Klubi i Futbollit Besa is a professional Albanian

football club A football team is a group of players selected to play together in the various team sports known as football. Such teams could be selected to play in a match against an opposing team, to represent a football club, group, state or nation, an all- ...

based in

Kavajë Kavajë ( , sq-definite, Kavaja) is a municipality centrally located in the Western Lowlands region of Albania, in Tirana County. It borders Durrës to the north , Tiranë to the east and Rrogozhinë to the south . To the west lies the A ...

. It is currently competing in

Kategoria e Parë Kategoria e Parë is the second level of professional football in Albania, behind the Kategoria Superiore and above the Kategoria e Dytë. Format Kategoria e Parë was founded in 1930. It is made up of 14 teams. The 2 best ranked teams gain pr ...

, the 2nd tier of Albanian football. They play their home games at

Besa Stadium Besa Stadium ( sq, Stadiumi Besa) is a football stadium in Kavajë, Albania. It is the home ground of Besa Kavajë. The stadium has a full seating capacity Seating capacity is the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, in terms ...

History

Early years (1925–1944)

Klubi Sportiv Besa was founded on 25 October 1925 originally as "Shoqata Kulturore-Sportive Adriatiku" which was a multi-disciplinary sports club based in

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the ...

. In 1930, the club changed its name to "Sport Klub Kavajë". That same year the football team played its first ever friendly at Mali i Robit,

Golem A golem ( ; he, , gōlem) is an animated, anthropomorphic being in Jewish folklore, which is entirely created from inanimate matter (usually clay or mud). The most famous golem narrative involves Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the late 16th-centur ...

against an amateur team formed of students from the Albanian-American Institute of Agriculture. A short time later, SK Kavajë joined the newly formed Albanian Football Association and participated in the 1930 second tier championship where they would repeat their participation for the next two seasons before joining the top tier

in 1933. In their first top flight championship SK Kavajë finished last in the 5 team league, losing 7 games and winning just one, a 2–1 victory over local rivals Teuta Durrës. Besa Logo 1930

In 1935, the club took the shape of an organized one under the leadership of chairman Irfan Berati. The vice-chairman was Fehmi Kazazi, the secretary was Dervish Cara, the committee members were Sulejman Karkini and Reshat Asllani, the cashier was Rasim Sulejmani and Dhori Fora was in charge of the trade of craft. The following year, the club was renamed "Besa Kavajë" also known as "Besa Sport Klub", derived from the name Besa, the Albanian cultural precept meaning "to keep the promise" and "word of honor". During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, many members of the club lost their lives as soldiers, including Mehmet Babamusta, Adil Alushi, Sami Karriqi and Millan Radosalja. The activities of the club became very limited and support came primarily from the local residents of the city. There were no official competitions held in Albania at this time.

Rise (1945–1965)

But between 1945 and 1950, the club experienced a revival which was due to young talented players coming through the ranks of the youth teams, including the likes of Qamil Teliti who went on to receive national success. During the 1945–46 season, the club won the unofficial Sports Federation President's Cup. Many of the club's players during the late 1940s would go on to play for the Albania national team, including Qamil Teliti, who scored the winning goal against Romania that won Albania the

1946 Balkan Cup The 1946 Balkan Cup was the 8th edition of this tournament. The participanting teams were Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania and for the first time ever, Albania, who ended up winning the tournament in their first try. Squads *The four men ...

. In 1958, the club achieved a second-place finish in the top tier Albanian Championship, narrowly losing out to

Partizani Tirana Futboll Klub Partizani, or FK Partizani for short, is an Albanian professional football club based in Tirana, that competes in the Kategoria Superiore. Founded in 1946, the club was historically affiliated to the Albanian army. Partizani's curr ...

for the title by one point. Also during the 1958 season, they reached the semi final of the

Albanian Cup The Albanian Cup ( sq, Kupa e Shqipërisë) is the main "knockout" competition in Albanian football. The competition started in 1939 as Kupa e Mbretit ( English:"The King's Cup"). Just after a year the cup was suspended as the Second World War s ...

