North Macedonia men's national volleyball team

Last updated

North Macedonia
Coat of arms of the President of North Macedonia.svg
Association OFM
Confederation CEV
Head coachHari Nakovski
FIVB ranking 39 (as of 8 January 2025)
Uniforms
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Kit shorts white stripes adidas.png
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Home
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Away
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Third
European Championship
Appearances3 (First in 2019 )
Best result16th (2023)
http://www.vfmkd.mk/
North Macedonia men's national volleyball team
Medal record
European Volleyball League
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2014 Europe
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2015 Poland
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2016 Macedonia
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2017 Denmark
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2021 Macedonia
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2022 Hungary

The North Macedonia men's national volleyball team is the national volleyball team of North Macedonia. They are colloquially known as the Red Lions.

Contents

The team has participated in the European Championship since 2019.

History

The Macedonian Volleyball Federation was established in 1946, following the framework of the Macedonian Physical Culture Association. On 13 February 1949, the Macedonian Volleyball Federation became an independent sports organization. The Macedonian team qualified twice for the European Championship, in 2019 and in 2021. The national team also played in the European Championship for a third time in 2023, as they hosted the 2023 Men's European Volleyball Championship in the Boris Trajkovski Sports Center (BTSC) at Skopje, the national team's home ground.

Home ground

The Boris Trajkovski Sports Center in Skopje Trajkovskiarena-side.JPG
The Boris Trajkovski Sports Center in Skopje

The Boris Trajkovski Sports Center (Macedonian : Спортски центар Борис Трајковски), or BTSC, in Skopje is a multi-functional indoor sports arena. It is located in the Karpoš Municipality of Skopje, Macedonia. It is named after the former president, Boris Trajkovski. The sports center has a capacity of 10,000, and contains an Olympic-size swimming pool and the 5-star hotel Alexander Palace within the complex. The venue also contains four restaurants and a sports bar. Nearby, a water park and ice skating rink are accessible.

The arena is the home ground of the Macedonian volleyball team, both men and women. It was the venue for the European League three times in 2016, 2018 and 2022.

European League

The team has historically focused on competing in the European League, with the goal was of making a team for the European Championship Qualifiers that will be able to qualify for the European Volleyball Championship. This project was started in 2010 by the National Volleyball Federation in order to elevate the smaller sports, such as volleyball, to a higher level.

The national team has participated in eight European League tournaments. The strongest players of the team throughout this period have been the Georgiev brothers, Ljaftov and Madjunkov.

YearRoundPositionPldWLSWSL
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg 2004 did not participate
Flag of Turkey.svg 2013
Flag of Montenegro.svg 2014 SemifinalsBronze medal icon.svg
Flag of Poland.svg 2015 FinalSilver medal icon.svg
Flag of Bulgaria.svg 2016 FinalSilver medal icon.svg
Flag of Denmark.svg 2017 FinalSilver medal icon.svg
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg 2018 Silver League Semifinals4th
Flag of Estonia.svg 2019 did not enter
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg 2021 Silver League FinalSilver medal icon.svg
Flag of Croatia.svg 2022 Silver League SemifinalsBronze medal icon.svg
Flag of Croatia.svg 2023 Golden League League Round11th
Flag of Croatia.svg 2024 Golden League League Round10th
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg 2025 Golden League League Round9th
TotalParticipated: 10/10
Top tier (Golden League): 7/10

European Championship

1951(5), 1955(5), 1958(7), 1963(7), 1967(7)
1971(11), 1975 Bronze medal icon.svg, 1977(7), 1979 Bronze medal icon.svg, 1981(10)
1985(11), 1987(8), 1989(8), 1991(6)
YearPositionPldWL
Flag of Slovenia.svg 2019 17th place
Flag of Finland.svg 2021 23rd place
Flag of North Macedonia.svg Flag of Italy.svg 2023 16th place
Flag of Finland.svg Flag of Italy.svg 2026 TBD

World Championship

1956(10), 1962(8), 1966(8), 1970(10)

Olympic Games

1980 sixth place

Mediterranean Games

1963 Gold medal with cup.svg , 1967 Gold medal with cup.svg , 1971 Gold medal with cup.svg , 1975 Gold medal with cup.svg , 1979 Gold medal with cup.svg , 1987 (4), 1991 Silver medal with cup.svg
YearPositionPldWL
Flag of Turkey.svg 2013 7th place
Flag of Spain.svg 2018 9th place
Flag of Algeria.svg 2022 9th place

Current team

Roster for the 2023 Men's European Volleyball Championship

Head coach: Joško Milenkoski
Assistant:Hari Nakovski
No.NamePositionHeight (cm)Birth year
1Darko AngelovskiLibero1801994
2 Gjorgi Gjorgiev Setter1971992
3Toshe EfremovOutside Spiker1932007
4 Nikola Gjorgiev (C)Opposite1961988
5Vlado MilevOutside-spiker1951987
6Stojche ArsovOpposite1962003
7Slave NakovMiddle-blocker1941994
8 Aleksandar Ljaftov Outside-spiker1981990
9Filip LepidovskiMiddle Blocker1992002
10David StojanovSetter1902001
11Filip DespotovskiSetter1941986
12Eftim RichlievSetter1871995
13Stefan AleksovOpposite1951996
14Angel BoshkovOutside Spiker1932002
15 Filip Madjunkov Middle-blocker1991996
16Stojan IlievOutside-spiker1901999
17Luka KostikOutside-spiker1982001
18Vase MihailovOutside-spiker1991986
19Kostadin RichlievLibero1842000
20Filip SavovskiMiddle Blocker2062002
21Ivan AndonovOpposite1981989
22Risto NikolovMiddle Blocker2021990
23Hristijan AndonovskiMiddle Blocker1962004
24Filip NikolovskiLibero1891997

Macedonian players in notable squads

Vladimir Bogoevski Vladimir Bogoevski.jpg
Vladimir Bogoevski
1975 European Championship
1979 European Championship
1980 Olympic Games