In the past 28 years since the country’s independence, the Macedonian national football team has been strengthened with a lot of footballers who, although were born or raised abroad, decided to represent Macedonia internationally, despite the fact that they could have played for their home country.

MacedonianFootball editorial staff wanted to pay tribute to these players and that’s why we composed a team that includes most of these diaspora footballers who have played for Macedonia over the years.

The best 11 diaspora team who played for Macedonia, allong with substitutes:

1. Orhej “Oka” Nikolov 25.05.1974 Germany
– He finished his career and currently serves as assistant coach for Philadelphia Union, USA. He was born in Erbach im Odevald in Germany but he is originally from the village of Dabile near Strumica. In his senior career he played in Germany (Eintracht Frankfurt) and USA (Philadelphia Union, Fort Lauderdale Strikers). Nikolov has 5 caps for the Macedonian national team (all in friendly matches). He renounced Macedonian citizenship in favor of the German one and therefore did not continue to represent Macedonia.

2. Daniel Georgievski 17.02.1988 Australia
– He plays for Western Sydney Wanderers. Georgievski was born in Blacktown, Australia but he is Macedonian by his father’s side. He has 22 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Croatia (Međimurje, Šibenik), Romania (Steaua) and Australia (Melbourne Victory, Newcastle Jets, Western Sydney Wanderers). He has won 2 Romanian championships and 1 Romanian Super Cup with Steaua, 1 Australian championship and 1 Australian Cup with Melbourne Victory.

3. Aleksandar Lazevski 21.01.1988 Serbia
– He plays for Serbian side OFK Vršac. He was born in Vršac but he is Macedonian by his father’s side. Lazevski has 14 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Serbia (Teleoptik, Partizan, Rad, Mladost Lučani, OFK Vršac), Ukraine (Goverla), Slovenia (Olimpija) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (Sloboda Tuzla). He has won 6 Serbian championships and 3 Serbian Cups with the Belgrade giant, Partizan.

4. Aleksandar Mitreski 05.08.1980 Switzerland
– He finished his career and he is currently unemployed. Mitreski was born in Ohrid and when he was very young his family moved to Switzerland. He has 34 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Switzerland (Young Boys, Grasshoppers, Sion, Aarau) and Germany (Köln, Nürnberg). He has won 1 Swiss championship with Grasshoppers.

 

5. Milan Stojanoski 15.09.1973 Serbia
– He finished his career and currently works as coach for the youth academy of Serbian giant Partizan. He was born in Stari Lec, Serbia but he is Macedonian by his father’s side, originally from the village of Rechica near Ohrid. He has 27 caps/1 goal for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Serbia (Proleter Zrenjanin, Partizan, Banat, BASK, Lokomotiva, Kovačevac), Israel (Beitar), Cyprus (APOEL) and Iran (Pegah Gilan, Shahrdari Bandar Abbas). Stojanoski has won 2 championships and 1 Cup in FR Yugoslavia with Partizan, 1 Championship in Serbia and Montenegro with Partizan, 1 Cypriot Super Cup with APOEL.

6. Igor Jančevski 16.10.1974 Serbia
– He finished his career and he is currently unemployed. He was born in Belgrade suburb of Zemun, Serbia but he is Macedonian by his father’s side. Jančevski has 28 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Slovakia (BŠK JAS Bardejov), Germany (Waldhof Mannheim), Belgium (Herentals), Bosnia-Herzegovina (Brotnjo, Čelik), Croatia (Varteks), Turkey (Diyarbakirspor), Israel (Hapoel Nazaret Illit) and Cyprus (Enosis Neon Paralimni).

7. Arijan Ademi 29.05.1991 Croatia
– He plays for Dinamo, Croatia. He was born in Šibenik, Croatia but his mother is originally from the village of Pirok near Tetovo. He played for the Croatian youth national teams and he has 3 caps for the Croatian senior national team (all friendlies). Ademi is a current member of the Macedonian national team and he earned 14 caps/3 goals. In his senior career he played in Croatia (Šibenik, Dinamo, Lokomotiva). He has won 8 Croatian championships, 4 Croatian Cups and 2 Croatian Super Cups with Dinamo.

