Gragjanski Skopje
Encyclopedia
Gragjanski Skopje was a football club from Skopje
. The club's major achievements were the two participations in the Yugoslav First League
during the period of 1923 till 1940. Between 1941 and 1947 it was called Macedonia Skopje (Bulgarian
: Македония Скопие, Macedonian
: Македониja Cкoпje).
from the present day territory of Republic of Macedonia
in the period between 1923 until the WWII
. They competed in the local Vardar Royal League (Yugoslav regional tier) during the period of 1923 till 1940, winning all the championships. They were 17 time champions which is the all time record.
The club ceased to exist in 1941 at beginning of the World War II
and the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia. Most of the region of the then Vardarska Banovina was occupied by the Bulgaria
n forces. Most of the players of Gragjanski just as their coach Illes Spitz
joined the FC Makedonija, a newly formed club by the Bulgarian authorities by the merge of several previously existing clubs in Skopje: Gragjanski, SSK (Skopski sport klub), ŽSK, Pobeda and Jug. The club competed in the Bulgarian Championship between 1941 and 1944 having archived to finish second in 1942, by loosing the final against Levski
.
After the end of the war, in 1947, the club was merged with Pobeda to become the newly formed FK Vardar
which will be the most successful club from Macedonia within the Yugoslav First League
.
Yugoslav First League
Gragjanski achieved to participate twice in the national top league.
In 1940, after the formation of a separate Croatian league, the club participated in the 1940–41 Serbian League where it finished at 8th place among 10 teams, with 14 points in 17 matches (the last match was not played), with 5 wins, 4 draws, and 8 losses; goal difference of 24-37.
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
. The club's major achievements were the two participations in the Yugoslav First League
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
during the period of 1923 till 1940. Between 1941 and 1947 it was called Macedonia Skopje (Bulgarian
Bulgarian language
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the...
: Македония Скопие, Macedonian
Macedonian language
Macedonian is a South Slavic language spoken as a first language by approximately 2–3 million people principally in the region of Macedonia but also in the Macedonian diaspora...
: Македониja Cкoпje).
History
Gragjanski was the most successful and the only club to participate in the Yugoslav First LeagueYugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
from the present day territory of Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
in the period between 1923 until the WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. They competed in the local Vardar Royal League (Yugoslav regional tier) during the period of 1923 till 1940, winning all the championships. They were 17 time champions which is the all time record.
The club ceased to exist in 1941 at beginning of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia. Most of the region of the then Vardarska Banovina was occupied by the Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n forces. Most of the players of Gragjanski just as their coach Illes Spitz
Illés Spitz
Illés Spitz was a Hungarian international football player and manager.- Playing career :...
joined the FC Makedonija, a newly formed club by the Bulgarian authorities by the merge of several previously existing clubs in Skopje: Gragjanski, SSK (Skopski sport klub), ŽSK, Pobeda and Jug. The club competed in the Bulgarian Championship between 1941 and 1944 having archived to finish second in 1942, by loosing the final against Levski
PFC Levski Sofia
"Levski Sofia" redirects here. For the sports club, see Levski Sofia .PFC Levski Sofia, otherwise simply known as Levski or Levski Sofia, is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria...
.
After the end of the war, in 1947, the club was merged with Pobeda to become the newly formed FK Vardar
FK Vardar
FK Vardar Skopje is a Macedonian football club based in the capital city of Skopje. FK Vardar is currently a member of the 1-MFL. FK Vardar is the most popular and renowned Macedonian football club both domestically and abroad, having won 6 national championships and 6 national cups...
which will be the most successful club from Macedonia within the Yugoslav First League
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
.
Yugoslav First LeagueYugoslav First LeagueThe Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
participations
Gragjanski achieved to participate twice in the national top league.- 1935-36 (Cup system):
- 1/8 Finals: Gragjanski Skopje - Građanski Niš (home: 2-1 ;away: 4-0 )
- 1/4 Finals: Gragjanski Skopje - Slavija Sarajevo (home: 1-10 ;away: 2-1 )
- 1938-39 (League system):
- 10th place among 12 teams, 16 points from 22 matches; 7 wins; 2 draws; 13 losses; goal difference of 31-57.
In 1940, after the formation of a separate Croatian league, the club participated in the 1940–41 Serbian League where it finished at 8th place among 10 teams, with 14 points in 17 matches (the last match was not played), with 5 wins, 4 draws, and 8 losses; goal difference of 24-37.
Vardar regional league titles
Gragjanski won all regional titles disputed between 1923 and 1940.- 1923
- 1924
- 1925
- 1926
- 1927
- 1928
- 1929
- 1930
- 1931
- 1932
- 1933
- 1935
- 1936
- 1937
- 1938
- 1939
- 1940
Notable former players
- Kiril SimonovskiKiril SimonovskiKiril Simonovski was a Macedonian footballer . He played top league football for Gragjanski Skopje, FK Vardar and FK Partizan....
- played as a left defenderDefender (association football)Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Gragjanski and FC Macedonia in the period 1938-1945 having afterwards played for Partizan BelgradePartizan BelgradeJugoslovensko Sportsko Društvo Partizan, commonly abbreviated as JSD Partizan is a sports association from Belgrade, Serbia. Founded on 4th October 1945, it's an umbrella organization featuring 26 clubs in 26 sports.-Sports/Clubs:-History:...
until 1950 where he won two national championships and one cup. After retiring, he became a notable coach having worked mostly with top league clubs in Yugoslavia and Greece. In 1942 he played 2 matches for BulgariaBulgaria national football teamThe FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
, and between 1946 and 1947 he played 10 matches having scored once for YugoslaviaYugoslavia national football teamThe Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
.
- During the period of the WWII, the Bulgarian national teamBulgaria national football teamThe FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
was strenghtened with several players from the club, namely Kiril SimonovskiKiril SimonovskiKiril Simonovski was a Macedonian footballer . He played top league football for Gragjanski Skopje, FK Vardar and FK Partizan....
(named Kiril Simeonov at that period), Todor Atanaskov, Stoyan Bogoev, Atanas Lukov, Blagoy Simeonov, Bogdan Vidov and Lyuben Yanev.
External sources
- Građanski Skopje at fkvojvodina.com