| Stadium Name: | Kukës Arena | ||||
| Fullname: | Kukës Arena | ||||
| Former Names: | Përparimi (until 2010) Zeqir Ymeri (2010-2022) | ||||
| Address: | Rruga Stadiumi, 8501 | ||||
| Location: | Kukës, Albania | ||||
| Built: | 2021-2022 | ||||
| Owner: | Municipality of Kukës | ||||
| Operator: | Municipality of Kukës | ||||
| Construction Cost: | 80 millionë Lekë (€576,000) | ||||
| Surface: | Grass | ||||
| Architect: | Mujo Noka | ||||
| Structural Engineer: | Vladimir Spahiu | ||||
| General Contractor: | Fatjoni Sh.P.K | ||||
| Seating Capacity: | 6,322 | ||||
| Tenants: |
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The Kukës Arena is a stadium in Kukës, Albania. It is mainly used for football matches and is the home ground of the Kategoria Superiore club Kukësi.[1] [2] The stadium was built on the site of the pre-existing Përparimi Stadium, located near the center of Kukës on Rruga Stadiumi (Stadium Street).[3] [4]
During a friendly match between Kukësi U17 and Liria U17 on November 30, 2012, 17-year-old footballer Ilirjan Thaçi collapsed and died on the field after suffering a heart attack related to a previously undetected heart problem. Thaçi, born in 1995, was a defender on the books of FK Kukësi, his hometown club where he was also a lifelong supporter. He collapsed in the tenth minute of a friendly match and died of a myocardial infarction despite efforts to resuscitate him.[5] The following weekend, a minute's silence was held before every match in Albania in memory of Thaçi,[6] and there were also calls for the stadium to be renamed after Thaçi.[7] In his memory, a mini-tournament was held between six youth teams from Albania and Kosovo, organized by FK Kukësi president Safet Gjici.[8]