Ever
wondered how promoted sides fare over the years. How many
of them manage to even maintain their top flight status.
This is an interesting case and to that effect, an analysis
of various leagues and divisions will be reviewed to get
a bigger as well as a detailed picture.We will start first
with the Albanian league`s top division.
ALBANIA
Currently
known as Serie A1, the league was started in 1930 with
6 sides. There were no relegations that season for the
neophyte league. The next season, one side was added to
the structure, Muzaka Berat.
They didnt enjoy too much success though, finishing bottom
of Group B of the championship with just a single point.
1932 saw no additions, in fact 2 sides were cut from the
league. In 1933, S.K. Kavaja
were promoted to the top division and promptly finished
bottom, taking just 2 points. Two sides were added in
1935, Elbasani
and Vlora
making a re-appearance. Both though occupied the last
2 slots respectively.
There
was no competition in 1935. But in 1936, it resumed with
Vllaznia exceeding
all expectations to take 2nd spot. Dragoi
Pogradec took 6th spot but were not disgraced.
The following year brought 6th place for Bardhyli
Lezhe but Tomori
Berat (formerly Muzak) were upto their
old habits and finished bottom.
In
the abandoned season of 1949, Partizani
Tirana were leading the championship though
technically they cannot be classified as a promoted side.
Our next
look at the tables takes us to the modern era, starting
in 1980 season.Patchy data is available on these initial
years of the new decade. In 1985 season, Beselidhja
Lezhe managed to finish 9th and gain
some foothold in the division.
In 89' ,
Traktori Lushnje's
joy at promotion was shortlived as they immediately slid
back down in last place.The next season, Luftetari
Gjirokaster may have finished 2nd in the promotion
places, but they out performed Tomori
Berat to finish a highly creditable 7th. Tomori
just managed to survive in 9th place.
Three promoted
sides in 91 saw the immediate return of Traktori
Lushnje alongwith seasoned campaigners
Skenderbeu Korce
and newcomers Kastrioti
Kruje. Skenderbeu were the best of the
bunch, finishing 10th. Kruje managed to edge out Traktori
for 12th spot, both hanging on by the skin of their teeth.
Laci,
Pogradeci and Selenica's
prospects next season didnt look promising, with relegation
predicted for at least 2 of them. The first two of these
defied these and finished 12th and 13th respectively.
Selenica, the most lightweight failed and finished 15th
to go down.
Albpetrol
Patrol and Sopoti
Librazhd were two new faces for the
new season. Albpetrol easily finished 9th to stay put
. Librazhd managed 12th to also avoid the drop.
Beselidhja
are no strangers to promotions and demotions and they
got back up again in 94, attaining 10th spot. So far the
record for promoted sides was relatively mediocre.
Tomori
were back but Shkumbini
were fresh at this level but most eyes were on Shqiponja
and Iliria
Frushe Kruje to spark life into the
promoted sides. Shqiponja
did just that, defying all expectations to finish in 5th
spot. Shkumbini were not too far behind as they finished
two spots behind them and even Tomori took 9th spot to
cap of a brilliant season for the promoteds. The only
blemish on their record was Iliria's ill-fated campaign
when they miserably got relegated.
Kastrioti, Skenderbeu once again and
Sopoti were
back for more, this time trying to follow in the footsteps
of Shqiponja the season before. Sopoti took the honors
though with 8th place. Skenderbeu just avoided relegation
but Kastrioti could not. Lushnja
and Bylis
in 97' intended to change the heirarchy for the new season.
Lushnja were well satisfied with their 7th place. Bylis's
14th could be expected of a debutant at this level. No
promotions were allowed for the following season.
Burreli`s attempts
at stability proved unsuccessful as they finished rock
bottom in 1999. Shqiponja
finished 9th in a 14 team division in 2000, a chance for
revival. A name familiar to Second Division followers
is Beselidhja.
They alongwith Besa Kavaje
tried to consolidate themselves. Beselidhja achieved a
modicum of success with 7th place, Besa went down.
In 2002, the Albanian
football community witnessed the giants of the nation
Partizani Tirana rebound
back from their shock relegation a season back and looking
mean and hungry for another tilt at the top places. Their
fellow promoted side Erzeni
Shijak had more modest ambitions, namely
survival. Partizani stormed their way to the modern era's
best promoted side finish of 3rd spot. Erzeni also were
successful in avoiding relegation but just.
Elbasani and
Besa were making another
crack at top level stability. Both managed to avoid going
down, taking 8th and 9th positions respectively.No promotions
for 2004 season as the league was reduced dramatically
to 10 clubs.
For season 2005,
Laci
and Egnatia
are promoted but as the above history demonstrates clearly,
these two sides are fancied to struggle. Not a single
side has gone from promotion to championship glory and
only Vllaznia who finished 2nd and Partizani only recently
managed a top 3 placing. The rest have either only achieved
mid table obscurity or gone down immediately.
