By Filip Mishov
Witnessing and carefully following Goran Pandev‘s enjoying profession, first as a child and now as a journalist in Macedonia, is remembering precisely the place you have been and with whom you could have been in the course of the ahead’s profession highlights, such was the significance of the Macedonian lifting the Champions League‘s trophy with Inter again in 2010 after which main the nationwide workforce to EURO 2020.
The Strumica-born ahead is our most capped participant with 122 appearances. He’s additionally the highest scorer with 38 objectives scored and maybe most significantly, the first-ever captain to take Macedonia to a significant match. Historic achievements establishing Goran Pandev’s standing as the best legend in Macedonian soccer, however sadly, the so-called ‘Bate Pandev’ didn’t actually get the farewell that he deserved when retiring from the nationwide workforce, and it’s honest to say that the participant and the Federation have endured a rocky relationship through the years, to say the least.
Pandev admits: ‘I by no means actually needed a testimonial match to honour my profession, because the guard of honour that I obtained from my teammates in my closing match for Macedonia on the Johan Cruijff Area was the most effective factor that occurred to me.” And but, it nonetheless feels odd that the profession of the nationwide workforce’s record-holder was not celebrated in an official method, as legends like Pandev don’t usually emerge from small nations like Macedonia.
Pandav is now lastly able to make modifications and thus, repair a number of the points that irritated him throughout his enjoying days – points comparable to poor infrastructure, nepotism and mismanagement of the junior age group groups amongst many others – because the 41-year-old was appointed as the brand new sports activities director of the Macedonian nationwide groups again in December final yr. Now, six months into the job, the Macedonian legend opens up in an unique one-on-one interview for FotMob concerning the main challenges mendacity forward for the federation’s new management.
“After a few years of proudly carrying the nationwide workforce’s shirt, I felt honoured to be invited by Masar Omeragić (the newly-elected president) to be a part of the brand new management of the Soccer Federation of Macedonia. I accepted the invitation as I consider that it’s essential to spark modifications with the intention to elevate the extent of Macedonian soccer to a a lot increased stage. Actually, I hope that we’ll forge the proper path within the coming years for the following technology to proceed our work, though we all know that it’ll not be a straightforward process, however we’re optimistic. The president, Omeragić is working tirelessly on the challenges that we encounter, however with our data and assist, we hope to enhance,” begins Pandev.
After main the Macedonian nationwide workforce to and at EURO 2020 as captain, Goran Pandev retired from enjoying worldwide soccer, whereas the Soccer Federation of Macedonia determined in opposition to providing a brand new deal to the then-coach, Igor Angelovski, and as a substitute provided the submit to Blagoja Milevski, who had been working the U21s. The record-holding captain didn’t agree with the federation’s determination on the time and has brazenly criticized the work of the brand new coach over current years. Now, the newly-appointed sports activities director, Pandev and the coach, Milevski have to work collectively in the direction of reaching the identical objective, however given their previous, it was solely logical to ask what their relationship is like: “I might describe our relationship as skilled. He’s the present coach of the nationwide workforce and the brand new management led by the president, Omeragić gave him their full assist. Additionally, he began the World Cup 2026 Qualifiers effectively and I hope that he’ll make us completely happy and lead us to our maiden World Cup. Nevertheless, he’s the one deciding his personal destiny, because the outcomes are a mirror of the coach’s work and I want him good luck.”
