GFK Pobeda () is a football club based in the city of Prilep, North Macedonia. They currently play in the Macedonian Third League (Region 4).

History The club was founded in 1941 in then Bulgaria ruled Vardar Macedonia as Goce Delčev and renamed in 1950 to FK Pobeda. FK Pobeda has been a winner of Macedonian First League for two times (eight times as Republic League in Yugoslavia), and Macedonian Football Cup for one time (eight times as Republic Cup in Yugoslavia). Their first great period was the 1950s, when they won the Republic Cup for the first time in 1951. One year later Pobeda won its first championship title in 1952 and in 1954 the second one. They waited for 4 years for their next trophy they won the Republic Cup for the second time in 1958. Next year 1959 they became champions of SR Macedonia again. They continued with their winning series in the 1960s. Pobeda won its 3rd cup in 1960, and again the cup masters won their 4th cup in 1961. Next year it was time for a new championship title in 1962, and then the duble crown in 1963. Last trophy in the 1960s was 1964 Republic Cup for the 6th time. In the late 1960s and early 1970s Pobeda had a stagnation period although it was on the top most of the time and they played pretty good in the cup too. Finally after 13 years Pobeda won again, and again it was the Macedonian Republic Cup in 1977 for the 7th time. Two years after Pobeda was back on track winning its 5th title after 16 years waiting. Two years after in 1981 Pobeda did it again 7th time champion of SR Macedonia. The 1980s was their last good period and they won their 8th championship title in 1986. Next year it was time to win the cup again and they did it for the 8th time in 1987 (and last time in the part of Yugoslavia).

The period of the 1990s, after an independence of Macedonia, didn't bring much excitement for the Pobeda's fans and they had to wait for better times. The beginning of the 2000s was a good sign and the long period of waiting was over. In 2002 it was time to win the Macedonian Football Cup for the first and only time. Two years later the club was won the champions title in 2004 for the first time since of the Macedonia's independence. They didn't wait for long to win their second, 3 years later in 2007 Pobeda was champion again and for the last time. Also, Pobeda has represented Macedonia for ten times in the European Football Cups. On 27 March 2009, UEFA, the governing body of football in Europe, charged FK Pobeda over match fixing allegations relating to a Champions League qualifying match against FC Pyunik of Armenia in 2004Uefa issues match-fixing charges BBC Sport, 26 March 2009 They were subsequently found guilty and banned from UEFA competitions for eight years.Eight-year ban for FK Pobeda UEFA, 17 April 2009 The next season in which they will be eligible to compete is 2017–18. In April 2017, their suspension was expired.

A club which claims rights to original Pobeda's honours and records was established in 2010 under the name Viktorija, later renamed to Pobeda Junior and then to the name of the original club. However, they are not legally considered to be successors to the original Pobeda and the two clubs' track records and honours are kept separate by the Football Federation of Macedonia.

Rivalries The club's biggest rivals are Pelister, and matches between the teams are called the Derby of Pelagonia (geographical region in Macedonia).

Supporters FK Pobeda supporters are called Majmuni (Monkeys).

Honours Macedonian First League Winners (2): 2003–04, 2006–07 Runners-up (2): 1996–97, 1999–2000 Macedonian Cup Winners (1): 2001–02 Runners-up (2): 1999–2000, 2006–07 Macedonian Republic League Winners (8): 1952, 1954, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1979, 1981, 1986 Macedonian Republic Cup Winners (8): 1951, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1977, 1987

Seasons

SeasonLeagueCupEuropean competitionsDivisionPWDLFAPtsPos1992–931. MFL341451551483311thSF1993–941. MFL30118113837306thQF1994–951. MFL3016595535534thR11995–961. MFL2812885234444th1996–971. MFL2617365526542ndSF1997–981. MFL2511682921395thUEFA CupQR11998–991. MFL2617275118533rdSF1999–001. MFL2615745723522ndRUIntertoto CupR22000–011. MFL2618266427563rdR2UEFA CupR12001–021. MFL207492828254thWIntertoto CupR22002–031. MFL3320585533653rdR2UEFA CupQR2003–041. MFL3322567842711stSFIntertoto CupR22004–051. MFL33167105949553rdR1Champions LeagueQR12005–061. MFL33166115846544thQFIntertoto CupR22006–071. MFL3321837342711stRUIntertoto CupR12007–081. MFL33129124848456thR1Champions LeagueQR12008–091. MFL3088143147328thR22009–101. MFLFFM expelled Pobeda from the league ↓R2

Pobeda in Europe Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate1997–98UEFA Cup QR1 Odra Wodzisław 2–1 0–3 2–41999UEFA Intertoto Cup R2 OD Trenčín 3–1 1–3 (aet) 4–4 (4–3 p.) R2 Perugia 0–0 0–1 0–12000–01UEFA Cup QR Universitatea Craiova 1–0 1–1 2–1 R1 Parma 0–2 0–4 0–62001UEFA Intertoto Cup R1 Zagreb 1–1 2–1 3–2 R2 Çaykur Rizespor 2–1 2–0 4–1 R3 Chmel Blšany 0–1 0–0 0–12002–03UEFA CupQR Midtjylland 2–0 0–3 (aet) 2–32003UEFA Intertoto Cup R1 Spartak Trnava 2–1 5–1 7–2 R2 Pasching 1–1 1–2 2–32004–05UEFA Champions LeagueQR1 Pyunik 1–3 1–1 2–42005UEFA Intertoto Cup R1 Smederevo 2–1 1–0 3–1 R2 Hamburger SV 1–4 1–4 2–8 2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup R1 Farul Constanța 2–2 0–2 2–42007–08UEFA Champions LeagueQR1 Levadia Tallinn 0–1 0–0 0–1

Historical list of coaches

Ilija Dimoski (1993–1995) Dragi Kanatlarovski (?–?) Lazar Plačkov (?–?) Dragi Kanatlarovski (?–?) Krume Mitričevski (? – 2000) Nikola Ilievski (2000 – ?) Mirsad Jonuz (2001–2002) Zoran Smileski (2002 – Dec 2002)Tough break for Smilevski UEFA, 4 December 2002 Dragi Kanatlarovski (Dec 2002 – Jan 2004) Nikola Ilievski (Jan 2004 – Jun 2004)Ilievski back at Pobeda UEFA, 6 January 2004Ilievski puts family first UEFA, 7 June 2004 Dragan Hristovski (Jun 2004 – 2004)Pobeda plump for Hristovski UEFA, 27 June 2004 Petar Kurćubić (2004–2005) Nikolče Zdraveski (2005 – Jan 2009) Nebojša Petrović (Jan 2009 – May 2009) Goran Todoroski (May 2009 – 2010)

See also 2009 European football betting scandal

References

External links Official Facebook page FK Pobeda blog (archived) Supporters website (archived) Club info at MacedonianFootball Football Federation of Macedonia