# 2009–10 Kategoria Superiore

The 2009–10 Kategoria Superiore was the 74th season of top-tier football in Albania and the twelfth season under the name Kategoria superiore. The season began on 23 August 2009 and ended on 19 May 2010. Tirana was the defending champions.

## Team changes from last season

Lushnja and Elbasani were directly relegated to the Kategoria e Parë after finishing 11th and 12th in the previous year's standings. They were replaced by Kategoria e Parë champions Laçi and runners-up Skënderbeu.
9th placed Bylis and 10th placed Partizani had to compete in single-match relegation play-offs. Both teams were relegated in the process by losing against the third and fourth-placed teams from Kategoria e Parë, Kastrioti and Gramozi.

## Teams
### Stadia and last season

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Last season |
| Apolonia | Fier | Loni Papuçiu Stadium | 6,000 | 8th |
| Besa | Kavajë | Besa Stadium | 6,000 | 7th |
| Dinamo | Tirana | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | 10,000 | 3rd |
| Flamurtari | Vlorë | Flamurtari Stadium | 10,000 | 6th |
| Gramozi | Ersekë | Ersekë Stadium | 7,000 | Kategoria e Parë |
| Kastrioti | Krujë | Kastrioti Stadium | 3,500 | Kategoria e Parë |
| Laçi | Laç | Laçi Stadium | 3,000 | Kategoria e Parë |
| Shkumbini | Peqin | Shkumbini Stadium | 4,000 | 5th |
| Skënderbeu | Korçë | Skënderbeu Stadium | 7,000 | Kategoria e Parë |
| Teuta | Durrës | Stadiumi Niko Dovana | 10,000 | 4th |
| Tirana | Tirana | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | 10,000 | Champions |
| Vllaznia | Shkodër | Loro Boriçi Stadium | 14,200 | 2nd |

### Personnel and sponsoring

| Team | Head coach | Team captain | Kitmaker | Shirt sponsor |
| Apolonia | Hasan Lika | Mladen Brkić | Jako | Abissnet |
| Besa | Shpëtim Duro | Orges Shehi | Sportika | Banka Popullore |
| Dinamo Tirana | Shkëlqim Muça | Arjan Pisha | Sportika | Alpet |
| Flamurtari | Gugash Magani | Artan Sakaj | Sportika | IPBet |
| Gramozi | Agim Canaj | Hyserjon Shupe | Legea | Taçi Oil |
| Tirana | Alban Tafaj | Devis Mukaj | Lotto | Sigal |
| Kastrioti | Ramazan Ndreu | Ylli Shameti | Legea | Ardi-2M |
| Laçi | Stavri Nica | Julian Brahja | Sportika | Top Sport |
| Shkumbini | Përparim Daiu | Lorenc Pasha | Sportika | ALBA Konstruksion |
| Skënderbeu | Andrea Marko | Edi Çajku | Puma | Almeco |
| Teuta | Ylli Shehu | Vangjel Mile | Sportika | none |
| Vllaznia | Edi Martini | Armir Grima | Jako | Primo |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Dinamo Tirana (C) | 33 | 19 | 4 | 10 | 56 | 42 | +14 | 61 | Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Besa | 33 | 15 | 8 | 10 | 42 | 33 | +9 | 53 | Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Tirana | 33 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 38 | 32 | +6 | 52 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Laçi | 33 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 35 | 28 | +7 | 51 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 5 | Flamurtari | 33 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 42 | 39 | +3 | 47 | |
| 6 | Vllaznia | 33 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 34 | 39 | −5 | 46 | |
| 7 | Shkumbini | 33 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 45 | |
| 8 | Teuta | 33 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 33 | 40 | −7 | 45 | |
| 9 | Kastrioti (O) | 33 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 33 | 35 | −2 | 42 | Qualification for the relegation play-offs |
| 10 | Skënderbeu (O) | 33 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 42 | Qualification for the relegation play-offs |
| 11 | Apolonia (R) | 33 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 36 | 43 | −7 | 38 | Relegation to the 2010–11 Kategoria e Parë |
| 12 | Gramozi (R) | 33 | 6 | 8 | 19 | 25 | 43 | −18 | 26 | Relegation to the 2010–11 Kategoria e Parë |
* ↑ Besa qualified for the Europa League second qualifying round by winning the 2009–10 Albanian Cup.
* 1 2 Shkumbini ahead of Teuta on head-to-head record; Shkumbini–Teuta 4–1, Teuta–Shkumbini 1–0, Shkumbini–Teuta 1–0.
* ↑ Kastrioti were deducted three points because their players voluntarily left the pitch before the end of the match.
* 1 2 Kastrioti ahead of Skënderbeu on head-to-head record; Kastrioti–Skënderbeu 2–1, Skënderbeu–Kastrioti 0–1, Kastrioti–Skënderbeu 1–2.