Stefan Ristovski succeeded Goran Pandev because the captain following the latter’s retirement in 2021, however the skilled proper again determined to cease enjoying for the Macedonian nationwide workforce in 2023 because of “a strained relationship between the participant and the coach” following the Lynxes’ dreadful 7-0 defeat to England within the EURO 2024 Qualifiers. Since then, the Macedonian public has strongly pushed the case for the 33-year-old to return to the fold, however Pandev doesn’t sound optimistic regardless of their current talks: “I bought in contact with Stefan again in December final yr, instantly after the change of management and I spoke with him, and there was additionally a gathering between the president, Omeragić and him, though I used to be not current at that assembly. However I informed him that I additionally had comparable considerations once I determined to cease enjoying for the nationwide workforce again in 2014 (from November 2014 till October 2015), however Stefan has completely different views as he stopped enjoying after the appalling loss to England, and it’s his determination to not return so long as Milevski is on the helm, and one we should always respect by all means. He’s an skilled participant and a mature one that was each our, and Dinamo Zagreb‘s captain, and I consider that he might nonetheless give rather a lot to the nationwide workforce as he’s continues to play on the highest stage. It was our obligation to speak to him, however the closing determination is his.”
The pool of eligible gamers to signify the Macedonian nationwide workforce is modest, to say the least, and over the previous couple of many years, numerous gamers earned call-ups regardless of not being regulars at their respective golf equipment, and even some as free brokers on the time, however have been nonetheless chosen to hitch the nationwide workforce, which is a rarity in worldwide soccer. The previous ahead provides a distinct perspective and cites the low stage of the Macedonian First Soccer League as one of many causes: “I used to be a part of the nationwide workforce for nearly 20 years and we’ve had these points all through that point. That’s nothing new as we at all times had 4 or 5 gamers who play regularly and the remainder of them have been enjoying sporadically. Any nationwide workforce’s coach is the happiest when all of his gamers play commonly and are bodily, mentally and tactically prepared. Additionally, it is rather difficult, from a participant’s perspective, when you find yourself solely concerned in coaching and you aren’t enjoying matches. However I can guarantee you that our gamers who’re enjoying overseas and are solely concerned in coaching for his or her respective golf equipment are way more able to play than those who’re enjoying commonly within the Macedonian top-tier as the extent of our league is unfortunately, actually low.”
Nevertheless, the strained relationships and the restricted pool of gamers for the senior nationwide workforce are usually not Goran Pandev’s greatest concern, as the problems in Macedonian soccer run a lot deeper, and the poor administration of the youth classes over the previous few years is taking its toll, one thing I’ve been reporting on for years as effectively. One of many first choices taken by the federation’s new management was changing many of the coaches inside the youth classes (U21, U19, U17, U16, U15) as Macedonia have didn’t qualify for a significant youth match because the U21 Euros again in 2017, when Blagoja Milevski was on the helm of the U21s.
“The largest considerations are associated to the youth classes as a result of if we’re mismanaging the youth, we merely can’t anticipate to have a top quality senior aspect. Altering the coaches inside the youth classes is an effective start line, as we’ve a distinct imaginative and prescient, and Georgi Hristov is the one in cost as he has broad expertise within the discipline. Actually, I’m not too conversant in the youth classes as I’ve been enjoying overseas previously 25 years and solely now, I get to know extra about them. Crucial factor is that we’ve appointed skilled coaches who will give possibilities to the proficient gamers who actually should put on the nationwide workforce’s shirt and that’s our major objective. We’re a small nation, and we should not have 100 proficient gamers to select from, however these days we’ve youth classes ranging from U15 upwards and again in my time that was not the case. They’ve coaching camps each month and with onerous work, we will develop gamers who will likely be able to play for the seniors sooner or later. As I mentioned, it won’t be straightforward and it’ll take time because the mismanagement has been occurring for years and that’s proven by the poor outcomes, however we want high quality coaches as effectively, as a result of the expertise is unquestionably there and we hope that we will make the longer term higher.”
