KF Trepça

Trepça was founded in 1932 by workers of the Trepça Mines in Mitrovica during the period of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. From the founding year until 1938, the club did not have an own venue, so coached and played on a playing field in the neighboring town Zveçan. In 1938, a small field was built where they played until the Second World War. Later they received its own stadium, the Trepça Stadium, which offered then about 30,000 spectators. Both Albanians and Serbs played for the club, Albanian players that marked the pre-WWII period were Mazllum Grushti, Hasko Bula, Gota Sezair, Ejup Kerveshi, Adnan Mustafa, Ahmed and Qamil Zajmi, Hysen Murati, Xhati Zhubi, Sali Pllana, Bedri Hamza, Shinasi Rizanolli, Ahmet Shukriu, Burhan Kurkuqi, Jakup Berisha, Qazim Pllana, Sami Konjusha, Agim Deva, Ekrem Neziri, Riza Gashi, etc.[3][4] Another notable player was Riza Lushta, former Juventus and SSC Napoli player, who spent his youth career at Trepça in 1932-1934.[5]

During the Second World War, the Kosovo Albanian players of Trepça, played for the Albanian football club called KF Skënderbeu, which was active during the war and the fascist occupation. After the end of the war, Trepça was long in the shadow of numerous Yugoslav clubs, but achieved regional importance by winning the Kosovo Province League in 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952 and 1955.[6] However, in 1977 came the first major success for the club, when they achieved the promotion to the Yugoslav First League.[7] In the following 1977–78 season, the club relegated in the Yugoslav Second League, but managed to achieve the 1977–78 Yugoslav Cup final, where they lost against NK Rijeka by 0–1 after extra time. During this period, the club's nickname Xehetarët (The Miners) was especially popular, and the Trepça players Dragan Mutibarić, Dragan Simeunović and Vladan Radača became members of the Yugoslavia national football team. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s the players that emerged in the club were Sali Qubreli, Jakup Abrashi, Ajet Shosholli, Hysni Maxhuni, Luan Prekazi, Rexhep Xhaka, Erdogan Celina, Esat Mehmeti, Ramadan Cimili, Fisnik Ademi, Adnan Zeqiri, Ibrahim Prekazi, Faruk Domi, Aqif Shehu, Mensur Nexhipi, Rafet Prekazi, Genc Hoxha, Avni Juniku, Bakir Burri, Hasan Shasivari, Shemsedin Ajeti, Vahedin Ajeti, Ahmet Turku, Gani Llapashtica, Isa Sadriu, Bardhec Seferi, Sadik Rrahmani, among others.[3][4]The main supporters of KF Trepça are TORCIDA 1984 which were formed on 20 March 1984.

In 1991, Kosovo proclaimed independence from Serbia and KF Trepça left the Yugoslav football league system like many other clubs did. They became part of Independent League of Kosovo and became one of the dominant football clubs in Kosovo by winning the Kosovar Cup in 1992 and the Independent League of Kosovo in 1993.[8]In 1996 Trepça relegated to the First Football League of Kosovo.

Trepça came back to the Football Superleague of Kosovo in 2006 after playing almost one decade in lower tiers. Trepça managed to win the Football Superleague of Kosovo in the 2009-10 season. Nevertheless, Trepça relegated once again after finishing last in 2015. In 2016 they were crowned champions of First Football League of Kosovo and promoted to the Football Superleague of Kosovo. However, they were not able to stay for more than one season in the Superleague after finishing 11th and relegating to the First Football League of Kosovo.[9]

Their biggest rival is KF Prishtina. The rivalry is the most known rivalry in Kosovo due to the history of both clubs. It started in 1945 when Trepça and Prishtina were the dominant clubs in the Kosovo Province League. Both clubs also reached the Yugoslav First League, being the only Kosovan clubs to achieve it, which made the rivalry even more intense. There were several incidents between Torcida and Plisat, Prishtina's supporters club. The incident which made the most headlines was the incident in Elbasan in 2015 where ten fans were arrested and four fans ended up injured.[12] Another rival is KF Trepça'89 who is from the same city.[13][14] Trepça'89 does not have its own supporter group that is why the derby is less intense.

As of 3 September 2023[18]

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  KOS Januz Miftari 2 DF  KOS Sherif Fetahu 3 GK  KOS Urim Veliu 4 MF  KOS Arlind Syla 5 DF  BRA Nicolas Da Silva 6 MF  KOS Bekim Ferizi 7 FW  KOS Florent Hyseni 8 DF  KOS Edmond Turku 9 FW  KOS Edis Ahmeti 10 MF  KOS Ardian Neziri 11 MF  KOS Endrit Emini 12 GK  KOS Arben Beqiri 13 FW  BRA Gabriel Coutinho 14 FW  KOS Dijar Mustafa 16 DF  KOS Arber Curri 17 DF  KOS Bleron Istrefi 18 MF  KOS Edvin Çeshko 19 FW  KOS Shkelqim Deliu 20 FW  KOS Ardit Miftari

No. Pos. Nation Player 21 MF  KOS Liridon Voca 22 DF  KOS Kushtrim Haxha 23 MF  KOS Bleron Stublla 24 GK  KOS Haris Kadriu 29 FW  SEN Moustapha Ba 30 MF  KOS Bleron Fetahu 34 MF  RSA Donald Mokgantle 44 GK  KOS Ferid Imeri - DF  GHA Nurudeen Abdulai