FC Feronikeli 74

FC Feronikeli 74 (Albanian: Klubi Futbollistik Feronikeli 74), commonly referred to as Feronikeli 74 and also known as Feronikeli is a professional football club based in Drenas, Kosovo. The club play in the Football Superleague of Kosovo, which is the top tier of football in the country.

Feronikeli 74

Full name	Football Club Feronikeli 74
Nickname(s)	Tigrat e Zi (The Black Tigers)
Founded	8 April 1974; 50 years ago (1974-04-08) as Nikeli, later as Feronikeli 20 August 2022; 2 years ago (2022-08-20) as Feronikeli 74
Ground	Rexhep Rexhepi Stadium
Capacity	6,000
Manager	Giovanni Colella
League	Kosovo Superleague
2023–24	Kosovo Superleague, 8th of 10
Website	http://feronikelifc.com
Home colours Away colours

History

In 1974, the club was founded as Nikeli. During the spring and summer of 1974, an intense activity took place in all aspects for the formation of the football club, its registration and inclusion in the Inter-Municipal Football League level, namely, at the District League of Pristina. At the top of this activity was the physical education teacher, Hashim Mala.^[1]

On 8 April 1974, the Founding Assembly of the Football Club was held in the Glogovac Municipal Assembly Hall. In this assembly was founded the club, which was named Nikeli with headquarters in Glogovac. Then, the headship of the club was elected, the 11-member presidency with Tahir Ajazi as president, vice-president Murtes Zogu, secretary Jusuf Dobra, treasurer Habib Kukiqi and board members were Fetah Elshani, Ismail Bajraktari, Mehdi Bardhi, Nazif Sejda, Rade Jevremović, Remzi Heta and Sylejman Kastrati. This assembly elected Mehdi Bardhi as technical director, while coach was Hashim Mala.^[1]

The club has historically closely been associated with NewCo Feronikeli, the nearby ore mining and metallurgical complex, ever since the plant was built in 1984.^[2] In the 2014–15 season they were crowned champions for the first time in the club's history.^[3] They won the 2018–19 championship as well, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League preliminary rounds for the first time in their history.

Stadium

The club has played its home games at the Rexhep Rexhepi Stadium (Albanian: Stadiumi Rexhep Rexhepi) is a multi-purpose stadium in Glogovac, Kosovo. The stadium has a capacity of 6,000 people all seater and is named after the club's former player and captain Rexhep Rexhepi, who fought for the Kosovo Liberation Army and was killed on 12 February 1999 by Serb forces during KLA insurgency right before the start of the Kosovo War.^[4]

Supporters

Tigrat e Zi
Founded	2014; 10 years ago (2014)
Type	Supporters' group
Location	Glogovac, Kosovo
Arena	Rexhep Rexhepi Stadium
Stand	West

Tigrat e Zi are the clubs' supporters. The supporters stand in the West part of the stadium.

Honours

FC Feronikeli 74 honours

Type	Competition	Titles	Seasons/Years
Domestic	Football Superleague of Kosovo	3	2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19
	Kosovar Cup	3	2013–14, 2014–15, 2018–19
	Kosovar Supercup	2	2015, 2019
International	Albania Independence Cup	1	2014

Players

For a list of all former and current FC Feronikeli 74 players with a Wikipedia article, see Category:FC Feronikeli 74 players.

Current squad

As of 18 October 2024^[5]

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  ITA Davide Borsellini 2 DF  KOS Granit Musa 3 DF  KOS Armend Halili 4 MF  KOS Agron Bruqi 5 DF  KOS Lapidar Lladrovci (vice-captain) 6 FW  UKR Dmytro Semeniv 7 FW  KOS Hasan Hyseni 8 MF  KOS Endrit Morina 9 FW  GRE Nikolaos Ioannidis 10 MF  SUI Lavdim Zumberi 11 MF  KOS Florent Avdyli 12 GK  CGO Marly Prince Heritier 13 DF  ALB Stivian Janku 15 DF  KOS Rinor Brahimi 16 MF  KOS Visar Hoxha 17 FW  KOS Alban Shillova

No. Pos. Nation Player 18 DF  KOS Bejtë Rexhepi 19 MF  KOS Arlind Maloku 21 DF  ALB David Gjinollari 23 MF  KOS Alban Shabani (captain) 24 DF  KOS Lis Demiri 27 MF  KOS Rizah Bardhi 28 FW  MEX Martín Zúñiga 32 MF  GRE Vasilios Karagounis 34 MF  ALB Drilon Cenaj 44 FW  KOS Suad Sahiti 51 MF  SUI Devid Ademaj 61 MF  KOS Rrustem Morina 77 FW  KOS Armend Gashi 80 FW  KOS Kadri Berisha 98 FW  KOS Jon Qorri 99 DF  KOS Leart Zekolli