8. Mario Gjurovski 11.12.1985 Serbia
– He finished his career and he is currently the coach of Muangthong United, Thailand. He was born in Serbian capital Belgrade but he is Macedonian by his father’s side, originally from the village of Zhilche near Tetovo. His father is the former Macedonian international Milko Gjurovski. He has 12 caps/2 goals for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career Gjurovski played in Serbia (Mladenovac, Sopot, Bežanija, Vojvodina), Ukraine (Metalurh) and Thailand (Muangthong United, Bangkok United, Bangkok Glass). He has won 1 Thai championship with Muangthong United.

 

9. Ilčo Naumoski 29.07.1983 Austria
– He finished his career and he is currently unemployed. He was born in Prilep but his family moved to Austria at his early age. Naumoski has 46 caps/9 goals for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Austria (Stockerau, ASKÖ Klingenbach, Grazer AK, Mattersburg), Turkey (Malatyaspor), Azerbaijan (İnter) and Macedonia (Vardar). He has won 1
Austrian championship and 1 Austrian Cup with Grazer AK and 1 Macedonian championship with Vardar.

10. Viktor Trenevski 08.10.1972 Montenegro
– He finished his career and he is currently the coach of Drava, Slovenia. He was born in Skopje but when he was 7 years old his family moved to Montenegro. He has 18 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career Trenevski played in Montenegro (Budućnost), Serbia (Partizan), Mexico (Puebla), Macedonia (Sileks, Pelister) and Slovenia (Mura, Koper, Olimpija, Drava, Nafta, Malečnik). He has won 2 championships and 1 Cup in FR Yugoslavia with Partizan.

11. Ezgjan Alioski 12.02.1992 Switzerland
– He plays for Leeds United, England. He was born in Prilep but his family moved to Switzerland at his early age. Alioski is a current member of the Macedonian national team and he earned 33 caps/5 goals so far. In his senior career he played in Switzerland (Young Boys B, Schaffhausen, Lugano) and England (Leeds United).

SUBSTITUTES

12. David Mitov Nilsson 12.01.1991 Sweden
– He plays for Sarpsborg 08 in Norway. He was born in Norrköping, Sweden but his mother is Macedonian from the municipality of Rosoman, near Kavadarci. He played for the Swedish youth national teams and he has 1 cap for the Swedish senior national team (friendly match). Nilsson is a current member of the Macedonian national team and he has 1 cap so far. In his senior career he played in Sweden (Norrköping, Sylvia, Sundsvall) and Norway (Sarpsborg 08). He has won 1 Swedish championship with Norrköping.

 

13. Leonard Žuta 09.08.1992 Sweden
– He plays for Konyaspor, Turkey. He was born in Göteborg, Sweden but he is originally from the Struga region. Žuta has 15 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Sweden (Häcken), Croatia (Rijeka) and Turkey (Konyaspor). He has won 1 Swedish Cup with Häcken, 1 Croatian championship and 1 Croatian Cup with Rijeka.

 

 

14. Vlade Lazarevski 09.06.1983 Serbia
– He finished his career last year. Lazarevski was born in Kruševac, Serbia but he is Macedonian by his father’s side, originally from the Gostivar region. He has 43 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Macedonia (Kumanovo), Serbia (Napredak Kruševac, 14 Oktobar, Smederevo, Radnički Niš, Temnić Lipa), Poland (Dyskobolia Grocłin, Polonia Warszawa), Ukraine (Metalist, Karpaty Lviv), Croatia (Rijeka), Kazakhstan (Lokomotiv), France (Amiens), Albania (Flamurtari), Bosnia-Herzegovina (Zvijezda Gradačac). He has won 1 Polish Cup with Dyskobolia.

