# 2016–17 Kategoria Superiore

The 2016–17 Kategoria Superiore was the 78th official season, or 81st season of top-tier football in Albania (including three unofficial championships during World War II) and the 17th season under the name Kategoria Superiore. Skënderbeu were the defending champions. The season began on 7 September 2016 and concluded on 27 May 2017.
On 20 May 2017, Kukësi defeated the reigning champions Skënderbeu 2–0 to clinch their first-ever league title, in only their fifth season in the top-flight.

## Teams
### Changes

Ten teams competed in the league – the top eight teams from the previous season, as well as two teams promoted from the Kategoria e Parë. Korabi defeated Ada 1–0 at the Reshit Rusi Stadium on the final matchday of the regular season in Group A of the Kategoria e Parë to secure promotion to the Kategoria Superiore after a 54-year absence. Luftëtari were then promoted back to Albanian Superliga after a three-year absence as they defeated Apolonia Fier on the final matchday of the regular season in Group B of the Kategoria e Parë. The two promoted clubs replace Bylis and Tërbuni.

### Locations

| Team | Home city | Stadium | Capacity | 2015–16 season |
| Flamurtari | Vlorë | Flamurtari Stadium | 8,200 | 8th |
| Korabi | Peshkopi | Selman Stërmasi Stadium$^{(1)}$ | 9,600 | Kategoria e Parë |
| Kukësi | Kukës | Zeqir Ymeri Stadium | 5,000 | 3rd |
| Laçi | Laç | Laçi Stadium | 4,300 | 7th |
| Luftëtari | Gjirokastër | Gjirokastra Stadium | 8,400 | Kategoria e Parë |
| Partizani | Tirana | Selman Stërmasi Stadium$^{(2)}$ | 9,500 | 2nd |
| Skënderbeu | Korçë | Skënderbeu Stadium | 8,724 | Champions |
| Teuta | Durrës | Niko Dovana Stadium | 12,040 | 4th |
| Tirana | Tirana | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | 9,600 | 5th |
| Vllaznia | Shkodër | Loro Boriçi Stadium | 16,022 | 6th |
* (1) Korabi play their 2016–17 home games at the Selman Stërmasi Stadium in Tirana. The club's regular home ground, the Korabi Stadium, does not meet the league's licensing criteria to host games.
* (2) Partizani play their 2016–17 home games at the Selman Stërmasi Stadium in Tirana. The club's former home ground, the Qemal Stafa Stadium, was demolished and their new home ground at the Partizani Complex is currently under construction.

### Stadiums

| Flamurtari | Korabi | Kukësi | Laçi | Luftëtari |
| Flamurtari Stadium | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | Zeqir Ymeri Stadium | Laçi Stadium | Gjirokastra Stadium |
| Capacity: 8,200 | Capacity: 9,600 | Capacity: 5,000 | Capacity: 2,300 | Capacity: 8,400 |
| Partizani | Skënderbeu | Teuta | Tirana | Vllaznia |
| Selman Stërmasi Stadium | Skënderbeu Stadium | Niko Dovana Stadium | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | Loro Boriçi Stadium |
| Capacity: 9,600 | Capacity: 12,000 | Capacity: 12,040 | Capacity: 9,600 | Capacity: 16,022 |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Kukësi (C) | 36 | 20 | 15 | 1 | 51 | 18 | +33 | 75 | Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Partizani | 36 | 19 | 15 | 2 | 46 | 17 | +29 | 72 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 3 | Skënderbeu | 36 | 21 | 9 | 6 | 45 | 22 | +23 | 72 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Luftëtari | 36 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 44 | |
| 5 | Teuta | 36 | 10 | 10 | 16 | 27 | 34 | −7 | 40 | |
| 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 |
* 1 2 Partizani ahead of Skënderbeu on head-to-head record; Partizani–Skënderbeu 0–0, Skënderbeu–Partizani 1–2, Partizani–Skënderbeu 1–0, Skënderbeu–Partizani 2–2.
* ↑ 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

Each team plays every opponent four times, twice at home and twice away, for a total of 36 games.

### Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches.
| Team ╲ 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 |
| Kukësi | 7 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Partizani | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Skënderbeu | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Luftëtari | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Teuta | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Laçi | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 6 |
| Vllaznia | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Flamurtari | 9 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Tirana | 7 | 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 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
| Korabi | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
* Leader and UEFA Champions League second qualifying round
* UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
* 2017–18 Kategoria e Parë

## Season statistics
### Scoring
#### Top scorers

    As of matches played on 27 May 2017.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Pero Pejić | Kukësi | 28 |
| 2 | Caleb Ekuban | Partizani | 17 |
| 3 | Hamdi Salihi | Skënderbeu | 15 |
| 4 | Liridon Latifi | Skënderbeu | 11 |
| 5 | Tomislav Bušić | Flamurtari | 10 |
| 6 | Donjet Shkodra | Flamurtari | 9 |
| 6 | Afrim Taku | Tirana | 9 |
| 6 | Dejvi Bregu | Luftëtari | 9 |
| 9 | Izair Emini | Kukësi | 8 |
| 9 | Idriz Batha | Partizani | 8 |
| 9 | Reginaldo | Luftëtari | 8 |
| 9 | James Adeniyi | Skënderbeu | 8 |

#### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref |
| Liridon Latifi | Skënderbeu | Laçi | 5–1 | 23 April 2017 | |
| Pero Pejić | Kukësi | Korabi | 3–1 | 15 May 2017 | |

##### Note

$^4$ Player scored 4 goals

#### Clean sheets

    As of matches played on 27 May 2017.
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Orges Shehi | Skënderbeu | 23 |
| 2 | Alban Hoxha | Partizani | 21 |
| 2 | Enea Koliqi | Kukësi | 21 |
| 3 | Ilion Lika | Tirana | 17 |
| 4 | Gentian Selmani | Tirana | 15 |
| 6 | Jasmin Agović | Vllaznia | 13 |
| 7 | Shpëtim Moçka | Teuta | 11 |
| 8 | Argjent Halili | Flamurtari | 10 |
| 9 | Shkëlzen Ruçi | Luftëtari | 7 |

### Discipline

    As of matches played on 6 May 2017.

#### Player

* Most yellow cards: 12
** Alfred Zefi (Korabi)
** Vangjel Zguro (Lufëtari)
* Most red cards: 2
** Arjan Sheta (Korabi)
** Entonio Pashaj (Kukësi)
** Stefan Cicmil (Vllaznia)
** Erjon Vucaj (Tirana/Laçi)

#### Club

* Most yellow cards: 104
** Luftëtari
* Most red cards: 7
** Luftëtari
** Korabi