2008–09 Macedonian First Football League
Football league season
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The 2008–09 Macedonian First League was the 17th season of the Macedonian First Football League, the highest football league of Macedonia. It began on 3 August 2008 and ended on 31 May 2009. Rabotnichki were the defending champions, having won their third title the previous year. Bashkimi withdrew from the championship due to financial reasons.[1]
31 May 2009
1st domestic title
| Season | 2008–09 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 3 August 2008 – 31 May 2009 |
| Champions | Makedonija G.P. 1st domestic title |
| Relegated | Napredok |
| Champions League | Makedonija G.P. |
| Europa League | Milano Renova Rabotnichki |
| Matches | 165 |
| Goals | 380 (2.3 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Ivica Gligorovski (14 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Sileks 7–1 Napredok (16 November 2008) |
| Biggest away win | Sileks 0–3 Metalurg (18 April 2009) |
| Highest scoring | Sileks 7–1 Napredok (16 November 2008) |
← 2007–08 2009–10 → | |
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from 2007–08 Second League
Relegated to 2008–09 Second League
|
Promoted from 2008–09 Second League
Relegated to 2009–10 Second League
|
1 Bashkimi was withdraw from the First League due to financial reasons.
Participating teams
| Club | Manager | City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makedonija G.P. |  Ilcho Gjorgioski |
Skopje | Stadion Gjorche Petrov | 3,000 |
| Metalurg | Gjore Jovanovski |
Skopje | Stadion Zhelezarnica | 4,000 |
| Milano |  Bylbyl Sokoli |
Kumanovo | Milano Arena | 3,500 |
| Napredok | Dragan Bocheski |
Kichevo | Gradski stadion Kichevo | 5,000 |
| Pelister | Alekso Mackov |
Bitola | Stadion Tumbe Kafe | 8,000 |
| Pobeda |  Nebojša Petrović |
Prilep | Stadion Goce Delchev | 15,000 |
| Rabotnichki | Boban Babunski |
Skopje | Philip II Arena[a] | 18,104 |
| Renova | Nexhat Shabani |
Djepchishte | Gradski stadion Tetovo | 15,000 |
| Sileks | Marjan Sekulovski |
Kratovo | Stadion Sileks | 5,000 |
| Horizont Turnovo | Dragan Hristovski |
Turnovo | Stadion Kukush | 1,500 |
| Vardar | Zhikica Tasevski |
Skopje | Philip II Arena[a] | 18,104 |
- The stadium was called Gradski stadion Skopje until January 2009.
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Makedonija G.P. (C) | 30 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 46 | 15 | +31 | 61 | Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Milano | 30 | 17 | 4 | 9 | 48 | 35 | +13 | 55 | Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Renova | 30 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 41 | 26 | +15 | 54 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Rabotnichki | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 40 | 25 | +15 | 47 | Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round[a] |
| 5 | Vardar | 30 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 35 | 23 | +12 | 45 | |
| 6 | Horizont Turnovo | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 25 | 39 | −14 | 37 | |
| 7 | Sileks | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 38 | 41 | −3 | 36 | |
| 8 | Pobeda | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 31 | 47 | −16 | 32 | |
| 9 | Metalurg (O) | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 25 | 35 | −10 | 29 | Qualification for the relegation playoff |
| 10 | Pelister (O) | 30 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 25 | 42 | −17 | 28 | |
| 11 | Napredok (R) | 30 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 52 | −26 | 21 | Relegation to the Macedonian Second League |
| – | Bashkimi[b] (D, R) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Banned from the Macedonian Second League |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 7) Head-to-head goals scored; 8) Draw; 9) Play-off. (Note: Criteria 2, 3 and 8 is only used if not deciding Champion, teams for UEFA competitions or relegation).
(C) Champions; (D) Disqualified; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- Rabotnichki qualified for the Europa League second qualifying round by winning the 2008–09 Macedonian Football Cup.
Results
The schedule consists of three rounds. During the first two rounds, each team played each other once home and away for a total of 20 matches. The pairings of the third round were then set according to the standings after the first two rounds, giving every team a third game against each opponent for a total of 30 games per team.
Relegation playoff
| Metalurg | 5–1 | Bregalnica Shtip |
|---|---|---|
|
|
| Pelister | 3–0 | Shkëndija 79 |
|---|---|---|
|
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivica Gligorovski |
Milano | 14 |
| 2 | Besart Ibraimi |
Renova | 13 |
| 3 |  Boško Stupić |
Sileks | 12 |
| 4 |  César de Brito |
Makedonija G.P. | 11 |
| Blagoj Levkov |
Napredok | ||
| 6 | Boban Janchevski |
Vardar | 10 |
| 7 | Dragan Dimitrovski |
Pelister | 9 |
| 8 | Blagoja Geshoski |
Milano | 8 |
| Gligor Gligorov |
Sileks | ||
| Hristijan Kirovski |
Rabotnichki | ||
| Washington |
Makedonija G.P. |
Source: Macedonian Football (in English)