Goran Stanikj has been appointed as head coach of the Macedonian U21 national team.

photo by FK Rabotnichki Skopje: Goran Stanikj

The series of poor results of the youth national team was the main reason for Dragi Kanatlarovski to be replaced with Goran Stanikj.

Stanikj is the current manager of Rabotnichki and former head coach of the youth U17 and U19 national teams when Macedonia qualified for the elite phase in the 2017 with U17 team and in the 2019 with U19 team. At the EURO 2020, he was part of the coaching staff of the Macedonian national team.

Dragi Kanatlarovski made his debut as coach on September 2, 2019 when Macedonia played away against France. He led the team on 38 matches and recorded 12 wins, 10 draws and 16 losses.

FFM’s Board of Directors also dismissed Vujadin Stanojković from the U19 team, Rade Karanfiloski from the U17 team, Dragan Nachevski from the U16 team and Iseni Iljami from the U15 team. Only Erhan Selimi remains as the U18 national team coach.