2016–17 KF Tirana season

On 1 June, Disciplinary Committee of AFA reduced the sentence of Gentian Muça from one year to only the first four matches of the new season.[1] Eight days later, Elis Bakaj terminated his contract with the club and signed with the Croatian Prva HNL team RNK Split.[2] On 13 June, Ilir Daja officially returned to Tirana after he was convinced by the club president Refik Halili, and during the press conference on the same day, they both presented the new project for the new season.[3]

On 15 June, the club parted ways with Ilir Avdyli after only six months of cooperation.[4] A day later, Tirana terminated the cooperation with the midfielder Allush Gavazaj, who spend the previous season on loan at Tërbuni Pukë.[5] Tirana later brought back the veteran goalkeeper Ilion Lika for a third slint at the club.[6]

On 23 June, Gentian Muça was sent on loan at Kukësi only for the club's 2016–17 UEFA Europa League campaign, just like in the previous season.[7] A day later, Argjend Malaj signed with Skënderbeu Korçë as a free agent after he didn't extend his contract with Tirana.[8]

On 29 June, Dritan Smajli left the club after terminating his contract after one season cooperation.[9]

On 4 July, Ansi Nika was signed by the club on a free transfer; Nika signed a two-year contract.[10] One day later, after one-year hiatus, Afrim Taku returned from the United States and signed a one-year contract with Tirana.[11] They were presented on 8 July.[12]

A day later, Tirana acquired the services of Marvin Turtulli from Dinamo Tirana on a three-year contract.[13] Following that, on 11 July, Tirana purchased Asion Daja of Partizani Tirana on a two-year deal, becoming the club's fifth summer signing.[14] On 13 July, Dorian Kërçiku agreed a contract extension with the club,[15] singing until July 2019, while the goalie Edvan Bakaj signed a new two-year contract.[16] One day later, Tirana signed a new two-year deal with Erion Hoxhallari.[17] On the same day, the youngster David Domgjoni returned in the club after finishing his loan at Kastrioti Krujë and penned a three-year contract.[18]

On 17 July, Tirana announced via its official Facebook page that the team traveled to Zlatibor, Serbia to make the summer preparations for the upcoming season.[19] Tirana also informed that the team would stay for two weeks at Iris Hotel and will arrange four friendlies.[20] One day later, Tirana brought on trial Nigerian striker Emeka Emerun, who flew out to Zlatibor to link up with the rest of the squad on their summer training camp.[21] However, he left the team on 25 July after refusing to continue the trial.[22]

Tirana won the first friendly match against OFK Petrovac with the result 3–1.[23] Halili, Karabeci and Bajramaj scored the goals for Tirana.[23] On 22 July, Gentian Muça returned to the team after the end Kukësi's European campaign.[24] One the same day, Ryota Noma and Hiroaki Yamamoto joined the club on trial until the end of summer training camp.[25] In the next friendly match against OFK Grbalj, Tirana suffered a 0–1 narrow defeat, with Todorović scoring the match only goal.[26] In the third friendly versus Novi Pazar, Tirana didn't go more than a goalless draw.[27] In the final friendly against the OFK Beograd, Tirana clinched a 1–0 victory to end thus the summer preparations.[28]

On 19 August, Tirana confirmed the signing of four players, respectively Romuald Ntsitsigui, Ifeanyi Edeh, Moise Nkounkou and Merveille Ndockyt; they all signed two-year contracts and were presented on the same day.[29][30][31][32] A day later, Tirana officially terminated the contract with the defender Ronald Gërçaliu by mutual consensus.[33] On 26 August, Tirana completed the signing of the 19-years old striker Flamur Bajrami on a three-year contract.[34]

Tirana started the month by completing the signing of Argjend Mustafa on a free transfer.[35] Tirana started the season on 7 September with a goalless draw against Teuta Durrës in the opening 2016–17 Kategoria Superiore week.[36] This draw was followed by another goalless draw away against Laçi four days later, a match which brought a controversial moment in the 38th minute as the referee Remzi Sadiku denied Tirana a clear penalty after a handball from a Laçi player.[37] In the matchday 3 against Kukësi at home, Tirana produced a hard-fought performance, coming from behind two times to earn a 2–2 draw.[38] Afrim Taku and Merveille Ndockyt scored the first goals of the season.[39]

