2015–16 KF Tirana season

June

The defender Erion Hoxhallari come back to Tirana on 1 June after a long-season loan to Teuta Durrës. On 5 June, Shkëlqim Muça was hired the new head coach of KF Tirana, replacing Gugash Magani who resigned after some poor results at the end of the season. The former player of Tirana during '80s signed a three-year contract with the club. One week later, Tirana and Kukësi reached an agreement for the loan of Muça at Kukësi for the club's Europa League matches. On 15 June, Kire Ristevski left the team to return in his homeland and to sign with Rabotnički.

On 26 June, Tirana completed the signing of former Austria international defender Ronald Gërçaliu on a two-year deal. On the same day, "White and Blues" signed Dritan Smajli from Kukësi on a two-year contract as well. On 28 June, Kavdanski signed a contactrat until the end of the season. In the last day of the month, Renaldo Kalari signed with the cross-town rivals of Partizani Tirana on a free transfer.

July

On 5 July, Lika left Vllaznia Shkodër to return to Tirana after three seasons, signing a one-year deal. Later on 12th, Tirana signed with Olsi Teqja on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee. During his presentation, Teqja said that the move to Tirana was "a dream come true".

On 16 July, Fukui signed with Tirana on a free transfer, becoming the first Japanese player to sign for an Albanian club. Five days later, Debatik Curri signed with Flamurtari Vlorë as a free transfer.

August

After not dealing with the club's directors for the contract, Morina left the "White and Blues" to sign with Flamurtari Vlorë. On 8 August 2015, Tirana signed with Gilberto for an undisclosed fee, returned to Tirana after a remarkable second part of 2013–14 season, where he became a fan favourite.

On 10 August, young forward Florian Kadriu went to a trial with Tirana, which he successfully passed two days later, where he has given a three-year contract. Two days later, Vuçaj signed with the club for an undisclosed fee after he became a free agent after winning the trial against Flamurtari Vlorë.

Tirana started the Albanian Superliga campaign on 23 August, defeating 2–1 the newcomes of Tërbuni Pukë with the goals of Lika and Fukui. On the same day, Pashaj left the team to join Morina at Flamurtari after refusing to be a benchwarmer. On 25 August, Tirana purchased Dejan Karan from Hungarian side Kecskeméti on a one-year deal with an option of a further one. Four days later, Tirana announced the signing of Elis Bakaj, who returned on the team only three months after his departure. He was presented to the media in the next day.

September

On 1 September 2015, in the last day of summer transferts window, Sefa left Tirana and signed with Vllaznia Shkodër for an undisclosed fee. On 9 September, Marsel Çaka signed e long time contact with the club and was loaned to Kamza for the rest of the season.

In the first league match of September, Tirana didn't go more than a disappointing goalless draw at home against the newly promoted side Bylis Ballsh on 12th. To begin its Albanian Cup campaign, Tirana played its first leg match against Erzeni Shijak. Tirana was able to secure the victory only in the last minutes of the match thanks to the goal of Florian Kadriu.

October

October was perhaps the worst month of the season as Tirana started it with a 1–0 lose over the rivals of Partizani Tirana, which was followed by a 1–1 draw against Flamurtari Vlorë, causing the sakcing of Shkëlqim Muça only five month after taking the duty. After that, both assistants of Muça were appointed temporarily the new managers of Tirana.

In the first leg of Albanian Cup's second round, Tirana thrashed 5–1 Kastrioti at Krujë with two goals scored by Gilberto and one each for Masato Fukui, Vucaj and Kërçiku. After the match against Vllaznia Shkodër, where the duo failed to secure the win, Tirana begun negotiations with coach Ilir Daja. The negotiations where finally concretized and on 28 October Daja signed a contract until the end of the season. He was presented to the media in the very next day.

November

On 1 November, in his debut, Daja returned Tirana in the winning ways with a 2–1 triumph against Kukësi at Qemal Stafa Stadium. The strike of Gentian Muça and an owngoal from Franc Veliu where enough to secure the win. This match was the last for the Brazilian forward Gilberto, however, after ending his contract with mutual consent.

