Trepça was one of only two clubs from Kosovo, along with KF Prishtina, who competed in the Yugoslav top level.

Trepça also hold the distinction as the only Kosovar club which reached the Yugoslav national cup final, in their first top-level season, losing the 1978 Marshal Tito Cup final to Croatian side Rijeka.

Both Albanians and Serbs played for the club, Albanian players that marked the pre-WWII period were Mazllum Grushti, Hasko Bula, Gota Sezair, Ejup Kerveshi, Adnan Mustafa, Ahmed and Qamil Zajmi, Hysen Murati, Xhati Zhubi, Sali Pllana, Bedri Hamza, Shinasi Rizanolli, Ahmet Shukriu, Burhan Kurkuqi, Jakup Berisha, Qazim Pllana, Sami Konjusha, Agim Deva, Ekrem Neziri, Riza Gashi, etc.

After the end of the war, Trepça was long in the shadow of numerous Yugoslav clubs, but achieved regional importance by winning the Kosovo Province League in 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952 and 1955.

During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s the players that emerged in the club were Sali Qubreli, Jakup Abrashi, Ajet Shosholli, Hysni Maxhuni, Luan Prekazi, Rexhep Xhaka, Erdogan Celina, Esat Mehmeti, Ramadan Cimili, Fisnik Ademi, Adnan Zeqiri, Ibrahim Prekazi, Faruk Domi, Aqif Shehu, Mensur Nexhipi, Rafet Prekazi, Genc Hoxha, Avni Juniku, Bakir Burri, Hasan Shasivari, Shemsedin Ajeti, Vahedin Ajeti, Ahmet Turku, Gani Llapashtica, Isa Sadriu, Bardhec Seferi, Sadik Rrahmani, Fahredin Duraku, Nazmi Rama among others.

[12] Over the years Trepça became more and more a monoethnic club, especially in 1987 when under the coach Jashar Peci the absolute majority of the players were Albanians.

Therefore, there were two clubs with the same name, identity and history both claiming the heritage of the successes during the Yugoslavian era and regarding themselves as the successor of Trepça.

[4][14] In 1991, Kosovo proclaimed independence from Serbia and KF Trepça finally left the Yugoslav football league system like many other clubs did.

Trepça came back to the Football Superleague of Kosovo in 2006 after playing almost one decade in lower tiers.

Trepça managed to win the Football Superleague of Kosovo in the 2009-10 season thanks to two goals from the captain Elvis Osmani on the last matchday against Besa Pejë.

[24] Appearances in competitive matches This is the list of coaches of KF Trepça Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.