FK Vardar
 |
|
| Full name | Fudbalski klub Vardar |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Црвено-Црни (The Red & Blacks) |
| Founded | 22 July 1947 |
| Ground | Telekom Arena, Skopje |
| Capacity | 33,460 |
| Owner |
 Sergey Samsonenko |
| Chairman |
 Mirko Spaseski |
| Manager |
Goce Sedloski
|
| League | Macedonian First League |
| 2015–16 | 1st (Champions) |
| Website | Club home page |
FK Vardar is a football club based in the capital city of Skopje, in Macedonia . Founded in 1947, they have been members of the Macedonian First Football League since its inception in 1992. Vardar is the most popular and renowned Macedonian football club both domestically and abroad, having won 10 national championships and 5 national cups. Its home venue is the Telekom Arena, with a capacity of 33,460.
FK Vardar was created with the merger of city rivals FK Pobeda and FK Makedonija, in the hall of cinema "Vardar" on 22 July 1947. The foundation assembly had decided the club color to be blue and it was, but already at the next assembly the decision was changed to red and white. FK Pobeda has competed in the first season of the Yugoslav First Federal League after the World War II, finished at the 8th place and won the relegation play-offs against FK Sloga from Novi Sad, FK Vardar was a member of the Yugoslav First League from the very beginning. However, during the following decade they were several times relegated and promoted back again. The present recognizable red and black color was adopted after the 1963 Skopje earthquake.
The club won its first major trophy in the 1961 Yugoslav Cup. Many famous players from the region started their careers at Vardar, and their triumph in the Yugoslavian Cup was a highlight. The leader of that particular generation of players was Andon Dončevski, who later coached the team from 1985 to 1988. Due to massive irregularities during the last 34th week of fixtures, the 1985-86 Yugoslav First League season ended notoriously. Yugoslav Football Association headed by Slavko Šajber voided the last week results ordering a replay of all 9 fixtures. Twelve clubs were docked 6 points due to alleged participation in the match-fixing scandal. All teams agreed to replay their games but Partizan, who had won the title with a 4–0 over Zeljeznicar Sarajevo, refused, after which the game was awarded 3–0 to Zeljeznicar, which gave Crvena zvezda the title. Crvena zvezda played in the 1986/87 European Champions Cup. However, after a sequence of legal processes, the original final table, with Partizan as champions, was officially recognized, in 1987. The following 1986-87 Yugoslav First League season saw 10 teams starting with −6 points. Vardar Skopje, who had not been deducted 6 points, won the title, and participated in the 1987/88 Champions Cup, but the points deduction was later annulled after more legal proceedings, and the title was given to Partizan, who headed the table with the deduction. In 1986/1987 season team had a group of wonderful players, led by the talented Darko Pančev and including Ilija Najdoski, Dragan Kanatlarovski and Vujadin Stanojković. FK Vardar went on to spend 33 seasons in the Yugoslav top flight from 1947 to 1992 and is ranked 11th on the all-time table.
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