2015–16 Macedonian First Football League

Macedonian First League

Season	2015–16
Matches played	152
Goals scored	400 (2.63 per match)
Top goalscorer	Besart Ibraimi (24 goals)
Biggest home win	Vardar 6–0 Mladost
Biggest away win	Mladost 0–5 Bregalnica
Highest scoring	Renova 5–2 Horizont Turnovo
Longest winning run	9 games Shkendija
Longest unbeaten run	15 games Rabotnichki
Longest winless run	11 games Mladost
Longest losing run	10 games Mladost
← 2014–15 2016–17 → All statistics correct as of 4 May 2016.

The 2015–16 Macedonian First League is the 24th season of the Macedonian First Football League, the highest football league of Macedonia. It began on 9 August 2015 and will end in 19 May 2016.

The league will be contested by 10 teams. Vardar are the defending champions, having won their ninth title in 2014–15.

Promotion and relegation

At the start of the 2015–16 season Promoted from 2014–15 Second League Shkupi (Winners) Mladost Carev Dvor (Runners-up) Relegated to 2015–16 Second League Pelister (9th) Teteks (10th)

At the end of the 2015–16 season Promoted from 2015–16 Second League TBD (Winners) TBD (Runners-up) Relegated to 2016–17 Second League Metalurg Skopje (9th or 10th) Mladost Carev Dvor (9th or 10th)

Participating teams

Skopje

Bregalnica

Mladost

Renova

Shkëndija

Sileks

Turnovo

Skopje clubs:

Metalurg
Rabotnički
Shkupi
Vardar

Location of teams in 2015–16 Macedonian First League

Club	City	Stadium	Capacity
Bregalnica Štip	Štip	Gradski stadion Štip	4,000
Metalurg Skopje	Skopje	Železarnica Stadium	3,000
Mladost Carev Dvor	Carev Dvor	SRC Biljanini Izvori	2,500
Rabotnički	Skopje	Philip II Arena	33,460
Renova	Džepčište	Gradski stadion Tetovo	15,000
Shkëndija	Tetovo	Gradski stadion Tetovo	15,000
Shkupi	Skopje	Čair Stadium	6,000
Sileks	Kratovo	Gradski stadion Kratovo	1,800
Horizont Turnovo	Turnovo	Stadion Kukuš	1,500
Vardar	Skopje	Philip II Arena	33,460

Personnel and kits

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

Team	Manager	Captain	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
Bregalnica	Stojanov, IgorIgor Stojanov	Zdravkov, GoranGoran Zdravkov	Derbystar	Quehenberger
Metalurg	Mackov, AleksoAlekso Mackov	Krstev, MileMile Krstev	Macron	Makstil
Mladost	Cvetanoski, ZdravkoZdravko Cvetanoski	Ristevski, AleksandarAleksandar Ristevski	Legea
Rabotnichki	Franc, TomislavTomislav Franc	Ilijoski, BažeBaže Ilijoski	Zeus
Renova	Osmani, QatipQatip Osmani	Nuhi, FisnikFisnik Nuhi	Jako	Renova
Shkendija	Akrapović, BrunoBruno Akrapović	Hasani, FerhanFerhan Hasani	Nike	Ecolog
Shkupi	Ganiu, VisarVisar Ganiu	Zendeli, SuatSuat Zendeli	Lotto	Čair Municipality
Sileks	Jakovljević, MiroslavMiroslav Jakovljević	Georgiev, NikolčoNikolčo Georgiev	Legea
Horizont Turnovo	Nikolovski, JaneJane Nikolovski	Pandev, SaškoSaško Pandev	Jako	Vitaminka
Vardar	Sedloski, GoceGoce Sedloski	Grnčarov, BobanBoban Grnčarov	Hummel	Zdravje

Regular season

The first 27 Rounds comprise the first phase of the season, also called the Regular season. In the first phase, every team plays against each other team twice on a home-away basis till all the teams have played two matches against each other. The table standings at the end of the Regular season determine the group in which each team is going to play in the Play-offs.

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Vardar	27	20	5	2	59	15	+44	65	Qualification to Championship round
2	Shkëndija	27	19	6	2	62	21	+41	63
3	Sileks	27	11	7	9	32	32	0	40
4	Shkupi	27	9	11	7	28	25	+3	38
5	Rabotnički	27	8	12	7	32	26	+6	36
6	Bregalnica Štip	27	9	6	12	38	43	−5	33
7	Horizont Turnovo	27	8	9	10	32	42	−10	33	Qualification to Relegation round
8	Renova	27	8	7	12	33	37	−4	31
9	Metalurg Skopje	27	4	4	19	20	48	−28	16
10	Mladost Carev Dvor	27	5	1	21	18	65	−47	16

Source: MacedonianFootball.com, Soccerway
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 teams for championship or relegation round).^[1]