, again losing out to eventual winners Partizani Tirana. The club would go on to reach the finals of the Albanian Cup in 1961, losing to Partizani Tirana once again and also the following season in 1962–63, where they lost on penalties to

KF Tirana Klubi i Futbollit Tirana (KF Tirana) is an Albanian football club based in the country's capital city, Tirana. The men's football club is part of the multi-disciplinary sports club SK Tirana, and is the most successful in Albania, having won 54 ...

. In 1963, Besa won the unofficial cup competition held by the 'Sport' newspaper, and in 1965 it won the 'Bashkimi' newspaper competition.

Golden generation (1965–1975)

The period between 1965 and 1975 has been called the golden generation of football in Kavajë, due to the domestic achievements especially in the Albanian Cup which resulted in the club's first ever European games. In 1971, they finished as runners-up in the Albanian Cup after losing 2–0 in the finals to Dinamo Tirana. They repeated this feat the following year, losing on penalties in the cup final following a 2–2 draw with Vllaznia Shkodër, but as Vllaznia also won the league in that same year, this gave Besa the opportunity to participate in the

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a European football club competition contested annually by the winners of domestic cup competitions. The cup was, chronologically, the second seasonal inter-European club competition organised by UEFA. The tourn ...

in the 1972–73 season. Their first European opponents were Danish side,

Fremad Amager Boldklubben Fremad Amager (meaning in English: The Ball Club Forward Amager ; abbreviated Fremad A) is a Danish professional football club based in the district of Amager Vest, Copenhagen. As of the 2020–21 season, the club's senior men's tea ...

, who Besa managed to overcome on away goals following a 1–1 draw away in

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

and a goalless draw at home. In the next round however they were beaten by Scottish side Hibernian, whom they lost to on aggregate 8–2, following a 7–1 away loss and a 1–1 draw at home. The end of the golden generation era was marked with the completion of the club's first purpose built stadium,

. Construction was completed in 1974 and the new stadium had a capacity to seat 9,000 spectators.

Recent years

Besa confirmed their place in the

2007–08 UEFA Cup The 2007–08 UEFA Cup was the 37th edition of the UEFA Cup, UEFA's second-tier club football tournament. The final was played at the City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, England on 14 May 2008 between Rangers of Scotland and Zenit Saint Pet ...

after a 3–2 win against neighbours KS Teuta in the 2006–07 Albanian Cup final. They met

Bežanija Bežanija ( sr-cyr, Бежанија, ) is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Novi Beograd, in the Syrmia region. Location Bežanija is located west of the downtown Belgrade, across the S ...

of Serbia in the first qualifying round, drawing 2–2 away and 0–0 at home to progress on away goals. In the second qualifying round, they fell 3–0 in each leg to Bulgarian side Litex Lovech. In 2008, they qualified for the

Intertoto Cup The UEFA Intertoto Cup (from la, Inter, 'between' + german: toto, ' betting pool'),Most precisely, from ( football pool); cf. often abbreviated and more known in the German-speaking world as UI Cup and originally called the International F ...

due to their third-place finish in the league, drawing Ethnikos Achna 0–0 at home and 1–1 in

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ...

and continued on away goals. In the 2nd round of the Intertoto cup they were eliminated by Grasshopper Zürich from Switzerland.

Besa in European competitions

''As of October 2015'' * 1QR = 1st Qualifying Round * 2QR = 2nd Qualifying Round * 1R = 1st Round * 2R = 2nd Round * 3R = 3rd Round

Current squad

Historical list of coaches

* Rexhep Spahiu (1960-1971) *

Muhamet Vila Muhamet Vila (7 March 1928 – 18 January 2002) was an Albanian footballer who played his entire professional career as defender for Dinamo Tirana football club. Playing career Club Paired with Xhevdet Shaqiri he formed the backbone of the defens ...