Tirana continued its fine form with Daja in charge, overhelming 3–0 Tërbuni Pukë at home. The goals were scored by Karan, Elis Bakaj and Gilman Lika. In the middle of the month, Tirana announecd that its new home Selman Stërmasi Stadium will be ready at the end of the month to host the league match against Skënderbeu Korçë. In the ingaural match, Tirana disappointed the fans by losing 2–1, with the goals scored by two former players of Tirana, Salihi and Lilaj, which did not celebrate as a sign of respect. For Tirana scored Elis Bakaj via a penalty kick

December

In December, Tirana recorded three goalless draw, respectively against Teuta Durrës, Partizani Tirana and Vllaznia Shkodër. On 23 December, in the last match of the year, Tirana defeated 1–0 Kukësi away thanks to goal of Muça, taking the first ever win at Zeqir Ymeri Stadium. Tirana ended the second phrase of the league in fourth place with 29 points.

They conceded only two goals during this phrase, all of them against Skënderbeu Korçë, keeping the goal intact in eight of nine matches. They ended the first part of the season as the team with the best defence, conceding 10 goals in 18 matches, less than any other team. On 25 December, Kavdanski left the club by terminated his contract with the club.

January

In January of the following year, during the winter transfer window, Tirana secured the services of the Brazilian duo Hugo Almeida and Alex Willian respectively form Portuguesa and Icasa. They signed both a six-month contract with an option to extend it for a year, and were presented on 13 January. On the same day, the 26-years old defender Endrit Idrizaj returned to the club after spending the last year in loan at Apolonia Fier.

The ethinc Albanian prodigy Florian Kadriu was sent on loan at fellow Albanian Superliga side Teuta Durrës until the end of the season in order to gain more experience. Stivi Frashëri terminated his contract with Tirana by mutual consesus. Tirana kicked-off 2016 by beating away Flamurtari Vlorë in the first leg of quarter-final of Albanian Cup, thanks to an Argjend Malaj winner. Back in Albanian Superliga, on 30 January, Tirana won comfortably 3–1 away against Tërbuni Pukë to go up in the 3rd place, overtaking Teuta Durrës. The goals were scored by Bakaj, Muzaka and Muça.

February

On 1 February, in the last day of winter transfer window, Tirana signed Enriko Papa from Bylis Ballsh on a free transfer. He signed a one-year contract with the option of a further one year. On 6 February, Tirana announced via its official website that they have terminated their contract with Brazilian forward Hugo after he requeried to leave the club due to familiar reasons. However, five hours later, Hugo returned to the team, and also brought his family in Albania, saying that he never asked the club to leave and the situation that was created was an misunderstanding created by his manager, leading Hugo to terminate they cooperation.

A day later, Tirana recorded an emphatic 3–0 away win over Laçi, thanks to the goals of Bakaj, Muzaka and Hugo. That was the first win at Laçi Stadium since 5 May 2012 where Tirana won thanks to a winner of Bekim Balaj. However, during the match Bakaj and Karan were booked meaning that they would miss the following league match against Bylis Ballsh at home. However, during the match Tirana was able to beat Bylis Ballsh 2–0 thanks to the goals of Muzaka and the youngster Majkel Peci, who made his Albanian Superliga debut. Tirana also registered the first victory at the newly renovated Selman Stërmasi Stadium. In the returning leg of Albanian Cup's quarter-final at Selman Stërmasi Stadium, Tirana was surprisingly knocked out by Flamurtari Vlorë who won 2–1 to qualify in the next round with the aggregate 2–2 (away rule goals), in the match which saw the dismissal of Erion Hoxhallari and Olsi Teqja, leaving Tirana with nine players for the last ten minutes of the match. On 19 February, the vice-captain Gentian Muça successfully underwent surgery in his knee that would rule him out for three to four weeks.

Three days later, in the next league match against the league leaders Skënderbeu Korçë, Tirana lost 0–1 in a match which was infamously marred by the "one-sided" decisions of the refeere Andi Koçi, who did not give a clear penalty to Tirana's Gilman Lika while awarded an incorrect penalty to Skënderbeu's Hamdi Salihi, who scored the lone goal. Skënderbeu's coach Mirel Josa, also the team's vice captain Orges Shehi and Bakary Nimaga admitted that the penalty of Tirana was correct. A day later, the club's sporting director Devi Muka came out on a press conference to convicted the arbitration of Andi Koçi, while Tirana's coach Ilir Daja accused the refeere for not leaving Tirana to fight for the title. One the same day, Tirana filed an official document that requested the lifetime ban of refeere Andi Koçi, adding also that Enea Jorgji should not judge any of Tirana matches. On 26 February, Hugo Almeida left the team after terminating his contract with the club by mutual consensus. In the last match of the month, Tirana earned a goalless draw at home against Teuta Durrës, they rivals for the European spot.

