Filip Despotovski

Filip Despotovski (Macedonian: Филип Дecпoтoвcки; born 18 November 1982 inSkopje^[1]) is a Macedonianfootball midfielder who plays forGostivar.

Filip Despotovski
Personal information
Full name	Filip Despotovski
Date of birth	(1982-11-18)18 November 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth	Skopje,SR Macedonia,Yugoslavia
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2002	Cementarnica	19	(4)
2002–2003	OFK Beograd	20	(1)
2003–2004	Napredok	6	(1)
2004	Vardar	1	(0)
2004–2005	Bežanija	11	(2)
2005–2006	Mačva Šabac	14	(3)
2006–2007	Ethnikos Piraeus	18	(0)
2007–2008	Vardar	15	(0)
2008–2010	Vorskla Poltava	48	(2)
2010–2011	Inter Baku	12	(1)
2011–2012	Rabotnički	20	(2)
2012–2013	Pierikos	12	(0)
2013	Teteks	11	(0)
2013–2015	Vardar	52	(3)
2015	Teteks	14	(1)
2016	Akademija Pandev
2017–2018	Gostivar	8	(2)
International career^‡
2009–2012	Macedonia	18	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 September 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 February 2012

Professional career

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Early career

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Filip Despotovski started his career in Macedonia inFK Vardar's youth school,SSK Mladinec,^[1] but would sign his first professional contract withCementarnica 55.^[1]

In his first professional season, Despotovski made 19 appearances and scored 4 goals for Cementarnica 55, which immediately earned him a transfer to prominentSerbian clubOFK Beograd in summer 2002.^[1]^[2]

In his first season with OFK, Despotovski made 17 appearances and scored 1 goal^[2] to help the team to a third-place league finish. The following season though, Despotovski was no longer a starter,^[2] and he would move on from the club. Over the next two-and-a-half seasons, Despotovski played for Macedonian clubNapredok Kičevo and Serbian clubsFK Bežanija andMačva Šabac.^[1]^[2]

Ethnikos and Vardar

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In 2006, Despotovski landed in Greece withBeta Ethniki clubEthnikos Piraeus,^[2] and the move proved to be a turning point in his career. After one season with Ethnikos, FK Vardar, Macedonia's most prominent club, took notice of Despotovski's impressive form and signed him to a contract in summer 2007.^[1]^[2]

Despotovski's rapid growth as a player continued at Vardar, and as such he did not remain at the club very long. Despotovski was noted as Vardar's best player in the first half of the 2007–08 season,^[1] and during the winter transfer periodUkrainian Premier League clubVorskla Poltava stepped in and acquired his services from Vardar.^[1]^[2]

FK Vorskla

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In Despotovski's first full season with Vorskla, the team won theUkrainian Cup for the first time in club history;^[3] Despotovski played all 90 minutes in Vorskla's 1–0 defeat ofFC Shakhtar Donetsk in the Cup Final.^[3] The Cup victory earned Despotovski the distinction of being the fifth Macedonian international to win a Cup title, afterGoran Pandev,Goran Popov,Zlatko Tanevski andArtim Sakiri.^[3] In league play, Despotovski made 25 appearances and scored 1 goal;^[2] Vorskla went undefeated in his first league 16 appearances.^[1]

On 20 August 2009, Despotovski made his first appearance in European competition when Vorskla took onPrimeira Liga clubBenfica in theplay-off round of the2009–10 UEFA Europa League.^[4] Despotovski appeared in the second leg of the tie against Benfica as well; the Portuguese team would advance with a 5-2 aggregate victory.^[5] In league play, Despotovski made 14 appearances and scored 1 goal in 2009–10.^[2]

FC Inter Baku

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Despotovski signed a 1-year deal with Inter Baku on 30 August 2010.^[6]

International career

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2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

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On 6 June 2009, Despotovski made his debut for theMacedonian National Team againstNorway in2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA Group 9);^[7] the Norway match was Macedonia's fifth of their eight total qualifying matches. Following his debut, Despotovski made two more appearances—both starts—in Group 9 qualification, againstIceland^[8] andScotland.^[9]