Billy Celeski Explained

Billy Celeski
Fullname:Blagoja Celeski
Birth Date:14 July 1985
Birth Place:Ohrid, SR Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Preston Lions
Youthclubs2:Bullen Zebras
Youthyears3:2001
Youthclubs3:VIS
Youthyears4:2002–2003
Youthclubs4:AIS
Years1:2004–2005
Caps1:16
Goals1:2
Years2:2005–2006
Clubs2:Perth Glory
Caps2:18
Goals2:0
Years3:2006–2007
Caps3:23
Goals3:5
Years4:2007–2008
Clubs4:Perth Glory
Caps4:14
Goals4:4
Years5:2008–2013
Caps5:91
Goals5:2
Years6:2013–2014
Clubs6:Al-Shaab
Caps6:10
Goals6:0
Years7:2014
Caps7:6
Goals7:0
Years8:2014–2015
Caps8:4
Goals8:0
Years9:2016
Clubs9:Ventforet Kofu
Caps9:13
Goals9:1
Nationalyears1:2004–2005
Nationalteam1:Australia U-20
Nationalcaps1:14
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2006–2007
Nationalteam2:Australia U-23
Nationalcaps2:13
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2009
Nationalteam3:Australia
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Manageryears1:2024–
Managerclubs1:St Albans Dinamo (assistant coach)
Pcupdate:27 September 2016
Ntupdate:12 November 2010

Blagoja "Billy" Celeski (born 14 July 1985) is a retired Macedonian-born Australian footballer. He last played as a midfielder for Ventforet Kofu in the J1 League in 2016.

Club career

Celeski signed for Perth Glory for the 2005–06 A-League season from Bullen Zebras playing 18 times and won the club's media award, but was released at the end of the season. Celeski graduated from the Victorian Institute of Sport and Australian Institute of Sport. In March 2007 Celeski was signed by Perth Glory again. A notable performance, with Perth Glory, in the A-League occurred on Saturday, 15 December 2007 – where Celeski scored a hat-trick in Perth Glory's 4–2 win over Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium.[1]

Afterwards Celeski signed for Melbourne Victory at the end of the 2007–08 season in a one-year deal, post-mutual termination of his Perth Glory contract, primarily to bolster the squad for the AFC Champions League.[2] Celeski scored his first goal for his new club in their 3–2 win over Adelaide United on 31 October 2008.[3] Celeski signed a new 2-year contract with Melbourne Victory on 23 December 2008.

Celeski went on to play a role in the Melbourne team, performing an important role in their title-winning campaign,[4] while also not missing a league match until late 2009.[5] This was to be stopped on 3 September of that year however, when he suffered a season ending anterior cruciate ligament injury, in the opening of a match against Newcastle Jets.[6]

On 20 July 2013, Celeski represented the A-League All Stars in the inaugural A-League All Stars Game against Manchester United, a match in which the A-League All Stars were thrashed 5–1, courtesy of goals from Danny Welbeck, Jesse Lingard and Robin van Persie. Just 4 days later, on 24 July 2013, he represented Melbourne Victory against Liverpool, a match in which the Victory lost 2–0, courtesy of goals from Steven Gerrard and an own-goal from Victory captain Adrian Leijer. He was the only Victory player to have played in both of those exhibition matches.

On 30 July 2013, just a few days after representing the A-League All Stars against Manchester United and representing Melbourne Victory against Liverpool, Billy Celeski transferred from Melbourne Victory to UAE Pro-League club Al-Shaab.[7] [8]

On 24 February 2014, Celeski transferred to Chinese Super League side Liaoning Whowin.[9] On 29 May 2014, he was released along with Artyom Filiposyan.[10]

On 6 August 2014, Celeski signed with the Newcastle Jets.[11] He was reportedly sacked by Jets owner Nathan Tinkler, following a player revolt midway through the season.

On 3 February 2016, Celeski joined J1 League club Ventforet Kofu.[12]

International career

Celeski made his first senior international debut for the Socceroos on 28 January 2009 in an AFC Asian Cup qualifying match versus Indonesia, appearing as a substitute for Tom Pondeljak.[13] He was also a member of the unsuccessful Olyroos squad that took part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Personal life

Celeski was born in Ohrid, SR Macedonia, and moved to Melbourne, Australia as a child.

Honours

Club

Melbourne Victory

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FourFourTwo Australia. 16 December 2007. 5 September 2009. Glory Shock Ends Sydney's Run.
  2. Web site: FourFourTwo Australia. 6 February 2008. 5 September 2009. Celeski Signs up to Victory. 18 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120918151637/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/69658,celeski-signs-up-to-victory.aspx. dead.
  3. Web site: Fox Sports. 31 October 2008. 8 September 2009. Victory the new comeback kings. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20091027170306/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24583973-5000940,00.html. 27 October 2009.
  4. News: The Age. 21 August 2009. 5 September 2009. Celeski a starter as Merrick looks for answers.
  5. Web site: FourFourTwo Australia. 4 September 2009. 5 September 2009. Crocked Celeski Out For a Year. 18 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120918151610/http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/111803,crocked-celeski-out-for-a-year.aspx. dead.
  6. Web site: FoxSports. 4 September 2009. 5 September 2009. Celeski Sidelined For a Year.
  7. Web site: Victory's Celeski heads to UAE - Damien Souness, Omnisport - Football Australia 2013 . 30 July 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927030231/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/victory-s-celeski-heads-to-uae/71693 . 27 September 2013 .
  8. Web site: Victory confirms Celeski move : The World Game on SBS . theworldgame.sbs.com.au . 6 June 2022 . https://archive.today/20130730071837/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1161707/Victory-confirms-Celeski-move . 30 July 2013 . dead.
  9. http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2014-02-24/22517039425.shtml 辽宁官方宣布前澳国脚入队
  10. http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2014-05-29/10057186640.shtml 辽足与双外援解约教练组添新人
  11. Web site: Jets sign Billy Celeski. 6 August 2014. Football Federation Australia. 11 August 2014. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122122/http://www.newcastlejets.com.au/article/jets-sign-billy-celeski/1fnlvcy6yocwk1qzep0fmifg6e. dead.
  12. Web site: Notice of Billy Celeski signing. ja. Ventforet Kofu. 3 February 2016.
  13. Web site: Socceroo 2009 Matches. 5 September 2009.
  14. News: Manchester United thrash A-League All Stars to give David Moyes first win. Jamie. Jackson. 20 July 2013. Sydney. 7 September 2020. The Guardian.