Football Club Dinamo City, commonly referred to as Dinamo City and colloquially known as Dinamo, is an Albanian professional football club based in Durrës, moving from Tirana. They compete in the Kategoria Superiore, the top tier of Albanian football. Founded in 1950, the club was historically affiliated to the Interior Ministry and having won 18 National Championships, it is considered to be the second most decorated club after local rivals KF Tirana.
History The club was officially founded on 3 March 1950 by the Interior Ministry of Albania during the communist regime under dictator Enver Hoxha. They won four consecutive championships from 1950 to 1953. During this time, Dinamo recorded a hot streak of 25 consecutive wins, a record in Albanian football and 4th longest domestic winning streak in Europe.
In 1967, Dinamo won its ninth championship by leaving Tirana, then 17 Nëntori, one point behind, who was expelled for the tournament three weeks before the end. This championship is not officially recognised by UEFA, however.
In 1989, Dinamo eventually finished third in the league which was won by 17 Nëntori, which made eligible to play in European Cup Winners' Cup for the third time in their history. In the preliminary round of the tournament the team faced Chernomorets Burgas, losing the first leg 1–3 (Demollari scoring the lone goal for Dinamo City) but winning the second 4–0 at home, thus recording its biggest win in a UEFA club competition. The team then was eliminated in the first round by Dinamo București despite winning the first leg in Tirana 1–0 because Dinamo București won the second leg 2–0.
In 1995, the team were renamed KS Olimpik Tirana to leave behind the "communist past", but the club returned to their original name two years later.
After finishing third in the table in 2005–06 season, Dinamo City named Faruk Sejdini as their new coach. One of Albania's best teachers of footballing fundamentals, he had a spell at the club last term before being dismissed by president Besnik Sulaj. Having returned following a spell at Shkumbini, Sejdini said: "It's nice to be back." On 23 October 2006, he was fired.
At the start of the 2007–08 season, Agim Canaj took over as head coach, replacing Ilir Daja who led Dinamo towards the championship title, after a dramatic win against Partizani 2–1 in the final match, playing for 36 minutes with 9 players. In the summer of 2008, Ilir Daja moved into a position as director in order to make place for Marcelo Javier Zuleta from Argentina. The Argentinian coach also brought with him four Argentinian players; goalkeeper Daniel Bertoya, defender Alejandro Palladino, midfielder Agustín González, and striker Cristian Campozano. Zuleta only lasted for the first Champions League qualification match against Bosnians FK Modriča before he was replaced as coach by Artan Mërgjyshi, for only one match.
Together with Zuleta, the four Argentinian players also left the club. After Mërgjyshi left, Zlatko Dalić, the current head coach of Croatia, was appointed as new coach for Dinamo. He signed a two-year contract with the club. That deal was broken when Dinamo lost its second game in the re-beginning of the 2008–09 season against Partizani. Shkëlqim Muça was then appointed manager of the club five days after of Zlatko Dalić's leave. In the 2009–10 season, Dinamo won the championship again, registering its 18th success.
In 2011–12 season, the club experienced its worst period of all time, finishing last in the league with 13 points from 26 matches, winning only 3 times. They were relegated to the Kategoria e Parë for the first time in their history. Since the 2012–13 season, the club have played in the Kategoria e Parë and have risked relegation to the third tier several times. After spending nine seasons in the Second Division, Dinamo clinched the promotion to the Superiore, confirming first place in Group A following a 2–0 win against FK Vora.
On 25 August 2023, it was officially announced by President Bardhi that the club would rebrand to Dinamo City, ahead of the 2023–24 Kategoria Superiore season, thanks to a project to be part of the network of Manchester City.
Stadium Dinamo City has historically played at Selman Stërmasi Stadium which was also known as Dinamo Stadium when it first opened. After a spell playing at Niko Dovana Stadium, Durrës, Dinamo rebranded in 2023 and now play at the Elbasan Arena in Elbasan.
Supporters The "Blue Boys" are an Ultras group for the Albanian football team, Dinamo City. The group were formed in 2008 and have gained 5,000 followers as of 2021. They organise meetings and trips to matches in Tirana and also away matches in Albania and even abroad. They promote Dinamo City to the local public and influence fans of the club in a number of ways.Dinamo Tirana at Weltfussball.de
Divisional movements SeriesYearsLastPromotionsRelegationsKategoria Superiore662025–26 2 (2011–2012, 2021–22)Kategoria e Parë102022–23 2 (2020–21, 2022–23) 0
Honours Domestic Dinamo are the second most successful and decorated club in Albania, having won (18) league titles Kategoria Superiore. The club also holds the win Albanian Cups (15) and Albanian Supercups (3). The club's most recent trophy was the 2025 Albanian Supercup won on 28 December 2025.
