The life lesson of Taulantet, a team made up entirely of Albanians

Some stories deserve to be told, because they contain much more than a goal, a victory. Even a promotion. This is the case of Taulantet, the Perugia team composed entirely of Albanian players, who rewrote the football history of Umbria by winning promotion to the First Category. An extraordinary achievement, but above all symbolic, that speaks of sport, community, redemption and identity. Taulantet - which is based in Bastia Umbra - was born in 2012, in the amateur championships, as an integration project for young people of Albanian origin living in Umbria. The name recalls their roots: the Taulanti, an ancient Illyrian tribe. A symbol of pride and belonging. They won the play-off final with Virtus Foligno and at the final whistle of the match they held hands and danced and celebrated in a circle, according to their traditions.

Perugia, 11 June 2025 – Goalkeeper Luciano Gega is a truck driver, as is midfielder RRhaim Lika. Captain Marjo Seiti is a worker and works in the club president's construction company. Bomber Egli Gijnaj, 21 goals, is a carpenter, while forward Kevin Beshiri runs a bar near Perugia. In addition to working in Umbria for years, these guys have two things in common: they love football and they are all Albanian. A record. Because no other team in Italy, registered in the FIGC championships, can boast a squad composed entirely of Albanian players .

An ambitious project, transformed into reality thanks to the determination of president Artan Zogu , who was able to combine talent, passion and community spirit. "It's as if they were all my children", he said emotionally after the victory in the playoff final against Virtus Foligno. "Today we broke down stereotypes and demonstrated what discipline, a sense of duty and pride mean".

The nationality restriction, initially considered a limitation, has become the team's strength . This is what sporting director Fatbardh Hoxha says: "Putting together a competitive squad with this restriction was not easy, but we can say we did an excellent job."

After only two years of amateur activity, the team achieved a historic promotion , with players who chose to give up higher categories in order to follow the call of the two-headed eagle, symbol of Albania. In December, the technical leadership passed into the expert hands of Roberto Gallastroni , 72 years old from Castiglion Fiorentino, with a long history in professional football, disciple of the legendary Corrado Viciani. Convinced by Zogu, "Galla" gave a tactical and human soul to the team: "This was not just any team. From the very beginning I felt like I was in a second family". Alongside him, assistant Mirko Loche, a Sardinian who has been in Umbria for 25 years, brought enthusiasm and a spirit of sacrifice: "I, who like them am used to going to sea, wanted to do well more for the Albanian community than for myself. I immediately got on their wavelength because I too arrived with a cardboard suitcase full of dreams and hopes".

This season the team recorded record attendances in all the fields of Umbria: over 200 fans at each match, culminating with a red and black invasion at Ponte Valleceppi for the playoff final. Albanian flags, traditional clothes, the typical qeleshe headdress: an explosion of national pride that accompanied the boys for 120 minutes until the triumphant 2-1. They didn't just play football: they defended the colors of a proud people, uniting two lands under a single passion.