FC Prishtina

Football Club Prishtina (Albanian:Klubi Futbollistik Prishtina, IPA:[ˈklubifutboɫisˈtikˈpɾiʃtina]), commonly known as Prishtina, is a professional football club based in Pristina, Kosovo. The club plays in the Kosovo Superleague. It is the most successful domestic club.

History

The club was founded in 1922 under the name Kosovo. Later on their name changed to Proleter, Bashkimi, Kosova and finally Prishtina.

1922–1926: Beginnings of FC Prishtina (Football Club Kosovo)

Football began to be played and developed in Kosovo shortly after the end of the First World War, around 1919. Many demobilized Serbian soldiers, officers, and students returning from universities in France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, England, Budapest, and elsewhere brought with them an interest in the sport. One student from Samerslen College in Grenoble (France) is recorded as having brought the first football to Prishtina in 1919, a gift he had received from a doctor he had met there.

With the introduction of the first football in Prishtina, many young people began playing informally, though no organized structure existed at the time. Only friendly matches were played, primarily between school youth and the local military garrison.

As time passed, the need for a formally organized club grew stronger. In 1922, when Prishtina was a small town of roughly 16,000 inhabitants, local high school students took the initiative to form the first organized football club, named Kosovo. Although the club did not participate in official competitions due to not being registered with any sporting authority, it regularly played friendly matches. The team was composed mainly of high school students and was occasionally reinforced by soldiers from the Priština Garrison of the Yugoslav Royal Army.

These friendly matches were commonly played against other newly formed teams both within Kosovo and in nearby Macedonia.

In 1926, another football club was established in Prishtina: Građanski, which primarily gathered the town's artisan youth. Unlike Kosova, Građanski was financially stronger and more structurally consolidated. The club took advantage of this and succeeded in registering with the Banovina Skopje Football Sub-League, although detailed records of the level of competition are not available.

1939–1945: War years

In the beginning the club competed in Yugoslav lower leagues all the way until the beginning of World War II when the region was annexed to Albania. In 1942 Prishtina competed in the North group of the 1942 Albanian Championship finishing in fourth and bottom place of their group.

1945–1981: First success in Yugoslavian Football

After the end of the war the club returned to the Yugoslav league system and played for mostly in the Yugoslav Second League. FC Prishtina won in 1945 and 1946 they won the Kosovo Province Title and are the first Kosovar to do so but the success did not end there. In the 1947 season Prishtina wrote history for being one of the founder clubs in the new SFR Yugoslavia Cup in this Season. In their first ever Cup match they played against Goce Delcev from Prilep. Prishtina won this match with 1–0 and qualify for the next Round. In the second round Prishtina had a harder tie against Rabotnicki Skopje from the second League, but Prishtina did not give up and won this Match away in Skopje with 1–2 and became the first Albanian club to ever reach the round of 16 in a regional competition in their first ever Cup Season. In the round of 16 Prishtina had to play away against Partizan despite a good performance they lost this match 2–0.

Prishtina also were close to qualify for their first time in the Yugoslav First League in the season 1972–73 but they lost the playoffs games against NK Osijek from Croatia and could not Progress in the Main division. After losing in the home in Prishtina the leg with 1–2 and away with 0–1 in Osijek.

1981–1989: The Golden Generation

In the early 80s FC Prishtina stabilized and established its squad. The 1980–81 season was difficult both for Prishtina and for the entire population of Kosovo due to the contemporary political situation. In March 1981, Dimoski was replaced by another coach, Bela Palfi from Vojvodina, Hungary. He coached the team from March 1981 to July 1983. The team this season was forced to spend almost the entire spring season outside the city (in Kragujevac) due to the ban on sports activity in Kosovo. In the 1981-82 season Prishtina finished in 8th place, and in 1982-83 season, the white and blue team had finally started to make history. After 60 years, 20 of which were spent struggling in the Second League, a generation referred to as the Golden Generation was formed, drawing an average of 30,000 fans per match.

FC Prishtina competed for five consecutive seasons in their first Federal League. In their first year in the elite, they also played in the Central European Cup where they took second place among four teams. In the same year, two players from Prishtina, in the same match, make their debut for the then Yugoslav national team: the strikers: Fadil Vokrri and Zoran Batrović. At this time Prishtina was led by well-known Yugoslav football names. Fuad Muzurović had been the first Pristina coach to lead the team to be the best in its country and among the four or five strongest in Europe. Muzurović, later the coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina, had led the team from July 1983 to July 1984, returning in July 1985 and continuing to lead until August 1986.

