Albania national under-21 football team

Albania Under-21 participated in the Balkan Youth Championship as a succeder of Under-23 team, in the 1976–78 and 1981 competitions, winning both with finals against Romania and Bulgaria. Notably in 1978, the second leg of the final match against Romania was characterized by a large Albania's win 7–1, which is the largest win ever recorded by Albania U-21.[3]

In 1978 a Competition for the European Under-21 teams was created but the Albania Under-21s didn't participated in first 3 editions and debutted in the competition in the 1984s Championship where they managed to qualify for the first and only time in their history although they were competing for the first time in such tournament. The historic event was the first time any Albanian squad qualified for a Europe or World Championship, and only the fifth time any Albanian squad qualified for the major championships. To this day the team that qualified for that competition are still regarded as the most successful team in Albanian football history. In the qualifying stage they were drawn in a very tough group which included the West Germany, Turkey and Austria. Albania U21 managed to qualify without losing a single game winning both home-away versus Austria (1–2 away & 3–0 home) & Turkey (both 1–0) and managing two very good draws against one of the biggest and best footballing nations, West Germany (both 1–1), heading the group with 10 points, 1 above West Germany. Albania played the quarter finals against Italy, against which it lost twice 0–1 both home and away as Italy advanced to the semifinals losing against England, the eventual champions.

In the 1986 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came last in group after Poland and Greece, and could not qualify. In the 1988 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came again last in group after Spain, Romania and Austria. In the 1990 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came last in group after Sweden, England and Poland. In the 1992 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship managed to precede Iceland as last in the group, but was preceded by Czechoslovakia, France and Spain. In the qualifiers of the 1994 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania preceded bottom team Republic of Ireland, but was preceded by Spain, Germany and Denmark.

In the 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification Albania did not participate. In the qualifiers of the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania left behind Armenia, but had to trail in the final rankings Germany, Ukraine, and Portugal. In the qualifiers of the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania trailed Greece, Norway, Georgia, Latvia, and Slovenia and closed at the bottom of the group. In the qualifiers of the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came again last behind England, Greece, Germany, and Finland.

In the qualifiers of the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania had the best result since Euro '84, when it had won the group, as it left two teams behind (Republic of Ireland and Georgia), but was preceded by Switzerland and Russia, and thus failed to qualify to the main tournament. In the qualifiers of the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania left behind itself Kazakhstan, but was preceded by Denmark, Ukraine, Greece, Turkey, and Georgia. In the qualifiers of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, in a 3 teams group, Albania came last behind Spain and Slovakia and failed to qualify.

In the qualifiers of the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania was fourth out of 6 teams in the final ranking, leaving behind the Faroe Islands and Azerbaijan, but trailing behind Italy, Croatia and Greece. In the qualifiers of the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania left again behind Azerbaijan but trailed Scotland, Belarus, and Austria in the final rankings. In the qualifiers of the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came last trailing behind Russia, Portugal, Poland, and Moldova. However, as a consolation for the first time an Albanian footballer, Armando Sadiku was the top goalscorer of the group. Albania drew in Russia against the famous hosts during that tournament, a noticeable fact. Albania were also able to drew against Portugal in Durres with 2-2 during this qualifying. Albania suffered close loses against Poland in Grudziądz with 4-3 and to Russia with 0–1 in Durres respectively.

In the qualification in Group 4 Albania would finish in last place. They were able to beat Hungary with 0–2 away from home.[4] Albania would also beat notable Austria with 1–3 away from home in the Liebenauer Stadium in Graz.[5] As a fact Albanian won for the first time in their history more matches away than at home in an Under-21 qualification. In the following 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 4. Albania finished fourth leaving Hungary and Liechtenstein but trailing behind Greece, Israel and eventual Group winners Portugal. securing 12 points in the progress. Albania were able to win three matches in this qualifying. They beat Liechtenstein with 2-0 and away from home with the same result. As well as beating Hungary in Elbasan with 2–1 in fact.[6] They drew three times once against Israel in Elbasan with 1-1 and away to Hungary with 2-2 and in the derby at home against Greece with 0:0.[7]

The event was classified as a U-23 tournament where at time were played three competitions, 1972, 1974 & 1976.

