Original name: Саша Ќириќ
Passport version: Sasha Kjirikj
Alternative version: Sasa Ciric or Sasa Kirik
IPA: ˈsaʃa ˈtʃiritʃ
[player id=28717]
Club shirt name: Ciric
Position: striker
Born on 11.01.1968 in Kumanovo, Macedonia
Club: retired
Former clubs: FK Sloga Umin Dol , FK Metalurg Skopje , FK Pelister Bitola , FK Vardar Skopje , PFK CSKA Sofia , FC Aarau 1902 , 1. FC Nürnberg VfL e.V. , Tennis Borussia Berlin e.V. , Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball e.V. , Offenbacher FC Kickers 1901 e. V. , Victoria ’97 Erlangen

App/Gls: 26/8

First appearance: 12.04.1995, Kochani, Macedonia – Bulgaria 0:0 (friendly)
First goal: 27.03.1996, Prilep, Macedonia – Malta 1:0 (friendly)

Other goals:
09.11.1996, Vaduz, Liechtenstein – Macedonia 1:11 (WC 1998 qual.)
09.11.1996, Vaduz, Liechtenstein – Macedonia 1:11 (WC 1998 qual.)
27.11.1996, Ta’ Qali, Malta – Macedonia 0:2 (friendly)
14.10.1998, Zagreb, Croatia – Macedonia 3:2 (EURO 2000 qual.)
05.09.1999, Beograd, Yugoslavia – Macedonia 3:1 (EURO 2000 qual.)
08.09.1999, Skopje, Macedonia – Yugoslavia 2:4 (EURO 2000 qual.)
27.03.2002, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina – Macedonia 4:4 (friendly)

Awards:
Macedonian League: 1992/93, 1994/95 (Vardar)
Macedonian Cup: 1992/93, 1994/95 (Vardar)
Macedonian League Top Scorer: 1992/93 (36 goals), 1994/95 (35)

Other facts:
– his last name is of Serbian origin and therefore his native version is Ćirić (Ћистић), but because the Macedonian alphabet doesn’t have the letter “ć” (ћ) he is often written as Ciric, Kirik, Kjirikj, Ќириќ or Чирич. In the official documents he is listed as Kjirikj. However, in Macedonia it is widely pronounced as Chirich.
– while playing in Germany, his name was spelled as Sasa Ciric.
– when celebrating the 110 anniversary of Bundesliga club Nürnberg, he was voted by the fans among the best 11 of the greatest ever team in the club’s history.