15. Ljubodrag Milošević 12.11.1969 Serbia
– He finished his career and he is currently unemployed. He was born in Serbia. He has 9 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career Milošević played in Macedonia (Sileks, Bashkimi, Pobeda Prilep, Bregalnica Shtip), Serbia (Radnički Niš), Belgium (Eendracht Aalst) and Ciprus (Digenis Akritas Morphou). He has won 3 Macedonian championships and 2 Macedonian Cups with Sileks.

16. Aleksandar Damčevski 21.11.1992 France
– He plays for Ararat-Armenia in Armenia. He was born in Strasbourg, France but he is Macedonian by his father’s side, originally from the Bitola region. He has 4 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career Damčevski played in Switzerland (Luzern II, Kriens), Bulgaria (Chernomorets), the Netherlands (NAC Breda), Kazakhstan (Atyrau), Hungary (Mezőkövesd), Cyprus (Ermis) and Armenia (Ararat-Armenia). He has won 1 Armenian championship with Ararat-Armenia.

17. Aleksandar Todorovski 26.02.1984 Serbia
– He plays for Radnički from Niš, Serbia. He was born in Kraljevo, Serbia but he is Macedonian by his father’s side.
Todorovski played for the FR Yugoslavia’s U19 national team but he decided to represent Macedonia in the senior level and he earned 16 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Serbia (Radnički Beograd, Rad, Radnički Niš), Cyprus (APOEL, Digenis Akritas Morphou, AEL), Poland (Polonia Warszawa, Zagłębie Lubin) and Austria (Sturm Graz).

18. Muhamed Demiri 20.11.1985 Switzerland
– He is currently without club. Demiri was born in Bern, Switzerland but he is originally from the Skopje region. He has 25 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Switzerland (Concordia Basel, Thun, St. Gallen, Old Boys, Schaffhausen).

19. Besart Abdurahimi 31.07.1990 Croatia
He plays in Bravo, Slovenia. He was born in Zagreb, Croatia but he is originally from the village of Gradec near Gostivar. He played for the Croatian youth national teams but he decided to represent Macedonia in the senior level and earned 12 caps/1 goal for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career Abdurahimi played in Croatia (Zagreb), Israel (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Belgium (Lokeren), Kazakhstan (Astana), Japan (Cerezo Ōsaka), Macedonia (Shkendija), Albania (Partizani), Romania (Hermannstadt) and Slovenia (Bravo). He has won 1 Kazakh championship with Astana and 1 Macedonian championship with Shkendija.

20. David Babunski 01.03.1994 Spain
– He plays for Botoșani, Romania. He was born in Skopje but his family moved to Spain at his early age. His father is the former Macedonian international Boban Babunski. He has 9 caps for the Macedonian national team so far. In his senior career he played in Spain (Barcelona B), Serbia (Crvena zvezda), Japan (Yokohama F·Marinos, Ōmiya Ardīja) and Romania (Botoșani). Babunski has won 1 Serbian championship with Crvena zvezda.

21. Stevica Ristić 23.05.1982 Serbia
He finished his career and he is currently unemployed. Ristić was born in Vršac, Serbia but his of Macedonian origin by his mother’s side. He has 18 caps/1 goal for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Serbia (Jedinstvo Vršac, Mladost Lukićevo, Temnić Lipa), Macedonia (Sileks), South Korea (Jeonbuk Hyndai, Pohang Steelers, Suwon Bluewings, Jeonnam Dragons), Uzbekistan (Bunyodkor), Russia (Amkar) and Japan (Shōnan Bellmāre). He has won 1 AFC Champions League, 1 Korean FA Cup and 1 Korean League Cup with Pohang Steelers) and 1 Uzbek Cup with Bunyodkor.

