FK Rabotnički

Rabotnichki

Full name	Fudbalski klub Rabotnichki Skopje
Nickname(s)	Романтичари (Romantics) Железничaри (Railers) Херојот од Дебар маало (The Hero from Debar Quart)
Founded	4 October 1937 (1937-10-04)
Ground	Arena Filip II Makedonski
Capacity	36,460
Chairman	Dragan Popovski
Manager	Zhikica Tasevski
League	Prva Makedonska Fudbalska Liga
2017–18	3rd
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

FK Rabotnichki (Macedonian: ФК Работнички) or more commonly Rabotnički (old transliteration) and Rabotnicki^[1][2][3] is a football club that plays at the Philip II Arena in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. They currently compete in the Macedonian First League.

History

FK Rabotnichki was founded in 1937 Skopje.^[4][5] It is widely regarded as the ‘railway football club’. It started competing in the 1938–39 Second League which finished 4th out of 5 teams. However the next season they won the league with no defeats among 6 teams and with a goal difference of 45–6, thus earning promotion to the First League . However the 1940–41 season of the First League was interrupted by the start of the Second World War. By the time Rabotnički had one win, two draws and one defeat.^[6]

After the end of the war, for a long time, Rabotnichki competed in the Federal Second League or the Macedonian Republic League. They also competed in the First Federal League of SFR Yugoslavia for two years. Since the Republic of Macedonia became an independent country, Rabotnichki constantly competes in the Macedonian First League. In all these years since its establishing in 1937, Rabotnichki has always been among the best clubs, and has always been a good representative of Macedonian football in Europe. The club's most successful years were those between 2001 and 2008 when the club was acquired by the famous company Kometal. Since it was acquired by Kometal, Rabotnichki showed constant progress: in 2002/03 they finished second in the national league and competed in the UEFA Cup, (2004/05) they won the national championship and competed in the qualifications for the UEFA Champions League, and in (2007/08) they had their best year by winning the double crown. Kometal and Trifun Kostovski left Rabotnichki and took over Vardar in 2008. The following year they won the Macedonian Cup for the second time in club history.

On 14 July 2009, they faced Crusaders FC of Northern Ireland in the UEFA Europa League 2nd qualifying round; the 1st leg was drawn 1–1.^[7][7] They managed to win the second leg 4–2 and went out in the 3rd qualifying round against Odense BK after losing 3–7 on aggregate.

On 16 July 2010, they were drawn against Liverpool in the UEFA Europa League 3rd qualifying round.^[8] In the first leg on 29 July 2010, they lost 2–0, losing the return leg 2–0 a week later.^[9]

In July 2011, they were named the best club in the World for that month by the IFFHS. The winning streak of five games in the Europa League, from which four were in July, plus a win against Bregalnica in the first round of the domestic league were more than enough for the International Federation of Football History & Statistics to name Rabotnički as the "Best club in the World for July 2011".^[10]

In March 2012, with 674 points on the IFFHS list Rabotnički became the best club from Macedonia in the 21st century.^[11]

On 11 May 2014, Rabotnichki won their fourth Macedonian First League title.^[12] After winning their third Macedonian Cup the previous week, they accomplished the double crown for the 2nd time in club history.

Veterans

Association of Veterans of Rabotnichki has been functioning informally since the formation of the club Rabotnichki itself, in 1937.

Officially, the association of the veterans of Rabotnički is formally registered in front of the competent court of law with approval number 29/05 in 18.02.2005, and it is notified in the register of the associations of citizens and foundations under registration number 1928 by the name Rabotnički “Veterans” Skopje with main office in Skopje, city park in large numbers. This association inherited the property of legal entity on 18 February 2005. Apart from this right, of independent legal entity, the association is functioning in association with Rabotnički, generally comparing its policies, delegate its own members in the governing bodies of the club, gives its own opinions, suggestions, and proposals of a common interest, and all this with a purpose-achieving greater results and giving real affirmation of the club in both Macedonia and abroad.

Basic sources of financing of the association are: enrollment fee, sponsorship, as well as goods that are supplied and sold by the club. Members of the association are: Active members who have spent a number of years in the running of the club as well as sportsmen who were active football players in the club for many years, as well as many citizens who have shown an interest in joining the association. Accordingly, the association has members from all branches of society life including: lawyers, professors, directors of famous companies, ambassadors, coaches, famous football players representatives and many other famous persons from the sport and public life.

President of the association since its inception is the Lawyer Dragan Popovski, the Secretary-General is Gojko Stojanovski, and the selector is Jastrat Janevski. It is with special interest that we mention that the association of veterans of FK Rabotnički is first of its kind in the Republic of Macedonia. From the moment of creation, the association has shown great development of football matters, while creating and expanding upon friendly relations with other football clubs both in Macedonia and abroad.

To this end the association has established friendly sporting relations with teams from Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia and Sweden among others. The association Rabotnički Veterans is a regular participant in the traditional Albena Cup, held in Albena, Bulgaria every year. As well as in competitive games with teams in Bulgaria it has played a couple of games with teams from Romania with teams from Turkey and with teams from Serbia .

Almost with every concerned with the association have through hard work and persistence gained excellent results and helped it win numerous cups and international recognition.

