KF Shkupi
KF Shkupi (Macedonian: ФК Шкупи, Albanian: Klubi Futbollistik Shkupi) is a professional football club based in Čair, Skopje, North Macedonia. The club plays in the Macedonian First Football League, which is the top tier of football in the country.
| Full name | Klubi Futbollistik Shkupi |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Pëllumbat (Pigeons) Shvercerat (Smugglers) |
| Short name | Shkupi |
| Founded | 1927 as FK Sloga Jugomagnat 2012 as KF Shkupi |
| Ground | Čair Stadium |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Owner | Olgun Peker |
| Chairman | Omer Bunjaku |
| Manager | Goce Sedloski |
| League | Macedonian First Football League |
| 2021–22 | 1st (Champions) |
| Website | Club website |
History
After financial issues with main sponsor Jugomagnat, Sloga went through an unstable period. In 2012, Sloga was merged with FC Albarsa to form FK Shkupi. However, the Football Federation of Macedonia does not consider Shkupi to be successors to the original Sloga Jugomagnat for political reasons as the FFM allowed a merging between Vardar, the most popular club among ethnic Macedonians and Miravci with Vardar avoiding relegation and keeping its previous trophies and accolades.[1] Despite the FFM not recognising Shkupi's track records and honours as Sloga, Sloga's official support firm, previous players and management, recognize Shkupi as its successor.
After finishing Macedonian First league in the fourth place in the 2017–18 season, Shkupi played in the Europa League qualifiers for the first time. In the 2021–22 season the club were crowned the champion of country for the first time in its history.
Supporters
The team's supporters are the Shvercerat which were officially established in 1989 in Čair in Skopje. Shvercerat is Albanian for "Smugglers". Shvercerat were also the same supporters of the predecessor club Sloga Jugomagnat, before the merger to the current club Shkupi. Similarly to Shkëndija, FK Shkupi is an Albanian oriented club, with the supporters being Albanian and also part of the Tifozat Kuq e Zi, an ultras group that supports Albania in international football. Nationalist Albanian rhetoric is often a part of the chanting in league games, although comparing in level of popularity, Shkupi has not matched with Shkëndija.
On 13 February 2011, a large gathering of Vardar supporters, Komiti Skopje, congregated at the Skopje Fortress to protect a construction site on the grounds of the fortress.[2] A large group of the Shvercerat, who were against the government building on the area of the old fortress, broke through the police line and forced the Komiti out of the Skopje Fortress.[3][4][2] The construction site was seized by the Shvercerat[3] until police successfully took control and arrested Omer Bunjaku, a leading figure of the Shvecerat.[4]
The Shvercerat are known for taking rival team supporter's banner. They have succeeded in taking the Kratovo banner of Sileks, the Vojvodi banner of Teteks, Komiti Zapad banner of Vardar, Vinari banner of Vardar Negotino, Prilep banner of Pobeda, Green Front and BFC Hooligans banners of Pelister.[5][6]
Honours
- Winners (1): 2014–15
- Winners (1): 2012-13
Recent seasons
| Season | League | Cup | European competitions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | ||||
| 2012–13 | 3. MFL North | 28 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 80 | 26 | 73 | 1st ↑ | |||
| 2013–14 | 2. MFL | 29 | 16 | 4 | 9 | 56 | 31 | 52 | 4th | R1 | ||
| 2014–15 | 2. MFL | 27 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 44 | 19 | 53 | 1st ↑ | R2 | ||
| 2015–16 | 1. MFL | 32 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 29 | 34 | 38 | 6th | R2 | ||
| 2016–17 | 1. MFL | 36 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 27 | 39 | 37 | 8th | QF | ||
| 2017–18 | 1. MFL | 36 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 51 | 46 | 51 | 4th | R2 | ||
| 2018–19 | 1. MFL | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 40 | 42 | 48 | 4th | R1 | Europa League | QR1 |
| 2019–201 | 1. MFL | 23 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 5th | N/A | Europa League | QR1 |
| 2020–21 | 1. MFL | 33 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 41 | 24 | 59 | 2nd | QF | Europa League | QR1 |
| 2021–22 | 1. MFL | 33 | 23 | 7 | 3 | 66 | 21 | 76 | 1st | QF | Conference League | QR2 |
| 2022–23 | 1. MFL | Champions League / Europa League Conference League | QR2 / QR3 PO | |||||||||
1The 2019–20 season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia.[7]
Players
Current squad
- As of 29 August 2022
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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KF Shkupi in European football
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Agg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q | Rangers | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 |
| 2019–20 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q | Pyunik | 1−2 | 3−3 | 4–5 |
| 2020–21 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q | Neftçi | — | 1–2 | — |
| 2021–22 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 1Q | Llapi | 2−0 | 1−1 | 3–1 |
| 2Q | Santa Clara | 0–3 | 0−2 | 0–5 | ||
| 2022–23 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q | Lincoln Red Imps | 3–0 | 0−2 | 3–2 |
| 2Q | Dinamo Zagreb | 0−1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | ||
| UEFA Europa League | 3Q | Shamrock Rovers | 1−2 | 1−3 | 2–5 | |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | PO | Ballkani | 1−2 | 0−1 | 1–3 |
References
- ^ . MINA. 23 June 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
There will be a fusion between FK Vardar and FK Miravci. Both clubs will change their names. FK Miravci will in effect become FK Vardar 1947, except Vardar will keep all of its trophies and history.
- ^ a b "Macedonia: Violent Inter-Ethnic Incident on Skopje Fortress". Global Voices. 15 February 2011.
a group of “supporters” of the building of the church (i.e., a Macedonian football fan group Komiti) and a group of “supporters” of its destruction (i.e., an Albanian football fan group Shverceri) gathered on the same location
- ^ a b "INCIDENT NE KALA TE SHKUPIT – ИНЦИДЕНТ ВО СКОПСКО КАЛЕ" on YouTube
- ^ a b "OMER BUNJAKU I ARTAN GRUBI" on YouTube
- ^ "Shvercerat vazhdojnë të sundojnë FYROM-in". Tfsh.ml (in Albanian). 9 April 2015.
- ^ (Media notes). Archived from the original on 18 April 2015.
- ^ "Вонредна седница на Управен одбор на Фудбалска федерација на Македонија: Прекин на натпреварувачката сезона 2019/2020". Фудбалска Федерација на Македонија. 4 June 2020.
External links
- Official website (in Albanian)