FK Vardar facts for kids
 |
|||
| Full name | Fudbalski klub Vardar / Фудбалски Клуб Вардар | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Црвено-Црни / Crveno-Crni (The Red-Blacks) | ||
| Short name | Vardar, VAR | ||
| Founded | 22 July 1947 | ||
| Ground | City Park Stadium, Skopje | ||
| Capacity | 33,460 | ||
| Owner | Atila Bijen Jalili (85%) Komiti Skopje (15%) |
||
| Chairman | Milenko Nedelkovski | ||
| Manager | Goce Sedloski | ||
| League | Macedonian First League | ||
| 2023–24 | Macedonian First League, 10th | ||
|
|
|||
|
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
| Football | Basketball | Handball |
FK Vardar (Macedonian: ФК Вардар) is a professional football club. It is based in Skopje, North Macedonia. The team plays in the Macedonian First League. FK Vardar is the most successful football club in North Macedonia. They have won many titles. These include eleven Macedonian First League titles and five Macedonian Cups. They also won two Macedonian Super Cups and one Yugoslav Cup. In 2017, Vardar made history. They became the first club from North Macedonia to reach the group stage of a European competition.
Contents
History of FK Vardar
How it all started
FK Vardar was first created in 1911. After World War One, it was re-established in 1919. In 1926, it joined with another club, Gragjanski Skopje. This lasted until 1941.
After World War Two, FK Vardar was re-established again. This happened on July 22, 1947. Two city rival teams, FK Pobeda and FK Makedonija, merged to form Vardar. The club first chose blue as its color. But soon after, they changed it to red and white. The famous red and black jerseys we see today came after the 1963 Skopje earthquake. The Italian club AC Milan sent equipment to help the Skopje team.
Playing in the Federal League
The club won its first big trophy in 1961. This was the 1960–61 Yugoslav Cup. Many famous players from the region started their careers at Vardar. Andon Dončevski was a key player from that winning team. He later coached the club.
FK Vardar played in the top Federal League for 33 seasons. This was from 1947 to 1992. They are ranked 11th on the all-time table for that league. In the 1986-87 season, Vardar was recognized as champion by UEFA. This was due to some rule changes. That team had great players like Darko Pančev, Ilija Najdoski, and Vujadin Stanojković.
| Rank | Club | G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | FK Vardar | 1041 | 343 | 252 | 444 | 1249 | 1528 | −279 | 933 |
After North Macedonia became independent
After Macedonia became independent, Vardar won three league titles in a row. They even went unbeaten in the first season, 1992–93. In the 1990s, they were a top team in Macedonian football. They reached five Cup finals and won four of them.
After a short break from winning, they won the league again in 2001–02. The next season, they almost made it to the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League group stage. This was a huge achievement! They beat CSKA Moscow and were very close to beating Sparta Prague.
In 2011, Vardar was almost moved down to a lower league. But they managed to stay in the top league. The next season, they won the league again after nine years. Today, they have 17 major trophies. In 2012, FK Vardar became the first team in North Macedonia to be set up as a company. FK Vardar played 24 seasons in the Macedonian First Football League from 1992 to 2017. They are ranked first on the all-time table for this league.
| Rank | Club | G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FK Vardar | 768 | 439 | 180 | 149 | 1428 | 651 | +777 | 1438 |
Amazing moments
FK Vardar has had many memorable matches. One early big win was in 1961 against Dunfermline from Scotland. They won 2-0 at home in the Cup Winners' Cup. Another great moment was beating FK Partizan 5–0. The 2–1 victory over Varteks in the Yugoslav Cup final was their first major trophy.
A game with the most fans was against Trepča. Vardar won 2–1 and moved up to the Yugoslav First League. Other important matches were against big teams like Red Star Belgrade, Partizan Belgrade, Dinamo Zagreb, and Hajduk Split. In 1985, they beat Dinamo București from Romania 1–0 in the UEFA Cup.
When the Macedonian First Football League started, the most memorable games were against their rival, Pelister. This included the first-ever Macedonian Football Cup final in 1993. Vardar won 1–0 at the old City Stadium.
The club's biggest international success came in 2003. FK Vardar was just one goal away from reaching the UEFA Champions League group stage. They had a great 3–0 home win against Barry Town from Wales. Then they had an amazing 2–1 away win over Russian team CSKA Moscow. In the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup, they easily beat Ethnikos Achnas from Cyprus twice, 5–1 each time. They also won 1–0 against Belgian team Gent at home.
