Klubi i Futbollit Shkëndija (Macedonian: Фудбалски клуб Шкендија; lit. 'Football Club Shkëndija'), commonly known asShkëndija, is a professional football club fromTetovo,North Macedonia. Founded in 1979 by members of the local Albanian community, the club is closely associated with red-and-black colours and the ultras groupBallistët.[1] Shkëndija play home matches at the modernEcolog Arena in Tetovo and, since August 2013, have operated under the ownership of the Tetovo-based companyEcolog International.[2]
After being dissolved in the early 1980s, the club was re-established in 1992 followingMacedonian independence and climbed back through the domestic pyramid, earning a first promotion to the top flight in1996–97.[3] Shkëndija won their first national championship in the2010–11 season with 72 points (21–9–3) and lifted the inauguralMacedonian Football Supercup a few weeks later.[4][5] Sustained investment in the mid-2010s turned the club into a regular contender; league titles followed in2017–18,2018–19,2020–21 and2024–25.[6][7][8][9]
Shkëndija's principal rivalry is the Tetovo derby withFK Teteks, which has produced several high-risk fixtures and the2013 cup final abandonment; derbies are also contested withFK Renova,FK Vardar, andKF Shkupi.[18][19][20]
KF Shkëndija was founded on 27 August 1979 inTetovo by ethnic Albanians, emerging from a local multi-sport society and adopting red-and-black as club colours.[21] Starting in the municipal league, the club drew large local support and quickly climbed the Yugoslav pyramid; contemporary club records note the first official match finished 4–0 for Shkëndija against FK Kosmos.[22] As its popularity grew amongAlbanians inSR Macedonia, authorities in socialistYugoslavia came to view the club through a nationalist lens; Shkëndija was dissolved in the early 1980s and remained inactive for the rest of the decade.[23][24] The club was re-established in 1992 followingMacedonian independence and began its climb back through the domestic league system.[25]
FollowingMacedonian independence in 1991, Shkëndija was re-established in 1992 and restarted in the lower regional leagues.[21] By 1994–95 the club was competing in theSecond League (West), finishing runners-up behind Makedonija Skopje.[26] The following season Shkëndija won the West group and earned promotion, appearing in the1996–97 First League before being relegated at the end of that campaign. After several seasons yo-yoing between the top two tiers, Shkëndija again won the Second League (West) in 1999–2000 to return to the top flight. The club also made its first national cup final in2005–06, losing 3–2 toMakedonija G.P. in Skopje.[27] Shkëndija captured the Second League title again in 2009–10 to earn promotion ahead of their breakthrough 2010–11 championship season.[28] During this period the ultras groupBallistët was formally established (1992) and became a defining feature of the club's support.
In the2010–11 season, newly promoted Shkëndija won their first national title, finishing top with 72 points (21–9–3).[4][29] The triumph brought a first appearance inUEFA competitions, where Shkëndija facedFK Partizan in the2011–12 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, losing 0–5 on aggregate (0–4 in Belgrade, 0–1 in Skopje).[30][31] Domestically, Shkëndija won the inauguralMacedonian Football Supercup by defeatingMetalurg 2–1 on 24 July 2011 at the national arena in Skopje.[5] The club finished third in the2011–12 league with 66 points.[32] The following year brought turbulence: in September 2012 UEFA temporarily withheld Shkëndija's European prize money under new financial-fair-play measures,[33] and on 1 August 2013 the Tetovo-based company Ecolog International formally took charge of the club after a supporter-led campaign amid financial strain.[2]
During the2012–13 season, Shkëndija was embroiled in financial difficulties and as a result, many of its players left the club earlier in the summer. The Shkëndija supporters, the Ballistët, began a social media campaign requesting Ecolog to take over Shkëndija.[34] Albanian international,Lorik Cana and Swiss international,Xherdan Shaqiri also joined the campaign with the supporters.[34] On 31 July 2013, Lazim Destani, father of Ecolog founder and chairman, Nazif Destani, announcedEcolog International will take charge of Shkëndija.[34][35]
With increased investment, Shkëndija rebuilt its squad and cycled through several managers in the following years.Shpëtim Duro took over in December 2015 and led the club until December 2016.[36][37] After a brief return by Jeton Bekjiri and a short stint byBruno Akrapović,Thomas Brdarić was appointed in January 2017. He was succeeded byQatip Osmani, with Osmani eventually leading the team to its most dominant period. Under Osmani, Shkëndija won back-to-back league titles in2017–18 and2018–19, and completed the domestic double in 2018.
