KF Teuta Durrës

Early history

The club was founded in 1920 as Klubi Sportiv Urani, which literally translates to Uranium Sport Club, and they changed their name to Sport Klub Durrës just two years later 1922. They kept the same name until they joined the Albania National Championship as one of the original six members alongside SK Tiranë, Skënderbeu Korçë, Bashkimi Shkodran, Urani Elbasan and Sportklub Vlorë. In 1930, before entering the National Championship, the club changes its name to the Klubi Sportiv Teuta Durrës, in reference to Queen Teuta of Illyria. In the first National Championship they finished fifth out of six teams, collecting three wins and two draws out of ten games.^[4] The following season they finished as runners-up in the league, as they lost 4–1 in the championship final against SK Tiranë, where the club's goalkeeper Niko Dovana famously scored the equaliser in the first leg which ended in a 1–1 draw.^[5][6]

After Communism took control of Albania the club was forced to change its name to KS Ylli i Kuq Durrës, literally meaning KS Red Star Durrës. Just 3 years later in 1950 the club dropped KS Red Star Durrës from its name and was simply called SK Durrës once again, before renaming to SK Puna Durrës a 1-year later in 1951. The club changed its name again in 1958 to KS Lokomotiva Durrës which they kept until the fall of Communism in Albania in 1991. Since 1991 the club has renamed KS Teuta Durrës, with the football team being called KF Teuta Durrës.^[7]

Shtama

Qendro

Dashi

Disha

Abazi

Vila

Mehmeti

Aliu

Zalla

Franholli

Koça

The 1994 Albanian Cup final second leg lineup against KF Tirana.

Hasanbelliu era

In 1999 local businessman and owner of Eurotech Cement Edmond Hasanbelliu he was named as the new president of the club,he brought in Hasan Lika as manager immediately. He began investing in the club and introduced Albanian internationals Sokol Prenga and Suad Liçi in the club, alongside a host of other players including Orges Shehi and Arjan Sheta.^[8] In the club's first season under Hasan Lika and Edmond Hasanbelliu they finished in third place, behind Tomori Berat and eventual winners KF Tirana. They also had a successful Albanian Cup run as they eliminated Flamurtari Vlorë, KF Tirana and Dinamo Tirana to reach the final against KS Lushnja, which ended 0–0 after extra time and Teuta won the game 5–4 on penalties. They qualified for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup in the following season, where they faced Austrian side SK Rapid Wien. They were eliminated following a 6–0 aggregate loss, after 4–0 and 2–0 losses.

Recent years

In November 2013 the president Hasanbelliu announced that the club had sold a 50% stake to Swiss company Gea Sport, who promised investment in the club in order to achieve domestic success as well as have good runs in Europe. The firm's first action as shareholders was to replace the Albanian coach Gugash Magani with the Italian Roberto Sorrentino, who became the club's first ever foreign coach.^[9][10] Following less than 2 months as shareholders Gea Sport were instrumental in bringing in 11 players during the January transfer window, most of which were foreigners, in an attempt to push for the title. on 24 February 2014, Sorrentino was fired as the first team coach following a string of poor results. The club announced the appointment of Ilir Daja the day after Sorrentino's departure.^[11]