# Albania national under-15 football team

The Albania national under-15 football team is the national under-15 football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania and was founded in 2009.

## History

The Albania under-15 were founded in 2009 for participating in the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics (Football) and the head coach was appointed Sulejman Demollari, former and last native coach of Albania senior side until 2002. Albania under-15 played their first match against Liechtenstein in the semi-final qualification round on 17 October 2009 winning 2–0 with goals scored by Jurgen Vatnikaj and Enes Hoxha. Albania under-15 advanced to the final where they faced Montenegro on 19 October 2009. However, they lost 1–2, missing their participation in the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics finals.

### 2010 Summer Youth Olympics (Football) qualification round
#### Squad

COACH: Sulejman Demollari
The following players participated in the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics (Football) qualification round.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1 | 1GK | Aldo Teqja | (1995-05-04)4 May 1995 (aged 14) | 2 | 0 | Dinamo Tirana |
| 12 | 1GK | Arlindo Pllumbi | (1995-04-16)16 April 1995 (aged 14) | 0 | 0 | Teuta Durrës |
| | 2DF | Erion Hoxhallari | (1995-10-15)15 October 1995 (aged 14) | 2 | 0 | Tirana |
| | 2DF | Kristi Marku | (1995-04-13)13 April 1995 (aged 14) | 2 | 0 | Teuta Durrës |
| | 2DF | Adelaid Thaci | (1995-01-27)27 January 1995 (aged 14) | 2 | 0 | Shkëndija Tiranë |
| | 2DF | Klaudio Çema | (1995-04-22)22 April 1995 (aged 14) | 0 | 0 | Partizani Tirana |
| 6 | 3MF | Enes Hoxha | (1995-02-26)26 February 1995 (aged 14) | 2 | 1 | Udinese |
| | 3MF | Stelios Nitsios | (2002-01-25)25 January 2002 (aged 7) | 2 | 0 | Agrotikos Asteras |
| | 3MF | Mikelanxhelo Bardhi | (1995-01-08)8 January 1995 (aged 14) | 2 | 0 | Iliria |
| | 3MF | Klodian Nuri | (1995-07-23)23 July 1995 (aged 14) | 2 | 0 | Shkëndija Tiranë |
| | 3MF | Frenki Milori | (1995-10-06)6 October 1995 (aged 14) | 1 | 0 | Olimpic |
| | 3MF | Uliks Tirana | (1995-12-21)21 December 1995 (aged 13) | 1 | 0 | Shkëndija Tiranë |
| | 3MF | Senad Sallaku | (1995-10-08)8 October 1995 (aged 14) | 0 | 0 | Partizani Tirana |
| | 3MF | Xhuljo Tabaku | (1995-06-03)3 June 1995 (aged 14) | 0 | 0 | Olimpic |
| 8 | 4FW | Jurgen Vatnikaj | (1995-08-08)8 August 1995 (aged 14) | 2 | 1 | Partizani Tirana |
| | 4FW | Franc Ymeralilaj | (1995-01-14)14 January 1995 (aged 14) | 2 | 1 | Rodos |
| | 4FW | Aleksandro Cakalli | (1995-08-27)27 August 1995 (aged 14) | 2 | 0 | Olimpic |
| | 4FW | Arlind Kalaja | (1995-12-27)27 December 1995 (aged 13) | 1 | 0 | Vllaznia Shkodër |
| | 4FW | Leonard Culi | (1995-03-04)4 March 1995 (aged 14) | 1 | 0 | Tirana |

### Refoundation

On 25 July 2016 the Albanian Football Association announced to have planned a "reborn" of the Albania under-15 starting with several selection in August, principally for youth talents in Italy on 11 & 12 August and in Greece on 13 August. On 28 September 2016 Albania U-15 had a gathering in the national team training center Kamëz, Tirana, Albania for two days. Alessandro Recenti coach, had accumulated nearly 35 players who were selected from collections made in Greece and Albania. Following the departure of Alessandro Recenti, on 27 January 2017 Albanian Football Association appointed Eqerem Memushi as the under-15 head coach to take the vacant place. Following a 3-months selection in some zones around Albania, on 28 April 2017 an under-15 squad was contoured with 20 players which participated in a 5 days gathering between 9–13 May 2017. A week after, the under-15 team started another gathering in Durrës, Albania between dates 17–19 May 2017 with a squad which contained 21 players. They made their first gathering to play their first matches since refoundation in September 2017 for the double friendly matches against Montenegro U15 on 28 & 30 September 2017. They lost the first match at Reshit Rusi Stadium, Shkodër, Albania 0–4.

