KF Shkupi (Macedonian: ФК Шкупи, Albanian: Klubi Futbollistik Shkupi) is a professional football club based in Čair, Skopje, North Macedonia. The club plays in the Macedonian First Football League, which is the top tier of football in the country.

KF Shkupi

Full name	Klubi Futbollistik Shkupi
Nickname(s)	Pëllumbat (Pigeons) Shvercerat (Smugglers)
Short name	Shkupi
Founded	1927; 95 years ago (1927) as FK Sloga Jugomagnat 2012; 10 years ago (2012) as KF Shkupi
Ground	Čair Stadium
Capacity	6,000
Owner	Olgun Peker
Chairman	Omer Bunjaku
Manager	Goce Sedloski
League	Macedonian First Football League
2021–22	1st (Champions)
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

History

After financial issues with main sponsor Jugomagnat, Sloga went through an unstable period. In 2012, Sloga was merged with FC Albarsa to form FK Shkupi. However, the Football Federation of Macedonia does not consider Shkupi to be successors to the original Sloga Jugomagnat for political reasons as the FFM allowed a merging between Vardar, the most popular club among ethnic Macedonians and Miravci with Vardar avoiding relegation and keeping its previous trophies and accolades.[1] Despite the FFM not recognising Shkupi's track records and honours as Sloga, Sloga's official support firm, previous players and management, recognize Shkupi as its successor.

After finishing Macedonian First league in the fourth place in the 2017–18 season, Shkupi played in the Europa League qualifiers for the first time. In the 2021–22 season the club were crowned the champion of country for the first time in its history.

Supporters

The team's supporters are the Shvercerat which were officially established in 1989 in Čair in Skopje. Shvercerat is Albanian for "Smugglers". Shvercerat were also the same supporters of the predecessor club Sloga Jugomagnat, before the merger to the current club Shkupi. Similarly to Shkëndija, FK Shkupi is an Albanian oriented club, with the supporters being Albanian and also part of the Tifozat Kuq e Zi, an ultras group that supports Albania in international football. Nationalist Albanian rhetoric is often a part of the chanting in league games, although comparing in level of popularity, Shkupi has not matched with Shkëndija.

On 13 February 2011, a large gathering of Vardar supporters, Komiti Skopje, congregated at the Skopje Fortress to protect a construction site on the grounds of the fortress.[2] A large group of the Shvercerat, who were against the government building on the area of the old fortress, broke through the police line and forced the Komiti out of the Skopje Fortress.[3][4][2] The construction site was seized by the Shvercerat[3] until police successfully took control and arrested Omer Bunjaku, a leading figure of the Shvecerat.[4]

The Shvercerat are known for taking rival team supporter's banner. They have succeeded in taking the Kratovo banner of Sileks, the Vojvodi banner of Teteks, Komiti Zapad banner of Vardar, Vinari banner of Vardar Negotino, Prilep banner of Pobeda, Green Front and BFC Hooligans banners of Pelister.[5][6]

Honours

Macedonian First League:

• Winners (1): 2021–22

Macedonian Second League:

• Winners (1): 2014–15

Recent seasons

¹The 2019–20 season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia.[7]

Players

Current squad

As of 29 August 2022

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  MKD Kristijan Naumovski 3 DF  MKD Blerton Sheji 4 DF  GEO Gagi Margvelashvili 5 DF  MKD Xhelil Abdulla 8 MF  MKD Ali Adem 10 MF  CRC Freddy Álvarez 11 FW  MKD Kristijan Trapanovski 12 GK  MKD Artan Ilazi 14 FW  MKD Pepi Gjorgiev 16 DF  KOS Melos Bajrami 18 FW  DEN Ardit Nesimi 19 FW  NGA Sunday Adetunji 20 FW  ALG Walid Hamidi

No. Pos. Nation Player 21 DF  MKD Mario Mladenovski 29 FW  JAM Renaldo Cephas 31 GK  MKD Amar Melichi 32 DF  MKD Angelche Timovski 34 MF  MKD Kristijan Ackovski 37 MF  SEN Albert Diène 47 MF  MKD Umerfaruk Sulejman 70 DF  MKD Sufjan Chajani 77 DF  MKD Vladica Brdarovski 78 MF  MKD Aleks Zlatkov 80 FW  SEN Mamadou Danfa 88 MF  BRA Queven — MF  MKD Besnik Ferati

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

KF Shkupi in European football

Season	Competition	Round	Opponent	Home	Away	Agg.
2018–19	UEFA Europa League	1Q	Rangers	0–0	0–2	0–2
2019–20	UEFA Europa League	1Q	Pyunik	1−2	3−3	4–5
2020–21	UEFA Europa League	1Q	Neftçi	—	1–2	—
2021–22	UEFA Europa Conference League	1Q	Llapi	2−0	1−1	3–1
		2Q	Santa Clara	0–3	0−2	0–5
2022–23	UEFA Champions League	1Q	Lincoln Red Imps	3–0	0−2	3–2
		2Q	Dinamo Zagreb	0−1	2–2	2–3
	UEFA Europa League	3Q	Shamrock Rovers	1−2	1−3	2–5
	UEFA Europa Conference League	PO	Ballkani	1−2	0−1	1–3

References

External links

• Official website (in Albanian)

На других языках

[de] KF Shkupi

[es] Football Club Shkupi

[ru] Шкупи