Global InformationList of Albania international footballers information
The Albania national football team has represented Albania in international association football since 1946. The Albanian Football Association (Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit; FSHF)[1] was founded in 1930 and became a member of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) two years later. However, the team did not play its first official international match until 7 October 1946, suffering a 2–3 defeat to Yugoslavia in the 1946 Balkan Cup.[2] In 1954, Albania was one of the founding members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and continues to compete as a member of the organisation,[3] which encompasses the countries of Europe and Israel.[4] As of November 2022, Albania have played 366 international fixtures, winning 95, drawing 77 and losing 194. They have played more fixtures against Romania than any other national side, losing 13 of the 19 matches between the sides.[2] In global and continental competitions, the team has competed in qualification groups for both the FIFA World Cup, since 1966, and the UEFA European Championship, since 1964.[2] The team has qualified for one international tournament during its history, UEFA Euro 2016,[5] where they were eliminated in the group stage.[6] In minor competitions, the team won the 1946 Balkan Cup and the 2000 Malta International Football Tournament.[7][8]
As of January 2023, Albania's most capped player is Lorik Cana, who made 93 appearances for the senior team during his career.[9][10] He made his international debut in June 2003 in a 2–3 defeat against Switzerland and won his final cap in June 2016 in a 1–0 victory over Romania at UEFA Euro 2016,[9] retiring from international duty after the tournament.[11] The nation's leading goalscorer is Erjon Bogdani, who scored 18 times during his international career between 1996 and 2013.[12] Bogdani overtook the previous record holder, Alban Bushi,[13] in September 2011 after scoring in three consecutive international fixtures.[12] Bushi had claimed the record from Altin Rraklli in 2004.[13][14]
The first player to reach 25 caps for Albania was Panajot Pano,[14] who reached the total in April 1973 in a match against East Germany.[15] Pano was later named as his country's "golden player" by the FSHF during the UEFA Jubilee Awards in 2004 as Albania's "single most outstanding player".[16] Foto Strakosha is the most capped goalkeeper in the national team's history and held the overall cap record until 2011,[17] when his total was surpassed by Altin Lala.[18] The current holder, Lorik Cana, claimed the record in 2014.[9]
- ^ "Komiteti Ekzekutiv". FSHF. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ a b c Di Maggio, Roberto. "Albania – International Matches – Overview". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ "Results Hint at Albanian Ascension". UEFA. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ "Why Does Israel's Football Team Play In Europe?". Sky News. 18 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "Armenia 0–3 Albania". The Guardian. 11 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ Mezahi, Maher (23 June 2016). "Albania Leave France With Heads Held High After Historic Euro Campaign". ESPN. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ De Dekker, Guy. "Balkan Cup (For Nations)". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ "Rothmans Tournament 2000". eu-football.info. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ a b c Mamrud, Roberto. "Lorik Cana – International Appearances". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ MacPherson, Graeme (17 November 2018). "Passion For Past Inspires Cana's Future Ambitions". The Herald. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ "Albania Get Heroes' Welcome Upon Return After Euro 2016 Exit". ESPN. 23 June 2016. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ a b Mamrud, Roberto. "Erion Bogdani – Goals in International Matches". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ a b Mamrud, Roberto. "Alban Bushi – Goals in International Matches". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ a b Mamrud, Roberto; Hoxha, Florian. "Albania – Record International Players". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ "Panajot Pano". eu-football.info. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ "Golden Players Take Centre Stage". UEFA. 29 November 2003. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Foto Strakosha". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 23 May 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Altin Lala". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.