The current coach of Rabotnichki returns to the Football Federation of Macedonia, this time in the role of coach of our U21 national team.

photo by FFM

– First of all, I would like to thank the president and his team in the federation for the trust they have shown. Being the leader of a national team is a great honor and privilege in itself, but this position also carries great responsibility.

– I know very well what awaits me and I am entering the challenge with maximum preparation. I hope that I will meet the expectations and the trust I have received. Every challenge carries its own weight. In my career, I have always been serious, professional and dedicated to my work, and this time it will be the same.

– I had the unique opportunity to be the head coach of all young generations from 16 to 19 years old. I experienced wonderful moments and had an unforgettable experience during that period in which we achieved two successful qualification cycles and fulfilled the set goal, qualifying for the elite phase of the qualifications, the first time with the U17 national team, the second with the U19 national team, which of course in itself was a great success and satisfaction.

Under his leadership, Rabotnichki in the current season of the 1.MFL is recording excellent results and is in a tie for first position together with the teams of Sileks and Shkendija. The new Macedonia U21 coach believes that the young generation of Macedonia U21 (generation 2004 and 2005) has great potential.

– The new Macedonian U21 generation undoubtedly has great quality and potential. Many of the players are already standard players in their teams and have gained first-league experience. I know most of the players well. We have quality that gives us the right to hope for good results.

– The expectations from the previous qualifying cycle for the European Championship were high, especially after the excellent start and the victory over Sweden in the first round on away field. I think we had the potential to achieve a better placement, but it does not always go according to plan.

Goran Stanikj, who is known as a top strategist and tactician, is ready to introduce and implement his own methods and principles of work.

– I plan to implement my methods and principles of work that I firmly believe in and I think that will give us results. It is important that the players understand what will be required of them, and it will be my responsibility to present it to them, all with the aim of having better communication and understanding on the pitch.

– There will be changes, given that this is a new generation. The players who were part of the previous qualifiers are not eligible to play in the next qualifiers, so it is natural that there will be changes. In the next qualifying cycle, players born in 2004 and 2005 will have the right to play, but of course some players born in 2006 will also get the opportunity.