# 2016–17 KF Tirana season

The 2016–17 season was Klubi i Futbollit Tirana's 78th competitive season, 78th consecutive season in the Kategoria Superiore and 96th year in existence as a football club.

## Season overview
### June

On 1 June, Disciplinary Committee of AFA reduced the sentence of Gentian Muça from one year to only the first four matches of the new season. Eight days later, Elis Bakaj terminated his contract with the club and signed with the Croatian Prva HNL team RNK Split. On 13 June, Ilir Daja officially returned to Tirana after he was convinced by the club president Refik Halili, and during the press conference on the same day, they both presented the new project for the new season.
On 15 June, the club parted ways with Ilir Avdyli after only six months of cooperation. A day later, Tirana terminated the cooperation with the midfielder Allush Gavazaj, who spend the previous season on loan at Tërbuni Pukë. Tirana later brought back the veteran goalkeeper Ilion Lika for a third slint at the club.
On 23 June, Gentian Muça was sent on loan at Kukësi only for the club's 2016–17 UEFA Europa League campaign, just like in the previous season. A day later, Argjend Malaj signed with Skënderbeu Korçë as a free agent after he didn't extend his contract with Tirana.
On 29 June, Dritan Smajli left the club after terminating his contract after one season cooperation.

### July

On 4 July, Ansi Nika was signed by the club on a free transfer; Nika signed a two-year contract. One day later, after one-year hiatus, Afrim Taku returned from the United States and signed a one-year contract with Tirana. They were presented on 8 July.
A day later, Tirana acquired the services of Marvin Turtulli from Dinamo Tirana on a three-year contract. Following that, on 11 July, Tirana purchased Asion Daja of Partizani Tirana on a two-year deal, becoming the club's fifth summer signing. On 13 July, Dorian Kërçiku agreed a contract extension with the club, singing until July 2019, while the goalie Edvan Bakaj signed a new two-year contract. One day later, Tirana signed a new two-year deal with Erion Hoxhallari. On the same day, the youngster David Domgjoni returned in the club after finishing his loan at Kastrioti Krujë and penned a three-year contract.
On 17 July, Tirana announced via its official Facebook page that the team traveled to Zlatibor, Serbia to make the summer preparations for the upcoming season. Tirana also informed that the team would stay for two weeks at Iris Hotel and will arrange four friendlies. One day later, Tirana brought on trial Nigerian striker Emeka Emerun, who flew out to Zlatibor to link up with the rest of the squad on their summer training camp. However, he left the team on 25 July after refusing to continue the trial.
Tirana won the first friendly match against OFK Petrovac with the result 3–1. Halili, Karabeci and Bajramaj scored the goals for Tirana. On 22 July, Gentian Muça returned to the team after the end Kukësi's European campaign. One the same day, Ryota Noma and Hiroaki Yamamoto joined the club on trial until the end of summer training camp. In the next friendly match against OFK Grbalj, Tirana suffered a 0–1 narrow defeat, with Todorović scoring the match only goal. In the third friendly versus Novi Pazar, Tirana didn't go more than a goalless draw. In the final friendly against the OFK Beograd, Tirana clinched a 1–0 victory to end thus the summer preparations.

### August

On 19 August, Tirana confirmed the signing of four players, respectively Romuald Ntsitsigui, Ifeanyi Edeh, Moise Nkounkou and Merveille Ndockyt; they all signed two-year contracts and were presented on the same day. A day later, Tirana officially terminated the contract with the defender Ronald Gërçaliu by mutual consensus. On 26 August, Tirana completed the signing of the 19-years old striker Flamur Bajrami on a three-year contract.

