Overview

Ali Mema (1 February 1943 – 26 March 2019) was a professional footballer from Albania who played primarily as a midfielder. He is best known for his long association with 17 Nëntori Tirana (today KF Tirana), and for representing his country at senior level in the 1960s. His playing career ended in the early 1970s and he later returned to the club game as a coach.

Club career

Mema spent the bulk of his club career at 17 Nëntori Tirana, where he became a familiar presence in midfield. During his playing years he also had spells with other notable Albanian sides, including Vllaznia and Partizani. He retired from competitive football in 1972 after a career that spanned the 1960s and the start of the 1970s.

  • 17 Nëntori Tirana (principal club)
  • Vllaznia (playing spell)
  • Partizani (playing spell)

International career

Mema appeared for the Albanian national team 14 times between 1963 and 1967. Though not a prolific goal-scorer, he contributed as a midfield figure during an era when Albania played infrequently on the international stage. His caps reflect recognition at the national level during a competitive period for Albanian football.

Playing style and legacy

Contemporaries and later observers have described Mema as a technically capable and reliable midfielder, valued for his positional sense and understanding of the game. Within Albania he is remembered as one of the prominent domestic players of his generation, and his career at a leading Tirana club secured him a lasting place in local football history.

Managerial career and personal life

After retiring as a player, Mema stayed involved in the sport and took on coaching responsibilities; he managed Tirana during the 1998–1999 season. Born in Tirana, where he also passed away, he was part of a footballing family: his son Ardian Mema followed him into the game and later became a player and coach in Albania. The Mema name remains associated with several generations involved in Albanian club football.

Death and remembrance

Ali Mema died in his hometown on 26 March 2019 at the age of 76. His death was noted by Albanian clubs, fans and the media, who recalled his contributions both on the field as a midfielder and off it as a coach. Tributes highlighted his service to Tirana football and his role in the national team during the 1960s, and his legacy lives on through his family and the memories of supporters.

Further reading and archival reports about his matches, statistics and coaching tenure can be sought through dedicated football history resources and club records; contemporary press coverage from his playing era also provides context for his role in Albanian football development.

Born in Tirana — details about his early life and youth background are less widely documented in international sources but are preserved in national and club histories.