Other players under contract

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  KOS Arlind Krasniqi — MF  KOS Leonot Bajrami

Personnel

Current technical staff
Position	Name
Head coach	Giovanni Colella
Assistant coach(es)	Blerim Bunjaku
Team Manager	Leutrim Krasniqi
Goalkeeping coach	Avni Hasani
Physiotherapist
	Arton Lestrani
	Kushtrim Ajazi
Board members
Office	Name
President	Erlind Krasniqi
Vice-president	Leutrim Krasniqi
General director	Artan Berisha
Secretary	Isak Ismajli
Board members
	Shpend Bogiqi
	Leutrim Krasniqi
	Brahim Qorri
	Faruk Elshani
	Haxhi Lladrovci
Information and media officer	Valdrin Krasniqi
Photographer	Albert Sinani

List of managers

No.	Name	From	To	Ref
1.	Ramiz Krasniqi	2010	2011	—
2.	Musa Selimi	2011	2012	[6]
3.	Arbnor Morina	July 2013	7 October 2013 (2013-10-07)	[7]
4.	Ramiz Krasniqi	7 October 2013 (2013-10-07)	6 July 2014 (2014-07-06)	[8]
5.	Gani Sejdiu	6 July 2014 (2014-07-06)	7 December 2015 (2015-12-07)	[9]
6.	Afrim Tovërlani	9 December 2015 (2015-12-09)	April 2017	[10]
7.	Gani Sejdiu	13 July 2017 (2017-07-13)	27 September 2017 (2017-09-27)	[11]
8.	Zekirija Ramadani	1 October 2017 (2017-10-01)	17 December 2017 (2017-12-17)	[12]
9.	Ismet Munishi	17 December 2017 (2017-12-17)	20 March 2018 (2018-03-20)	[13]
10.	Sulejman Starova	20 March 2018 (2018-03-20)	2 September 2018 (2018-09-02)	[14]
11.	Zekirija Ramadani	3 September 2018 (2018-09-03)	July 2019	[15]
12.	Dejan Vukićević	6 August 2019 (2019-08-06)	October 2019	[16]
13.	Agim Sopi	1 November 2019 (2019-11-01)	22 February 2020 (2020-02-22)	[17]
14.	Malsor Gjonbalaj	29 February 2020 (2020-02-29)	5 March 2020 (2020-03-05)	[18]
15.	Afrim Tovërlani	5 March 2020 (2020-03-05)	5 October 2020 (2020-10-05)	[19]
16.	Klodian Duro	6 October 2020 (2020-10-06)	1 May 2021 (2021-05-01)	[20]
17.	Faruk Elshani	1 May 2021 (2021-05-01)	30 June 2022	—
18.	Granit Begolli	1 July 2022 (2022-07-01)	13 June 2023	—
19.	Djengis Redjepi	21 June 2023 (2023-06-21)	28 December 2023	—
20.	Shefki Kuqi	8 January 2024 (2024-01-08)	26 August 2024	—
21.	Giovanni Colella	30 August 2024 (2024-08-30)	pressent	—

FC Feronikeli 74 in Europe

Feronikeli will compete in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the 2019–20 season, entering at the preliminary round. On 11 June 2019, in Nyon, the draw was held and Feronikeli were drawn against the Gibraltarian side Lincoln Red Imps.^[21][22] On 25 June 2019, Feronikeli beat the Gibraltarian side Lincoln Red Imps at Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina.^[23]

After being eliminated from The New Saints, Feronikeli continued to play in the second qualifying round of UEFA Europa League. On 17 July 2019, Feronikeli learns the upcoming rival which was the champion of 2018–19 Slovak First Football League, Slovan Bratislava.^[24]

Season	Competition	Round	Opponent	Home	Away	Agg.
2019–20	UEFA Champions League	PR	Lincoln Red Imps	1–0
			FC Santa Coloma	2–1
		1Q	The New Saints	0−1	2–2	2–3
2019–20	UEFA Europa League	2Q	Slovan Bratislava	0−2	1−2	1−4