UEFA European Under-21 Championship record										UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification record							Manager(s)
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D *	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1978	did not enter									did not enter
1980	did not enter									did not enter
1982	did not enter									did not enter
1984	Quarter Final	6th of 8	2	0	0	2	0	2		6	4	2	0	9	3		Rreli & Rragami
1986	did not qualify									4	1	0	3	3	7
1988	did not qualify									6	0	2	4	4	10
1990	did not qualify									6	0	1	5	1	8
1992	did not qualify									7	1	2	4	3	13
1994	did not qualify									8	1	2	5	5	18
1996	did not enter									did not enter
1998	did not qualify									8	1	1	6	6	19
2000	did not qualify									10	1	4	5	8	21
2002	did not qualify									8	1	1	6	3	19
2004	did not qualify									8	3	1	4	10	10
2006	did not qualify									12	2	3	7	9	27		Bushati
2007	did not qualify									2	0	1	1	0	3		Bushati
2009	did not qualify									10	3	3	4	10	13		Bushati
2011	did not qualify									8	1	1	6	11	20		Bushati
2013	did not qualify									8	1	2	5	11	18		Gega
2015	did not qualify									8	2	0	6	7	15		Gega
2017	did not qualify									10	3	3	4	11	20		Jupi
2019	did not qualify									10	1	4	5	9	17		Bushi
2021	did not qualify									10	4	2	4	16	21		Bushi
2023	did not qualify									10	3	1	6	9	17		Bushi
Total			2	0	0	2	0	2		159	33	36	90	145	299

Note: The year of the tournament represents the year in which it ends.

• The following players were called up for the UEFA Euro 2025 qualification matches against Finland and Switzerland, on 22 and 26 March 2024 respectively.[8]
• All caps and goals as of 26 March 2024 after match against Switzerland.
• Players in bold have been called up or have played at least one full international match with national senior team.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Simon Simoni	(2004-07-14) 14 July 2004	10	0	Eintracht Frankfurt
12	1GK	Klidman Lilo	(2003-01-31) 31 January 2003	7	0	Panathinaikos B
23	1GK	Endri Dema	(2004-04-17) 17 April 2004	1	0	Teuta
13	2DF	Paulo Buxhelaj	(2003-05-01) 1 May 2003	10	0	Partizani
5	2DF	Ajdi Dajko	(2002-10-28) 28 October 2002	9	0	Laçi
4	2DF	Adrian Bajrami	(2002-04-05) 5 April 2002	8	0	Benfica B
14	2DF	Agan Mjaki	(2003-03-10) 10 March 2003	7	0	Laçi
15	2DF	Elmando Gjini	(2002-08-28) 28 August 2002	5	0	Teuta
3	2DF	Ermis Selimaj	(2004-05-25) 25 May 2004	3	0	PAOK B
22	2DF	Ysni Ismaili	(2002-03-13) 13 March 2002	2	0	Vora
16	2DF	Marçelino Preka	(2003-08-02) 2 August 2003	2	0	Partizani
10	3MF	Adrion Pajaziti	(2002-11-16) 16 November 2002	11	6	Fulham U21
8	3MF	Medon Berisha	(2003-10-21) 21 October 2003	11	3	Lecce
7	3MF	Arda Kurtulan	(2002-11-19) 19 November 2002	11	1	Diyarbekirspor
18	3MF	Leandro Frroku	(2003-09-03) 3 September 2003	3	0	Panathinaikos B
6	3MF	Feta Fetai	(2005-05-11) 11 May 2005	2	0	Lokomotiva
20	3MF	Dejvid Janaqi	(2003-07-21) 21 July 2003	1	0	Skënderbeu
17	3MF	Elion Jashari	(2005-08-09) 9 August 2005	0	0	Basel U21
11	4FW	Stiven Shpendi	(2003-05-19) 19 May 2003	12	5	Empoli
9	4FW	Arlind Rexhepi	(2003-07-28) 28 July 2003	7	1	Hamburger SV II
21	4FW	Ardit Nikaj	(2002-03-24) 24 March 2002	6	0	Skënderbeu
19	4FW	Ermir Rashica	(2004-03-24) 24 March 2004	3	0	Skënderbeu