First time in the Europa League group stage
.jpg)
In 2017, Vardar played in the Champions League qualifying rounds. They drew 1–1 away against Swedish team Malmö FF. Then they won the second game 3–1 at home. In the next round, they beat Danish team F.C. Copenhagen 1–0 at home. But in the second game, they lost 4–1 and were out of the Champions League.
However, Vardar continued in the Europa League play-off round. They played against the strong Turkish team Fenerbahçe. Vardar surprisingly won both matches! They won 2–0 at home and 2–1 away. This meant Vardar qualified for the group stage of the Europa League for the first time ever. They became the first Macedonian club to do this!
In the group stage, Vardar played against Zenit Saint Petersburg, Rosenborg, and Real Sociedad. They lost their first two matches. But Juan Felipe scored Vardar's first goal in a European group stage match. Vardar later earned a historic first point in European Cups. They drew 1–1 at home against Rosenborg BK.
Home Grounds
Toše Proeski Arena
The City Park Arena is a large stadium. It can hold 33,011 fans. This makes it one of the 10 biggest stadiums in the Balkans. The field is 105 meters long and 68 meters wide. There are two big screens, each 18 by 6 meters. The stadium has special VIP seats and media seats. About 80% of the stadium is covered, which is great for bad weather.
The Toshe Proeski Arena is a multi-purpose sports place in Skopje. It is mostly used for football games. On July 25, 2012, a very popular match was played here. FK Vardar played against FC BATE Borisov in the Champions League qualifying round. The west stand of the stadium is where the "Komiti" fans sit. They are FK Vardar's most loyal supporters. The stadium also hosted the 2017 UEFA Super Cup. This was Macedonia's first UEFA club final.
Hipodrom Training Ground
The Hipodrom Training Ground is a very impressive football training center. It is one of the best in Macedonia and the surrounding area. It was built to be like the training centers of top European teams. This complex gives FK Vardar's players everything they need for training.
The training center cost 4 million Euros. It has two football fields. One has artificial grass, and the other has natural grass. Both have a special drainage system. This means they can be used in all weather. Both fields also have lights for evening training. The center has 16 rooms and three suites for players and staff to stay. There is also a room for team meetings and video analysis. It has a restaurant for players and a coffee shop for visitors. There is also a Medical Center and a Spa Center. This facility is located in the Hippodrome area of Skopje.
Vardar Football Academy
The FK Vardar Football Academy is a very modern sports facility. It is made for working with young football players. It is one of the best in Macedonia and the region. The academy helps young talents grow. It follows the standards of famous European clubs. More than 400 boys learn football here.
The academy building is in the city park of Skopje. It covers an area of 1,152 square meters. It has a football pitch with artificial grass. This field is 130 meters long and 65 meters wide. It also has lights for evening training. There are four changing rooms for players and two for coaches. These rooms have heating and ventilation. There is a classroom for lessons and sports education. It can hold 30 people. The academy also has offices for staff.
Many great footballers have come from the Vardar Football School. They have won many trophies in youth competitions. With these new facilities, Vardar aims to be a leader in creating new football stars. These young players will play for the club and the national team. Investing in young players is a top priority for the club.
Supporters
FK Vardar's fans are called "Komiti". They are the first organized fan group for Vardar. They started on June 4, 1987, in Skopje. This was during a match between FK Vardar and Red Star Belgrade. The Komiti have always been a big part of Vardar's history. Their support is like having a 12th player on the team. Most Macedonians around the world support FK Vardar.
The Komiti group was first noticed in 1985. This was on the 'Zapad' (West Stand) of the stadium. This is where Vardar's most passionate fans always gathered. Two years later, on June 4, 1987, a banner with "KOMITI" was seen for the first time. The idea was to create a big and strong Macedonian fan group. The name 'KOMITI' was chosen for the new group.
The name "Komiti" has a special meaning. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, revolutionaries in Macedonia were called "komitadjis". They were members of the Macedonian Committee. This name is strong and connects to their goals. This is why they chose it instead of common names like "Ultras" or "Boys".
The team has always been a symbol for Macedonians. The Komiti have good relationships with fans of FK Teteks, called "Vojvodi". They also have ties with FC Schalke 04 fans, "Ultras Gelsenkirchen".
Team Rivalries
The Eternal Derby
The match between Vardar and FK Pelister is the biggest and most intense game in North Macedonia. A big part of this rivalry is between the fan groups: Komiti Skopje (Vardar fans) and Čkembari (Pelister fans). This rivalry started in the 1989–90 season. There was a conflict between fans from Skopje and some fans from Bitola. The Bitola fans had come to support FK Vardar, who was the most popular Macedonian club back then.
