FK Sileks explained

Clubname:	FK Sileks
Upright:	0.8
Fullname:	Fudbalski klub Sileks Kratovo / Фудбалски клуб Силекс Кратово
Nickname:	Кратери (Kratovo Boys)
Ground:	Gradski stadion Sileks
Capacity:	1,800
Chairman:	Mite Andonovski
Manager:	Aleksandar Vasoski
League:	Macedonian First League
Season:	2023–24
Position:	Macedonian First League, 5th
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Socks1:	CC0000
Pattern La2:	_whiteshoulders
Pattern B2:	_whiteshoulders
Pattern Ra2:	_whiteshoulders
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Website:	https://www.fcsileks.mk

FK Sileks (mk|ФК Силекс) is a football club based in Kratovo, North Macedonia, who play in the Macedonian First League.

History

FK Sileks Kratovo, a football club from Kratovo, Macedonia, has a rich history that dates back several decades, with significant achievements, memorable moments, and prominent figures shaping its legacy. Here's an overview of the club's history:

Early Years

FK Sileks was founded in 1965, during the Yugoslav period, and initially competed in the regional leagues. The club was named after the nearby Sileks lead and zinc mine, which played a significant role in the local economy and provided financial backing for the team. Despite being a small club, Sileks gradually built a reputation for itself within the regional competitions.

Rise to promience

The club's first major breakthrough came in the early 1990s, after North Macedonia declared its independence from Yugoslavia. In 1992, the Macedonian First Football League was established, and FK Sileks became one of the founding members. Under the guidance of Ljubislav Ivanov "Singo," a key figure in the club's history, Sileks quickly rose to prominence.

During the 1990s, FK Sileks established itself as one of the strongest teams in the Macedonian league. The club won its first Macedonian First League title in the 1995-96 season and successfully defended the title in the following two seasons, achieving a historic "three-peat" by winning the league in 1996-97 and 1997-98. This period of dominance cemented FK Sileks as one of the top teams in the country.

Domestic Success

FK Sileks' success wasn't limited to the league. The club also enjoyed considerable success in the Macedonian Football Cup, winning the competition three times—in 1994, 1997, and 2021. The 1994 Cup victory was particularly notable, as it was the first time the club won a major domestic trophy.

In addition to its three league titles and three cup victories, FK Sileks also won the Macedonian Super Cup in 1997, further solidifying its status as one of the country's top football clubs during the 1990s and early 2000s.

European Competitions

FK Sileks' domestic success also gave the club the opportunity to participate in European competitions. Over the years, Sileks has competed in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and the UEFA Europa Conference League. While the club has yet to achieve significant success in Europe, its participation in these competitions has brought international exposure to the team and the town of Kratovo.

Challenges and Rebuilding

After a period of sustained success in the 1990s, FK Sileks faced several challenges in the early 2000s. Financial difficulties, changes in management, and the rise of other football clubs in North Macedonia led to a decline in the club's fortunes. Sileks was relegated from the Macedonian First League in the early 2000s and spent several seasons in the second tier.

However, the club's resilience and strong local support enabled it to rebuild. Sileks returned to the Macedonian First League and began to re-establish itself as a competitive team. In recent years, the club has once again become a regular participant in the top flight of Macedonian football.

Recent Achievements

In 2020-2021, FK Sileks enjoyed a resurgence, winning the Macedonian Football Cup for the first time in nearly two decades. This victory was a testament to the club's enduring spirit and ability to overcome adversity.

Home Stadium

FK Sileks plays its home matches at the Gradski Stadion Kratovo, a small but passionate venue with a capacity of 1,800 spectators. The stadium has witnessed many of the club's historic moments and continues to be a fortress for the team.

Notable Figures

- Ljubislav Ivanov "Singo" A key figure in the club's history, Singo's leadership during the 1990s was instrumental in FK Sileks' rise to prominence.

- Nedzmedin Memedi The club's all-time leading goal scorer, Memedi's contributions on the pitch have made him a legend at FK Sileks.

Rivals

FK Sileks has several rivalries in Macedonian football, most notably with FK Vardar Skopje, FK Pelister Bitola, FK Pobeda Prilep, FK Renova, FK Shkëndija Tetovo, FK Bregalnica Štip and FK Rudar Probištip. These matches, often fiercely contested, have added to the club's rich history and tradition.

Conclusion

FK Sileks Kratovo's history is one of resilience, success, and passion. From its humble beginnings to its rise as one of North Macedonia's top football clubs, Sileks has left an indelible mark on the country's football landscape. Despite the challenges it has faced, the club remains a symbol of pride for the people of Kratovo and continues to aspire for greatness on the domestic and international stage.

Stadium

City Stadium Sileks (Macedonian: Градски стадион Силекс-Кратово) is a multi-purpose stadium in Kratovo, North Macedonia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of FK Sileks. The stadium holds 1,800 seats

Honours

Macedonian First League
- Winners (3): 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1997–98
- Runners-up (6): 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2003–04 and 2019–20
Macedonian Second League
- Winners (2): 2013–14 and 2021–22
Macedonian Republic Cup
- Winners (2): 1988–89 and 1989–90
Macedonian Football Cup
- Winners (3): 1993–94, 1996–97 and 2020–21
- Runners-up (2): 1994–95 and 2021–22