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Renato Beqaj	(2004-06-22) 22 June 2004	0	0	Bylisi	v.  Romania, 17 November 2023
GK	Brajan Lenja	(2004-01-19) 19 January 2004	0	0	Albanët	v.  Montenegro, 17 October 2023
GK	Arbër Jata	(2004-12-03) 3 December 2004	0	0	Vora	v.  Bulgaria, 20 June 2023
DF	Geralb Smajli	(2002-05-16) 16 May 2002	8	1	Vllaznia	v.  Finland, 22 March 2024INJ
DF	Edon Pruti	(2002-04-08) 8 April 2002	1	0	Farnborough	v.  Romania, 17 November 2023
DF	Brayan Boci	(2003-07-24) 24 July 2003	1	0	Legnago Salus	v.  Romania, 17 November 2023
DF	Reild Kurti	(2002-10-17) 17 October 2002	4	0	Elbasani	v.  Bulgaria, 20 June 2023
DF	Elvir Zukaj	(2002-07-07) 7 July 2002	1	0	Grasshoppers U21	v.  Bulgaria, 20 June 2023
DF	Mario Mitaj	(2003-08-06) 6 August 2003	14	0	Lokomotiv Moscow	v.  Poland, 27 March 2023A
MF	Tim Civeja	(2002-01-04) 4 January 2002	2	0	Saarbrücken	v.  Finland, 22 March 2024INJ
MF	Behar Ismaili	(2005-04-26) 26 April 2005	8	0	Anderlecht II	v.  Romania, 17 November 2023
MF	Rei Pecani	(2002-05-08) 8 May 2002	4	0	Skënderbeu	v.  Romania, 17 November 2023
MF	Eniss Shabani	(2003-05-29) 29 May 2003	2	0	1. FSV Mainz 05 II	v.  Romania, 17 November 2023
MF	Stiven Bibo	(2003-09-26) 26 September 2003	4	0	Laçi	v.  Montenegro, 17 October 2023
MF	Klevi Qefalija	(2003-12-12) 12 December 2003	4	0	Dinamo City	v.  Montenegro, 17 October 2023
MF	Enis Asani	(2004-07-30) 30 July 2004	1	0	Thun	v.  Romania, 12 September 2023
MF	Antonio Delaj	(2003-09-06) 6 September 2003	2	0	Vllaznia	v.  Bulgaria, 20 June 2023
MF	Rejan Alivoda	(2003-06-05) 5 June 2003	4	0	Vllaznia	v.  Poland, 27 March 2023
MF	Henrik Nerguti	(2003-04-05) 5 April 2003	2	0	Beltinci	v.  Poland, 27 March 2023
MF	Endri Muhameti	(2004-07-12) 12 July 2004	0	0	Atalanta U23	v.  Azerbaijan, 23 March 2023
FW	Cristian Shpendi	(2003-05-19) 19 May 2003	7	1	Cesena	v.  Romania, 17 November 2023SUS
FW	Eljon Toçi	(2003-01-09) 9 January 2003	9	0	Pro Sesto	v.  Montenegro, 17 October 2023
FW	Dion Berisha	(2003-05-09) 9 May 2003	0	0	FC Bayern Munich II	v.  Montenegro, 17 October 2023
FW	Aldi Gjumsi	(2002-03-15) 15 March 2002	2	0	Liria	v.  Bulgaria, 20 June 2023
FW	Steven Bala	(2003-11-19) 19 November 2003	1	0	QPR U21	v.  Bulgaria, 20 June 2023
FW	Rrok Toma	(2004-02-27) 27 February 2004	0	0	AlbinoLeffe	v.  Bulgaria, 20 June 2023
FW	Dijar Nikqi	(2004-10-20) 20 October 2004	5	0	Tirana	v.  Poland, 27 March 2023
FW	Renaldo Torraj	(2004-07-15) 15 July 2004	4	0	Burnley U21	v.  Poland, 27 March 2023
FW	Ilir Gjuzi	(2003-09-22) 22 September 2003	2	0	Juventus-Lloret	v.  Poland, 27 March 2023
FW	Ertigen Shehu	(2004-04-26) 26 April 2004	2	0	Korabi	v.  Poland, 27 March 2023
Notes A = Was called up from national senior squad. INJ = The player is not part of the current squad due to injury. SUS = It is not available in next match due to red card suspension.

Balkan Youth Championship record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1976–1978	Champions	1st	6	3	2	1	12	6
1981	Champions	1st	2	2	0	0	6	2
Total	2 Titles	2/2	8	5	2	1	18	8

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty shoot-out.

**Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won.