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 following players were called up for the friendly matches against Azerbaijan and Poland, on 23 and 27 March 2023.[8]
• All caps and goals as of 27 March 2023 after match against Poland.
• 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
	1GK	Simon Simoni	(2004-07-14) 14 July 2004	6	0	Eintracht Frankfurt
	1GK	Klidman Lilo	(2003-01-31) 31 January 2003	2	0	Panathinaikos U19
	1GK	Endri Dema	(2004-04-17) 17 April 2004	1	0	Teuta
	2DF	Mario Mitaj	(2003-08-06) 6 August 2003	14	0	Lokomotiv Moscow
	2DF	Agan Mjaki	(2003-03-10) 10 March 2003	3	0	Groningen U21
	2DF	Reild Kurti	(2002-10-17) 17 October 2002	3	0	Teuta
	2DF	Geralb Smajli	(2002-05-16) 16 May 2002	2	1	Vllaznia
	2DF	Paulo Buxhelaj	(2003-05-01) 1 May 2003	2	0	Partizani
	2DF	Marçelino Preka	(2003-08-02) 2 August 2003	2	0	Partizani
	2DF	Ajdi Dajko	(2002-10-28) 28 October 2002	1	0	AEK Athens B
	3MF	Adrion Pajaziti	(2002-11-16) 16 November 2002	4	3	Haugesund
	3MF	Rejan Alivoda	(2003-06-05) 5 June 2003	4	0	Vllaznia
	3MF	Behar Ismaili	(2005-04-26) 26 April 2005	4	0	Anderlecht II
	3MF	Arda Kurtulan	(2002-11-19) 19 November 2002	3	0	Karacabey
	3MF	Medon Berisha	(2003-10-21) 21 October 2003	3	0	Lecce U19
	3MF	Henrik Nerguti	(2003-04-05) 5 April 2003	2	0	Beltinci
	4FW	Eljon Toçi	(2003-01-09) 9 January 2003	8	0	Fiorentina U19
	4FW	Dijar Nikqi	(2004-10-20) 20 October 2004	5	0	Tirana
	4FW	Renaldo Torraj	(2004-07-15) 15 July 2004	4	0	Burnley U21
	4FW	Stiven Shpendi	(2003-05-19) 19 May 2003	3	1	Cesena
	4FW	Cristian Shpendi	(2003-05-19) 19 May 2003	2	0	Cesena
	4FW	Ilir Gjuzi	(2003-09-22) 22 September 2003	2	0	Grasse B
	4FW	Ertigen Shehu	(2004-04-26) 26 April 2004	2	0	Juventus-Lloret

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
DF	Arlind Kurti	(2005-01-24) 24 January 2005	2	0	Laçi	v.  Montenegro, 20 November 2022U19
DF	Kleiten Metaliaj	(2002-03-22) 22 March 2002	1	0	Besëlidhja	v.  Montenegro, 20 November 2022
DF	Aleksandër Robi	(2002-08-20) 20 August 2002	1	0	Panathinaikos	v.  Montenegro, 20 November 2022
DF	Elmando Gjini	(2002-08-28) 28 August 2002	1	0	Amora	v.  Poland, 27 March 2023CLUB
DF	Daniel Hysaj	(2004-03-17) 17 March 2004	1	0	Napoli U19	v.  Montenegro, 20 November 2022
DF	Kevin Haveri	(2001-09-18) 18 September 2001	0	0	Rimini	v.  Kosovo, 13 June 2022
DF	Edon Pruti	(2002-04-08) 8 April 2002	0	0	Hartlepool United	v.  Azerbaijan, 23 March 2023CLUB
DF	Lorik Konjuhi	(2002-12-21) 21 December 2002	0	0	BK Olympic	v.  Czech Republic, 25 March 2022
MF	Armando Dobra	(2001-04-14) 14 April 2001	11	1	Chesterfield	v.  Kosovo, 13 June 2022
MF	Argel Avdiu	(2002-05-29) 29 May 2002	2	1	Vora	v.  Montenegro, 20 November 2022
MF	Alesio Çaushaj	(2003-08-31) 31 August 2003	2	0	Europa FC	v.  Montenegro, 20 November 2022
MF	Endri Muhameti	(2004-07-12) 12 July 2004	0	0	Atalanta U19	v.  Azerbaijan, 23 March 2023INJ
FW	Flavio Sulejmani	(2006-03-20) 20 March 2006	2	0	Perugia	v.  Montenegro, 20 November 2022U17
FW	Klevis Dragaj	(2003-03-22) 22 March 2003	1	1	Partizani	v.  Montenegro, 20 November 2022
FW	Aldi Gjumsi	(2002-03-15) 15 March 2002	1	0	Tirana	v.  Montenegro, 20 November 2022
FW	Muço Boçi	(2003-06-09) 9 June 2003	1	0	Teuta	v.  Montenegro, 20 November 2022
Notes U19 = Was called up from national under-19 squad. CLUB = It is not part of the current squad after the club has not allowed him to join. INJ = The player is not part of the current squad due to injury. U17 = Was called up from national under-17 squad.

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

UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record								UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D *	L	GF	GA	Position	Pld	W	D *	L	GF	GA
1978	Did Not Participate
1980
1982
1984	Quarter-finals	2	0	0	2	0	2	Qualifying stage 1/4	6	4	2	0	9	3
1986	did not qualify							Qualifying Stage 3/3	4	1	0	3	3	7
1988								Qualifying Stage 4/4	6	0	2	4	4	10
1990								Qualifying Stage 4/4	6	0	1	5	1	8
1992								Qualifying Stage 4/5	7	1	2	4	3	13
1994								Qualifying round 4/5	8	1	2	5	5	18
1996	Did Not Participate
1998	did not qualify							Qualifying round 4/5	8	1	1	6	6	19
2000								Qualifying round 6/6	10	1	4	5	8	21
2002								Qualifying round 5/5	8	1	1	6	3	19
2004								Qualifying round 3/5	8	3	1	4	10	10
2006								Qualifying round 6/7	12	2	3	7	9	27
2007								Qualifying round 3/3	2	0	1	1	0	3
2009								Qualifying round 4/6	10	3	3	4	10	13
2011								Qualifying round 4/5	8	1	1	6	11	20
2013								Qualifying round 5/5	8	1	2	5	11	18
2015								Qualifying round 5/5	8	2	0	6	7	15
2017								Qualifying round 4/6	10	3	3	4	11	20
2019								Qualifying round 5/6	10	1	4	5	9	17
2021								Qualifying round 3/6	10	4	2	4	16	21
2023								Qualifying round 5/6	10	3	1	6	9	17
Total: 1/23	Best: Quarter-finals	2	0	0	2	0	2	Total	149	33	36	90	146	304

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

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.