22. Dragan Čadikovski 13.01.1982 Serbia
– He plays for Sloga Veliki Crljeni, Serbia. He was born in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital but he is Macedonian by his father’s side, originally from the town of Debar. Čadikovski has 8 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Slovenia (Publikum, Maribor, Celje, Rudar, Olimpija, Koper, Domžale), Russia (Zenit), Serbia (Partizan, Radnički Kragujevac, Kolubara, Sloga Veliki Crljeni), South Korea (Incheon United), Bosnia-Herzegovina (Velež) and Austria (Gleinstätten). He has won 2 Serbian championships and 2 Serbian Cups with Partizan.

23. Filip Gačevski 17.08.1990 Slovenia
– He plays for Vardar in Macedonia where he is the current captain. He was born in Murska Sobota, Slovenia but he is Macedonian by his fathers side. He was called-up several times for the Macedonian national team but so far he doesn’t have any appearance. In his senior career Gačevski played in Slovenia (Mura 05), Austria (Kapfenberg, Kapfenberg II, Lustenau) and Macedonia (Bregalnica Shtip, Vardar). He has won 2 Macedonian championships with Vardar.

Five other footballers have worn the Macedonian jersey in the recent years:

Nikola Gjorgjev 22.08.1997 Switzerland
– He currently plays for Grasshoppers, Switzerland. He was born in Zürich, Switzerland but both of his parents are Macedonians. He played for the Swiss youth national teams but he decided to represent Macedonia at senior level. Gjorgjev is a current member of the Macedonian national team and he earned 5 caps so far. In his senior career he played in Switzerland (Grasshoppers II, Grasshoppers, Aarau) and the Netherlands (Twente).

Yani Urdinov 28.03.1991 Belgium
– He finished his career last year at just 28 years old. He was born in Mechelen, Belgium but he is Macedonian by his father’s side. He played for the Belgian U16 national team but he decided to represent Macedonia internationally. Urdinov played for all the Macedonian youth national teams and he also has 3 caps for the Macedonian senior national team. In his senior career he played in the Netherlands (Roda), Macedonia (Rabotnichki, Shkendija), Lithuania (Ekranas), Bosnia-Herzegovina (Željezničar, Velež), Poland (Widzew), Albania (Flamurtari) Czechia (Vysočina, Bohemians 1905), Azerbaijan (Zirə) and Slovakia (Ružomberok). He has won 1 Lithuanian championship with Ekranas and 1 Bosnian championship with Željezničar.

Predrag Ranđelović 02.03.1990 Serbia
– He plays for GAIS, Sweden. He was born in Niš, Serbia but his grandmother is Macedonian and he decided to represent Macedonia internationally. He has 3 caps for the Macedonian national team. In his senior career he played in Serbia (Teleoptik, Jagodina), Macedonia (Vardar), Belarus (Minsk) and Sweden (Dalkurd, Värnamo, GAIS). He has won 2 Macedonian championships with Vardar.

Perica Stančeski 29.01.1985 Serbia
– He finished his career last year. He was born in Serbian capital city of Belgrade but he is Macedonian by his father’s side. He represented FR Yugoslavia at the 2002 U17 EURO and he played for Serbia and Montenegro U19 national team. In 2006 he accepted the Macedonian invitation and joined the Macedonian U21 national team. Stančeski has 1 cap for the Macedonian senior national team. In his senior career he played in Serbia (Partizan, Hajduk Beograd, Teleoptik, Bežanija, Čukarički, BSK Borča, Rad, Mačva Šabac, Lokomotiva), Bosnia-Herzegovina (Borac Banja Luka, Željezničar, Zvijezda Gradačac, Orašje), Kyrgyzstan (Dordoi) and Macedonia (Metalurg). He has won 2 Bosnian championships, 1 with Borac and 1 with Željezničar.
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Zoran Stojčevski 04.03.1971 Sweden
– He finished his career and he is currently unemployed. He was born in Göteborg but he is Macedonian by his father’s side. In 1994 he accepted the invitation of the Macedonian football federation to join the Macedonian national team but he never made any appearance during his career. In his senior career he played in Sweden (Göteborg, Djurgårdens, Cafe Opera).