### September

Tirana started the month by completing the signing of Argjend Mustafa on a free transfer. Tirana started the season on 7 September with a goalless draw against Teuta Durrës in the opening 2016–17 Kategoria Superiore week. This draw was followed by another goalless draw away against Laçi four days later, a match which brought a controversial moment in the 38th minute as the referee Remzi Sadiku denied Tirana a clear penalty after a handball from a Laçi player. In the matchday 3 against Kukësi at home, Tirana produced a hard-fought performance, coming from behind two times to earn a 2–2 draw. Afrim Taku and Merveille Ndockyt scored the first goals of the season.
In the fourth match against Partizani Tirana in the so-called "Tirana derby", Tirana didn't go more than a goalless draw, making it the fourth consecutive draw. It was the worst start in the history of the club since the 1960'. To begin its Albanian Cup campaign, Tirana was shorted against Sopoti Librazhd and played its first leg match at Selman Stërmasi Stadium. Tirana netted first through a Gilman Lika goal in the 45th minute, but Sopoti equalized via a Mirel Çota penalty minutes before the final whistle.

## Players
### Squad information

    As of 10 October 2016
| Squad No. | Name | Position(s) | Date of Birth (Age) |
| Goalkeepers |||||
| 1 | Ilion Lika | GK | (1980-05-17)17 May 1980 (aged 36) |
| 31 | Edvan Bakaj | GK | (1987-10-09)9 October 1987 (aged 28) |
| Defenders |||||
| 3 | Endrit Idrizaj | LB | (1989-06-14)14 June 1989 (aged 27) |
| 4 | Gentian Muça | CB/DM | (1987-05-13)13 May 1987 (aged 29) |
| 5 | Marvin Turtulli | CB | (1994-10-17)17 October 1994 (aged 21) |
| 6 | David Domgjoni | RB | (1997-05-21)21 May 1997 (aged 19) |
| 21 | Olsi Teqja | RB / LB / CB | (1988-07-27)27 July 1988 (aged 27) |
| 28 | Erion Hoxhallari | LB | (1993-02-26)26 February 1993 (aged 23) |
| Midfielders |||||
| 7 | Gilman Lika | AMF/LW / RW | (1987-01-13)13 January 1987 (aged 29) |
| 10 | Erjon Vucaj | CMF / MF | (1990-12-25)25 December 1990 (aged 25) |
| 13 | Erando Karabeci (captain) | CM / DM / AM | (1988-09-06)6 September 1988 (aged 27) |
| 14 | Asion Daja | CM / RB | (1990-03-14)14 March 1990 (aged 26) |
| 15 | Fjoralb Deliaj | CM | (1997-04-04)4 April 1997 (aged 19) |
| 17 | Gjergji Muzaka | LW / RW | (1984-09-26)26 September 1984 (aged 31) |
| 18 | Dorian Kërçiku | CM / RB / LB | (1993-07-30)30 July 1993 (aged 22) |
| 22 | Moise Nkounkou | LM | (1996-08-02)2 August 1996 (aged 19) |
| 25 | Majkel Peci | AM | (1996-08-29)29 August 1996 (aged 19) |
| 26 | Afrim Taku | CM / RB / RW | (1989-08-04)4 August 1989 (aged 26) |
| 77 | Ansi Nika | CM | (1990-08-22)22 August 1990 (aged 25) |
| – | Argjend Mustafa | CM | (1992-08-30)30 August 1992 (aged 23) |
| 19 | Merveille Ndockyt | AM / LW / RW | (1998-07-20)20 July 1998 (aged 17) |
| Forwards |||||
| 3 | Moctar Cisse | CF | (1993-03-10)10 March 1993 (aged 23) |
| 8 | Romuald Ntsitsigui | CF | (1991-04-08)8 April 1991 (aged 25) |
| 9 | Grend Halili | CF | (1998-05-24)24 May 1998 (aged 18) |
| 11 | Ifeanyi Edeh | CF | (1990-10-25)25 October 1990 (aged 25) |

