Soccer Club Gjilani (Albanian: Klubi Futbollistik Gjilani), commonly known as Gjilani, is a professional football club based in Gjilan, Kosovo. The club play in the Football Superleague of Kosovo, which is the top tier of football in the country.

SC Gjilani
Full nameSport Club Gjilani
Nickname(s)Skifterat (Falcons)
Founded1945; 79 years ago (1945) as FK Crvena Zvezda Gnjilane
1995; 29 years ago (1995) as SC Gjilani
GroundGjilan City Stadium
Capacity15,000
Owner
Local investors
  • Afrim Veliu
  • Fatlum Pireva
  • Qëndrim Demiri
  • Shaban Bajrami
  • Valmir Emini
ChairmanAfrim Veliu
ManagerGentian Mezani
LeagueKosovo Superleague
2022–23Kosovo Superleague, 3rd of 10

History edit

SC Gjilani is the club which was formed in 1995 by Afrim Kqiku, in very unfavourable times. Despite difficulties with the organization they had managed to maintain the club competing, and, after 5 years since its foundation, they won the Kosovar Cup and got promotion to the top-level Kosovar league, the Football Superleague of Kosovo, where they have been playing ever since.

Supporters edit

Skifterat
Skifterat during a match
Founded1999; 25 years ago (1999)
TypeUltras club
TeamGjilani
LocationGjilan,  Kosovo
ArenaGjilan City Stadium
Colors  

Skifterat are the clubs ultras group which formed in 1999 after Kosovo war. They are also known as the Red and White boys and they live for this club and this supporter group. They are also one of the best supporter groups in Kosovo[citation needed]. They were named after a KLA brigade called the Falcons.

Incidents edit

At Skifterat there are groups of hooligans who do incidents especially during the derby against Drita.[1] Also there has been other incidents involving mass blows among hooligans where they ended up with some injured. There was an incident between the fans of Gjilan and Drenica and also the most dangerous incident was between Gjilan and Vëllaznimi in 2017–18 season, where 23 people injured.[2] There have also been incidents of burning of flags of countries like Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, or Montenegro.

Club rivalries edit

Drita edit

There is often a fierce rivalry between the two strongest teams in a national league and this is particularly the case in Football Superleague of Kosovo, where the game between Gjilani and Drita is known as the Kosovo Derby. The derby according to the tradition of the city of Gjilan, the party starts with fans organization, who try to give the maximum that besides the support for the respective clubs, there is also some surprise for the other opponent camp, to say that we were better and is appreciated more than what is presented to you with great curiosity about the whole city, what a presentation will be on the weekend from Skifterat (Falcons) and Intelektualët (Intellectuals).

Three days before the match the derby gives the atmosphere a night life, streets, everywhere in the cafe bars is an atmosphere that occurs only during national holidays, where fans are seen by both the Skifterat (Falcons) and Intelektualët (Intellectuals) to live all that week under the fever of the much-anticipated derby.

One hour before the match, the two camps are organized in groups and always avoid eventual incidents between the two ultras groups. They divide the streets from where they will go to the stadium, which is good in a way to avoid the breakdown of this holiday and the much anticipated confrontation in Gjilan.

Crest and colours edit

The first design and colours in 1995 was red and white in the center with a circle and one ball that formed the badge of the club. In 2000, the colors were changed by the new president of the club in purple and light blue, but early in the 2008–09 season at the initiative of the leadership of Gjilan's supporters club Skifterat (Falcons), back before the club colors.

Stadium edit

The club has played its home games at the Gjilan City Stadium (Albanian: Stadiumi i Qytetit të Gjilanit) is a multi-purpose stadium in Gjilan, Kosovo. The stadium has a capacity of 10,000 people all seater.

