FC Feronikeli 74 (
Albanian: Klubi Futbollistik Feronikeli 74), commonly referred to as Feronikeli 74 and also known as Feronikeli is a professional
football club based in
Drenas,
Kosovo. The club play in the
Football Superleague of Kosovo, which is the top tier of football in the country.
History
In 1974, the club was founded as Nikeli. During the spring and summer of 1974, an intense activity took place in all aspects for the formation of the football club, its registration and inclusion in the Inter-Municipal Football League level, namely, at the District League of
Pristina. At the top of this activity was the physical education teacher, Hashim Mala.[1]
On 8 April 1974, the Founding Assembly of the Football Club was held in the Glogovac Municipal Assembly Hall. In this assembly was founded the club, which was named Nikeli with headquarters in Glogovac. Then, the headship of the club was elected, the 11-member presidency with Tahir Ajazi as president, vice-president Murtes Zogu, secretary Jusuf Dobra, treasurer Habib Kukiqi and board members were Fetah Elshani, Ismail Bajraktari, Mehdi Bardhi, Nazif Sejda, Rade Jevremović, Remzi Heta and Sylejman Kastrati. This assembly elected Mehdi Bardhi as technical director, while coach was Hashim Mala.[1]
The club has historically closely been associated with NewCo Feronikeli, the nearby ore mining and metallurgical complex, ever since the plant was built in 1984.[2] In the
2014–15 season they were crowned champions for the first time in the club's history.[3] They won the 2018–19 championship as well, qualifying for the
UEFA Champions League preliminary rounds for the first time in their history.
Stadium
The club has played its home games at the
Rexhep Rexhepi Stadium (
Albanian: Stadiumi Rexhep Rexhepi) is a
multi-purpose stadium in Glogovac, Kosovo. The stadium has a capacity of 6,000 people all seater and is named after the club's former player and captain Rexhep Rexhepi, who fought for the
Kosovo Liberation Army and was killed on 12 February 1999 by Serb forces during KLA insurgency right before the start of the
Kosovo War.[4]
^"Feronikeli përkujtoi Rexhepin" [Feronikeli reminded Rexhepi]. Arkiva Mediatike Shqiptare (in Albanian). 13 February 2011. Archived from
the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^"Ekipi" [The team] (in Albanian). KF Feronikeli. Archived from
the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2023.