# Albania national under-23 football team

The Albania national under-23 football team represents Albania in international football at this age level and is controlled by Albanian Football Association, the governing body for football in Albania. The team competed in the UEFA European Under-23 Championship and Balkan Youth Championship, but after the rule change in 1975, the event had an age limit of 21.

## History
### Balkan Youth Championship

Albania Under-23 participated in the Balkan Youth Championship tournaments from 1969 until 1976 when the age limit rule changed to the under 21,and then Albania participated with the Albania national under 21 football team. In two first tournament 1969 & 1970, Albania U23 was ranked 3rd out 5 national teams Participations in both occasions. Then in the 1971 & 1972 tournament they were ranked in the 4th place in both cases. They withdrew from the 1973 tournament and in the 1974 edition, Albania U23 managed to reach the final after winning Group B against Turkey U23 & Greece U23. In the final they lost 1–0 against Romania U23.

### UEFA European Under-23 Championship

Albania U23 participated in 2 out 3 UEFA European Under-23 Championship in 1972 & 1974 where they were eliminated in both cases in the qualifying stages.

### 1991 Mediterranean Games
#### Group stage – Group B

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Greece | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 4 |
| Albania | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 2 |
| Algeria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 0 |

### 1997 Mediterranean Games
#### Group stage – Group B

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Italy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 4 |
| FR Yugoslavia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 4 |
| Albania | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | −6 | 0 |

## Players individual records
### Top appearances

| Rank | Position | Name | Career | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | MF | Millan Vaso | 1970–1974 | 15 | 0 |
| 2 | FW | Agim Janku | 1970–1971 | 13 | 3 |
| 2 | FW | Ilir Përnaska | 1970–1972 | 13 | 9 |
| 4 | MF | Iljaz Çeço | 1969–1971 | 12 | 5 |
| 4 | MF | Naim Allaj | 1970–1974 | 12 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Sabah Bizi | 1969–1971 | 11 | 2 |
| 6 | MF | Faruk Sejdini | 1970–1971 | 11 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Gjergji Thaka | 1970–1971 | 11 | 0 |
| 9 | DF | Perikli Dhales | 1969–1971 | 10 | 0 |
| 9 | GK | Bashkim Muhedini | 1969–1971 | 10 | 0 |
| 9 | DF | Safet Berisha | 1969–1971 | 10 | 0 |
| 9 | DF | Mihal Gjika | 1969–1970 | 10 | 0 |

### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Position | Name | Career | Goals | Caps |
| 1 | FW | Ilir Përnaska | 1970–1972 | 9 | 13 |
| 2 | MF | Iljaz Çeço | 1969–1971 | 5 | 12 |
| 3 | FW | Agim Janku | 1970–1971 | 3 | 13 |
| 3 | MF | Muharrem Karriqi | 1970–1971 | 3 | 13 |
| 5 | MF | Sabah Bizi | 1969–1971 | 2 | 11 |
| 5 | FW | Ramazan Rragami | 1969 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | MF | Bali | 1969–1971 | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | FW | Luan Metani | 1976 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | MF | Ardian Arra | 1976 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | FW | Shyqyri Ballgjini | 1974–1976 | 2 | 6 |

## Competitive record
### UEFA European Under-23 Championship Record

UEFA European Under-23 Championship record :
| Year | Round | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA |
| 1972 | Qualifying Stage | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 1974 | Qualifying Stage | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| 1976 | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter |
| Total | 0/2 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 16 |

### Balkan Youth Championship Record

Balkan Youth Championship record :
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
| 1968 | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter |
| 1969 | Group Ch. | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
| 1970 | Group Ch. | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 1971 | Group Ch. | 4th | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 11 |
| 1972 | Semi-final | 4th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 1973 | Group Ch. | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1974 | Runners-Up | 2nd | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 1975 | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter | Did Not Enter |
| 1976 | Third Place | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Total | Best:Runners-Up | 6/8 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 31 | 30 |
    *Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty shoot-out.
    **Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won.

### Mediterranean Games - Football

Football at the Mediterranean Games record :
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA |
| 1991 | Group stage | 6th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 1997 | Group stage | 11th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Total | 0/2 | Best: 6th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 |