In October 2019, Albanian coachErnest Gjoka took over and guided Shkëndija to their fourth league title in the2020–21 season. Gjoka departed in August 2021 and was succeeded byBruno Akrapović, who led the club until April 2022.Artim Šakiri briefly managed the club before Qatip Osmani returned in September 2022 and remained until May 2023.
In June 2023, formerMacedonian international Ardian Nuhiu was appointed as manager. He led the team through the first half of the 2023–24 season before departing in December 2023. On 13 May 2025, Shkëndija secured theMacedonian First League title for the fifth time in the club's history following a 2–1 home victory overFK Rabotnicki. The Tetovo-based club was declared champion with two rounds remaining in the season.[38][39]
In July 2025, Shkëndija eliminatedFCSB 3–1 on aggregate (1–0 at theToše Proeski Arena in Skopje and 2–1 at theArena Națională in Bucharest) in the2025–26 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, advancing to the third qualifying round for the first time; the result was reported as a historic upset for theTetovo club.[40][41][42][43] UnderUEFA's new format, teams losing in the UCL play-off round move into theUEFA Europa League league phase; thus, reaching the play-off would guarantee Shkëndija a first-ever appearance in a majorEuropean league phase.[44]
In the third qualifying round of the2025–26 UEFA Champions League, Shkëndija were eliminated byQarabağ with a 6–1 aggregate score. After a narrow 1–0 defeat away, they suffered a heavy 5–1 loss in the return leg inBaku, confirming elimination at this stage.[45]
Shkëndija moved into theUEFA Europa League play-off round, where they facedLudogorets Razgrad. The Tetovo side put up a strong fight in the first leg, winning 2–1 at home. However, their campaign ended after a 4–1 defeat (after extra time) in the return leg in Razgrad, resulting in a 5–3 aggregate loss.[46] Despite the elimination, Shkëndija's European journey continued—instead of exiting completely, they secured a place in theUEFA Europa Conference Leaguegroup stage, marking the first time the club would compete in a major Europeanleague format.[47]
Notable incidents include the abandonment of the2012–13 Macedonian Cup final between Shkëndija andFK Teteks amid nationalist chanting (the rematch was ordered behind closed doors), a 19 October 2014 display during the derby withFK Vardar showing a banner reading"They are cancer of Europe – UEFA do you need more?!" in reference to the Serbia–Albania match controversy,[50] and a mass fight on 21 February 2016 near Skopje involving Shkëndija fans andBudućnost Podgorica’s ultrasVarvari.[51][52][53]
In April 2025, theFootball Federation of Macedonia sanctioned Shkëndija with several home matches behind closed doors and a fine following improper fan conduct; the punishment was later reduced on appeal.[54][55] Despite periodic controversy, Ballistët remain central to Shkëndija's matchday culture and the club'sAlbanian fan base inNorth Macedonia.[49]
Shkëndija play home matches at theEcolog Arena inTetovo, formerly known as Tetovo City Stadium (Macedonian:Gradski stadion Tetovo). The ground is owned by the Municipality of Tetovo and operated byEcolog International; it dates to 1981 and has a capacity of about 15,000.[56]
In late 2023 the Municipality of Tetovo gave the go-ahead for a major reconstruction/new-stadium project (estimated at €9.7 million) intended to bring the venue to international standard and host national-team matches in Tetovo.[57] A public tender for reconstruction followed,[58] and on 18 March 2024 the municipality (via NP "Transport Tetovë") signed a contract with "E-Properties," a company owned by Ecolog International, covering construction/reconstruction of the city stadium, sports centre and football field (contract value €11.5 million).[59] Local media reporting on the presented concept referred to the project as "Arena Tetovare" and indicated a capacity around 12,000 seats, to be delivered with Ecolog's backing and municipal support.[60][61]
In mid-2025 KOHA reported that renovation works at the city stadium were scheduled to begin in the autumn, with Shkëndija meanwhile staging some UEFA fixtures at Skopje's nationalToše Proeski Arena.[62][63]