(1971-1973) *

Fatmir Frashëri Fatmir Frashëri (3 April 1941 – 19 July 2019) was an Albanian football player who played for 17 Nëntori Tirana, Partizani and the Albania national team. International career Frashëri made his debut for Albania in a June 1963 European C ...

(1981-1982) *

Dashnor Bajaziti Dashnor Bajaziti (born 4 January 1955) is a former Albanian footballer who played as a striker for Besa Kavajë and the Albania National Football Team. He was a two-time top scorer of the Albanian Superliga. International career He made his debut ...

(1985–1988) *

Bajram Hushi Bajram might refer to: Holiday * Eid People *Bajram Curri (1862–1925), ethnic Albanian nationalist from Kosovo *Bajram Fetai (born 1985), Danish-Albanian professional football forward *Bajram Franholli (born 1968), former Albanian footballer who ...

(1990–1991) *

Fisnik Kosova Fisnik is an Albanian male given name, which means "noble".''Behind the Name''"Given Name Fisnik" Retrieved on 23 January 2016. The name may refer to: * Fisnik Asllani (born 2002), German football player of Albanian origin * Fisnik Maxville, Koso ...

(1992–1993) * Zihni Gjinali (1994) *

(1994) *

Haki Arkaxhiu Haki, Hake (Old Norse: ) or Haco, the brother of Hagbard, was a famous Scandinavian sea-king, in Norse mythology. He is mentioned in the 12th century ''Gesta Danorum'', and in 13th-century sources including ''Ynglinga saga'', ''Nafnaþulur'', and ...

(1995) *

Azem Mullaliu Azem Mullaliu (born in Kavajë) is a retired Albanian footballer who played as a defender for Besa Kavajë in the Albanian Superliga during the 1970s. He was called up and played in several unofficial matches for the Albania national football team ...

(1995–1996) *

Artan Lilamani Artan may refer to: *Artan (given name) ;Surname *Ahmed Ibrahim Artan Somali diplomat, author and politician *Engin Ali Artan (born 1992), Turkish figure skater *Louis Artan (1837–1890), Dutch-Belgian painter and etcher who specialized in seasc ...

(1996) *

Bujar Pagria Bujar is an Albanian masculine given name which means ''generous''. People named Bujar include: * Bujar Asqeriu (born 1956), Albanian actor *Bujar Dida (born 1961), Albanian chemist and diplomat *Bujar Bukoshi (born 1947), Kosovar politician *Buja ...

(1997) *

Edmond Gëzdari Edmond is a given name related to Edmund. Persons named Edmond include: * Edmond Canaple (1797–1876), French politician * Edmond Chehade (born 1993), Lebanese footballer * Edmond Conn (1914–1998), American farmer, businessman, and politician ...

(1997–1998) *

Naim Hushi Naim (also spelled Na'im, Nayeem, Naeem, Naiem, Nahim, Naheem, Nyhiem, Nihiem, Nyheim, Niheem, or Nahiem) ( ar, نعیم, he, נעים) is a male given name and surname. Notable persons with the name include: *Naim ibn Hammad (died 843 AD), H ...

(1998) *

Shkëlqim Muça Shkëlqim Muça (born 19 March 1960) is an Albanian football coach and former player. Playing career Club He created the attacking trio Muça- Minga- Kola at Nëntori Tirana that was probably the best and most prolific attacking trio in the A ...

(1998–1999) *

Ilir Gjyla Ilir is an Albanian masculine given name, derived from ''i lirë'', which means "free"., and is primarily a male name of Albanian origin that means Illyrian. People bearing the name include: *Ilir Azemi (born 1992), Kosovar footballer *Ilir Bajri ...

(1999–2000) * Ramadan Shehu (2001) * Faruk Sejdini (2001) *

(2001) *

Haxhi Arkaxhiu Haxhi is an Albanian masculine given name that derives from the muslim title Hajji, and may refer to: *Haxhi Ballgjini (born 1958), Albanian footballer *Haxhi Ymer Kashari (fl. 18th-century), Albanian poet * Haxhi Krasniqi (aka Robin Krasniqi; bor ...

