KF Shkëndija

FK Shkëndija (Macedonian: ФК Шкендија, romanized: FK Shkendija) is a football club based in Tetovo, North Macedonia. Their home stadium is Tetovo Stadium and they currently play in the Macedonian First League. In the 2010–11 season of the Macedonian First Football League the club won its first major championship.

KF Shkëndija
Full nameKlubi Futbollistik Shkëndija
Nickname(s)Kuq e Zi (The Red and Blacks)
Founded27 August 1979 (1979-08-27)
GroundEcolog Arena
Capacity15,000
OwnerEcolog
PresidentVisar Bexheti
ManagerErnest Gjoka
LeagueMacedonian First League
2019–203rd
WebsiteClub website

History

SFRY Period
The original senior Shkëndija team

KF Shkëndija was formed on 27 August 1979 by ethnic Albanians from Tetovo.[1][2] The purpose of forming the club was so that the Albanians throughout Yugoslavia could unite in supporting a club for Albanians. FK Shkëndija was frowned upon by Yugoslav officials as it was thought the club would awaken nationalist feeling among the Albanians of Yugoslavia. Starting at the lowest division in Yugoslavia, the Municipal League, KF Shkëndija played their first match against FK Kosmos, winning 4-0.[3]

Shkëndija won the division in the 1979–1980 season, resulting in Shkëndija being promoted into the Third division.[4] After claiming the third division title in the 1980–1981 season, Shkëndija was then again promoted into the Second division. However, as the popularity of the club began to increase among the Albanian population of Yugoslavia, the ruling socialist government members disbanded the club, worried that the club would stoke ethnic tensions during a fragile period in Yugoslavia.[4]

Re-establishment

After Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia, KF Shkëndija was re-established into the Macedonian Football League. It started at the Fourth division, eventually being promoted each season to the third, second and finally, to the First division.[4] In the 2010–11 season of the First Macedonian Football League the club won its first major championship with an unbeaten run of 16 games.[5] On 20 May 2012, Shkëndija handed FK Vardar its first loss of the season with a 1–0 victory.[6]

The Ecolog era

During the 2012–13 season, Shkëndija was embroiled in financial difficulties and as a result, many of its players left the club earlier in the summer. The Shkëndija supporters, the Ballistët, began a social media campaign requesting Ecolog to take over Shkëndija.[7] Albanian international, Lorik Cana and Swiss international, Xherdan Shaqiri also joined the campaign with the supporters.[7] On 31 July 2013, Lazim Destani, father of Ecolog founder and chairman, Nazif Destani, announced Ecolog International will take charge of Shkëndija.[7][8] Under the new administration, Shkëndija bought in over five new players to the squad, four days before the transfer season ended, as well as balancing the financial state of the club. The new season started averagely for Shkëndija, amassing five draws in a row. However, on 21 September 2013, Shkëndija comfortably defeated rivals FK Vardar in a 3–1 home game during the derby, displaying improvement of the club under Ecolog. However, for the next eight fixtures, Shkëndija were very inconsistent, drawing once, winning three and losing four. After losing 5–0 to FK Rabotnički, manager Gjore Jovanovski was relieved of his duties. Shpëtim Duro was named the manager Shkëndija just 15 hours after the sacking of Jovanovski. He was first hired as a temporary caretaker manager for the club's the remaining 3 games before the long winter break, but signed a contract with the club to be the manager for the remainder of the 2013–14 season.[9][10]

During the winter break, Shkëndija was the most active team in the Prva Liga during the transfer period, bringing in 9 new players, further revamping the football club in preparation for the second half of the season. The second half of the season saw drastic improvement for Shkëndija under Shpëtim Duro, moving them from 8th position near the relegation zone, to 4th position at the end of the season, winning their final seven games in a row.[11] Shkendija earned a spot in the 2014–15 first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.

Supporters
Main article: Ballistët

The supporters of Shkëndija are called the Ballistët, named after the World War II Balli Kombëtar. When the club was formed in 1979, use of nationalism was strictly prohibited by the Yugoslav government. The supporting firm of Shkëndija called themselves BAL, using the first three letters of Balli Kombëtar. When Shkëndija was reinstated into the Macedonian Football League, the supporting firm was re-established as the Ballistët in 1992. When kick-off commences, the Ballistët always sing the national anthem of Albania. The ultras of Shkëndija are notorious for their hardline nationalist rhetoric and pride in their Albanian heritage.

Rivalry
Ecolog Arena

Being a club with a strong Albanian nationalist background, Shkëndija has rivalry with most of the Macedonian football clubs. However, the biggest rivalry are with FK Vardar and FK Teteks. The Shkëndija-Teteks rivalry is one of the biggest and most heated in Macedonia. When Shkëndija play against Teteks, majority of the Tetovo police are stationed at Ecolog Arena and ban Shkendija supporters from attending Vardar-Shkendija matches in Skopje, but despite this ban Ballistet attended at Skopje two times.[12]

Honours

Macedonian First League:

Macedonian Football Supercup:

Macedonian Second League:

Macedonian Football Cup:

Recent seasons

Shkëndija in Europe
Accurate as of August 2020

Overview
Competition Pld W D L GF GA GD Win%
UEFA Champions League 10 3 1 6 8 15 −7 030.00
UEFA Europa League 26 9 6 11 30 33 −3 034.62
Total 36 12 7 17 38 48 −10 033.33

