FK Ljuboten (Macedonian: ФК Љуботен) is a football club based in Tetovo, North Macedonia. They are currently competing in the Macedonian Third League (West Division).

FK Ljuboten
Full nameFudbalski Klub Ljuboten
Фудбалски Клуб Љуботен
Nickname(s)Plavi / Плави
("The Blues")
Founded28 March 1919; 105 years ago (1919-03-28)
GroundAMS Sportski Centar Tetovo
Capacity2,000
ChairmanPero Jovanovski
ManagerDejan Saveski
LeagueMacedonian Third League (West)
2023–244th

History

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Founded in 1919, FK Ljuboten is the oldest club in North Macedonia.[1] FK Ljuboten was based in northern Tetovo, built and supported by the locals. The name was derived from the mountain peak of the Šar Mountains, Ljuboten. Through most of the football period under both the Kingdom and Socialist Yugoslavia, the club relied on local talent and were funded by the locals and the city of Tetovo. For the 100th birthday of the club, they joined the Club of Pioneers.

Rivalry

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FK Ljuboten's rival is FK Teteks. The rivalry reflected the social and class differences of the respective club's supporters. Ljuboten's supporters are only the citizens of Tetovo, predominantly of Macedonians.[2] Teteks supporters were the working class, as the club was founded by the Teteks company and had supporters from Macedonians in Tetovo and all around North Macedonia.

Honours

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Current squad

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Recent seasons

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Ljuboten's 100 years centenary logo
Season League Cup
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos
1992–93 2. MFL 38 22 9 7 72 32 53 1st ↑
1993–94 1. MFL 30 11 11 8 46 35 30(−3) 5th QF
1994–95 1. MFL 30 10 4 16 37 54 34 13th R1
1995–96 1. MFL 28 6 1 21 27 87 19 15th ↓ QF
1996–97 2. MFL West 29 3 0 26 28 84 6(−3) 16th ↓ R1
1997–98 3. MFL North-Polog ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
1998–99 3. MFL North-Polog ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
1999–00 3. MFL North-Polog ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2000–01 3. MFL North ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2001–02 3. MFL North ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2002–03 3. MFL North ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2003–04 4. OFL Tetovo ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2004–05 4. OFL Tetovo ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2005–06 4. OFL Tetovo ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2006–07 4. OFL Tetovo ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
2007–08 3. MFL West 18 ? ? ? ? ? ? 1st
2008–09 3. MFL West 26 13 6 7 61 39 45 4th
2009–10 3. MFL West 28 ? ? ? ? ? 59 2nd
2010–11 3. MFL West 23 14 5 4 53 17 44 2nd
2011–12 3. MFL West 28 19 2 7 64 24 59 3rd R1
2012–13 3. MFL West 28 13 1 14 58 62 40 8th R1
2013–14 3. MFL West FFM expelled Ljuboten from the league[3] R1
2014–15 4. OFL Tetovo 14 4 1 9 23 37 13 5th
2015–16 4. OFL Tetovo 18 7 2 9 31 40 23 5th R1
2016–17 4. OFL Tetovo 14 9 1 4 42 23 28 3rd R1
2017–18 4. OFL Tetovo 15 13 1 1 43 12 40 1st ↑
2018–19 3. MFL West 24 9 4 11 42 49 31 6th
2019–201 3. MFL West 11 3 1 7 14 20 10 10th N/A
2020–211 3. MFL West 13 5 0 8 20 36 15 7th R1
2021–22 3. MFL West 21 7 3 11 33 46 24 9th R1
2022–23 3. MFL West 12 4 0 8 15 21 12 4th R2
2023–24 3. MFL West 20 7 2 11 37 43 23 4th

1The 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons were abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ "Ljuboten". 31 August 2009.
  2. ^ "The Collapse of the Oldest Macedonian Football Club". 11 April 2011.
  3. ^ Zdraveski, Filip (21 October 2013). "Ljuboten expelled from 3rd League (Wild) West". MacedonianFootball.com. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Вонредна седница на Управен одбор на Фудбалска федерација на Македонија: Прекин на натпреварувачката сезона 2019/2020". Фудбалска Федерација на Македонија. 4 June 2020.
  5. ^ Filip Zdravevski (22 April 2021). "Фудбалските лиги повторно пред прекин?". Kajgana.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
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