FK Drita

In 1947, Drita was founded by Gjilan citizens, the name Drita meaning 'light' in Albanian and the name was taken from other sports clubs from the city. In the beginning, conditions were difficult, even more so because the team rivaled the other team of the city, Crvena zvezda Gnjilane. Contrary to them, Drita founders and footballers were exclusively Albanians. This insistence in nationalistic differentiation meant that, in 1952 the team was abolished by the regime. Former footballers went to the already multi-ethnic team of Zvezda, but the team didn't get erased completely. They competed in the Kosovo Province League where they were declared champions in the 1962–63 season.

In 1991. At the time of the dissolution of Yugoslavia. the football of Kosovo was in its zenith and consistently had 4-5 clubs in both federal leagues. But the deterioration of the political situation was also reflected in sports. In 1991, Albanian separatist complaining about the situation, formed the Football Federation of Kosovo with all its organs. Drita then joined the new league system in Kosovo, where they played in the fields of the mountains around the city of Gjilan.

After the 90s, Drita was taken into management by Selami Osmani - Bezi with whom for 15 years reached the tops of Kosovan football, thanks to the players that brought in Gjilan, he who for 15 years contributed to Drita. Under his management Drita managed to adorn the title of the Kosovo championship in 2002–03, win the cup in 2000–01 and be a runner-up in 1999–2000 and 2001–02. Drita also reached the semifinals in 1999–00, 2001–02 and 2002–03, breaking a Kosovo record that for four consecutive years did not descend below the third position and for four years at least until the semifinals of the Kosovar Cup.

On 21 July 2016, Valon Murseli and Flamur Bunjaku took over the club, the two businessmen promised big things to the club, where in 2017–18 they relied on them, by winning the title for the second time in their history.

After starting working in the club as assistant coach of Shpëtim Duro in 2018, Ardian Nuhiu was named first team manager in 2019. On 22 July 2020, he won the 2019-20 Football Superleague of Kosovo.

In the semi-final of preliminary round of the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League qualifying, Drita won against Inter Club d'Escaldes. But they were not allowed to play the final against Linfield FC three days later. The Northern Irish team was awarded a 3–0 win after the match was cancelled due to Drita players testing positive for SARS-CoV-2.

After finishing as runner-up in the 2020-21 Football Superleague of Kosovo, two points under champions FC Prishtina, Drita entered the 2021-22 UEFA Conference League. After defeating FK Dečić from Montenegro in the first qualifying round, Nuhiu's team faced Feyenoord in the second round. The first leg ended with a 0-0 draw in Pristina. In the return leg, Drita lost 3-2, with Guus Til scoring the winner for the Dutch side in the added time.

Drita was again the runner-up in the 2021-22 Football Superleague of Kosovo and also lost the final of the 2021-22 Kosovar Cup against FC Llapi. In the 2022-23 UEFA Conference League, they defeated Inter Turku from Finland in the first qualifiying round but were knocked out by Belgian side Antwerp in the second round.

Nuhiu left the club on 24 November 2022 after the defeat in the 2022-23 Kosovar Cup against Liria Prizren.

Zekirija Ramadani became the head coach of Drita on 30 November 2023.

Drita won the 2024-25 Football Superleague of Kosovo under Ramadani on 4 May 2025.

During the 2025–26 season, Drita became the first club from Kosovo to reach the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League by defeating Differdange 03 4–2 on aggregate. They also became the second club from Kosovo to reach the final stage of an European competition by defeating Differdange 03 again during the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League play-off round.

On 6 November 2025, Drita won in the Tallaght Stadium in Dublin against Shelbourne FC its first ever game in a final stage of an European competition.