(2002) * Ramadan Shehu (2002) *

Abdyl Kuriu Abdyl is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Abdyl Dylaveri, Albanian politician * Abdyl Frashëri (1839–1892), Albanian diplomat * Abdyl Këllezi (1919–1977), Albanian politician * Abdyl Xhaja, Albanian government minister * ...

(2002) * Ramadan Shehu (2002) *

Astrit Sejdini Astrit is an Albanian masculine given name and may refer to: *Astrit Ajdarević (born 1990), Albanian footballer *Astrit Bushati (born 1962), Albanian footballer *Astrit Fazliu (born 1987), Kosovar-Albanian footballer *Astrit Hafizi (born 1953), A ...

(2003) *

Ilir Duro Ilir Duro (born 25 July 1966) is a retired Albanian footballer who played during his career as forward for Besa Kavajë, Dinamo Tirana and Freiburger FC. He served as head coach of Besa Kavajë in the Albanian Superliga and the Albania national un ...

(4 Jan 2005 – 28 Aug 2005) * Agim Canaj (28 Aug 2005 – 3 Dec 2005) * Ilir Shulku (3 Dec 2005 – 05 Apr 2006) *

Përparim Daiu Përparim Daiu (born 21 April 1970) is a retired Albanian footballer who has served as head coach of several clubs in the Albanian Superliga. Club career Daiu played the majority of his career for Besa Kavajë and Partizani Tirana. Internationa ...

(05 Apr 2006 – 30 Jun 2006) *

Hasan Lika Hasan Lika (born 1 January 1960) is an Albanian professional football coach and former player. Club career Lika spent his playing career representing Partizani Tirana from 1978 to 1984. International career Lika won his first and only cap on 20 ...

(Jul 2006 – 25 Sep 2006) *

(25 Sep 2006 – 20 Nov 2006) * Vasil Bici (20 Nov 2006 – 14 May 2007) * Ylli Teliti (14 May 2007 – Jun 2007) * Silviu Dumitrescu (Jul 2007 – 29 Nov 2007) * Iljaz Haxhiaj (29 Nov 2007 – 3 Dec Jun 2007) * Sulejman Starova (3 Dec 2007 – 6 Apr 2008) * Iljaz Haxhiaj (6 Apr 2008 – 16 Sep 2008) *

Ilir Daja Ilir Daja (born 20 October 1966 in Tirana) is an Albanian professional football coach and former player who is the current manager of the Ballkani. Club career Daja spent his youth career with 17 Nëntori, before playing for Dinamo Tirana for te ...

(16 Sep 2008 – 22 Feb 2009) *

Ilir Biturku Ilir Biturku (born 4 February 1968) is an Albanian retired footballer who is the current head coach of Albania U-20. Playing career Club Biturku played most of his career as defender for Besa Kavajë and Partizani Tirana. Managerial career He a ...

(22 Feb 2009 - Jun 2009) * Shpëtim Duro (Jul 2009 - 20 Sep 2010) *

(20 Sep 2010 – 3 Nov 2010) *

Gerd Haxhiu Gerd Haxhiu (born 11 October 1972) is an Albanian football coach who has managed Apolonia Fier, Bylis Ballsh, Skënderbeu Korçë, Besa Kavajë Besa or BESA may refer to: Arts & entertainment * ''Besa'' (newspaper), a newspaper published in Al ...

(3 Nov 2010 – Jun 2011) * Gugash Magani (Jul 2011 – Jun 2012) *

(Jul 2012 - Feb 2013) *

(Feb 2013 – May 2013) * Ramadan Shehu (Jul 2013 – Aug 2013) * Artan Mërgjyshi (Aug 2013 - 14 Nov 2014) *

Bledar Sinella Bledar Sinella (born 10 August 1976) is a retired Albanian footballer and most recently manager of Egnatia football club in the Albanian Second Division. Managerial career A successful coach with Besa's youth teams, Sinella was appointed to the ...