On March 8, 1991, FK Pelister and FK Vardar played in Bitola. This was in the Yugoslav second league. The first big incident happened then. From that day on, the rivalry between Komiti and Čkembari grew. The Vardar–Pelister match became known as the eternal derby. In recent years, the rivalry has become a little less important as FK Vardar has not been as strong.
Skopje Derby
FK Vardar and FK Shkupi (formerly FK Sloga Jugomagnat) have the main derby in the city of Skopje. Both clubs have active fan groups. This rivalry is often linked to ethnic backgrounds. FK Vardar fans are mostly Macedonians and Orthodox Christians. FK Shkupi fans are mostly Albanians. Rabotnički is another team in Skopje with organized fans. Their rivalry with Vardar is not as strong in football. But it is very strong in handball and basketball.
Other Rivalries
Vardar also has a strong rivalry with FK Pobeda. They also have a rivalry with GFK Tikvesh. There is also a friendly "brotherhood derby" with FK Teteks. The fans of these two clubs are sometimes called "Orthodox Brothers".
Honours and Trophies
Domestic League
Macedonian First League
- Winners (11): 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2019–20
Domestic Cup
Macedonian Football Cup
- Winners (5): 1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2006–07
Macedonian Football Supercup
- Winners (2): 2013, 2015
Yugoslav Cup
- Winners (1): 1960–61
Macedonian Republic Cup
- Winners (12): 1955–56, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1991–92
European
Balkans Cup
- Runners up (2): 1972, 1974
European Football History
FK Vardar's first game in a European competition was a 0–5 loss against Dunfermline Athletic in 1961. Muarem Zekir has played the most European matches for the club, with 21 appearances. The top scorer in UEFA club competitions is Wandeir, with 13 goals. Vardar's biggest win in UEFA competition was against Ethnikos Achna FC in the 2004 Intertoto Cup. They won both games 5–1, making the total score 10–2.
FK Vardar made history by becoming the first Macedonian club to reach the group stages of a European competition. This happened after they beat Fenerbahçe S.K. in the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League playoffs.
.jpg)
UEFA Ranking
| Rank | Country | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 207 |  |
FC Kairat Almaty | 5.000 |
| 208 | |
FK Vardar | 5.000 |
| 209 |  |
Anorthosis Famagusta FC | 4.985 |
Players
Current squad
|
|
Out on loan
|
Club Officials
Technical staff
| Manager | Goce Sedloski |
| Assistant coach | Marjan Gerasimovski |
| Goalkeeping coach | Bojan Dimkovski |
| Physiotherapist | Jovan Dimovski |
| Physiotherapist | Toshe Trajkovski |
Source:
Board members
| Co-Owner | Atila Bijen Jalili |
| Co-Owner | Komiti Skopje |
| Chairman | Milorad Milenkovski |
| Sporting Director | Vlatko Kolev |
| Secretary | Nikola Stojanovski |
| Technical Operator | George Spasovski |
| Technical Secretary | Biljana Blazevska |
| Security Commissioner | Aleksandar Kolevski |
Source:
Club Records
- Most goals scored: Andon Dončevski (217 goals).
- Best goal scoring ratio: Darko Pančev scored 132 goals in 207 matches (0.65 goals per match).
- Most league goals scored: Vasil Ringov (97 goals).
- Most league goals scored in one Macedonian First League season: Saša Ćirić scored 36 goals in 1992–93.
- Most goals scored in European competition: Wandeir scored 12 goals from 2003–05.
- Most appearances: Kočo Dimitrovski played 845 matches (416 league matches). Metodije Spasovski played 647 matches (375 league matches). Gjore Jovanovski played 486 matches (271 league matches).
- Most successful coach: Gjoko Hadžievski (won 5 league titles and 2 national cups).
- Biggest win in Macedonian league: On May 30, 1993, FK Vardar beat FK Vardarski 11–0.
- Biggest win in UEFA competition: On June 19, 2004, FK Vardar beat Ethnikos Achnas 5–1.
- Biggest single game attendance: In the 1985–86 Yugoslav First League, 30,000 fans watched FK Vardar play Red Star Belgrade. Also, 31,322 fans watched FK Vardar play FC Bate Borisov 0–0 in the Champions League in 2012–2013.
See also
In Spanish: Fudbalski Klub Vardar para niños