Matches
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2011–12 UEFA Champions League 2QR Partizan 0–1 0–4 0–5
2012–13 UEFA Europa League 1QR Portadown 0–0 1–2 1–2
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 1QR Zimbru 2–1 0–2 2–3
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1QR Aberdeen 1–1 0–0 1–1 (a)
2016–17 UEFA Europa League 1QR Cracovia 2–0 2–1 4–1
2QR Neftçi 1–0 0–0 1–0
3QR Mladá Boleslav 2–0 0–1 2–1
PO Gent 0–4 1–2 1–6
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1QR Dacia 3–0 4–0 7–0
2QR HJK 3–1 1–1 4–2
3QR Trakai 3–0 1–2 4–2
PO Milan 0–1 0–6 0–7
2018–19 UEFA Champions League 1QR The New Saints 5–0 0−4 5–4
2QR Sheriff 1–0 0–0 1–0
3QR Red Bull Salzburg 0−1 0−3 0–4
UEFA Europa League PO Rosenborg 0−2 1−3 1–5
2019–20 UEFA Champions League 1QR Nõmme Kalju 1–2 1–0 2−2 (a)
UEFA Europa League 2QR F91 Dudelange 1–2 1–1 2−3
2020–21 UEFA Europa League 1QR Sumgayit N/A N/A
Notes
  • 1QR: First qualifying round
  • 2QR: Second qualifying round
  • 3QR: Third qualifying round
  • PO: Play-off round

UEFA club coefficient ranking

As of 2.03.2020, Source:

RankTeamPoints
148 Gabala SC7.500
149 HNK Hajduk Split7.500
150 KF Shkëndija7.250
151 FC Utrecht7.150
152 Vitesse7.150

Top goalscorers in Europe

As of 30.07.2019, Source: kfshkendija.com

Rank Name Shkëndija Career Goals
1 Besart Ibraimi 2015– 14
2 Ferhan Hasani 2007–2012, 2015–2018 5
Stênio Júnior 2014–2019
4 Agim Ibraimi 2005–2006, 2019–2020 4
5 Marjan Radeski 2015–2020 2
6 Armend Alimi 2014– 1
Ivan Čeliković 2017
Ardian Cuculi 2006–2014, 2015–2018
Izair Emini 2007–2012, 2017–2019
Hristijan Kirovski 2014–2015
Ivan Mitrov 2014–2015
Bojan Vručina 2014–2016
Arbin Zejnullai 2016–

Players

Current squad
As of 2 August 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  MKD Kostadin Zahov
3 DF  CRO Antonio Pavić
4 DF  MKD Egzon Bejtulai
5 MF  MKD Armend Alimi (captain)
7 FW  MKD Besart Ibraimi
8 MF  MKD Ennur Totre
10 MF  ALB Valon Ahmedi
14 MF  MKD Ljupcho Doriev
15 DF  KVX Leard Sadriu
16 DF  MKD Mevlan Murati
17 MF  ALB Arbin Zejnullai
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 MF  ALB Bruno Dita
20 DF  SVK Ján Krivák
21 DF  MKD Arlind Aliti
22 DF  MKD Zija Merxhani
23 MF  MKD Valmir Nafiu
24 DF  MKD Medjit Neziri
28 MF  ALB Omar Imeri
34 FW  FRA Aboubaker Es Sahhal
40 GK  MKD Bekim Rexhepi
77 MF  MKD Florent Ramadani
88 FW  MKD Ensar Luma

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  MKD Besmir Bojku (at Feronikeli until 30 June 2021)

Personnel

Current technical staff
As of 30 june 2020
Position Name
Manager Ernest Gjoka
Assistant manager Bashkim Livoreka
Assistant manager Erhan Selimi
Goalkeeping coach Samet Zendeli
Fitness coach Metin Dalip
Scout Vullnet Emini
Juniors coach Bekim Osmani
Cadets coach Berat Imeri

Elbasan Munishi

Coordinator Festim Ademi
Youth coordinator Hysein Kadriu

Management
Position Staff
Owner Lazim Destani
President Visar Bexheti
Finance Director Faton Alili
Operations Director Dritan Musliu

Historical list of coaches
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
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References
  1. D. Nikolić. "Predstavljamo Škendiju, prvog Partizanovog rivala". Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  2. "Škendija, šampion Makedonije". Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  4. "Official KF Shkendija Thread". Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  5. "Shkendija Tetovo wins the Macedonian First League". Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  6. "Macedonian First League – Round 32". Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  7. "Ecolog takes over Shkendija". Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  8. "Ecolog" shpëton Shkëndijën, tha po" (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  9. Shpëtim Duro to caretake Shkendija
  10. Shpëtim Duro, trajneri i Shkëndijës së Tetovës
  11. "Shpëtim Duro leaves Shkendija". macedonianfootball.com. macedonianfootball. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  12. Filip Zdraveski. "Preview: Macedonian First League – Round 9". Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  13. Emil Gasevski. "Skendija lift Macedonian Super Cup". Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  14. "Вонредна седница на Управен одбор на Фудбалска федерација на Македонија: Прекин на натпреварувачката сезона 2019/2020". Фудбалска Федерација на Македонија. 4 June 2020.
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