## Transfers
### In
#### Summer

| Date | Pos. | Player | Age | Moving from | Fee | Notes |
| 17 June 2016 | GK | Ilion Lika | 36 | Flamurtari Vlorë | Free | |
| 4 July 2016 | MF | Ansi Nika | 25 | Kukësi | Free | |
| 5 July 2016 | MF | Afrim Taku | 26 | Free agent | Free | |
| 9 July 2016 | DF | Marvin Turtulli | 21 | Dinamo Tirana | Free | |
| 11 July 2016 | MF | Asion Daja | 26 | Partizani Tirana | Free | |
| 13 July 2016 | DF | David Domgjoni | 19 | Kastrioti Krujë | N/A | Return from loan |
| 18 July 2016 | FW | Emeka Emerun | 19 | Sloboda Užice | Free | |
| 22 July 2016 | DF | Gentian Muça | 29 | Kukësi | N/A | Return from loan |
| 20 August 2016 | FW | Romuald Ntsitsigui | 25 | Mangasport | Free | |
| 20 August 2016 | FW | Ifeanyi Edeh | 25 | Enyimba | Free | |
| 20 August 2016 | MF | Moise Nkounkou | 20 | Léopards | Free | |
| 20 August 2016 | MF | Merveille Ndockyt | 18 | Léopards | Free | |
| 26 August 2016 | FW | Flamur Bajrami | 19 | Free agent | Free | |
| 2 September 2016 | MF | Argjend Mustafa | 24 | Laçi | Free | |

#### Winter
### Out
#### Summer

| Date | Pos. | Player | Age | Moving to | Fee | Notes |
| 31 May 2016 | FW | Masato Fukui | 27 | Skënderbeu Korçë | Free | |
| 9 June 2016 | MF | Elis Bakaj | 28 | RNK Split | Free | |
| 15 June 2016 | GK | Ilir Avdyli | 26 | Free agent | | |
| 16 June 2016 | MF | Allush Gavazaj | 21 | Free agent | | |
| 23 June 2016 | DF | Gentian Muça | 29 | Kukësi | Free | Only for Europa League campaign |
| 24 June 2016 | MF | Argjend Malaj | 21 | Skënderbeu Korçë | Free | |
| 29 June 2016 | DF | Dritan Smajli | 29 | Free agent | | |
| 21 June 2016 | DF | Ronald Gërçaliu | 30 | Free agent | | |
* ↑ After he and Tirana couldn't find a way for the new contract, Fukui become a free agent, and on 21 June he signed with Skënderbeu Korçë.

#### Winter
## Competitions
### Kategoria Superiore
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 6 | Laçi | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 23 | 35 | −12 | 40 | |
| 7 | Vllaznia | 36 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 29 | 35 | −6 | 40 | |
| 8 | Flamurtari | 36 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 42 | 34 | +8 | 40 | |
| 9 | Tirana (R) | 36 | 8 | 15 | 13 | 29 | 32 | −3 | 39 | Europa League qualifying and relegation to Kategoria e Parë |
| 10 | Korabi (R) | 36 | 2 | 7 | 27 | 11 | 68 | −57 | 13 | Relegation to the 2017–18 Kategoria e Parë |
* ↑ Flamurtari were deducted six points for failing to fulfill financial obligations.
* ↑ Tirana qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2016–17 Albanian Cup.

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 27 May 2017. Source: Competitive matches

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| Ground | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | D | D | D | D | W | W | W | L | L | W | W | D | D | L | D | L | W | D | L | D | L | L | D | D | D | L | L | L | D | L | L | L | W | L | W | D |
| Position | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 |

#### Matches
### Albanian Cup
#### Final
## Statistics
### Squad stats

| | League | Cup | Total Stats |
| Games played | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| Games won | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Games drawn | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Games lost | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Goals scored | 5 | 8 | 13 |
| Goals conceded | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Goal difference | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Clean sheets | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Last updated: 10 October 2016 Source: Soccerway

### Top scorers

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Name | Kategoria Superiore | Albanian Cup | Total |
| 26 | MF | | Afrim Taku | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 25 | MF | | Majkel Peci | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 9 | FW | | Grend Halili | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 7 | MF | | Gilman Lika | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | | Ifeanyi Edeh | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | FW | | Merveille Ndockyt | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTAL | TOTAL | TOTAL | TOTAL | 5 | 8 | 13 |
Last updated: 10 October 2016

### Clean sheets

The list is sorted by shirt number when total appearances are equal.
| Rnk | No. | Player | Kategoria Superiore | Albanian Cup | Total |
| 1 | 1 | Ilion Lika | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | 31 | Edvan Bakaj | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Last updated: 10 October 2016. Source: Soccerway