TypeCompetitionTitlesSeasonsDomesticKategoria Superiore181950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1966–67, 1972–73, 1974–75 , 1975–76, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1985–86, 1989–90, 2001–02, 2007–08, 2009–10Albanian Cup151950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1960, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1981–82 , 1988–89, 1989–90, 2002–03, 2024–25, 2025–26Albanian Supercup31989, 2008, 2025Double61950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1960, 1989–90 Internationally, they lost a final in the Balkan Cup in 1969 against Beroe Stara Zagora. They won the first leg in Tirana 1–0 with a goal by Bahri Ishka, but in the return match they lost 3–0 by forfeit because during the regime of Enver Hoxha, travel wasn't allowed to Bulgaria.
FC Dinamo City in Europe Dinamo City have given good performances in Europe among Albanian squads, winning 8 ties in Europe.
Submarine blues In their European path, Dinamo have played against "big guns" such as: Ajax, Austria Wien, etc. Drawn against teams such as Sporting Lisbona, Beşiktaş, Dinamo București, Olympique Marseille, Brøndby, CSKA Sofia, Sheriff Tiraspol, CZ Jena, Aberdeen, Hajduk Split, etc. Dinamo has passed 8 rounds in the European cups, defeating opponents like Ħamrun Spartans, Chernomorets Burgas, Kaunas, Atlètic Club d'Escaldes ,Hajduk Split ,FC Astana ,Aluminij and Auda.
The evening of August 14, 2025 is historic for Dinamo as for the first time after almost 15 years of absence from European cups, they reached the play-off stage of the UEFA Conference League where they defeated HNK Hajduk Split 3-1 with goals from Zabërgja and Qardaku and Hekuran Berisha.
Dinamo made history by winning away against Astana 4-1, the deepest victory for the blue team on away matches, while on July 30 they again advanced to the second round, defeating 3-0 Aluminij with goals from Vila, Kefalia and Përndreca.
Season Competition Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate1961–63Balkans CupGroup BDinamo București1–13–2 Levski Sofia0–02–2Fenerbahçe3–20–11963–64Balkans CupGroup ABeşiktaş2–00–1 Rapid București1–11–2Levski Sofia1–11–11967–68European Cup1REintracht Braunschweig(w/o)(w/o)(w/o)1969Balkans CupGroup AUniversitatea Craiova2–01–3 Bor4–12–2FinalBeroe Stara Zagora1–00–31–31971–72European Cup Winners' Cup1RAustria Wien1–10–11–21976Balkans CupGroup BDinamo Zagreb1–21–2 Ethnikos Piraeus2–03–41980–81European Cup1RAjax0–20–10–31981–82UEFA Cup1RCarl Zeiss Jena1–00–41–41982–83European Cup Winners' Cup1RAberdeen0–00–10–11985–86UEFA Cup1RĦamrun Spartans1–00–01–02RSporting CP0–00–10–11986–87European Cup1RBeşiktaş0–10–20–31987–88Balkans CupGroup BEskişehirspor3–10–4 Corvinul Hunedoara1–10–21989–90European Cup Winners' CupQRChernomorets Burgas4–01–35–31RDinamo București1–00–21–21990–91European Cup1RMarseille0–01–51–52001–02UEFA Cup1QRDinamo București1–30–11–42002–03UEFA Champions League1QRFBK Kaunas0–03–23–22QRBrøndby IF0–40–10–52003–04UEFA CupQRLokeren0–41–31–72004–05UEFA Cup1QROțelul Galați1–40–41–82005UEFA Intertoto Cup1RVarteks2–11–43–52006–07UEFA Cup1QRCSKA Sofia0–11–41–52008–09UEFA Champions League1QRModriča0–21–21–42009–10UEFA Europa League1QRLahti2–01–43–42010–11UEFA Champions League2QRSheriff Tiraspol1–01–32–32025–26UEFA Conference League2QRAtlètic Club d'Escaldes1–12–13–23QRHajduk Split3–1 1–24–3POJagiellonia Białystok1–10–31–42026–27 UEFA Conference League1QR Astana0–14–1 4–22QRAluminij3–01–14–13QRAuda4–00–14–1POPafos1–12–4 3–5 QR = Qualifying Round 1QR = 1st Round 2QR = 2nd Round 3QR = 3rd Round PO = Play-Off Clubs which ultimately won the tournament in that same season are indicated in bold