(14 Nov 2014 - Apr 2015) *

Dorjan Bubeqi Dorjan Bubeqi (born 26 October 1978) is a retired Albanian footballer who currently serves as manager of Besa Kavajë in the Albanian First Division. Club career Bubeqi began his playing career in Besa Kavajë's youth system as a centre-forward. ...

(Apr 2015 – Nov 2015) *

(Mar 2016 - May 2016) *

Bekim Kuli Bekim Kuli (born 19 September 1982 in Kavajë) is an Albanian retired footballer who has played for several teams in the Albanian Superliga. Club career Early career Kuli began his career with the Tropikal Durrës youth team, where he played for ...

(28 Jul 2016 – ?) *

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(Sep 2016 – Oct 2016) *

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(Oct 2016 – May 2017) *

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(Aug 2017 – Sep 2017) *

(Sep 2017 - May 2018) *

Gentian Begeja Gentian Begeja (born 23 June 1973 in Durrës) is an Albanian former football player and coach who spent his entire career with Teuta Durrës Managerial career Begeja succeeded Gentian Stojku Gentian Stojku (born 22 July 1974) is an Albanian fo ...

(26 Jun 2018 - Dec 2018)Gentian Begeja, trajner i Besës për të tentuar Superioren
– Supersport * Gugash Magani (Jan 2019 – Feb 2020 ) * Ndricim Kashami (Feb 2020 – Nov 2020) * Artan Mërgjyshi (Nov 2020 - Apr 2021) * Ndricim Kashami (Apr 2021 – Oct 2021) *

(Oct 2021 – May 2022) * Gugash Magani (Jun 2022 – )

Honours

Kategoria Superiore The Kategoria Superiore, officially known as Abissnet Superiore for sponsorship reasons, is a professional league for men's association football clubs. At the top of the Albanian football league system, it is the country's primary football compet ...

*Runners-up (2): 1958, 2009–10 *3rd Place (11): 1936, 1937, 1945, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1966–67, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1992–93, 2007–08

*Winners (4): 1932, 1977–78, 1985–86, 2004–05 *Runners-up (2): 1999–00, 2001–02

*Winners (2): 2007, 2010 *Runners-up (6): 1961, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1982, 1992 Albanian Supercup *Winners (1): 2010

Records

* Biggest Victories: 9–1 vs

Ismail Qemali Ismail Qemal bey Vlora, mostly known as Ismail Qemali (; 16 January 184426 January 1919), was an Albanian diplomat, politician, rilindas, statesman and the Founding Father of modern Albania, and one of the most famous Southern Albanian person. ...

(1937); 12–0 vs Bashkimi Elbasanas (1945); 7–0 vs

Shkumbini The Shkumbin (; ; la, Genusus, also la, Genessus, label=none or la, Scampis, label=none), also commonly Shkembi, is a river in Southern Europe. It is long and its drainage basin is . Its average discharge is . Etymology It derives from La ...

(17.02.1963); 11–0 vs

Apolonia Fier KF Apolonia is an Albanian football club based in Fier. The club was founded on 17 June 1925 and took its name from the nearby ruins of the ancient city of Apollonia. The club currently compete in the Kategoria e Parë and they play their hom ...

(1965); 8–1 vs Poliçani (28.08.1991); 7–1 vs

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

(1992) * Biggest Defeats: 1–9 vs Skënderbeu (16.04.1933); 0–6 vs Partizani (09.02.1975); 1–7 vs

(12.09.2003) * Most points in a season: 56 (2007–08) * Fewest points in a season: 1 (1948) * Most ties in a season: 14 (1973–74, 1976–77, 1989–90) * Fewest ties in a season: 0 (1933) * Most losses in a season: 23 (2003–04) * Fewest losses in a season: 3 (1958) * Best Goal Differential: +27 (1937) * Worst Goal Differential: -43 (2003–04)

References

External links

Besa at UEFA.COM
{{DEFAULTSORT:Besa Kavaje Football clubs in Kavajë Football clubs in Albania Association football clubs established in 1925 1925 establishments in Albania