In the fourth match against Partizani Tirana in the so-called "Tirana derby", Tirana didn't go more than a goalless draw, making it the fourth consecutive draw.[40] It was the worst start in the history of the club since the 1960'.[41] To begin its Albanian Cup campaign, Tirana was shorted against Sopoti Librazhd and played its first leg match at Selman Stërmasi Stadium. Tirana netted first through a Gilman Lika goal in the 45th minute, but Sopoti equalized via a Mirel Çota penalty minutes before the final whistle.[42]

As of 10 October 2016[43]

Squad No.	Name	Nationality	Position(s)	Date of Birth (Age)
Goalkeepers
1	Ilion Lika		GK	(1980-05-17)17 May 1980 (aged 36)
31	Edvan Bakaj		GK	(1987-10-09)9 October 1987 (aged 28)
Defenders
3	Endrit Idrizaj		LB	(1989-06-14)14 June 1989 (aged 27)
4	Gentian Muça		CB/DM	(1987-05-13)13 May 1987 (aged 29)
5	Marvin Turtulli		CB	(1994-10-17)17 October 1994 (aged 21)
6	David Domgjoni		RB	(1997-05-21)21 May 1997 (aged 19)
21	Olsi Teqja		RB / LB / CB	(1988-07-27)27 July 1988 (aged 27)
28	Erion Hoxhallari		LB	(1993-02-26)26 February 1993 (aged 23)
Midfielders
7	Gilman Lika		AMF/LW / RW	(1987-01-13)13 January 1987 (aged 29)
10	Erjon Vucaj		CMF / MF	(1990-12-25)25 December 1990 (aged 25)
13	Erando Karabeci (captain)		CM / DM / AM	(1988-09-06)6 September 1988 (aged 27)
14	Asion Daja		CM / RB	(1990-03-14)14 March 1990 (aged 26)
15	Fjoralb Deliaj		CM	(1997-04-04)4 April 1997 (aged 19)
17	Gjergji Muzaka		LW / RW	(1984-09-26)26 September 1984 (aged 31)
18	Dorian Kërçiku		CM / RB / LB	(1993-07-30)30 July 1993 (aged 22)
22	Moise Nkounkou		LM	(1996-08-02)2 August 1996 (aged 19)
25	Majkel Peci		AM	(1996-08-29)29 August 1996 (aged 19)
26	Afrim Taku		CM / RB / RW	(1989-08-04)4 August 1989 (aged 26)
77	Ansi Nika		CM	(1990-08-22)22 August 1990 (aged 25)
–	Argjend Mustafa		CM	(1992-08-30)30 August 1992 (aged 23)
19	Merveille Ndockyt		AM / LW / RW	(1998-07-20)20 July 1998 (aged 17)
Forwards
3	Moctar Cisse		CF	(1993-03-10)10 March 1993 (aged 23)
8	Romuald Ntsitsigui		CF	(1991-04-08)8 April 1991 (aged 25)
9	Grend Halili		CF	(1998-05-24)24 May 1998 (aged 18)
11	Ifeanyi Edeh		CF	(1990-10-25)25 October 1990 (aged 25)

No.	Pos.	Nation	Name	Kategoria Superiore	Albanian Cup	Total
26	MF		Afrim Taku	3	2	5
25	MF		Majkel Peci	0	3	3
9	FW		Grend Halili	0	2	2
7	MF		Gilman Lika	0	1	1
11	FW		Ifeanyi Edeh	1	0	1
19	FW		Merveille Ndockyt	1	0	1
TOTAL				5	8	13

Last updated: 10 October 2016

The list is sorted by shirt number when total appearances are equal.

Rnk	No.	Player	Kategoria Superiore	Albanian Cup	Total
1	1	Ilion Lika	4	0	4
2	31	Edvan Bakaj	0	1	1
TOTALS			4	1	5