## Players
### Current squad

COACH: Eqerem Memushi
The following players were called up for the double friendly matches against Montenegro U15 on 28 & 30 September 2017.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1GK | Berdan Qikaleshi | (2003-02-19) 19 February 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Akademia e Futbollit |
| 1GK | Redon Gega | (2003-06-15) 15 June 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Pepa |
| 2DF | Julian Sinaj | (2003-03-22) 22 March 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Flamurtari Vlorë |
| 2DF | Endri Xhafa | (2003-05-02) 2 May 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Akademia e Futbollit |
| 2DF | Ramazan Alla | (2003-07-26) 26 July 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Tirana |
| 2DF | Frenki Shahaj | (2003-03-09) 9 March 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | A.F Dinamo |
| 2DF | Arber Pengu | (2003-05-16) 16 May 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Pogradeci |
| 2DF | Elsamed Burgaj | (2003-09-06) 6 September 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Lapraka |
| 2DF | Admir Murati | (2003-09-16) 16 September 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Internacional Tirana |
| 3MF | Brajan Katroshi | (2003-01-04) 4 January 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Partizani Tirana |
| 3MF | Albi Shpuza | (2003-02-12) 12 February 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Vllaznia Shkodër |
| 3MF | Frenki Koduzi | (2003-03-31) 31 March 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Internacional Tirana |
| 3MF | Renato Toska | (2003-06-01) 1 June 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Fieri |
| 3MF | Andrea Lila | (2003-08-14) 14 August 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 1 | Besa Kavajë |
| 3MF | Henri Xhixha | (2003-02-16) 16 February 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | A.F Dinamo |
| 3MF | Eugen Sula | (2003-06-23) 23 June 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | A.F Dinamo |
| 3MF | Ersiad Matmuja | (2003-01-09) 9 January 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | A.F Dinamo |
| 3MF | Ardian Muriqi | (2003-02-11) 11 February 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 1 | Besa Pejë |
| 4FW | Alvi Mezani | (2003-01-06) 6 January 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Apolonia Fier |
| 4FW | Endri Qehaja | (2003-01-26) 26 January 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Teuta Durrës |
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| 4FW | Endri Çelaj | (2004-01-23) 23 January 2004 (age 20) | 3 | 5 | Paris Saint Germain |
| 4FW | Nazmi Canga | (2005-07-23) 23 July 2005 (age 19) | 3 | 1 | Pylaia |

### Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last 12 months.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
| GK | Mario Mara | (2002-01-29) 29 January 2002 (age 22) | 0 | 0 | Internacional Tirana | Gathering in Durrës, Albania, 19 May 2017 |
| DF | Erjon Qyra | (2003-04-18) 18 April 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Skënderbeu Korçë | Gathering in Durrës, Albania, 19 May 2017 |
| DF | Luis Lera | (2003-06-16) 16 June 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Shkodra | Gathering in Durrës, Albania, 19 May 2017 |
| DF | Ensi Shyli | (2003-07-23) 23 July 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Gramshi | Gathering in Durrës, Albania, 19 May 2017 |
| MF | Gjergji Kote | (2004-08-20) 20 August 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Skënderbeu Korçë | Gathering in Durrës, Albania, 19 May 2017 |
| FW | Kevin Hysolli | (2003-06-04) 4 June 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Skënderbeu Korçë | Gathering in Durrës, Albania, 19 May 2017 |
| FW | Nino Dhrami | | 0 | 0 | | Gathering, 13 May 2017 |

### Coaching staff

Current coaching staff:
| Position | Name |
| Head coach | Eqerem Memushaj |
| Assistant coach | Ardi Bozhani |
| Goalkeeping coach | Adrian Balla |
| Team doctor | Besmir Bulku |
| Physiotherapists | Mishel Topalli |

## Competitive record
### Youth Olympic Games

| Youth Olympic Games | Youth Olympic Games | Youth Olympic Games | Youth Olympic Games | Youth Olympic Games | Youth Olympic Games | Youth Olympic Games | Youth Olympic Games | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification |
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D * | L | GF | GA | Position | Pld | W | D * | L | GF | GA |
| 2010 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | Qualifying stage 2/4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Total: 0/1 | Best:- | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Total | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.