# 2018–19 Kategoria Superiore

The 2018–19 Kategoria Superiore was the 80th official season, or 83rd season of top-tier football in Albania (including three unofficial championships during World War II) and the 19th season under the name Kategoria Superiore. The season began on 17 August 2018 and ended on 30 May 2019. Partizani, won the league title on 12 May 2019 with 3 matches to spare.
The winners of this season's Superiore earned a place in the first qualifying round of the 2019−20 Champions League, with the second and third placed clubs earning a place in the first qualifying round of the 2019−20 Europa League.

## Teams

Two clubs earned promotion from the Kategoria e Parë, Kastrioti and Tirana, joined the Superiore this season. Lushnja and Vllaznia were relegated at the conclusion of last season, the latter for the second time in their history.

### Locations

| Team | Home city | Stadium | Capacity | 2017–18 season |
| Flamurtari | Vlorë | Flamurtari Stadium | 8,200 | 6th |
| Kamza | Kamëz | Kamëz Stadium | 5,200 | 7th |
| Kastrioti | Krujë | Redi Maloku Stadium | 3,000 | Runner-up (Kategoria e Parë) |
| Kukësi | Kukës | Kamëz Stadium | 5,500 | Runner-up |
| Laçi | Laç | Laçi Stadium | 2,300 | 4th |
| Luftëtari | Gjirokastër | Gjirokastra Stadium | 8,400 | 3rd |
| Partizani | Tirana | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | 9,600 | 5th |
| Skënderbeu | Korçë | Skënderbeu Stadium | 8,724 | Champion |
| Teuta | Durrës | Niko Dovana Stadium | 12,400 | 8th |
| Tirana | Tirana | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | 9,600 | Champion (Kategoria e Parë) |
* (1) Partizani will play their 2018–19 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.
* (2) Kastrioti will play their 2018–19 home games at the Redi Maloku Stadium in Fushë-Krujë.
* (3) Kukësi will play their 2018–19 home games at the Kamëz Stadium in Kamëz.

### Stadiums

| Flamurtari | Kamza | Kastrioti | Kukësi | Laçi |
| Flamurtari Stadium | Kamëz Stadium | Redi Maloku Stadium | Kamëz Stadium | Laçi Stadium |
| Capacity: 8,200 | Capacity: 5,500 | Capacity: 3,000 | Capacity: 5,500 | Capacity: 2,300 |
| Luftëtari | Partizani | Skënderbeu | Teuta | Tirana |
| Gjirokastra Stadium | Selman Stërmasi Stadium | Skënderbeu Stadium | Niko Dovana Stadium | Selman Stërmasi Stadium |
| Capacity: 8,400 | Capacity: 9,600 | Capacity: 12,343 | Capacity: 12,040 | Capacity: 9,600 |

### Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | President | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| Flamurtari | Sinan Idrizi | Ilir Daja | Artim Pollozhani | Kappa | − |
| Kamza | Naim Qarri | Gentian Stojku | Sebino Plaku | Uhlsport | Spital Continental |
| Kastrioti | Petro Kumi | Bledar Devolli | Emiliano Çela | Uhlsport | Universal |
| Kukësi | Safet Gjici | Ernest Gjoka | Ylli Shameti | Macron | Kevin Construction |
| Laçi | Pashk Lasa | Sulejman Starova | Gentian Selmani | Uhlsport | Pavin Caffe |
| Luftëtari | Grigor Tavo | Julian Ahmataj | Behar Ramadani | Legea | Replay |
| Partizani | Gazmend Demi | Skënder Gega | Alban Hoxha | Joma | MCN |
| Skënderbeu | Ardian Takaj | Orges Shehi | Marko Radaš | Puma | Ama Cafè |
| Teuta | Edmond Hasanbelliu | Bledi Shkëmbi | Tefik Osmani | Kappa | Caffè Pascucci |
| Tirana | Refik Halili | Ardian Mema | Erando Karabeci | Macron | − |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Kamza | Julian Ahmataj | Mutual consent | 25 May 2018 | Pre-season | Bledar Devolli | 9 July 2018 |
| Kastrioti | Samuel Nikaj | Mutual consent | 28 May 2018 | Pre-season | Elvis Plori | 28 May 2018 |
| Laçi | Gentian Mezani | Resigned | 1 June 2018 | Pre-season | Artan Mërgjyshi | 7 August 2018 |
| Luftëtari | Hasan Lika | Resigned | 1 June 2018 | Pre-season | Miloš Kostić | 5 June 2018 |
| Teuta | Gentian Begeja | Mutual consent | 4 June 2018 | Pre-season | Bledi Shkëmbi | 4 June 2018 |
| Partizani | Klevis Dalipi | Mutual consent | 16 June 2018 | Pre-season | Skënder Gega | 18 June 2018 |
| Skënderbeu | Ilir Daja | Resigned | 19 June 2018 | Pre-season | Orges Shehi | 5 July 2018 |
| Flamurtari | Ardian Behari | End of caretaker spell | 13 July 2018 | Pre-season | Ilir Daja | 13 July 2018 |
| Kamza | Bledar Devolli | Sacked | 2 September 2018 | 7th | Klodian Duro | 4 September 2018 |
| Luftëtari | Miloš Kostić | Mutual consent | 20 September 2018 | 10th | Gentian Mezani | 20 September 2018 |
| Tirana | Zé Maria | Mutual consent | 11 October 2018 | 7th | Ardian Mema | 12 October 2018 |
| Kastrioti | Elvis Plori | Resigned | 21 October 2018 | 10th | Stavri Nica | 22 October 2018 |
| Laçi | Artan Mërgjyshi | Resigned | 30 October 2018 | 4th | Migen Memelli | 31 October 2018 |
| Kamza | Klodian Duro | Mutual decision | 8 November 2018 | 9th | Ernest Gjoka | 15 November 2018 |
| Laçi | Migen Memelli | End of caretaker spell | 14 December 2018 | 5th | Besnik Prenga | 14 December 2018 |
| Kastrioti | Stavri Nica | Resigned | 23 December 2018 | 10th | Bledar Devolli | 7 January 2019 |
| Luftëtari | Gentian Mezani | Sacked | 28 January 2019 | 8th | Julian Ahmataj | 29 January 2019 |
| Kamza | Ernest Gjoka | Resigned | 17 February 2019 | 10th | Gentian Stojku | 19 February 2019 |
| Laçi | Besnik Prenga | Resigned | 15 March 2019 | 4th | Sulejman Starova | 15 March 2019 |
| Kukësi | Armando Cungu | Mutual consent | 19 March 2019 | 2nd | Ramadan Ndreu | 19 March 2019 |
| Kukësi | Ramadan Ndreu | End of caretaker spell | 6 April 2019 | 2nd | Ernest Gjoka | 6 April 2019 |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Partizani (C) | 36 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 45 | 22 | +23 | 70 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Kukësi | 36 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 42 | 29 | +13 | 59 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 3 | Teuta | 36 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 43 | 36 | +7 | 57 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Skënderbeu | 36 | 17 | 4 | 15 | 45 | 30 | +15 | 55 | |
| 5 | Flamurtari | 36 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 35 | 32 | +3 | 54 | |
| 6 | Laçi | 36 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 33 | 30 | +3 | 49 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 7 | Tirana | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 44 | 35 | +9 | 47 | |
| 8 | Luftëtari | 36 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 37 | 39 | −2 | 47 | |
| 9 | Kastrioti (R) | 36 | 12 | 6 | 18 | 35 | 53 | −18 | 42 | Relegation to the 2019–20 Kategoria e Parë |
| 10 | Kamza (R, D) | 36 | 4 | 5 | 27 | 13 | 66 | −53 | 17 | Excluded from the league |
* 1 2 Since the winners of the 2018–19 Albanian Cup, Kukësi, qualified for European competition based on league position, the spot awarded to the cup winners was passed down to the sixth-placed team, Laçi, since the fourth-placed team and the fifth-placed team failed to obtain a UEFA license.
* ↑ In March 2018, Skënderbeu was handed a 10-year ban from UEFA club competitions over match fixing.
* ↑ Flamurtari failed to obtain a UEFA license.
* ↑ Kamza was excluded from the league and relegated to the Kategoria e Dytë for the next season, after a violent incident during a match against Laçi in the 24th round.

### Positions by round

| 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 |
| Partizani | 9 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kukësi | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Teuta | 6 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Skënderbeu | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Flamurtari | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Laçi | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Tirana | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Luftëtari | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Kastrioti | 3 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Kamza | 2 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
* Leader and UEFA Champions League first qualifying round
* UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
* UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
* 2019–20 Kategoria e Parë
* ↑ In March 2018, Skënderbeu was handed a 10-year ban from UEFA club competitions over match fixing.
* ↑ Flamurtari failed to obtain a UEFA license.
* ↑ Since the winners of the 2018–19 Albanian Cup, Kukësi, qualified for European competition based on league position, the spot awarded to the cup winners was passed down to the sixth-placed team, Laçi, since the fourth-placed team and the fifth-placed team failed to obtain a UEFA license.
* ↑ Kamza was excluded from the league and relegated to the Kategoria e Dytë for the next season, after a violent incident during a match against Laçi in the 24th round.

## Results

Clubs will play each other four times for a total of 36 matches each.

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

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Reginaldo | Kukësi | 13 |
| 2 | Edon Hasani | Tirana | 12 |
| 2 | Vasil Shkurtaj | Luftëtari/Kukësi | 12 |
| 4 | Ndriçim Shtubina | Laçi | 10 |
| 4 | Roger | Kastrioti | 10 |
| 6 | Latif Amadu | Teuta | 9 |
| 7 | Dejvi Bregu | Skënderbeu | 8 |
| 7 | Gjergji Muzaka | Skënderbeu | 8 |
| 7 | Jasir Asani | Partizani | 8 |

#### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref |
| Reginaldo | Kukësi | Tirana | 3–1 (H) | 2 September 2018 | |

### Discipline

* Most yellow cards: 12
** Idriz Batha (Flamurtari)
** Marko Radaš (Skënderbeu)
* Most red cards: 2
** Bojan Najdenov (Laçi)
** Leonit Abazi (Skënderbeu)
** Lancinet Sidibe (Teuta)