After Muzurović first left the team, former Yugoslavian Vukašin Višnjevac took over the role. While he was a successful strategist, his team had mixed feelings about him and he only led Prishtna until November 1984. For the next three months Albanian coach Ajet Shosholli led the team with some success. Shosholli was only the second Albanian coach, after Mensur Bajrami (January–April 1977), who had led the team. Meanwhile, the leaders of the club had been forced to find a famous coach and chose Miroslav Blažević. He helped Prishtna reach third place in "France '98", ensuring they remained in the First League. His position only lasted for two months, long enough for him to remain one of the most memorable of that time. Over the next three seasons Prishtina was led by well-known strategists of the time: Milovan Đorić from October 1986 – September 1987 and Josip Duvančić from September 1987 – June 1988, with whom eventually Prishtina fell out of the league. At this point the team had lost some of its stars, some now retired, while the tense political situation and the decline of interest of Kosovo's political and social structures had made Pristina no longer able to stay in the first federal League. With the relegation from the League, Prishtina brought together the next generation of talented people from Kosovo led by another well-known name in former Yugoslav football, Milan Živadinović, from July 1988 – March 1989. In the first season since leaving the First League, Prishtina fought valiantly but did not manage to climb back into the elite.

Notes

1 Prishtina were docked six points due to match fixing in the last round of the previous season. 2 Two points for winners. If the game finished as a draw, penalty kicks were taken and only the winner gained one point. In brackets are those penalty-kick points. 3 Championship abandoned officially on 14 May 1999 due to the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Due to UNMIK, FC Prishtina were able to play in the Kosovan league system only.

After 1991

After Kosovo self-proclaimed independence from Serbia, FC Prishtina left the Yugoslav football league system and became part of the Independent League of Kosovo, which became the highest football division of Kosovo and would be renamed to the Football Superleague of Kosovo after the Kosovo War in 1999. As the Kosovar club with most successful results in the past and the best infrastructure, FC Prishtina won the first edition of the competition in the 1991–92 season. Afterwards, it won the competition again in the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons.

Since 1991, FC Prishtina has been Kosovo champion 11 times, making it the most successful Kosovar club since Kosovo left the Yugoslav football league system. Between 1945 and 1991 the Kosovar league was a regional league of the Yugoslav league system, and FC Prishtina did not gather many titles in that league because it usually competed in higher national levels.

Serbian-run FK Priština, which claimed the club's pre-1991 legacy, continued to represent the city in the football league system of FR Yugoslavia.

Supporters

Prishtina is an Albanian supported club with fans around Albanian communities in the Balkans and in Diaspora. The fans sing the Albanian National Anthem before every game and only affiliate with the Albanian nation and identity.

Plisat are the ultras group of Prishtina. They stand in the South part of the stadium. In the late eighties, there were quite a few small groups with different group names. It was in those years that most of the fans of Prishtina chose to identify as "Plisat". "Plisat" have never been separated from the club even during Yugoslavia's anti-Albanian policies. In addition to football, they started to follow and support the basketball club with the same fervour. As the organisation grew, it began to resemble some of the other large fan groups in the region and the rest of Europe. They also support the Albania National Team.

Honours

Prishtina in Europe

KF Prishtina competed for the Mitropa Cup finals in the 1983–84 season. Being Runner Up in this competition by a single point to Eisenstadt from Austria. Also being the first Kosovan Football side to compete in a UEFA Football competition and also the only Kosovan Football club that would reach a final in a UEFA Competition so far.

Prishtina competed in the UEFA Europa League for the first time in the 2017–18 season, entering at the first qualifying round. On 19 June 2017, in Nyon, the draw was held and Prishtina were drawn against Swedish side Norrköping. On 5 July 2018, Prishtina beat the Gibraltarian side Europa at Adem Jashari Olympic Stadium in Mitrovica and became the first Kosovan side to win a UEFA Europa League match.