Europe Biggest ever European home victory: Dinamo 4–0 PFC Chernomorets Burgas (30 August 1989) Dinamo 4–0 FK Auda (13 August 2026) Biggest ever European home defeat: Dinamo 0–4 Brøndby IF (7 August 2002) Dinamo 0–4 KSC Lokeren (14 August 2003) Biggest ever European away victory: FC Astana 1–4 Dinamo (16 July 2026) Biggest ever European away defeat: Olympique Marseille 5–1 Dinamo (19 September 1990) Most European appearances: Arjan Pisha (24) Most European goals: Sulejman Demollari (6)
UEFA club coefficient ranking Rank Team Points271 Progrès Niederkorn3.000272 Valur3.000273 FC Dinamo City2.500274 Fredikstad2.500275 Adana Demirspor2.500
Record transfers RankPlayerToFeeYear1. Eduard Abazaj Hajduk Split€1.00m19902. Baton Zabërgja Metalist 1925€800k20253. Peter Itodo Metalist 1925€700k20254. Simon Simoni Eintracht Frankfurt€600k20225. Elis Bakaj Dinamo București€250k2010 Jahmir Hyka Rosenborg€250k2005
Recent seasons Last Season of Dinamo in Kategoria Superiore Season Division Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA PCupSupercupEuropeTop scorer2000–01Kampionati Shqiptar3rd261574432152SR——— Ilir Qorri 152001–02Kampionati Shqiptar1st261961551563RU—UC1QR Daniel Xhafaj 10 Klodian Asllani 102002–03Kampionati Shqiptar6th261088292439WRUUCL2QR January Zyambo 82003–04Kategoria Superiore2nd362187683971RURUUC1QR Ilir Qorri 152004–05Kategoria Superiore3rd3618810513062SR—UC1QR January Zyambo 132005–06Kategoria Superiore3rd3617109533561SF—UIC1QR El Hadji Goudjabi 152006–07Kategoria Superiore5th3314514413957QF—UC1QR Pero Pejić 92007–08Kategoria Superiore1st332175561470SF——— Pero Pejić 182008–09Kategoria Superiore3rd3314109483452QFWUCL1QR Sebino Plaku 172009–10Kategoria Superiore1st3319410564161THR—UEL1QR Elis Bakaj 162010–11Kategoria Superiore10th3310914465039RURUUCL2QR Emiljano Vila 132011–12Kategoria Superiore↓14th333716254713SR——— Bekim Kuli 62021–22Kategoria Superiore↓9th3661119214629QF——— Agim Ibraimi 82023–24Kategoria Superiore7th3613815424347QF——— Luis Kaçorri 92024–25Kategoria Superiore4th38141311514555W——— Peter Itodo 132025–26Kategoria Superiore4th39 13 13 13 45 38 52 WWUECLPO Dejvi Bregu 102026–27Kategoria Superiore UECLPO
Players Current squad
Out on loan
Current staff PositionNameHead coach Ilir Daja Assistant coach Renaldo Kalari Glen DajaGoalkeeping coach Ilir Bozhiqi Blendi BaholliFitness coach Korrado SaconeTeam manager Ergi KasmiPhysio Gledi Rexha Ramiz ReçiPresident Adrian BardhiGeneral director Ermal BarushiSports director Luan Pinari
Top scorers (Golden Boot) SeasonPlayerGoals1955 Skënder Jareci231958 Skënder Jareci141960 Skënder Jareci161970–71 Ilir Përnaska191971–72 Ilir Përnaska171972–73 Ilir Përnaska121973–74 Ilir Përnaska191974–75 Ilir Përnaska171975–76 Ilir Përnaska18
Notable players
List of managers
Zihni Gjinali (1949–1956) Zyber Konçi (1959–1961) Xhevdet Shaqiri (1960s) Skënder Jareci (1966–1973) Sabri Peqini (1974–1975) Durim Shehu (1975–1977) Saimir Dauti (1977–1980) Stavri Lubonja (1979–1981) Fatmir Frashëri (1985–1986) Bejkush Birçe (1987–1991) Neptun Bajko (1991) Faruk Sejdini (1992–1993) Vasillaq Zëri (1994) Faruk Sejdini (1994–1997) Gani Xhafa (1997) Faruk Sejdini (1998–1999)