The 2018–19 Macedonian First League was the 27th season of the Macedonian First Football League, the highest football league of North Macedonia (before 12 February Macedonia). It began on 11 August 2018 and ended on 26 May 2019. Each team played the other sides four times on home-away basis, for a total of 36 matches. Shkëndija were the defending champions, having won their second title in 2017–18.
| Season | 2018–19 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 11 August 2018 – 26 May 2019 |
| Champions | Shkëndija 3rd domestic title |
| Relegated | Belasica Pobeda |
| Champions League | Shkëndija |
| Europa League | Akademija Pandev Makedonija G.P. Shkupi |
| Matches played | 180 |
| Goals scored | 440 (2.44 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Vlatko Stojanovski (18 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Renova 9–1 Pobeda (4 May 2019) |
| Biggest away win | Belasica 1–4 Makedonija G.P. (10 November 2018) Renova 0–3 Shkëndija (2 December 2018) |
| Highest scoring | Renova 9–1 Pobeda (4 May 2019) |
| Longest winning run | 7 games Shkëndija |
| Longest unbeaten run | 13 games Vardar |
| Longest winless run | 15 games Pobeda |
| Longest losing run | 7 games Pobeda |
← 2017–18 2019–20 →
All statistics correct as of 26 May 2019. | |
Promotion and relegation edit
Promoted from 2017–18 Second League
Relegated to 2018–19 Second League |
Promoted from 2018–19 Second League Relegated to 2019–20 Second League |
Participating teams edit
| Akademija Pandev | Belasica | Makedonija G.P. | Pobeda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kukuš Stadium | Blagoj Istatov Stadium | Gjorče Petrov Stadium | Various |
| Capacity: 1,500 | Capacity: 9,200 | Capacity: 3,000 | |
|
|||
| Rabotnički Vardar |
Renova Shkëndija |
Shkupi | Sileks |
| Toše Proeski Arena[a] UEFA 
|
Ecolog Arena | Chair Stadium | City Stadium Kratovo |
| Capacity: 36,460 | Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 6,000 | Capacity: 4,800 |
|
|
|
|
- ^ The stadium was called Philip II Arena until 9 April 2019.
Personnel and kits edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akademija Pandev |  Jugoslav Trenchovski
|
Sashko Pandev
|
Givova | |
| Belasica | Zdravko Zdravkov
|
Dragan Stojkov
|
Nike | Cosmopolit |
| Makedonija G.P. | Aleksandar Tanevski
|
Bobi Bozhinovski
|
Kappa | Evropa |
| Pobeda | Toni Meglenski
|
Darko Tofiloski
|
Jako | Krali Marko & Vitaminka |
| Rabotnički | Zhikica Tasevski
|
Blazhe Ilijoski
|
Joma | Seavus |
| Renova | Nikola Ilievski
|
Fisnik Nuhi
|
Jako | Renova |
| Shkëndija | Qatip Osmani
|
Armend Alimi
|
Macron | Ecolog |
| Shkupi |  Ümit Karan
|
Muharem Bajrami
|
Kappa | ATS Group |
| Sileks | Momchilo Mitevski
|
Filip Duranski
|
Legea | |
| Vardar | Aleksandar Vasoski
|
Goran Popov
|
Hummel | BetCity |
League table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shkëndija (C) | 36 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 80 | 29 | +51 | 79 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Vardar | 36 | 17 | 13 | 6 | 45 | 23 | +22 | 64 | Excluded from European competitions[a] |
| 3 | Akademija Pandev | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 45 | 35 | +10 | 58 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Shkupi | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 40 | 42 | −2 | 48 | |
| 5 | Makedonija G.P. | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 45 | 50 | −5 | 47 | |
| 6 | Renova | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 53 | 49 | +4 | 47 | |
| 7 | Rabotnički | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 43 | 49 | −6 | 46 | |
| 8 | Sileks (O) | 36 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 27 | 39 | −12 | 44 | Qualification for the relegation play-off final |
| 9 | Belasica (R) | 36 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 37 | 49 | −12 | 38 | Relegation to the Macedonian Second League |
| 10 | Pobeda (R) | 36 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 26 | 76 | −50 | 23 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 7) Head-to-head goals scored; 8) Draw; 9) Play-off. (Note: Criteria 2, 3 and 8 is only used if not deciding Champion, teams for UEFA competitions or relegation).[citation needed]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Results edit
Each team played home-and-away against every other team in the league twice, for a total of 36 matches each.
Positions by round edit
The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards.
| Leader and qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round | |
| Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round | |
| Qualification for the Relegation play-off final | |
| Relegation to the Macedonian Second League |
Season statistics edit
Top scorers edit
- As of 26 May 2019
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vlatko Stojanovski
|
Renova | 18 |
| 2 | Ljupcho Doriev
|
Akademija Pandev | 16 |
| 3 | Izair Emini
|
Shkëndija | 11 |
| Besart Ibraimi
|
Shkëndija | ||
| Hristijan Kirovski
|
Makedonija G.P. | ||
| Petar Petkovski
|
Rabotnički | ||
| Emran Ramadani
|
Renova | ||
| 8 | Pepi Gorgiev
|
Belasica | 9 |
| Dejan Tanturovski
|
Makedonija G.P. | ||
| 10 | Bobi Bozhinovski
|
Makedonija G.P. | 8 |
| Boban Georgiev
|
Sileks | ||
 Omar Imeri
|
Shkëndija | ||
| Darko Micevski
|
Vardar |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Откако Вардар не доби лиценца: Македонија ЃП, ај честито Европа!!!". Sportmedia.mk. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
External links edit
- Football Federation of Macedonia (in Macedonian)
- MacedonianFootball.com (in Macedonian and English)