March

In the match of the March, Tirana fell 2–0 to Patizani Tirana at Qemal Stafa Stadium, losing out the 3rd spot in the process. The striker Elis Bakaj who made his return from injury in the 50th minute of the match was red-carded five minutes later, leaving the team with ten players, which lead the Disciplinary Committee of AFA to suspended for five matches for his behaviour. In the next match four days later, Tirana didn't go more than a goalless draw against Flamurtari Vlorë at home, felling down to 5th place.

Four days later, Tirana confirmed its bad moment by losing the Albanian derby 3–1 to Vllaznia Shkodër at Reshit Rusi Stadium. The team took the lead in the 5th minute though an owngoal from Stefan Cicmil, but Vllaznia Shkodër bounced back and scored three times, two in the first half.

Tirana tried to react and to turn page in the match against the rivals of Kukësi, but didn't earn more than a 1–1 draw, despite leading in the first half with a goal from Muzaka. This month was probably the worst month of the season for Tirana as they were not able to win a single match. On 22 March, Tirana fined the defender Dritan Smajli for breaking the rules one day before the match against Kukësi, which he was not in the team. Four days later, Tirana was defeated even in the friendly match against the Albanian First Division side Kamza, who 1–0 at Selman Stërmasi Stadium. In the last day of the month, Tirana liquidate €198.000 debts to its former players and employers, avoiding potential penalties that could be applied by FIFA and UEFA.

April

Tirana commenced the month by taking a 3–0 home victory over Tërbuni Pukë thanks to an Elis Bakaj hat-trick, returning Tirana in the winning ways after six consecutive league matches without a win. That was the second win at Selman Stëmasi Stadium and Elis Bakaj become the first player to score a hat-trick for Tirana since Bekim Balaj on 23 October 2011. On 5 April, Tirana terminated its cooperating with Alex Willian who didn't play a single minute with the team in competitive matches. Tirana then beat 1–0 Laçi at home thanks again to Elis Bakaj to keep the European chances alive.

After that, Tirana made another false step as they didn't go more than a goalless against the penultimate side of Bylis Ballsh. In the next match, Tirana suffered another defeat at the hands of Skënderbeu Korçë, who won 1–0 at Selman Stërmasi Stadium thanks to the Hamdi Salihi's later winner. That was Tirana's fourth league loss against Skënderbeu Korçë as many matches played. In the last league match for this month, Teuta Durrës held Tirana to a 0–0 draw at Niko Dovana Stadium.

May

Tirana begun May with a 2–2 home draw against Partizani Tirana, with the goals scored by Muça and Bakaj. The team was on lead until 94th minute, but Partizani levelled the scored thanks to a Realdo Fili strike. For singing anti-Partizani crust with the fans, Gentian Muça was accused of public incitement of hatred, and was banned for one year from all competitions by the Disciplinary Committee of AFA, effective immediately. Also Tirana's stadium was banned for eight matches for its fans behaviour, also the Sporting Director Devi Muka was banned for ten matches after assaulting a Partizani Tirana member staff.

On 8 May, in the next league match, Tirana lost 2–1 away to Flamurtari Vlorë, leaving Tirana mathematically out of European competitions for the fourth consecutive season. In the last match at home, Tirana beat Vllaznia Shkodër thanks to the lone goal of Elis Bakaj, his 13th in the league. On final day of the season, Tirana was defeated 2–1 away to Kukësi to finish the season in the 5th position, remaining out of European competitions for the fourth consecutive year. Tirana collected 53 points, 18 less the last season.

Squad information

Results summary

Last updated: 19 May 2016.
Source: Competitive matches

Results by round

Last updated: 19 May 2016.
Source: Competitive matches
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: D = Draw; L = Loss; W = Win; P = Postponed.

Top scorers

Last updated: 19 May 2016

Clean sheets

The list is sorted by shirt number when total appearances are equal.

Last updated: 19 May 2016.
Source: Soccerway