Vrbica Stefanov

Vrbica Stefanov (Macedonian: Врбица Стефанов) (born December 19, 1973) is a retired Macedonian professional basketball player who last was a head coach of Macedonian basketball team Kožuv.[1]

Vrbica Stefanov
Vrbica Stefanov shooting a free throw at the Eurobasket 2007 qualification.
Personal information
Born (1973-12-19) December 19, 1973
Kavadarci, SR Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalityMacedonian
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
NBA draft1995 / Undrafted
Playing career1991–2009
PositionPoint guard
Coaching career2014–2016
Career history
As player:
1991–1992Tikveš
1992–1998MZT Skopje
1998–1999Rabotnički Skopje
1999–2000Pınar Karşıyaka
2000–2001AEK Athens
2001–2005Montepaschi Siena
2005–2006Ülkerspor
2006Crvena zvezda
2006–2007Olympiacos
2007Montepaschi Siena
2007–2008Mersin BŞB
2008–2009ViveMenorca
As coach:
2014MZT Skopje
2016Kožuv

Professional career

After starting his basketball career with Tikveš, Stefanov played six seasons with MZT Aerodrom (1992–1998),[2] then passed to Rabotnički (1998–1999), Karsiyaka Izmir (1999–2000, Turkey), AEK Athens (2000–2001, Greece). He then remained for four years in Italy, in the Montepaschi Siena (2001–2005),[3] where he reached a Euroleague Final Four.[4]

He has won the 1998–99 Macedonian National Championship with Rabotnički, the 2001 Greek National Cup with AEK Athens,[5] the 2002 Saporta Cup with Montepaschi Siena, the 2003–04 Italian National Championship with Montepaschi Siena, and the 2005-06 Turkish National Championship with Ülkerspor. He was also the captain of the Macedonian national team and played at the 1999 European Championship and the 2007 European Championship qualification.[6]

After he signed with KK Crvena zvezda, he played only one game, in October 2006 and said that would retire from playing basketball.

In February 2007 he signed for the ACB's ViveMenorca in Spain, for all the remaining season and the following one.[7]

On 23 March 2009, Vrbica Stefanov was awarded the Medal for Service to the Country by the then-president of the Republic of Macedonia Branko Crvenkovski in acknowledgement of his sport achievements and his contribution to developing and popularizing sport in Macedonia as well as promoting the country abroad.

Honors
  • Club honors
    • Macedonian League - 1999 with Rabotnicki
    • Greek Cup - 2001 with AEK
    • Saporta Cup - 2002 with Montepaschi
    • Italian League - 2004, 2007 with Montepaschi
    • Turkish League - 2006 with Ülker
  • Individual honors
    • Macedonian Sportspersonality of the year - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
    • Greek All Star - 2001
    • Italian All Star - 2005

References
  1. http://www.mztskopjeaerodrom.mk/index.php/novosti-reader/items/vrbica-stefanov-nov-trener-na-mzt-skope.html
  2. "NLB: Vrbica Stefanov".
  3. "LEGA, Vrbica Stefanov".
  4. "Euroleague: Vrbica Stefanov, Montepaschi Siena".
  5. "AEK.com: Vrbica Stefanov".
  6. "Eurobasket 2007: Vrbica Stefanov (ARY Macedonia)".
  7. "Vrbica Stefanov, nuevo base del ViveMenorca". MenorcaBasquet.com (in Spanish). ACB.com. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
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