2016

Player

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Club

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  • Most yellow cards: 97[5]
    • Bylis
  • Most red cards: 6[5]
    • Flamurtari

Attendances

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Club Lowest attendance Highest attendance Average attendance
Partizani 1,000 10,031 3,009
KF Tirana 2,000 11,734 2,993
Skënderbeu 500 4,200 2,731
FK Kukësi 531 5,110 1,957
Flamurtari 70 3,000 1,215
Teuta 150 1,700 940
Vllaznia 2,500 8,000 5,550
KF Laçi 300 1,800 828
Bylis 300 1,800 828
Tërbuni 300 1,800 828

Notes

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  1. ^ Partizani were transferred to the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round following the exclusion of Skënderbeu Korçë by UEFA for match-fixing.

References

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  1. ^ "UEFA pezullon padrejtësisht Skëndërbeun nga Europa për sezonin 2016- 2017" [UEFA unfairly suspending Skënderbeu from Europe for the 2016–2017 season]. kfskenderbeu.al. Skënderbeu Korçë. 6 June 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Albania's KF Skenderbeu banned from Europe for match-fixing". espnfc.com. ESPN FC. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Pagoi me vonesë borxhin ndaj Toni Pezos, FIFA i heq 3 pikë" [Paid the delayed debt to Toni Pezos, FIFA removes 3 points]. Panorama Sport. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Superliga 2015/2016 - Season rules". Scoresway. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Summary - Superliga - Albania - Results, fixtures, tables and news". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  6. ^ Sotir Kora (20 March 2016). "Super Salihi, Skënderbeu shkatërron Flamurtarin" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Archived from the original on 2016-03-23. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  7. ^ Erald Kodheli (3 April 2016). "Tirana thyen 3-0 Tërbunin, tre gola nga Elis Bakaj" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Archived from the original on 2016-04-06. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  8. ^ Adi Metaliu (30 April 2016). "Partizani nuk gabon, 4 gola Tërbunit" (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
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