Shkëndija's traditional colours are red and black, adopted at the club's founding and closely tied to the Albanian community identity in Tetovo.[21] The home kit has typically featured red-and-black striping, while recent away kits are predominantly white; third kits vary by season.[64][65] According to kit databases, Shkëndija have wornMacron since 2015 (previouslyNike).[66]
The club crest is an elongated oval with a black border: the upper field is white with the inscription “KF SHKËNDIJA,” a classic football appears centrally, and a red scroll with “TETOVË 1979” overlays red-and-black vertical stripes in the lower half. In the 2010s a version of the badge began to be used with a gold five-pointed star above the oval.[67]
Shkëndija's principal rivalry is the Tetovo derby against city neighboursFK Teteks. The match carries an ethnic dimension (Teteks supported largely byethnic Macedonians, Shkëndija byethnic Albanians) and is classed amongNorth Macedonia's established derbies.[68] Encounters have frequently been designated "high risk" and have seen crowd incidents and federation sanctions, including a disorder-marred league meeting in August 2010 and subsequent punishments for both clubs.[69][70] The rivalry peaked at national level in the2013 Cup final, which was abandoned after 20 minutes due to nationalist chanting and replayed behind closed doors; Teteks won the re-staged final on penalties.[71][72]
Shkëndija also contests a local derby withFK Renova, another Tetovo-area club; media and match reports regularly describe their meetings as a "Tetovo derby".[73][74][75]
At national level, matches withFK Vardar are often framed as a leading title-race rivalry and have periodically been played under sanctions. Notable flashpoints include the 19 October 2014 game when Shkëndija's ultras displayed a provocative banner about Serbian hooliganism, and anFootball Federation of Macedonia ruling for one match behind closed doors after incidents in the Vardar derby in 2016.[76][77] The fixture has also produced emphatic scorelines in Shkëndija's favour in the 2010s.[78][79]
Shkëndija also maintains a heated rivalry withKF Shkupi of Skopje. Because both clubs draw predominantlyAlbanian support—Ballistët (Shkëndija) and "Shvercerat" (Shkupi)—local media often label the fixture the "Albanian derby," and authorities frequently classify it as high-risk.[80][81] A notable flashpoint came in theMacedonian Cup quarter-final on 9 November 2022 atČair, when the match was abandoned in the 9th minute after a pitch invasion moments after Dashmir Elezi had put Shkëndija ahead; theFootball Federation of Macedonia awarded a 3–0 win to Shkëndija and suspended Shkupi's ground.[82][83] Results have swung both ways: Shkupi beat Shkëndija 2–0 in Kičevo on 19 February 2023, while Shkëndija won 2–0 in Tetovo on 27 November 2024; several meetings have ended level, including a 1–1 draw in September 2021.[84][85][86]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Shkëndija made their European debut in the2011–12 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, losing 0–5 on aggregate toFK Partizan.[91][92] After early exits in theUEFA Europa League (2012–13 v. Portadown; 2014–15 v. Zimbru), the club's first notable run came in2015–16, when they drew both legs withAberdeen (1–1 agg.) but went out on away goals in Q1.[93]
Shkëndija twice reached the Europa League play-off round. In2016–17 they advanced to the play-offs but lost 1–6 on aggregate toGent.[94][95] In2017–18 they again reached the play-offs after three qualifying wins, falling 0–7 on aggregate toMilan.[96][97]
In the2022–23 qualifiers, Shkëndija beatArarat Yerevan andValmiera to reach Q3, where they drew 2–2 on aggregate withAIK but were eliminated on penalties in Skopje.[105][106]
In2025–26 qualifying, Shkëndija beatThe New Saints in Q1 and produced an upset againstFCSB in Q2 (3–1 agg.) to reach Q3, where they were paired withQarabağ.[107][108] The result guaranteed the club their first league or group stage involvement in European competitions.
^Season abandoned on 4 June 2020 due to COVID-19; table frozen after 23 matches. Vardar declared champions; no relegation. European places assigned by FFM via licensing: Sileks to UCL; Shkëndija, Renova and Shkupi to UEL.[88][89][90]