Albanian Football Association president Armand Duka: 'Football’s not just a profession, it’s a way of life'

What prompted you to stand for election in 2002 as president of the Albanian Football Association?

I come from a family with sports deeply rooted in its DNA. My father was a footballer and coach in my hometown, Shijak, a small place but crazy about football. My brother was also an athlete. As a private businessman, I financially supported several sports teams, starting with my local football team and then getting involved in KF Teuta, a professional club in Durrës.

During Albania’s transition from communism, the Football Association was highly disorganised. For this reason, some leaders and acquaintances proposed that I run for the position of FSHF president. On 2 March 2002, our Assembly elected me as president.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting a career in football administration today?

My advice is to make this choice with passion and full commitment. Football is not just a profession; it’s a way of life that completely absorbs you. Once you become part of this world, the emotions you experience are so powerful that you never want to step away from it.

Football presents daily challenges, but it also offers extraordinary satisfaction. It builds strong connections with people and gives you the opportunity to make a positive impact on entire communities.

So, for anyone who wishes to pursue this path, my message is simple – do it with passion, because only those who truly love football can give their best and make a real difference.

How has your private sector experience helped to transform Albanian football?

After graduating from the University of Tirana, I worked as an economist for a short period. When Albania’s dictatorial system collapsed, I was among the first to get involved in the private sector. I believe my academic background and extensive business experience have been crucial in transforming Albanian football.

Looking back at the time when I was elected president, the Federation desperately needed restructuring. The FSHF is an institution that requires clear strategies, good management and solid policies. My experience in the business field played a fundamental role in building the foundations for our subsequent successes.

Which of your achievements at the FSHF make you most proud?

I am proud of the institutional reorganisation and improved functioning of the FSHF, as well as the transformation of sports infrastructure across our country. I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said that Albania is now one of the countries with the most developed sports infrastructure in the region.

In the past ten years, four beautiful UEFA-licensed stadiums have been built to host European-level matches. Each stadium has its own story, but we are most proud of the Arena Kombetare Stadium in the capital, which media outlets have dubbed the "Wembley of the Balkans." However, Elbasan Arena, Loro Boriçi Stadium and Kukës Arena are also magnificent venues. Now we plan to construct four new stadiums, using funds from UEFA’s HatTrick programme, which will further boost the national game.

Albania's players line up before their UEFA EURO 2024 match against Italy AFP via Getty Images

Of course, I have to talk about the successes of our national team - a huge source of pride. It once seemed utopian to think that Albania could qualify for a EURO finals, yet we have reached this objective not once but twice, participating in France in 2016 and Germany last summer.

Once considered taboo in Albania, women’s football has risen to a satisfying level thanks to the hard work, investment, and significant contribution of the FSHF. The growing number of children getting involved in football year after year is another achievement to highlight.

What specific FSHF development project would you choose as a best practice case study for other associations to follow?

We have implemented numerous projects related to education and improving sports facilities. For me, the one that stands out is "My Uniform" by which the Federation provides free training and match kits to anyone playing football in the country. This project has significantly increased the number of registered footballers.

Are there any specific projects run by other associations that have inspired the FSHF?

We have undertaken every possible project in collaboration with UEFA — and, in some cases, even more. I would like to highlight our "Elite Youth" Academy, launched in September last year. Each day, 37 talented young footballers, born in 2010 and 2011, train at this "House of Football" guided by Albania’s youth team coaches.

I am convinced that this initiative will bear fruit in the coming years, both at youth and senior level. The Academy project was previously implemented by the Georgian Football Federation, with several graduates going on to play for Georgia's senior national team. Seeing the hard work of our children and academy staff, I am confident this project will be successful in Albania too.

In 2022, the FSHF hosted the inaugural UEFA Conference League final in Tirana’s stunning Arena Kombetare Stadium. How has the stadium contributed to the regeneration of Tirana?

The final was the most significant sporting event ever organised in Albania. What pleased us most was the warmth and hospitality extended to our guests — a key part of our tradition. The event helped promote Tirana and Albania, placing our country at the centre of international attention with prestigious media outlets reporting in real-time. Additionally, the stadium itself has played a major role in the capital’s development, revitalising the surrounding area.

A view of the trophy before the UEFA Conference League final in TiranaSPORTSFILE

Albania and Serbia will co-host the 2027 UEFA Under-21 final tournament. How did you lay the foundations for the hosting bid? What impact will the tournament have on sport and society?

Initially, our application was individual, but with a sense of pragmatism, we decided to merge our candidacy with Serbia’s Football Federation to increase our chances of winning the hosting rights.

Albania has never organised a sporting event of such a high level before. We will host the Under-17 European Championship finals this May. That is also a significant competition, but the Under-21 finals are on an entirely different scale. Football stands to gain significantly, from our Under-21 national team participating in a major tournament for the first time, to the infrastructure improvements that this tournament will bring. There will also be economic benefits, especially in tourism.

Lastly, but most importantly, I believe the messages we will send to the world are incredibly powerful. It will be more than just a sports tournament — it will help to break barriers, foster mutual understanding, and build a more positive future for the people of the Balkans, showing what can be achieved when people unite around a common goal inspired by the power of football.

In difficult times for Europe and the world, what is the most important message that UEFA and football can deliver?

It is a privilege for me to contribute to the UEFA Executive Committee and subsequently as chairman of UEFA's Media Committee.

Especially in these challenging times, UEFA and European football have shown that sport has an extraordinary unifying power. Football is not just a game; it is a universal language that inspires communities and transcends divisions.

The most important message that UEFA and football must convey in these times is one of unity, solidarity, and hope. Football plays a vital role in promoting positive values such as fair play, respect, and equality. These values are essential not only on the pitch but also in everyday life.

Albania's women's national team has gone from strength to strengthFSHF

As an institution, UEFA continues to promote open, equal, and fair football, where every country, regardless of its size or economic potential, has the opportunity to develop and dream. This principle lies at the heart of the European sports model, which is built on meritocracy, fair competition, and solidarity between federations and clubs. This spirit of cooperation is what makes football the most beloved sport in the world.

I also value UEFA's transparency in its relationship with the media and the fair and professional approach it has cultivated over time, highlighting the excellent work done by UEFA's Media Committee, which I have had the honour of leading for the past two years.

To reach the new national stadium, fans still walk through the original 1930s gateway. What should Albanian football never forget about its past and what is its biggest challenge for the future?

We are proud to have preserved a part of our history through the monumental entrance of the national stadium, which stands as a symbol of our football heritage. But our history does not stop there. Inside the stadium, every visitor can find the names of all the players who have worn the national team jersey over the years engraved on the walls. This serves as both a tribute to those who have contributed to our football and a source of inspiration for future generations.

For our federation, the greatest challenge for the future is clear – to double the number of children and young people playing football in Albania because football is built from the grassroots.

For our fans, it’s the dream of Albania’s participation in the finals of a FIFA World Cup — an objective that motivates us every day to work harder and build an even brighter future for Albanian football.