FK Sileks (Macedonian: ФК Силекс) is a football club based in Kratovo, North Macedonia, who play in the Macedonian First League.

FK Sileks
Full nameFudbalski klub Sileks Kratovo / Фудбалски клуб Силекс Кратово
Nickname(s)Кратери (Kratovo Boys)
Founded1965; 59 years ago (1965)
GroundGradski stadion Sileks
Capacity1,800
ChairmanMite Andonovski
ManagerAleksandar Vasoski
LeagueMacedonian First League
2023–24Macedonian First League, 5th
WebsiteClub website

History

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FK Sileks Kratovo, a football club from Kratovo, Macedonia, has a rich history that dates back several decades, with significant achievements, memorable moments, and prominent figures shaping its legacy. Here's an overview of the club's history:

Early Years

FK Sileks was founded in 1965, during the Yugoslav period, and initially competed in the regional leagues. The club was named after the nearby Sileks lead and zinc mine, which played a significant role in the local economy and provided financial backing for the team. Despite being a small club, Sileks gradually built a reputation for itself within the regional competitions.

Rise to promience

The club's first major breakthrough came in the early 1990s, after North Macedonia declared its independence from Yugoslavia. In 1992, the Macedonian First Football League was established, and FK Sileks became one of the founding members. Under the guidance of Ljubislav Ivanov "Singo," a key figure in the club's history, Sileks quickly rose to prominence.

During the 1990s, FK Sileks established itself as one of the strongest teams in the Macedonian league. The club won its first Macedonian First League title in the 1995-96 season and successfully defended the title in the following two seasons, achieving a historic "three-peat" by winning the league in 1996-97 and 1997-98. This period of dominance cemented FK Sileks as one of the top teams in the country.

Domestic Success

FK Sileks' success wasn't limited to the league. The club also enjoyed considerable success in the Macedonian Football Cup, winning the competition three times—in 1994, 1997, and 2021. The 1994 Cup victory was particularly notable, as it was the first time the club won a major domestic trophy.

In addition to its three league titles and three cup victories, FK Sileks also won the Macedonian Super Cup in 1997, further solidifying its status as one of the country's top football clubs during the 1990s and early 2000s.

European Competitions

FK Sileks' domestic success also gave the club the opportunity to participate in European competitions. Over the years, Sileks has competed in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and the UEFA Europa Conference League. While the club has yet to achieve significant success in Europe, its participation in these competitions has brought international exposure to the team and the town of Kratovo.

Challenges and Rebuilding

After a period of sustained success in the 1990s, FK Sileks faced several challenges in the early 2000s. Financial difficulties, changes in management, and the rise of other football clubs in North Macedonia led to a decline in the club's fortunes. Sileks was relegated from the Macedonian First League in the early 2000s and spent several seasons in the second tier.

However, the club's resilience and strong local support enabled it to rebuild. Sileks returned to the Macedonian First League and began to re-establish itself as a competitive team. In recent years, the club has once again become a regular participant in the top flight of Macedonian football.

Recent Achievements

In 2020-2021, FK Sileks enjoyed a resurgence, winning the Macedonian Football Cup for the first time in nearly two decades. This victory was a testament to the club's enduring spirit and ability to overcome adversity.

Home Stadium

FK Sileks plays its home matches at the Gradski Stadion Kratovo, a small but passionate venue with a capacity of 1,800 spectators. The stadium has witnessed many of the club's historic moments and continues to be a fortress for the team.

Notable Figures

- Ljubislav Ivanov "Singo" A key figure in the club's history, Singo's leadership during the 1990s was instrumental in FK Sileks' rise to prominence.

- Nedzmedin Memedi The club's all-time leading goal scorer, Memedi's contributions on the pitch have made him a legend at FK Sileks.