References

1. "Rreth klubit" [About the club] (in Albanian). KF Feronikeli. Archived from the original on 2019-07-06. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
2. "NewCo Feronikeli nderohet me medalje dhe mirënjohje nga KF Feronikeli" [NewCo Feronikeli honored with medals and gratitude by KF Feronikeli] (in Albanian). Kosova Press. 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
3. "Feronikeli për herë të parë kampion (VIDEO)" [Feronikeli for the first time champion (VIDEO)] (in Albanian). Klan Kosova. 7 June 2015. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
4. "Feronikeli përkujtoi Rexhepin" [Feronikeli reminded Rexhepi]. Arkiva Mediatike Shqiptare (in Albanian). 13 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
5. "Ekipi" [The team] (in Albanian). KF Feronikeli. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
6. "Musa Selimi shkruajti faqen e parë të historisë së Feronikelit, kujton këto dy suksese të mëdha në karrierën e tij!" [Musa Selimi wrote the first page of Feronikeli's history, reminiscent of these two great successes in his career!]. Gazeta Sheshi (in Albanian). 29 May 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
7. "Arbnor Morina jep dorëheqje nga Ferronikeli" [Arbnor Morina resigns from Ferronikeli] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 7 October 2013. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
8. "Ferronikeli do të jetë ndryshe në pranverë" [Ferronikeli will be different in the spring] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 20 October 2013. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
9. "Sejdiu te Feronikeli, largohet Krasniqi" [Sejdiu at Feronikeli, Krasniqi leaves] (in Albanian). Gazeta Express. 6 July 2014.
10. "Zyrtare: Tovërlani trajner i Feronikelit" [Official: Tovërlani, Feronikeli's coach] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 9 December 2015. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
11. "Gani Sejdiu, trajner i Feronikelit, të premten prezantimi" [Gani Sejdiu, Feronikeli's coach, on Friday the presentation] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 13 July 2017. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
12. "Ramadani fillon stërvitjet te Feronikeli" [Ramadan begins training at Feronikeli] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 1 October 2017. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
13. "Zyrtare: Ismet Munishi merr drejtimin e Feronikelit" [Official: Ismet Munishi takes over the leadership of Feronikeli] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 17 December 2017. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
14. "Zyrtare: Sulejman Starova, trajner i Feronikelit" [Official: Sulejman Starova, Feronikeli's coach] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 20 March 2018. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
15. "Zyrtare: Feronikeli shkarkon Starovën, emëron Zekirija Ramadanin trajner të ri" [Official: Feronikeli dismiss Starova, appoint Zekirija Ramadani new coach] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 3 September 2018. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
16. "Zyrtare: Dejan Vukiqeviq trajner i Feronikelit" [Official: Dejan Vukićević, Feronikeli's coach] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 6 August 2019. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
17. "Zyrtare: Agim Sopi merr drejtimin e FC Feronikelit" [Official: Agim Sopi takes charge of FC Feronikeli] (in Albanian). KF Feronikeli. 1 November 2019. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
18. "Malsor Gjonbalaj, merr drejtimin e Feronikelit" [Malsor Gjonbalaj, takes over the leadership of Feronikeli]. Gazeta Olle (in Albanian). 29 February 2020.
19. "Zyrtare, Afrim Toverlani merr drejtimin e FC Feronikelit" [Official, Afrim Toverlani takes over the leadership of FC Feronikeli] (in Albanian). KF Feronikeli. 5 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
20. "Klodian Duro trajner i ri i Feronikelit" [Klodian Duro new coach of Feronikeli] (in Albanian). TopSporti. 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
21. "Zyrtare: Lincoln Red Imps, kundërshtari i Feronikelit për Champions" [Official: Lincoln Red Imps, Feronikeli's opponent for the Champions] (in Albanian). KF Feronikeli. 11 June 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
22. "Feronikeli mëson kundërshtarin për fazën parakualifikuese në Ligën e Kampionëve" [Feronikeli teaches the opponent for the pre-qualification stage in the Champions League] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 11 June 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019. Feronikeli në parakualifikimet e Ligës së Kampionëve do të ketë punë me Lincoln Red Imps nga Gjibraltari
23. "Feronikeli fiton ndaj Lincolnit dhe bën një hap të madh në raundin parakualifikues në LK" [Feronikeli wins against Lincoln and makes a big leap in the pre-qualifying round at CL] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
24. "Zyrtare: Feronikeli luan kundër Slovan Bratislava në Europa Ligë" [Official: Feronikeli plays against Slovan Bratislava in the Europa League] (in Albanian). KF Feronikeli. 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.

External links

• Official website (in Albanian)