FC Drita

History

In 1947, Drita was founded by Gjilan citizens, the name Drita meaning 'light' in Albanian and the name was taken from other sports clubs from the city. In the beginning, conditions were difficult, even more so because the team rivaled the other team of the city, Crvena zvezda Gnjilane. Contrary to them, Drita founders and footballers were exclusively Albanians. This insistence in nationalistic differentiation meant that, in 1952 the team was abolished by the regime. Former footballers went to the already multi-ethnic team of Zvezda, but the team didn't get erased completely. They competed in the Kosovo Province League where they were declared champions in the 1962–63 season.

Post-1990

In 1991, at the time of the dissolution of Yugoslavia. the football of Kosovo was in its zenith and consistently had 4-5 clubs in both federal leagues. But the deterioration of the political situation was also reflected in sports. In 1991, Albanian separatist complaining about the situation, formed the Football Federation of Kosovo with all its organs. Drita then joined the new league system in Kosovo, where they played in the fields of the mountains around the city of Gjilan.

Selami Osmani era

After the 90s, Drita was taken into management by Selami Osmani - Bezi with whom for 15 years reached the tops of Kosovan football, thanks to the players that brought in Gjilan, he who for 15 years contributed to Drita. Under his management Drita managed to adorn the title of the Kosovo championship in 2002–03, win the cup in 2000–01 and be a runner-up in 1999–2000 and 2001–02. Drita also reached the semifinals in 1999–00, 2001–02, and 2002–03, breaking a Kosovo record that for four consecutive years did not descend below the third position and for four years at least until the semifinals of the Kosovar Cup.

Valon Murseli and Flamur Bunjaku era

On 21 July 2016, Valon Murseli and Flamur Bunjaku took over the club, the two businessmen promised big things to the club, where in 2017–18 they relied on them, by winning the title for the second time in their history.

Ardian Nuhiu era

After starting working in the club as assistant coach of Shpëtim Duro in 2018, Ardian Nuhiu was named first team manager in 2019. On 22 July 2020, he won the 2019-20 Football Superleague of Kosovo.

In the semi-final of preliminary round of the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League qualifying, Drita won against Inter Club d'Escaldes. But they were not allowed to play the final against Linfield FC three days later. The Northern Irish team was awarded a 3–0 win after the match was cancelled due to Drita players testing positive for SARS-CoV-2.

After finishing as runner-up in the 2020-21 Football Superleague of Kosovo, two points under champions FC Prishtina, Drita entered the 2021-22 UEFA Conference League. After defeating FK Dečić from Montenegro in the first qualifying round, Nuhiu's team faced Feyenoord in the second round. The first leg ended with a 0-0 draw in Pristina. In the return leg, Drita lost 3-2, with Guus Til scoring the winner for the Dutch side in the added time.

Drita was again the runner-up in the 2021-22 Football Superleague of Kosovo and also lost the final of the 2021-22 Kosovar Cup against FC Llapi. In the 2022-23 UEFA Conference League, they defeated Inter Turku from Finland in the first qualifiying round but were knocked out by Belgian side Antwerp in the second round.

Nuhiu left the club on 24 November 2022 after the defeat in the 2022-23 Kosovar Cup against Liria Prizren.

Zekirija Ramadani era

Zekirija Ramadani became the head coach of Drita on 30 November 2023.

Drita won the 2024-25 Football Superleague of Kosovo under Ramadani on 4 May 2025.

During the 2025–26 season, Drita became the first club from Kosovo to reach the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League by defeating Differdange 03 4–2 on aggregate. They also became the second club from Kosovo to reach the final stage of a European competition by defeating Differdange 03 again during the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League play-off round.

On 6 November 2025, Drita won in the Tallaght Stadium in Dublin against Shelbourne FC its first ever game in a final stage of a European competition. After winning also against Shkëndija Tetovo and having previously drawn against KuPS and Omonia Nicosia, Drita finished the League Phase of the Conference League with 8 points and qualified for the knockout phase play-offs.

Support

Main article: Intelektualët

In the 1997–98 season, Drita had a great support in Kosovo, but their fans group had not a name. After a game against Ballkani in which the supporters travelled to Suva Reka and just before a game against their biggest rival Gjilani, a meeting was held and the name Intelektualët (Intellectuals) was assigned because most of the players were also writers, poets and politicians.

The Intellectuals are the biggest ultras group in Kosovo, with many travels to watch games outside of Gjilan. They also have the record of audience in football of Kosovo: in a derby against Gjilani in 2011, 13,000 fans attended the game. In 2002, 30,000 fans travelled to the final of the Kosovar Cup in the Fadil Vokrri Stadium.

Incidents

Also at Intelektualët (Intellectuals) there are groups of hooligans who do incidents especially during the derby towards Gjilani.