Rivals

FK Sileks has several rivalries in Macedonian football, most notably with FK Vardar Skopje, FK Pelister Bitola, FK Pobeda Prilep, FK Renova, FK Shkëndija Tetovo, FK Bregalnica Štip and FK Rudar Probisrip. These matches, often fiercely contested, have added to the club's rich history and tradition.

Conclusion

FK Sileks Kratovo's history is one of resilience, success, and passion. From its humble beginnings to its rise as one of North Macedonia's top football clubs, Sileks has left an indelible mark on the country's football landscape. Despite the challenges it has faced, the club remains a symbol of pride for the people of Kratovo and continues to aspire for greatness on the domestic and international stage.

Stadium

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City Stadium Sileks (Macedonian: Градски стадион Силекс-Кратово) is a multi-purpose stadium in Kratovo, North Macedonia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of FK Sileks. The stadium holds 1,800 seats  

Honours

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Recent seasons

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Season League Cup European competitions
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos
1992–93 1. MFL 34 17 6 11 72 50 40 2nd
1993–94 1. MFL 30 18 8 4 56 19 44 2nd W
1994–95 1. MFL 30 18 6 6 66 28 60 2nd RU
1995–96 1. MFL 28 21 7 0 74 20 70 1st R2 Cup Winners' Cup R1
1996–97 1. MFL 26 19 5 2 83 23 62 1st W UEFA Cup PR
1997–98 1. MFL 25 15 3 7 40 21 48 1st SF Champions League QR1
1998–99 1. MFL 26 17 6 3 66 22 57 2nd SF Champions League QR1
1999–00 1. MFL 26 11 7 8 43 29 40 6th QF
2000–01 1. MFL 26 14 1 11 52 40 43 5th R2
2001–02 1. MFL 20 11 2 7 48 35 35 7th QF
2002–03 1. MFL 33 14 4 15 40 35 46 6th SF
2003–04 1. MFL 33 20 6 7 67 32 66 2nd R1
2004–05 1. MFL 33 15 5 12 56 37 51 4th SF UEFA Cup QR1
2005–06 1. MFL 33 10 11 12 54 58 41 9th SF Intertoto Cup R1
2006–07 1. MFL 33 12 5 16 54 50 41 9th R1
2007–08 1. MFL 33 10 11 12 33 36 41 9th R2
2008–09 1. MFL 30 9 9 12 38 41 36 7th QF
2009–10 1. MFL 26 8 8 10 29 33 32 5th R2
2010–11 1. MFL 33 13 8 12 39 38 47 5th R2
2011–12 1. MFL 33 13 3 17 42 51 42 6th R2
2012–13 1. MFL 33 6 5 22 33 61 23 12th ↓ SF
2013–14 2. MFL 29 20 4 5 66 24 64 1st ↑ R2
2014–15 1. MFL 32 10 11 11 33 42 41 5th R2
2015–16 1. MFL 32 12 8 12 35 40 44 3rd QF
2016–17 1. MFL 36 11 14 11 41 43 47 6th QF Europa League QR1
2017–18 1. MFL 36 13 11 12 30 37 50 5th R2
2018–19 1. MFL 36 11 11 14 27 39 44 8th QF
2019–201 1. MFL 23 10 6 7 24 21 36 2nd N/A
2020–21 1. MFL 33 10 6 17 36 45 36 9th ↓ W Champions League
Europa League
QR1
QR1
2021–22 2. MFL West 27 20 6 1 55 9 66 1st ↑ RU Conference League QR1
2022–23 1. MFL 30 13 9 8 41 34 48 4th SF
2023–24 1. MFL 33 10 13 10 36 40 43 5th QF

1The 2019–20 season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia.[1]

Supporters

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The supporters of Fk Sileks are known as krateri and they were founded in 1991

Rivalries

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The rivalries of FK Sileks Kratovo with these clubs stem from various historical, regional, and competitive factors:

1. FK Vardar: As one of the most successful and popular clubs in Macedonia, Vardar's success and prominence make them a natural rival for many clubs, including Sileks. Matches between these teams are highly competitive due to the disparity in their histories and achievements.

