Macedonian football has been rising in recent times. The rise has been necessitated by different factors including massive investment into club football by the sponsors, development of more robust youth academies, and the exposure of Macedonian players to other big European clubs. The rise of Macedonian football has had a ripple effect on football clubs in the country as they too are rising. Below, we share with you the highest ranking Macedonian football clubs right now. Punters can place bets on any of the teams below at UK online casinos that offer the best football betting odds.
KF Shkendija Tetovo
The highest ranking football team in Macedonia at the moment is Shkendija. Shkendija currently ranks as the 454th best football team in the world and the 282nd best football team in Europe. The club largely plays domestic matches only as it barely qualifies to compete in European competitions (apart from the preliminary competition matches in which in the last three years has always been eliminated in the play-offs by the likes of Rosenborg, RB Salzburg, Milan and Gent). In the Macedonian league, Shkendija currently occupies pole position with 40 points from 18 matches. The team was on a 7 matches winning run scoring 22 goals and conceding just two before being defeated by Akademija Pandev in the second-to-last round by a lone goal.
FK Vardar Skopje
Vardar ranks as the second-best team in Macedonia currently. In the world, Vardar is ranked as the 659th best team and in Europe, Vardar is ranked as the 385th best team. It was only in 2013 that the team started to perform at the highest stage after the club’s new owners invested heavily in new players. The objective for the club’s new owners is for the team to qualify and compete competitively in European competitions. Their dream eventually came true in the season 2017/18 when Vardar got eliminated in the Champions League play-offs by København and continued in the Europa League where they surprised Turkish giant Fenerbahçe and entered the group stage for the first time. In a group with Zenit, Real Sociedad and Rosenbord, Vardar only managed to win a point against Rosenborg at home, but left a positive impression on the other matches despite getting defeated. Vardar currently occupies the second position on the Macedonian league table with 35 points from 18 matches. In its last five matches the team has won twice, lost twice as well and drew once.
FK Rabotnichki Skopje
Rabotnichki currently ranks as the third best team in Macedonia. In the world, Rabotnichki is ranked as the 1269th best team while in Europe, Rabotnichki is ranked as the 642nd best team. Since 2014, Rabotnichki has never missed a European qualification, but always ending in the qualifying rounds. They got closes to the Europa League group stage in 2017 when were eliminated by Rubin from Kazan by one goal.The aim of Rabotnichki is to become Macedonian league champions and also to qualify for Europe, things that the club has failed to achieve at this point in time. Rabotnički has not had the best of starts to life in the 2018/2019 Macedonian football league as it finds itself in 4th position on the log but with 14 points behind the leaders. Rabotnichki has picked up 26 points in its first 18 matches. In its past five matches, the team won 3 times including a derby against local rivals Vardar and has lost twice.
The others (FK Akademija Pandev Strumica and KF Renova Djepchishte)
All other Macedonian clubs are ranked much lower internationally. Currently behind the first three comes Akademija Pandev as 1707th in the world who just recently moved ahead of Renova who dropped to 1765th. Akademija Pandev are a team to watch as they rely on young players and have a tendency to selling them internationally. Being owned by Macedonian star player Goran Pandev, they have put the career of their players on top instead of the team’s results. And so far this strategy has only shown positive effects. Last season was their first in the top flight and they finished 6th. This season Akademija Pandev is fighting for a place in the Europa League qualifiers and is currently 3rd with 30 points from 18 matches. In the last five games they lost once, drew twice and won twice including a road win against Shkendija.