The Macedonian diaspora (estimates round +700.000) is growing as increasingly persons are deciding to maneuver overseas because of numerous geopolitical and financial causes amongst many others, and subsequently, there are numerous younger footballers across the globe who’re eligible to signify the Macedonian nationwide workforce. For instance, certainly one of them was Tottenham Hotspur‘s Dejan Kulusevski who opted to play for Sweden as a substitute of Macedonia and when requested whether or not the federation is doing sufficient to broaden the gamers’ pool with these kind of gamers, Pandev says: “I disagree that we’re not doing sufficient for them to play for our nationwide workforce, I might relatively say that almost all of them should not have a want to play for Macedonia. One of many first issues that we did as a brand new management was get in contact with over 50 younger and proficient gamers who’re eligible to play for Macedonia, and I used to be the one who personally bought in contact with most of them, solely to grasp that numerous them are merely not thinking about enjoying for our nationwide workforce and that could be a dealbreaker for me. It is best to really feel proud when you find yourself referred to as upon to play for Macedonia and in case you should not have that want, what’s even the purpose. I had very troublesome and lengthy seasons when enjoying in Serie A and I needed to change flights as much as 4 occasions simply to get again to Macedonia to play for the nationwide workforce. Nevertheless it was an enormous honour of mine to put on the nationwide workforce’s shirt, these days, we’ve this drawback and moreover, we’ve dad and mom, kids, brokers who’re getting concerned of their decision-making course of too.”
Macedonia’s sole look at a significant match got here, as talked about, again in 2021 with Pandev main the nationwide workforce at EURO 2020, an achievement which Pandev describes as “a very powerful one in his profession and a childhood dream come true”, however how lengthy will the nationwide workforce look forward to the following main match? “Allow us to be sincere, all of us need Macedonia to be a part of each European and World Championship, however allow us to take Italy for example. They didn’t qualify for the final two World Cups and Serie A is among the greatest European leagues. If you happen to have a look at our squad and the problems we face, it’s not that easy, though you and I would be the happiest males on Earth if we at all times performed in main tournaments. However we’ve to be sincere with ourselves, we merely should not have the standard to play commonly at main finals at this second.”
The Blagoja Milevski-led squad have a match in opposition to Belgium on 6 June on the Toshe Proeski nationwide area in Skopje and three days later, face a visit to Kazakhstan as a part of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. The Lynxes have began the qualifiers with a promising win in Liechtenstein and a house draw with Wales.
“I consider in reaching constructive outcomes, however on the similar time, I feel these subsequent couple of matches would be the most troublesome ones provided that they arrive on the finish of the season. Though that applies extra for Belgium than for us as a result of they clearly have extra world-class gamers within the high leagues round Europe. They’re the favourites, little doubt about it, however I consider in our squad, and we confirmed each in opposition to Liechtenstein and Wales that we possess high quality. With the assistance from our supporters, we will compete in opposition to Belgium and I hope that the stadium will likely be full to assist the boys.”
Final however undoubtedly not least, historical past has taught the Macedonian nation that many have spoken and just a few have delivered, and it’s troublesome to be optimistic concerning the future given all of the unfulfilled guarantees through the years, however as Goran Pandev introduced rays of hope in the course of the nationwide workforce’s darkest days, now his influential presence inside the Soccer Federation of Macedonia is doing the identical, and solely time will inform whether or not issues can and can get higher.
“For me the function (sports activities director) will not be essential, we should always act and be like a household and work in the direction of reaching the identical objective. And that objective is to lift Macedonian soccer to a better stage and enhance the infrastructure, which is essential too. However I feel that with individuals like Georgi Hristov, Agim Ibraimi and Ilija Najdoski all led by Masar Omeragić who doesn’t have any sentimentality in the direction of anybody, we will change issues for the higher. I’m excited to be right here, as a result of I’m optimistic, however all of us should work professionally in the identical course and consider in ourselves. It is extremely onerous to do that and it was a lot simpler to play, consider me. Our mentality is a unfavourable one by nature and no matter what you do, there’ll at all times be critics. However we hope to liven up Macedonian soccer for the brand new generations and for a greater future. Attempting to spark change in Macedonia may be very onerous and we’ll want time.”
(Pictures from IMAGO and courtesy of the Soccer Federation of Macedonia)
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