2008–09 Macedonian First Football League

The 2008–09 Macedonian First League was the 17th season of the Macedonian First Football League, the highest football league of Macedonia. It began on 3 August 2008 and ended on 31 May 2009. Rabotnichki were the defending champions, having won their third title the previous year. Bashkimi withdrew from the championship due to financial reasons.[1]

Macedonian First League
Season2008–09
Dates3 August 2008 –
31 May 2009
ChampionsMakedonija G.P.
1st domestic title
RelegatedNapredok
Champions LeagueMakedonija G.P.
Europa LeagueMilano
Renova
Rabotnichki
Matches played165
Goals scored380 (2.3 per match)
Top goalscorerIvica Gligorovski
(14 goals)
Biggest home winSileks 7–1 Napredok
(16 November 2008)
Biggest away winSileks 0–3 Metalurg
(18 April 2009)
Highest scoringSileks 7–1 Napredok
(16 November 2008)

Promotion and relegation

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At the start of the 2008–09 season

Promoted from 2007–08 Second League

Relegated to 2008–09 Second League

At the end of the 2008–09 season

Promoted from 2008–09 Second League

Relegated to 2009–10 Second League

1 Bashkimi was withdraw from the First League due to financial reasons.

Participating teams

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Location of teams in 2008–09 Macedonian First League
Club Manager City Stadium Capacity
Makedonija G.P.   Ilcho Gjorgioski Skopje Stadion Gjorche Petrov 3,000
Metalurg   Gjore Jovanovski Skopje Stadion Zhelezarnica 4,000
Milano   Bylbyl Sokoli Kumanovo Milano Arena 3,500
Napredok   Dragan Bocheski Kichevo Gradski stadion Kichevo 5,000
Pelister   Alekso Mackov Bitola Stadion Tumbe Kafe 8,000
Pobeda   Nebojša Petrović Prilep Stadion Goce Delchev 15,000
Rabotnichki   Boban Babunski Skopje Philip II Arena[a] 18,104
Renova   Nexhat Shabani Djepchishte Gradski stadion Tetovo 15,000
Sileks   Marjan Sekulovski Kratovo Stadion Sileks 5,000
Horizont Turnovo   Dragan Hristovski Turnovo Stadion Kukush 1,500
Vardar   Zhikica Tasevski Skopje Philip II Arena[a] 18,104
  1. ^ a b The stadium was called Gradski stadion Skopje until January 2009.

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Makedonija G.P. (C) 30 17 10 3 46 15 +31 61 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
2 Milano 30 17 4 9 48 35 +13 55 Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round
3 Renova 30 14 12 4 41 26 +15 54 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round
4 Rabotnichki 30 13 8 9 40 25 +15 47 Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round[a]
5 Vardar 30 11 12 7 35 23 +12 45
6 Horizont Turnovo 30 9 10 11 25 39 −14 37
7 Sileks 30 9 9 12 38 41 −3 36
8 Pobeda 30 8 8 14 31 47 −16 32
9 Metalurg (O) 30 6 11 13 25 35 −10 29 Qualification for the relegation play-offs
10 Pelister (O) 30 7 7 16 25 42 −17 28
11 Napredok (R) 30 4 9 17 26 52 −26 21 Relegation to the Macedonian Second League
Bashkimi[b] (D, R) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Banned from the Macedonian Second League
Source: MacedonianFootball.com, RSSSF.org
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 7) Head-to-head goals scored; 8) Draw; 9) Play-off. (Note: Criteria 2, 3 and 8 is only used if not deciding Champion, teams for UEFA competitions or relegation).
(C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Rabotnichki qualified for the Europa League second qualifying round by winning the 2008–09 Macedonian Football Cup.
  2. ^ Bashkimi withdrew their participation prior to the start of the season due to financial problems.

Results

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The schedule consists of three rounds. During the first two rounds, each team played each other once home and away for a total of 20 matches. The pairings of the third round were then set according to the standings after the first two rounds, giving every team a third game against each opponent for a total of 30 games per team.

Home \ Away MGP MET MIL NAP PEL POB RAB REN SIL TUR VAR MGP MET MIL NAP PEL POB RAB REN SIL TUR VAR
Makedonija 2–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 5–0 2–0 1–1 4–1 4–0 1–0 0–0 3–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 0–0
Metalurg 0–1 0–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–1
Milano 1–0 2–1 5–0 3–0 5–2 1–0 3–1 1–0 3–0 1–3 2–0 4–1 3–1 3–2 1–2 1–0
Napredok 1–0 1–2 3–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–1
Pelister 0–2 2–0 2–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 0–1 3–1 3–1 0–0 2–2 3–1 1–0 2–2 0–0
Pobeda 1–2 3–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 0–0 0–1 1–2 2–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 2–2 2–0 1–1
Rabotnichki 3–3 1–0 4–0 1–1 3–0 2–2 1–3 3–0 4–1 2–0 0–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–2 3–1
Renova 0–3[a] 1–1 1–0 1–0 3–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–1 4–0 4–1 3–0 1–0 2–2
Sileks 1–1 2–2 0–0 7–1 1–0 2–1 0–0 1–1 4–0 0–0 0–3 4–2 1–0 2–3
Horizont Turnovo 1–1 1–0 2–0 3–2 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–0 1–1
Vardar 0–1 1–1 2–4 4–2 3–0 3–0 2–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 0–0 0–2
Source: MacedonianFootball.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. ^ The match of Round 8 was awarded to Makedonija Gjorče Petrov after it was interrupted in 45th minute due to Renova's fans attacking Makedonija's midfielder Georges Ambourouet.

Relegation playoff

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Metalurg5–1Bregalnica Shtip
  • Novakov   55'
Referee: Goran Spirkoski (Prilep)

Pelister3–0Shkëndija 79
Referee: Vladimir Kiprijanovski (Skopje)

Top goalscorers

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Rank Player Club Goals
1   Ivica Gligorovski Milano 14
2   Besart Ibraimi Renova 13
3   Boško Stupić Sileks 12
4   César de Brito Makedonija G.P. 11
  Blagoj Levkov Napredok
6   Boban Janchevski Vardar 10
7   Dragan Dimitrovski Pelister 9
8   Blagoja Geshoski Milano 8
  Gligor Gligorov Sileks
  Hristijan Kirovski Rabotnichki
  Washington Makedonija G.P.

Source: Macedonian Football (in English)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "FK Bashkimi quits from Macedonian football". macedonianfootball.com. 1 August 2008.
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