Honours edit

SC Gjilani honours
TypeCompetitionTitlesSeasons/Years
DomesticKosovar Cup11999–2000
Kosovar Supercup

European record edit

Gjilani competed in the UEFA Europa League for the first time in the 2020–21 season, entering at the preliminary round. On 9 August 2020, the draw was held and Gjilani were drawn against Sammarinese side Tre Penne.[3] On 21 August 2020, Gjilani beat the Sammarinese side Tre Penne at San Marino Stadium in Serravalle.[4]

SeasonCompetitionRoundOpponentHomeAwayAgg.
2020–21UEFA Europa LeaguePR Tre Penne3–1
1Q APOEL0–2 (a.e.t.)
2022–23UEFA Europa Conference League1Q Liepāja1–01–32–3
2023–24UEFA Europa Conference League1Q Progrès Niederkorn0–22–22–4

Players edit

Current squad edit

As of 2 March 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
1GK  KOSBetim Halimi
3DF  MNEMarko Roganović
4MF  ALBDonaldo Açka
6MF  KOSErlis Xhemaili
7MF  KOSOltion Bilalli
8FW  KOSFatjon Bunjaku
9FW  BULNasko Milev
10FW  BRAElton Calé
11FW  CROEdi Baša
12GK  KOSRrezon Matoshi
14MF  BIHElvedin Herić
15DF  KOSBesir Ramadani
16DF  KOSMelos Bajrami
17MF  KOSEdison Kqiku (captain)
18FW  KOSLorent Rafuna
No.Pos. NationPlayer
19MF  KOSLeonit Sahitaj
20MF  ALBShqiprim Taipi
21DF  ALBRenato Ziko
22DF  ALBBesir Demiri
23MF  KOSKushtrim Shabani
27FW  KOSShend Kelmendi
28DF  KOSQëndrim Ismajli
29MF  KOSAlbin Hoti
30GK  KOSAridon Bllaca
33DF  ALBDajan Shehi
34MF  KOSBlend Krasniqi (on loan from Dinamo City)
65MF  KOSArlind Sherifi
77DF  KOSEldonit Shaqiri
99FW  GERSenad Jarović (on loan from Struga)

Unregistered players under contract edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
MF  CANLorik Sadiku
No.Pos. NationPlayer
MF  KOSShaban Shabani

Personnel edit

Current technical staff
PositionName
Head coach Ismet Munishi
Assistant coach Agim Maliqi
Alban Hyseni
Shallah Sherifi
Goalkeeping coach Afrim Ajdini
Physiotherapist Nysret Rexhepi
Doctor Arben Bislimi
Board members
OfficeName
President Florim Zuka
Executive director Sevdail Robelli
Financial director Arlind Behluli
Sports director Naser Ajeti
Secretary Roland Ajeti
Media Officer Mërgim Qerimi

Managerial history edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Rrahja ndërmjet tifozëve në derbin Drita-Gjilani [video]" [Beating between fans in derby Drita-Gjilani [video] (in Albanian). Koha Ditore. 23 August 2015.
  2. ^ "dhuna në Drenicë, rrahje "nën hundë" të policëve". Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Hidhet shorti për ndeshjet parakualifikuese në Ligën e Evropës, Gjilani dhe Prishtina mësojnë kundërshtarët" [The lottery is drawn for pre-qualification matches in Europa League, Gjilan and Prishtina learn opponents] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 9 August 2020. Në anën tjetër Gjilani do të luaj ndaj skuadrës nga San Marino, Tre Penne
  4. ^ "Fitore historike e Gjilanit në Evropë, e dominon Tre Pennen dhe kalon në raundin e parë të EL" [Fitore historike e Gjilanit në Evropë, e dominon Tre Pennen dhe kalon në raundin e parë të EL] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 21 August 2020.
  5. ^ Selimi: U ktheva në Klubin tim, synojmë Superligën – 2L Online (in Albanian)
  6. ^ Gjilani bëhet me trajner të ri – Telegrafi (in Albanian)
  7. ^ Bylbyl Sokoli, trajner i Gjilanit – Telegrafi (in Albanian)
  8. ^ Zyrtare: Arbnor Morina trajner i Gjilanit – Gazeta Express (in Albanian)
  9. ^ Gjilani emëron Alban Hysenin trajner të ri – Telegrafi (in Albanian)
  10. ^ Zyrtare: Ky është trajneri i ri i Gjilanit – Gazeta Blic (in Albanian)
  11. ^ Zyrtare: Gjilani emëron për trajner Gentian Mezanin – Telegrafi (in Albanian)

External links edit