Results

Matches 1–18 Home ╲ Away BRE MET MLA RAB REN ŠKE SHK SIL TUR VAR Bregalnica Štip 0–2 2–3 1–0 3–2 0–2 1–2 1–1 3–0 0–2 Metalurg 0–3 1–2 0–0 1–0 0–3 0–1 1–3 2–2 0–1 Mladost Carev Dvor 1–4 1–5 0–3 2–1 1–1 0–2 3–1 2–1 0–1 Rabotnički 0–0 2–0 2–0 1–1 2–4 1–1 2–0 4–2 1–1 Renova 1–1 2–0 1–0 3–1 0–0 1–1 2–1 5–2 0–0 Shkëndija 5–1 2–0 3–1 1–1 3–1 4–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 Shkupi 0–0 0–0 5–0 1–1 3–0 0–2 0–0 1–1 0–3 Sileks 1–0 3–1 3–0 0–0 1–0 3–1 1–0 1–1 0–3 Horizont Turnovo 2–0 1–1 1–0 2–2 4–0 0–3 0–0 0–0 2–1 Vardar 3–1 1–0 6–0 2–1 2–0 0–0 2–2 4–0 5–1 Updated to games played on 10 December 2015. Source: MacedonianFootball.com 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 19–27 Home ╲ Away BRE MET MLA RAB REN ŠKE SHK SIL TUR VAR Bregalnica Štip 4–1 2–1 0–3 2–0 Metalurg 2–0 1–2 0–4 0–1 Mladost Carev Dvor 0–5 0–1 0–1 0–3 Rabotnički 2–1 0–0 0–1 1–1 2–0 Renova 3–0 4–1 3–0 1–1 Shkëndija 2–0 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–0 Shkupi 2–2 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 Sileks 2–2 3–0 0–0 1–0 3–2 Turnovo 3–1 1–0 2–1 0–1 Vardar 4–0 2–1 1–0 4–1 1–1 Updated to games played on 17 April 2016. Source: MacedonianFootball.com 1 ^^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column. Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second phase

The second phase are the so called Play-off Rounds which is divided in two groups: Championship and Relegation. The top 6 ranked teams on the table after the Regular Season qualify for the Championship group, while the bottom 4 advance to the Relegation group.

Championship round

In the Championship round, each team plays against every other one only once, making 5 games in total. Records from the first phase are carried over. Teams play each other once with each team playing five games in this round.^[2]

Championship round table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Vardar (X)	30	23	5	2	64	17	+47	74	Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round
2	Shkëndija (X)	30	21	6	3	68	23	+45	69	Qualification to Europa League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 1]
3	Sileks (Q)	30	12	7	11	34	36	−2	43
4	Rabotnički	30	10	12	8	36	29	+7	42
5	Shkupi[lower-alpha 2]	30	9	11	10	28	29	−1	38
6	Bregalnica Štip	30	10	6	14	41	48	−7	36

Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2016. Source: MacedonianFootball.com, Soccerway
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 or teams for UEFA competitions).^[4]
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated; (X) Assured of at least Europa League, but may still qualify for Champions League.
Notes:

1. Since both finalists of the 2015–16 Macedonian Football Cup (Shkëndija and Rabotnički) currently are amongst top four of teams eligible for European Competitions, Rabotnički currently qualifies for Europa League first qualifying round. This because if one of the top three of the eligible teams would win the cup (in this case Shkëndija), the spot in first qualifying round would be given to the fourth eligible team (Rabotnički).
2. Shkupi are ineligible for European Competitions, as they have not existed in their current form for at least three years.^[3]

Results

Home ╲ Away	BRE	RAB	ŠKE	SHK	SIL	VAR
Bregalnica Štip				2–0
Rabotnički					2–0
Shkëndija	3–0	3–1
Shkupi		0–1
Sileks				1–0		1–2
Vardar	2–1		1–0

Updated to games played on 30 April 2016.
Source: MacedonianFootball.com
1 ^{^} The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Relegation round

In the Relegation round, each team plays twice against every opponent on a home-away basis. Records from the first phase are carried over. Teams play each other twice with each team playing six games in this round.^[2]

Relegation round table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Relegation
7	Horizont Turnovo	31	11	10	10	40	42	−2	43
8	Renova	31	11	8	12	44	42	+2	41	Qualification to Relegation play-offs
9	Mladost Carev Dvor (R)	31	6	1	24	22	73	−51	19	Relegation to Macedonian Second Football League
10	Metalurg Skopje (R)	31	4	4	23	23	61	−38	16

Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2016. Source: MacedonianFootball.com, Soccerway
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 teams for relegation).^[5]
(R) Relegated.

Results

Home ╲ Away	MET	MLA	REN	TUR
Metalurg			2–4	0–4
Mladost Carev Dvor	2–0			0–2
Renova	3–1	4–2
Horizont Turnovo		2–0	0–0

Updated to games played on 4 May 2016.
Source: MacedonianFootball.com
1 ^{^} The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 30 April 2016

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Besart Ibraimi	Shkendija	24
2	Sashko Pandev	Horizont Turnovo	16
3	Bazhe Ilijoski	Rabotnichki	13
4	Ferhan Hasani	Shkendija	11
	Igor Nedeljković	Sileks
6	Dejan Blazhevski	Vardar	10
7	Argjent Gafuri	Renova	9
	Marjan Radeski	Shkendija
9	Armend Alimi	Shkendija	8
	Angel Nacev	Bregalnica

• Players whose names are written with Italic letters played only in the first half of the season.

Source: Soccerway

See also

• 2015–16 Macedonian Football Cup
• 2015–16 Macedonian Second Football League
• 2015–16 Macedonian Third Football League

References

1. "First League 2015/2016 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
2. "First League: Season Rules". scoresway.com. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
3. "Шкупи нема право да игра во Европа!" [Shkupi no right to play in Europe!] (in Macedonian). Sportmedia.mk. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
4. "First League 2015/2016 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
5. "First League 2015/2016 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 19 August 2015.

External links

• Football Federation of Macedonia (Macedonian)
• MacedonianFootball.com (Macedonian) (English)