Albania national under-20 football team
The Albania national under-20 football team, also known as Albania U20(s), is the national under-20 football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania.
| Nickname(s) | Kuq e Zinjtë (The Red and Blacks) Shqiponjat (The Eagles) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit (FSHF) | |||
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | |||
| Head coach | Ilias Haxhiraj | |||
| Captain | Elmir Lekaj | |||
| Most caps | Amir Rrahmani (5) Aldo Teqja Marvin Turtulli Klaudio Hyseni Ilir Kastrati Enis Gavazaj Maldin Ymeraj Valon Ahmedi Erion Hoxhallari Arben Muskaj | |||
| Top scorer | Ardit Shehaj (1) Amir Rrahmani Marvin Turtulli Klaudio Hyseni Ilir Kastrati Klodian Gino | |||
| Home stadium | Elbasan Arena Loro Boriçi Stadium | |||
| FIFA code | ALB | |||
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The under-20 squad is often cited as a feeder squad to the under-21 squad. Most of the player picked for this team are U-21 internationals already.
Because there is no under-20 competition at UEFA level, Albania's under-20 side has generally only competed when it has qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every 2 years. Qualification for this competition is achieved in view of performance at the preceding summer's UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.
Albania have never played a game with the U-20 squad and the team was only formed after an invitation to play in 2009 Mediterranean Games in Pescara, Italy. Then Albania under-20 participated in the next tournament 2013 Mediterranean Games in Mersin, Turkey.
In 2017 the Albanian Football Association decided to "reborn" the under-20 side by assigning a Friendly match against Georgia under-20 side on 14 November 2017 at David Petriashvili Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia.