title: 2012–13 KF Tirana season
text: # 2012–13 KF Tirana season
  
  The 2012–13 season was Klubi i Futbollit Tirana's 74th competitive season, 74th consecutive season in the Kategoria Superiore and 92nd year in existence as a football club. Following the title win four seasons ago, KF Tirana added to their 23 titles to make it their record 24th title win. KF Tirana played UEFA Europa League against CS Grevenmacher and Aalesunds FK.
  
  ## 2012
  
  The club could get organized better for the current season, starting from Europa League participation. Even though having a healthy budget, club officials were too late to bring quality players on time, adding here the fact that they let go of main attacker, Bekim Balaj for a funny transfer sum to AC Sparta Prague despite Balaj still had six month of contract left. And lost few other players, however, they have the merit to keep team's core and also bringing some new arrivals, all for sake of achieving the title after three years drought. Tirana managed to pass only one round in Europa League, eliminating CS Grevenmacher of Luxembourg, before being knocked out from Norwegians of Aalesunds FK in the 2nd round. Tirana won again the Supercup (their jubilee 10th trophy), by beating on their 3rd final clash KF Skënderbeu Korçë. Despite due to extend his link with Tirana for the following two seasons and continuing the project, the successful Spanish coach, Rubio, did not sign that contract officially, due to some clauses on which himself and the club did not agree and eventually him and the club departed ways after over 13 months cooperation. Artur Lekbello was appointed Tirana new coach, but despite his credits as a player in the past, he did not prove that successful as a coach and therefore presented his resignation to club administrator after only 42 days, following unpleasant results in Tirana's bench. Alban Tafaj once again took the vacant place as a temporary coach. The end of the year 2012 found KF Tirana in the 3rd spot of 2012-13 Kategoria Superiore, 11 points adrift leaders KF Skënderbeu Korçë. Tirana were also eliminated early in the Cup. After passed KF Partizani at the first round winning both matches, 2-1 and 1-0 they were eliminated at second round from debut team, FK Kukësi losing first leg 0-4 and winning second one 3-2.
  
  ## Background
  
  ### Kit
  
  * Supplier: Errea
  * Sponsor: Municipality of Tirana, American Hospital, Lajthiza Water, Belle Air, Tirana Brewing House, Tirana Dekor,
  
  ### Other information
  
  | President | Lulzim Basha |
  | - | - |
  | Ground (capacity and dimensions) | Selman Stërmasi stadium (12, 500 / 105m x 68m) |
  
  Source: Selman Stërmasi stadium
  
  ## Coaching staff
  
      As of November 2012
  
  | Position | Name |
  | - | - |
  | Head coach | Nevil Dede |
  | Assistant coach | Sokol Bulku |
  | Goalkeeping coach | Astrit Nallbani |
  | Technical Director | Alban Tafaj |
  | Club Secretary | Iva Mera |
  | Athletic Coach | Adrian Bekteshi |
  | Physical Therapy | Arzen Voci |
  | OPS | Arba Morina |
  | Reporter | Lorin Burba |
  
  ## Players
  
  ### 2012–13 squad
  
  Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
  
  | No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | GK | ALB | Ilion Lika (captain) |
  | 2 | DF | ALB | Elvis Sina |
  | 3 | DF | ALB | Erjon Dushku |
  | 4 | MF | ALB | Gentian Muça |
  | 5 | DF | ALB | Entonio Pashaj |
  | 6 | DF | ALB | Renaldo Kalari |
  | 7 | DF | ALB | Arjan Pisha |
  | 8 | MF | ALB | Elton Muçollari |
  | 9 | MF | ALB | Afrim Taku |
  | 10 | MF | ALB | Mensur Limani |
  | 11 | MF | ALB | Gilman Lika |
  | No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
  | 12 | MF | ALB | Julian Ahmataj |
  | 13 | MF | ALB | Erando Karabeci |
  | 14 | FW | ALB | Mario Morina |
  | 16 | FW | ALB | Mirel Cota |
  | 17 | MF | ALB | Klodian Duro |
  | 18 | MF | ALB | Nertil Ferraj |
  | 19 | MF | ALB | Ardit Peposhi |
  | 20 | MF | ALB | Gerald Tusha |
  | 21 | FW | ALB | Arber Abilaliaj |
  | 24 | MF | ALB | Gerald Tusha |
  | 25 | GK | ALB | Xhino Sejdo |
  | 27 | MF | ALB | Fabio Hoxha |
  | 30 | MF | ITA | Francesco Pigoni |
  
  ### Foreign players
  
  * Francesco Pigoni
  * Fabio Hoxha
  
  ## Competitions
  
  ### Kategoria Superiore
  
  **League table**
  
  | Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 3 | Teuta | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 32 | 24 | +8 | 48 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
  | 4 | Flamurtari | 26 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 49 | 33 | +16 | 46 | |
  | 5 | Tirana | 26 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 30 | 23 | +7 | 43 | |
  | 6 | Vllaznia | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 30 | 26 | +4 | 38 | |
  | 7 | Laçi | 26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 32 | 31 | +1 | 38 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
  
  * ↑ Laçi qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2012–13 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: 10 May 2013. 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 |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Ground | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
  | Result | W | W | D | W | D | D | D | L | L | W | W | L | W | W | L | D | W | L | L | W | W | L | W | D | W | D |
  | Position | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
  