## Results

The schedule consists of three rounds. During the first two rounds, each team plays each other once home and away for a total of 22 matches. The pairings of the third round will then be set according to the standings after the first two rounds, giving every team a third game against each opponent for a total of 33 games per team.

## Relegation playoffs

Kastrioti and Skënderbeu finished 9th and 10th, respectively, in the league competition and therefore had to participate in a relegation playoff to keep their spots in the league. Skënderbeu Korçë faced Kamza, who finished third in the First Division and Kastrioti Krujë faced Lushnja, who finished fourth in the First Division.

## Top goalscorers

Source: Soccerway
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Daniel Xhafaj | Besa | 18 |
| 2 | Elis Bakaj | Dinamo | 16 |
| 3 | Mladen Brkić | Apolonia | 15 |
| 4 | Fatjon Sefa | Dinamo | 13 |
| 5 | Marko dos Santos | Gramozi | 11 |
| 6 | Miliam Guerrib | Skënderbeu | 10 |
| 6 | Arlind Nora | Laçi | 10 |
| 8 | Oriand Abazaj | Kastrioti | 8 |
| 8 | Bekim Balaj | Vllaznia | 8 |
| 8 | Ilirjan Çaushaj | Shkumbini | 8 |
| 8 | Migen Memelli | Tirana/Flamurtari | 8 |
| 8 | Gjergji Muzaka | Tirana | 8 |

## Season statistics
### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Robert Alviž for Flamurtari Vlorë against KF Tirana, 11 minutes (23 August 2009).
* Fastest goal in a match: 1 minute – Daniel Xhafaj for Besa Kavajë against Vllaznia Shkodër (29 November 2009).
* Goal scored at the latest point in a match: 90+3 minutes
** Ilir Nallbani for Vllaznia Shkodër against Apolonia Fier (30 August 2009).
** Robert Grizhaj for Kastrioti Krujë against Apolonia Fier (7 November 2009).
** Robert Alviž for Flamurtari Vlorë against Kastrioti Krujë (21 November 2009).
* First own goal of the season: Shpëtim Moçka (Flamurtari Vlorë) for Teuta Durrës, 24 minutes (19 September 2009).
* First penalty kick of the season: 37 minutes – Devis Mema for Flamurtari Vlorë against KF Tirana (23 August 2009).
* Widest winning margin: 4 goals
** Dinamo Tirana 4-0 Gramozi Ersekë (31 October 2009).
** Shkumbini Peqin 4-0 Dinamo Tirana (19 December 2009).

## Championship-winning squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ALB | Elvis Kotorri |
| 2 | DF | ALB | Elvis Sina |
| 3 | DF | SRB | Danilo Nikolic |
| 4 | MF | ALB | Asion Daja |
| 5 | DF | ALB | Arjan Pisha (captain) |
| 6 | DF | ALB | Julian Brahja |
| 7 | MF | ALB | Nertil Ferraj |
| 8 | FW | BIH | Nedim Halilović |
| 10 | MF | CRO | Pëllumb Jusufi |
| 11 | FW | ALB | Sebino Plaku |
| 12 | GK | ALB | Alban Hoxha |
| 13 | MF | ALB | Artion Poci (vice-captain) |
| 14 | MF | ALB | Igli Allmuça |
| 15 | DF | ALB | Roland Peqini |
| 16 | FW | ALB | Fatjon Sefa |
| 17 | FW | ALB | Rigels Nezaj |
| 19 | MF | ALB | Elis Bakaj |
| 20 | DF | ALB | Klevis Bejtja |
| 21 | MF | ALB | Hetlem Capja |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 22 | DF | CRO | Goran Granić |
| 23 | DF | SEN | Albaye Papa Diop |
| 24 | GK | ALB | Sulejman Hoxha |
| 25 | FW | CRO | Frane Petricevic |
| 99 | FW | ARG | Rubén Cecco |
| — | GK | ARG | Daniel Alejandro Bertoya |
| — | DF | ARG | Alejandro Palladino |
| — | DF | ALB | Eradi Mertiri |
| — | DF | CRO | Dario Bodrušić |
| — | MF | ALB | Julian Ahmataj |
| — | MF | ARG | Agustín González Tapia |
| — | MF | ALB | Ilirjan Çaushaj |
| — | MF | ALB | Andi Hasa |
| — | MF | ALB | Klodian Sulollari |
| — | FW | ALB | Gers Delia |
| — | FW | ARG | Mario Antonio Romero |
| — | FW | ARG | Cristian Andres Campozano |
| — | FW | ALB | Rigels Nezaj |