2. FK Pelister:Bitola ed in the same region, Pelister and Sileks have a regional rivalry that fuels their matches. Local derbies often bring out heightened emotions and competitiveness.

3. FK Pobeda: Similar to Pelister, Pobeda’s proximity and historical competition with Sileks create a strong rivalry, with both teams striving to assert their dominance in the region.

4. FK Renova: Renova, based in Tetovo, is another regional competitor. The rivalry is based on geographic proximity and the competitive nature of their encounters.

5. FK Shkëndija: Shkëndija is a strong team in the Macedonian league, and their matches with Sileks are significant due to Shkëndija's competitive stature and recent successes.

6. FK Bregalnica Stip : The rivalry with Bregalnica often reflects the competitive spirit of the Macedonian league and local pride.

7. FK Rudar Probistip : The rivalry beetween fk sileks an fk rudar is because of how close they are and the derby is called " the Neighborly derby."

These rivalries often involve a mix of historical competition, regional pride, and the quest for dominance in Macedonian football.

Sileks in Europe

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UEFA club competition record

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Competition Played Win Draw Lost For Against
UEFA Champions League 5 1 1 3 2 9
UEFA Cup/Europa League 8 2 1 5 6 13
UEFA Europa Conference League 2 0 1 1 1 2
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 4 1 1 2 6 8
UEFA Intertoto Cup 2 0 0 2 4 6
Total 21 4 4 13 19 38

Results

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Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup QR   Vác FC Samsung 3–1 1–1 4–2  
R1   Borussia Mönchengladbach 2–3 0–3 2–6  
1996–97 UEFA Cup PR   ÍA Akranes 1–0 0–2 1–2  
1997–98 UEFA Champions League QR1   Beitar Jerusalem 1–0 0–3 1–3  
1998–99 UEFA Champions League QR1   Club Brugge 0–0 1–2 1–2  
1999–00 UEFA Cup QR   Shakhtar Donetsk 2–1 1–3 3–4  
2004–05 UEFA Cup QR1   Maribor 0–1 1–1 1–2  
2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup R1   Beitar Jerusalem 1–2 3–4 4–6  
2016–17 UEFA Europa League QR1   Vaduz 1–2 1–3 2–5  
2020–21 UEFA Champions League QR1   Qarabağ 0–4  
UEFA Europa League QR2   Drita 0–2  
2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League QR1   Petrocub Hîncești 1–1 0–1 1–2  

Players

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Current squad

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As of 26 August 2024

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   MKD Daniel Bozhinovski
3 DF   MKD Bojan Rajkov
5 DF   MKD Gjorge Djekov
6 DF   MKD Darko Angjeleski
7 DF   MKD Angelche Timovski
8 FW   MKD Darko Dodev
9 FW   BIH Adi Alić
10 MF   MKD Leonid Ignatov
11 MF   GAM Ousman Marong
13 MF   MKD Gligorche Efremov
14 MF   MKD Igor Janevski
16 MF   MKD Ilija Donov
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF   MKD Valentin Kochoski
19 FW   MKD Marko Gjorgjievski
20 MF   MKD Tomche Grozdanovski
21 MF   MKD Marko Nikolovski
22 MF   MKD Filip Gligorovski
23 DF   MKD Kristijan Eftimov
24 MF   MLT Nikola Braunović
25 GK   MKD Ljupche Djekov
26 DF   SRB Miloš Nikolić
29 DF   SRB Ivan Šubert
36 FW   MKD Alen Jasharoski
99 FW   MKD David Mateski

Historical list of coaches

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References

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  1. ^ "Вонредна седница на Управен одбор на Фудбалска федерација на Македонија: Прекин на натпреварувачката сезона 2019/2020". Фудбалска Федерација на Македонија. 4 June 2020. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.


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