Balkan Derby Sparks a Resignation: Serbia's Coach Walks After Albania Defeat

Resignation following Albania defeat

Serbia's national team coach Dragan Stojković announced his resignation late Saturday after his side were beaten 1-0 by Albania in the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

In a post‑match press conference in Leskovac, Stojković said the defeat should not have happened, and that he accepts the consequences. He added: "I spoke with the president and the secretary‑general of the Serbian Football Association. I have submitted my resignation, and they will announce it as well, but I will not travel to Andorra to lead the team in the next match."

The 60‑year‑old former midfielder, nicknamed "Piksi" during his Yugoslav days, has been in charge since 2021 after spells with Nagoya Grampus in Japan and Guangzhou R&F in China.

Stojković earned 84 caps for Yugoslavia between 1983 and 2001 and was among the first European top‑flight players to move to Japan, playing for Nagoya Grampus from 1994 to 2001. After retiring, he briefly chaired Red Star Belgrade before turning to coaching at Nagoya and then Guangzhou.

Serbia currently sits third in Group 11 of the European qualifiers for the 2026 finals, behind England and Albania. Serbian media suggested coach Vilko Paunović could replace him.

The match on Saturday was moved from Belgrade to Leskovac at Serbia's request for security reasons.

Historic tensions shape the Serbia–Albania football rivalry

Serbia–Albania clashes have long been among Europe’s most sensitive fixtures, blending sport with political and historical fault lines tied to Kosovo. The modern hostility traces to the Kosovo War of the late 1990s, when Yugoslav forces (led by Serbia) clashed with ethnic Albanians seeking independence. NATO intervened in 1999, Kosovo declared independence in 2008, and Serbia has never recognized Kosovo's independence, while Albania and much of the West view Kosovo as a sovereign state. This rift has spilled into the football pitches, heightening security and diplomatic sensitivity.

A drone crisis

The most vivid episode was in October 2014, when a match in Belgrade between Serbia and Albania was halted after a drone flew over the pitch bearing a map of "Greater Albania." Serbian fans attacked Albanian players, and the match was ended early. UEFA later ruled Albania forfeited 0-3 and fined both sides; the Court of Arbitration for Sport eventually overturned the initial decision and Albania was awarded a 3-0 victory due to security failures by Serbia.

Since then, any Serbia–Albania match is treated as a security test first, and football second, with matches sometimes played without crowds or at neutral venues.

At club level, encounters between Serbian and Albanian teams in European competitions are also rare; when they occur, UEFA restricts away‑fan attendance and tightens security checks.

Two decades on, the Kosovo conflict’s political and social legacies remain in the memory of fans. The Balkan derby between Serbia and Albania remains one of Europe’s most emotionally charged fixtures, where history, religion and nationalism mix with football, reminding us that the sport can mirror a nation’s struggles as much as its love for the game.

De‑escalation efforts

On 7 June 2025, the two sides met in Tirana for World Cup qualifying and played to a 0-0 draw with no major incidents, a sign of de‑escalation. UEFA praised the organization and security measures that prevented Serbian fans from attending and limited Albanian spectators through a lottery‑based ticket system. Earlier, in December 2024, Serbia was sanctioned by UEFA for fan behavior, including an attempt to burn an Albanian flag, with parts of the stadium closed and fines imposed. Albania and Serbia now jointly consider hosting the 2027 European Under‑21 Championship, signaling a institutional push toward reducing tensions on both political and sporting fronts.

Ultimately, the Balkan derby endures as a high‑voltage litmus test for diplomacy and football alike—proof that the game can be a mirror of national history and grievance as much as a stage for goals and glory.

Lowering the escalation

In a reminder that dialogue can outpace drama, the 2025 match in Tirana was organized with security at the forefront, and both countries have signaled willingness to work together to keep football as a peaceful bridge rather than a battlefield.

Punchline 1: In the Balkans, even the scoreboard reads the ceasefire before the kickoff. Punchline 2: If diplomacy came with a yellow card, these derbies would be produced by a committee of referees and peace treaties.