But there are also other incidents with other groups, The incident with Plisat of Prishtina was where during the last game of the championship there was attack on the fans of Prishtina, the worst incident was the violation of the fans of Prishtina by the hooligans from Gjilan where 13 fans were injured.

Club rivalries

Gjilani

There is often a fierce rivalry between one of the two strongest teams in a national league and this is particularly the case in the Football Superleague of Kosovo, where the game between Drita and Gjilani is known as the Anamorava Derby. According to the tradition of the city of Gjilan, the party starts with fans organization, who try to give the maximum support for the respective clubs, there is also some surprise for the other opponent camp, to say that we were better and is appreciated more than what is presented to you with great curiosity about the whole city, what a presentation will be on the weekend from Skifterat (Falcons) and Intelektualët (Intellectuals).

Three days before the match the derby gives the atmosphere a night life, everywhere in the cafe bars is an atmosphere that occurs only during national holidays, where fans are seen by both the Skifterat (Falcons) and Intelektualët (Intellectuals) to live all that week under the fever of the much-anticipated derby.

One hour before the match, the two camps are organized in groups and always avoid eventual incidents between the two ultras groups. They divide the streets from where they will go to the stadium, which is good, because the Kosovo Police organised themselves in a way to avoid the breakdown of this holiday and the much anticipated confrontation in Gjilan.

For a brief few moments, everything apart from the dozens of flares that littered the pitch, that'd had disappeared from view. Gone were the two white minarets that usually overlook the stadium in eastern Kosovo. Gone too were the lines of riot police patrolling the front of the main stand along with the 10,000 strong crowd, all enveloped in a monstrous blue cloud of smoke. On the other side of the pitch, a similar scene was being played out, but the consuming cloud was red. The only evidence of a football match being played was the thunderous noise of drums and chants rising ethereally from the fog.

Records and statistics

Drita in the 2017–18 season has not suffered any losses, so it has broken its record since 2002–03 season with 30 undefeated games.

Kit evolution

After the war, the financial condition of clubs did not allow them to look after their kits, it happened that within a season the club's shirts have changed. But since joining UEFA and FIFA, this problem has disappeared. During the presentation of Betim Haxhimusa, they also unveiled the new kits that would be worn in the 2018–19 season, while the traditional colors are interwoven in a design inspired by the famous sportswear brand Givova. While in the UEFA Champions League match against Malmö in Sweden, Drita played with their third kits making the presentation in public for the first time.

Period

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Stadium

Main article: Gjilan City Stadium

The club has played its home games at the Gjilan City Stadium () is a multi-purpose stadium in Gjilan, Kosovo. The stadium has a capacity of 10,000 people all seater. Since 2017, the stadium is under renovation as it does not meet any level required by UEFA and the goal is to get the stadium to become a fourth-tier UEFA stadium.

Honours

Players

Current squad

– Do NOT add new players before their signing is officially announced by the club through their website, including medical and signing the contract. A transfer fee agreed doesn't mean the player will sign. – Do NOT remove players before their exit is officially announced by the club. – Do NOT add or change squad numbers until it is official on the FC Drita website – Only add numberless players that are likely to become part of the first team – Pre-season numbers can be added temporarily with A REFERENCE – This is Wikipedia, not a football newspaper. Anything unconfirmed and unsourced will be removed on sight

Academy players with first-team appearances

Out on loan

Personnel

List of managers

Below is a list of Drita managers from 1999, until the present day.

• Kosovo (1999–2000)
• Kosovo (1999–2000)
• Kosovo (2000–01)
• Kosovo (2001–02)
• Kosovo (2001–02)
• Kosovo (2002 as caretaker)
• Kosovo (2002–03)
• Kosovo (2003 as caretaker)
• Kosovo (2003–04)
• Kosovo (2007 as caretaker)
• KVX (2007–08)
• KVX (2008 as caretaker)
• KVX (2008–09)
• KVX (2011–12)
• KVX (2012–13)
• KVX (2013)
• KVX (2013)
• KVX (2013–14)
• KVX (2014)
• KVX (2014–15)
• KVX (2015)
• KVX (2015–16)
• BIH Amir Alagić (2016)
• KVX (2016)
• KVX (2016–17)
• KVX (2017–18)
• ALB (2018–19)
• MKD (2019–2022)
• KVX (2022–2023)
• GRE (2023)
• MKD (2023–)

Drita in Europe

Drita competed in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the 2018–19 season, entering at the preliminary round. On 12 June 2018, in Nyon, the draw was held and Drita were drawn against the Andorran side FC Santa Coloma. On 26 June 2018, Drita beat Santa Coloma at Victoria Stadium in Gibraltar and became the first Kosovar side to win a UEFA Champions League match.

After being eliminated from Malmö, Drita continued to play in the second qualifying round of UEFA Europa League. On 17 July 2018, Drita learns the upcoming rival which was the champion of 2017–18 Luxembourg National Division, F91 Dudelange.

By competition

Matches

UEFA club coefficient ranking

References

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