Matches

UEFA club coefficient ranking

As of 29 September 2021

Cups and Finals

Mitropa Cup

Players

Current squad

As of 1 September 2026

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Notable former players

This is a list of FC Prishtina players with senior national team appearances:

Kosovo and Albania

• Youth

1. AlbaniaKosovo Agim Zeka
2. Kosovo Ardin Dallku
3. Kosovo Bledar Hajdini
4. Kosovo Edon Zhegrova
5. Albania Eros Grezda

• Senior

1. Albania Ahmed Januzi
2. Kosovo Anel Rashkaj
3. AlbaniaKosovo Ardian Ismajli
4. Albania Armend Dallku
5. Kosovo Armend Thaqi
6. AlbaniaKosovo Besnik Hasi
7. AlbaniaKosovo Debatik Curri
8. AlbaniaKosovo Enis Gavazaj
9. Kosovo Kushtrim Mushica
10. Albania Liridon Latifi
11. AlbaniaKosovo Mehmet Dragusha
12. Kosovo Mentor Zhdrella
13. Kosovo Visar Bekaj
14. AlbaniaKosovo Ylber Ramadani
15. Kosovo Yll Hoxha

Other countries

1. CroatiaKosovo Ardian Kozniku
2. CroatiaKosovo Kujtim Shala
3. Montenegro Draško Božović
4. Serbia and Montenegro Goran Đorović
5. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Fadil Vokrri
6. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ismet Hadžić
7. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vladan Radača
8. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vladislav Đukić
9. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zoran Batrović

Personnel

Technical staff

List of FC Prishtina managers

This is the list of coaches of FC Prishtina:

1. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dragiša Jovanović (1948 – 1949)
2. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Petar Purić (1953 – 1954)
3. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Franjo Laci (1954 – 1956)
4. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Gaida Bogojevski (1956 – 1957
5. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Klara Stoimirović (1958 – 1959
6. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Antun Herceg (1959 – 1960)
7. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Petar Purić (1960 – 1961)
8. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ilija Rajković (1961)
9. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slavko Stanić "Firga" (1961 – 1963)
10. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Đorđe Kačunković (1964 – 1965)
11. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slavko Stanić "Firga" (1966 – 1967)
12. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Luka Malešev (1969 – 1971)
13. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Moma Ilić (1972 – 1973)
14. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Kemal Omeragić (1973 – 1974)
15. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ferat Karabegu (1974)
16. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slavko Stanić "Firga" (1974 – 1975)
17. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ika Kalević (1976 – 1977)
18. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dragan Bojović (1977 – 1978)
19. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ševket Luković (1978)
20. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Aca Milačić (1978 – 1979)
21. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ilija Dimoski (1979 – 1980)
22. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bela Palfi (1981 – 1983)
23. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Fuad Muzurović (1983 – 1984)
24. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vukašin Višnjevac (Aug 1984 – Nov 1984)
25. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ajet Shosholli (Nov 1984 – Mar 1985)
26. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Miroslav Blažević (Mar 1985 – Jun 1985)
27. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Fuad Muzurović (1985 – 1986)
28. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Kemal Omeragić (1986)
29. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Milovan Đorić (1986 – 1987)
30. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Josip Duvančić (1987 – 1988)
31. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Milan Živadinović (1988 – 1989)
32. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Hysni Maxhuni (1989 – 1990)
33. Republic of Kosova Ajet Shosholli (1990 – 1994)
34. Republic of Kosova Burim Hatipi (1994 – 1995)
35. Republic of Kosova Jusuf Tortoshi (1995 – 1998)
36. Kosovo Ajet Shosholli (1999 – 2000)
37. Kosovo Jusuf Tortoshi (2000 – 2001)
38. Albania Medin Zhega (2001 – 2002)
39. Kosovo Arbnor Morina (2002)
40. Kosovo Ramiz Krasniqi (2002)
41. Kosovo Ajet Shosholli (2002 – 2005)
42. Kosovo Fadil Muriqi (2005 – 2006)
43. Kosovo Ramiz Krasniqi (2006)
44. Kosovo Kujtim Shala (2006 – 2007)
45. Kosovo Ramadan Cimili (2007)
46. Kosovo Afrim Tovërlani (2007 – 2009)
47. Kosovo Besnik Kollari (2009)
48. Kosovo Skënder Shengyli (2009)
49. Kosovo Ramiz Krasniqi (2010 – Nov 2011)
50. Germany Wolfgang Jerat (2011)
51. Kosovo Jusuf Tortoshi (2011)
52. Kosovo Ejup Mehmeti-Kapiti (– 18 Oct 2012)
53. Kosovo Afrim Tovërlani (2012 – 2014)
54. Kosovo Suad Keçi (2 Apr 2014 – Jun 2014)
55. Kosovo Bylbyl Sokoli (7 Jul 2014 – 20 Apr 2015)
56. Kosovo Ramiz Krasniqi (20 Apr 2015 – 19 Oct 2015)
57. Kosovo Sami Sermaxhaj (21 Oct 2015 – Mar 2016)
58. Kosovo Fadil Berisha (22 Mar 2016 – 27 Jun 2016)
59. Kosovo Kushtrim Munishi (2 Jul 2016 – Sep 2016)
60. Germany Lutz Lindemann (21 Sep 2016 – 29 Mar 2017)
61. Kosovo Arsim Thaqi (29 Mar 2017 – Sep 2017)
62. Albania Mirel Josa (19 Sep 2017 – 2 Sep 2019)
63. Kosovo Bylbyl Sokoli (4 Sep 2019 – 21 Sep 2019)
64. Albania Armend Dallku (21 Sep 2019 – 4 Sep 2020)
65. North Macedonia Zekirija Ramadani (4 Sep 2020 – 14 Nov 2021)
66. Bosnia and Herzegovina Abdulah Ibraković (14 Nov 2021 – 14 May 2022)
67. Kosovo Ismet Munishi (3 June 2022 – 13 Mar 2023)
68. Albania Debatik Curri (13 June 2023 – 25 Oct 2023)
69. Nigeria Ndubuisi Egbo (26 Oct 2023 – 2 Jun 2024)
70. France Jean-Michel Cavalli (9 Jun 2024 – 5 Apr 2025)
71. Kosovo Arsim Thaqi (6 Apr 2025 – 14 Nov 2025)
72. Kosovo Afrim Tovërlani (25 Nov 2025 – 17 Mar 2026)
73. Kosovo Alban Dragusha (18 Mar 2026 – 27 May 2026)
74. Albania Orges Shehi (5 June 2026 –)

