Partizani Tirana - History

History

Partizani was founded by the Albanian National Liberation Army soon after the end of WWII. In its first years of existence, Partizani's team had to rely on players from the Scanderbeg Military High School and Albanian Military Academy, as well as players from other existing teams. In the first championship after World War II in 1945, there were two army teams that participated, Ylli and Liria. They only played in the first championship, because after that they merged and created Ushtria (The Army). In January 13, 1946, the team played its first friendly match against the reigning champions Vllaznia. The match, which was played in Tirana under heavy rain, ended in a goalless tie. Ushtria had distinctive uniforms because the initials of each player were on the front of their shirts. The first historic lineup was: Bonati, Luga, Tepelia, Demneri, Fagu, Rexhepi, L.Hoxha, Teliti, Kavaja, Bakalli and Bylyku.

On April 7, 1946, in a friendly match against 17 Nentori of Tirana, the team had for the first time the name "Partizani" on the shirts. Partizani won the match by a 2-0 score line with goals by O. Pengili and Q. Teliti. The starting lineup for this match was: Cobani, Tepeli, Dibra, Fagu, Kavaja, Pengili, Hoxha, Sakiqi, Bylyku and Demneri.

Partizani didn’t participate in the 1946 championship but they went on a friendly match tour all over Albania, playing 9 matches and scoring 26 times while giving up 9 goals. The top scorer of these exhibition games was Qamil Teliti who found the net 11 times.

Partizani participated in the national championship for the first time in 1947 and they managed to win the trophy on their debut. They went on to win again in 1948 and 1949, and they managed to win the Republic's Cup as well during those years. Sllave Llambi was in charge of the team. He had also played for Partizani. In over 60 years Partizani has made a name for itself in Albania by becoming a legendary club. They have won 15 League titles, 15 Cups and 1 Supercups. Another great achievement is the two silver medals won in Leipzig and Hanoi against well known teams from Eastern Europe. Partizani is also the only Albanian team to have won a trophy abroad. In 1970 they won the prestigious Balkans Cup by overcoming PFC Beroe Stara Zagora in the final. Partizani and its talented players have long been the base for the national team as well. Hundreds of Partizani players have put on the national team jersey. Many players from Partizani have received the highest possible medals in Albania and have also played abroad in Italy, Germany, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Switzerland etc.

The club is also considered by many to have the largest fan base in Albania which is not only in the city of Tirana, but is spread out throughout the country.

Partizani has fallen in hard times after after the fall of communism in Albania in 1990 and they only managed to win the league once in 1993 and the Cup in 4 occasions, 1991, 1993, 1997 and 2004. The club was taken over by Albert Xhani in 1994 and a few years later were relegated for the first time in their history to the second division in 1998. Partizani earned promotion immediately by also winning the second level division trophy. However, Albert Xhani who has been in charge for 11 years now, has only won one Cup trophy. The closest they got to winning the league was in the 2007-08 edition when the team, under coach Hasan Lika, couldn’t get a win in the last match of the season against rivals Dinamo Tirana, which would have brought home the title.