Recent seasons

Season	League									Cup	European competitions
Season	Division	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pos
1992–93	1. MFL	34	17	6	11	72	50	40	2nd
1993–94	1. MFL	30	18	8	4	56	19	44	2nd	W
1994–95	1. MFL	30	18	6	6	66	28	60	2nd	RU
1995–96	1. MFL	28	21	7	0	74	20	70	bgcolor=gold	1st	R2	Cup Winners' Cup	R1
1996–97	1. MFL	26	19	5	2	83	23	62	bgcolor=gold	1st	W	UEFA Cup	PR
1997–98	1. MFL	25	15	3	7	40	21	48	bgcolor=gold	1st	SF	Champions League	QR1
1998–99	1. MFL	26	17	6	3	66	22	57	2nd	SF	Champions League	QR1
1999–00	1. MFL	26	11	7	8	43	29	40	6th	QF
2000–01	1. MFL	26	14	1	11	52	40	43	5th	R2
2001–02	1. MFL	20	11	2	7	48	35	35	7th	QF
2002–03	1. MFL	33	14	4	15	40	35	46	6th	SF
2003–04	1. MFL	33	20	6	7	67	32	66	2nd	R1
2004–05	1. MFL	33	15	5	12	56	37	51	4th	SF	UEFA Cup	QR1
2005–06	1. MFL	33	10	11	12	54	58	41	9th	SF	Intertoto Cup	R1
2006–07	1. MFL	33	12	5	16	54	50	41	9th	R1
2007–08	1. MFL	33	10	11	12	33	36	41	9th	R2
2008–09	1. MFL	30	9	9	12	38	41	36	7th	QF
2009–10	1. MFL	26	8	8	10	29	33	32	5th	R2
2010–11	1. MFL	33	13	8	12	39	38	47	5th	R2
2011–12	1. MFL	33	13	3	17	42	51	42	6th	R2
2012–13	1. MFL	33	6	5	22	33	61	23	12th ↓	SF
2013–14	2. MFL	29	20	4	5	66	24	64	1st ↑	R2
2014–15	1. MFL	32	10	11	11	33	42	41	5th	R2
2015–16	1. MFL	32	12	8	12	35	40	44	3rd	QF
2016–17	1. MFL	36	11	14	11	41	43	47	6th	QF	Europa League	QR1
2017–18	1. MFL	36	13	11	12	30	37	50	5th	R2
2018–19	1. MFL	36	11	11	14	27	39	44	8th	QF
2019–20¹	1. MFL	23	10	6	7	24	21	36	2nd	N/A
2020–21	1. MFL	33	10	6	17	36	45	36	9th ↓	W	Champions League Europa League	QR1 QR1
2021–22	2. MFL West	27	20	6	1	55	9	66	1st ↑	RU	Conference League	QR1
2022–23	1. MFL	30	13	9	8	41	34	48	4th	SF
2023–24	1. MFL	33	10	13	10	36	40	43	5th	QF

¹The 2019–20 season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia.^[1]

Supporters

The supporters of Fk Sileks are known as krateri and they were founded in 1991

Rivalries

The rivalries of FK Sileks Kratovo with these clubs stem from various historical, regional, and competitive factors:

1. FK Vardar: As one of the most successful and popular clubs in Macedonia, Vardar's success and prominence make them a natural rival for many clubs, including Sileks. Matches between these teams are highly competitive due to the disparity in their histories and achievements.

2. FK Pelister:Bitola ed in the same region, Pelister and Sileks have a regional rivalry that fuels their matches. Local derbies often bring out heightened emotions and competitiveness.

3. FK Pobeda: Similar to Pelister, Pobeda’s proximity and historical competition with Sileks create a strong rivalry, with both teams striving to assert their dominance in the region.

4. FK Renova: Renova, based in Tetovo, is another regional competitor. The rivalry is based on geographic proximity and the competitive nature of their encounters.

5. FK Shkëndija: Shkëndija is a strong team in the Macedonian league, and their matches with Sileks are significant due to Shkëndija's competitive stature and recent successes.

6. FK Bregalnica Stip : The rivalry with Bregalnica often reflects the competitive spirit of the Macedonian league and local pride.

7. FK Rudar Probistip : The rivalry between fk sileks an fk rudar is because of how close they are and the derby is called " the Neighborly derby." These rivalries often involve a mix of historical competition, regional pride, and the quest for dominance in Macedonian football.

Sileks in Europe

UEFA club competition record

Competition	Played	Win	Draw	Lost	For	Against
UEFA Champions League	5	1	1	3	2	9
UEFA Cup/Europa League	8	2	1	5	6	13
UEFA Europa Conference League	2	0	1	1	1	2
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	4	1	1	2	6	8
UEFA Intertoto Cup	2	0	0	2	4	6
Total	21	4	4	13	19	38

Results

Season	Competition	Round	Opponent	Home	Away	Aggregate
1995–96	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	QR	Vác FC Samsung	3–1	1–1	4–2
1995–96	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	R1	Borussia Mönchengladbach	2–3	0–3	2–6
1996–97	UEFA Cup	PR	ÍA Akranes	1–0	0–2	1–2
1997–98	UEFA Champions League	QR1	Beitar Jerusalem	1–0	0–3	1–3
1998–99	UEFA Champions League	QR1	Club Brugge	0–0	1–2	1–2
1999–00	UEFA Cup	QR	Shakhtar Donetsk	2–1	1–3	3–4
2004–05	UEFA Cup	QR1	Maribor	0–1	1–1	1–2
2005	UEFA Intertoto Cup	R1	Beitar Jerusalem	1–2	3–4	4–6
2016–17	UEFA Europa League	QR1	Vaduz	1–2	1–3	2–5
2020–21	UEFA Champions League	QR1	Qarabağ		0–4
2020–21	UEFA Europa League	QR2	Drita	0–2
2021–22	UEFA Europa Conference League	QR1	Petrocub Hîncești	1–1	0–1	1–2