List of the presidents

This is the list of presidents of FC Prishtina:

1. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Karaman Krushka (1948–1950)
2. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Kolë Shiroka (1951–1956)
3. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Jovo Šotra (1956–1960s)
4. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mirko Koprivica (1963–1965)
5. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Jovica Milosavljević (1965–1967)
6. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Rasim Sholla (1967–1970)
7. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Borislav Božović (1970–1971)
8. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Gani Pula (1971–1973)
9. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ramadan Vraniqi (1973–1976)
10. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Gani Pula (1976–1977)
11. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Blagoje Kostić (1977–1981)
12. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nazmi Mustafa (1981–1983)
13. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sadik Vllasaliu (1982–1983)
14. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mehmet Maliqi (1983–1984)
15. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Muharrem Ismajli (1984–1986)
16. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bajram Tmava (1986–1988)
17. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Živorad Ivić (1988–1989)
18. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Shefget Keçekolla (1989)
19. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Mile Savić (1989–1990)
20. Republic of Kosova Beqir Aliu (1991–1999)
21. Kosovo Sylejman Selimi (2000–2001)
22. Kosovo Lutfi Dervishi (2001–2003)
23. Kosovo Fadil Vokrri (2003–2004; interim board)
24. Kosovo Remzi Ejupi (2004–2022)
25. Kosovo Hakif Gashi (2022–2023)
26. Kosovo Rrahman Haradini (2023–present)

Kit suppliers

Statistics in Superleague of Kosovo

The all-time list of football clubs that have participated in the Kosovo Superleague, prior to the 2019–2020 season. The ranking is based on the total accumulated points by Prishtina.

All-time Club Records (1957–2026)

The following tables list FC Prishtina's all-time record appearance makers and goalscorers since 1957, when complete club statistics began to be officially documented. The records include official matches played in the Yugoslav football system (First, Second and Third Divisions) and the Kosovo Superliga. All figures are based on the official club monograph 100 vjet klubi i futbollit Prishtina by Esad Ejupi. Updated as of August 2026

Most appearances for Prishtina (1957–2026)

Note: Leotrim Kryeziu is an active player still with the club (as of August 2026).

Top goalscorers (1957–2026)

Note: Leotrim Kryeziu is an active player still with the club (as of August 2026).

Notes and references

Explanatory notes

External links

• (in Albanian and English)