The successful activity of the association continues further more. As charged and responsible inheritors of the positive changes are: Dokovski, Popovski, Lazarov, Milosevski, Zefic, M.Andreevski, G.Stojanovski, D.Stojanovski, Janevski, N.Bogoevski, S.Bogojevski, Dzipunov, Janev, Jovevski, Jugilizov, Bojcevski, Ilievski, Petkovski.

Training Camp

The training camp of Rabotnički is located in the city park opposite of the Philip II Arena, where Rabotnički plays its official matches in the domestic league and European competition. At the moment there are three completely renovated football fields (two with flood lighting). At the end of 2007 new facilities as a back–up for the football fields were built: containing dressing rooms, rooms for rest, a restaurant, gym and fitness area, a medical room and all sport and medical care infrastructures that are at the service of the players and support better conditions for work and better performance for the club.

Stadium

FK Rabotnički's home venue is Philip II Arena. Its current capacity is 36,460^[13] spectators which puts it among 10 largest stadiums on the Balkans. The pitch is 105 x 68 m. Two big scoreboards, 18 x 6 m are installed on both East and West stands. There are 494 VIP boxes and 386 media seats, all of them on the North stand. Philip II Arena is an all-seater ground with 80% of the seats covered from inclement weather.

Philip II Arena

Honours

Macedonian Republic League:

• Winners (10): 1952, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1966, 1968, 1973, 1977, 1980

Macedonian First League:

• Winners (4): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2013–14
• Runners-up (3): 2006–07, 2009–10, 2014–15

Macedonian Second League:

• Winners (1): 1997–98

Macedonian Republic Cup:

• Winners (5): 1954, 1957, 1974, 1983, 1988

Macedonian Football Cup:

• Winners (4): 2007–08, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2014–15
• Runners-up (3): 2009–10, 2011–12, 2015–16

Macedonian Supercup:

• Runners-up (1): 2015

Recent seasons

Rabotnički in Europe

2009–10 UEFA Europa League qualifying match between FK Rabotnichki and Crusaders FC at Philip II Arena in Skopje

Rabotnichki's first competitive European match was a 0–2 loss against Vorskla Poltava in the 2000–01 UEFA Cup. Krste Velkoski holds the record for most appearances in Europe for the club with 22. Also, he is a top scorer in UEFA club competitions with 6 goals. The biggest win in UEFA competition was against FC Lusitanos in the 2010–11 Europa League, defeating them by the score of 5–0, 6–0 and 11–0 on aggregate.

Players

Current squad

As of 8 August 2018

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Daniel Bozhinovski 4 DF Dean Mitrev 5 DF Vladimir Dimitrovski 6 DF Sebastián Herrera Cardona 7 MF Petar Petkovski 8 MF Ljubomir Stevanović 9 FW Chinedu Charles Geoffrey 10 MF Ostoja Stjepanovikj 11 DF Joël Bopesu 12 GK Risto Jankov 14 MF Oliver Peev 16 DF Alexander Borja Córdoba

No. Position Player 17 DF Dušan Stević 18 DF Oliver Stoimenovski 19 FW Mario Stankovski 20 MF Nikolche Sharkoski 21 MF Kristijan Ackovski 22 MF Blagoja Todorovski 23 DF Leon Najdovski 24 MF Lavdrim Fazliu 25 GK Berk Hodjin 26 MF Andrej Lazarov 27 FW Igor Nedeljković 99 FW Filip Petkovski

Reserve squad

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

No. Position Player MF Leonid Radev Jankulovski MF Dimitar Todorovski FW Metodi Maksimov

No. Position Player Rinor Ajdini Hristijan Stojanovski

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player DF Kristijan Dodevski (at Sasa) DF Kristijan Eftimov (at Borec) DF Kristijan Jovanovski (at Euromilk G. L.)

No. Position Player DF Stefan Simonovski (at Gench Kalemler) MF Stefan Koleski (at Sasa) MF Martin Petrovski (at Tikvesh)

Coaching staff

As of 26 June 2017^[14]

Position	Name	Nationality
Manager	Gjore Jovanovski	Macedonian
Assistant Coach	Tomislav Franc	Macedonian
Goalkeeping Coach	Dragi Atanasovski	Macedonian
Fitness Coach	Vladimir Vuksanović	Macedonian
Doctor	Danilo Nonkulovski	Macedonian
Physiotherapist	Martin Stankovski	Macedonian
Econom	Stojan Vučkov	Macedonian
Econom	Vesna Dimčevska	Macedonian
IT	Kiril Kolekjeski	Macedonian

Club Management

Position	Name	Nationality
Chairman	Dragan Poposki	Macedonian
Vice-Chairman	Ilija Poposki	Macedonian
Director of football	Ivan Popovski	Macedonian
General Secretary	Nenad Monev	Macedonian
Technical Secretary	Gjoko Stojanovski	Macedonian
Finance Director	Risto Popovski	Macedonian

Former managers

Supporters

There were two supporters groups. The supporters group Legija V was formed back in 2008. They followed the club everywhere and supported the players at every game. Before 2008 there was the group called Romantičari (formed in 2001) which was dissolved. The supporters group Debar Maalo was formed for the Macedonian. cup final vs. Makedonija GP in 2009. Now, the official ultras group of Rabotnički are "City Park Boys". They are always there to support their team in any sport.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to FK Rabotnički.

• Official Website (in Macedonian)
• Club info at MacedonianFootball (in English)
• Football Federation of Macedonia (in Macedonian)