FC Struga

Struga
Full nameFootball club Struga Trim-Lum
Founded2015 (2015)
GroundGradska Plaža Stadium
Capacity2,000
ChairmanMemet Zhaku
ManagerBledi Shkëmbi
LeagueMacedonian First League
2024–25Macedonian First League, 4th of 12
Websitefcstruga.com

FC Struga Trim-Lum (Macedonian: ФК Струга Трим-Лум, Albanian: KF Struga Trim-Lum) is a professional football club based in Struga, North Macedonia. They are currently competing in the Macedonian First League.

History

FC Struga Trim & Lum was founded in August 2015 by the renowned company "Trim & Lum," a leader in the construction and real estate sectors. The club emerged as a serious and ambitious project, committed to building a football team that would adhere to the highest standards, even though they began their journey in the Fourth League, also known as the Municipal League. From the outset, FC Struga invested in modern training methods and professional infrastructure, signaling their intent to rise through the ranks of Macedonian football.[1]

Their efforts bore fruit in the 2016–17 season when the club finished first in the Third League, securing direct promotion to the Macedonian Second League. In the same season, FC Struga also clinched the OFS Struga Cup, marking the beginning of their competitive success.

On 28 November 2017, continuing their winning streak, FC Struga triumphed in the Independence Cup held in Korçë, Albania. The club defeated Tirana 1–0 in the semi-finals, thanks to a header from Migjen Sherifi, and went on to win the final against Otrant-Olympic from Ulcinj after a penalty shoot-out (4–1).

Their breakthrough into the top tier of Macedonian football was cemented in the 2022–23 season when FC Struga won the Macedonian First Football League title for the first time. On 7 May 2023, FC Struga secured the championship following a decisive 3–0 victory over FK Sileks.[2] Demonstrating their dominance, FC Struga successfully defended their title in the 2023–24 season, becoming back-to-back Macedonian First Football League champions, further establishing themselves as a rising force in the league.

Honours

Recent seasons

Season League Cup European competitions Top goalscorer
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Player Goals
2015–16 OFL Struga 21 18 1 2 52 16 55 1st ↑
2016–17 3. MFL Southwest 26 17 8 1 68 16 59 1st ↑
2017–18 2. MFL West 27 13 6 8 44 30 45 4th R2
2018–19 2. MFL West 27 15 9 3 42 17 54 1st ↑ R1
2019–201 1. MFL 23 6 7 10 19 28 25 10th N/A Hristijan Kirovski 5
2020–21 1. MFL 33 15 12 6 39 24 57 3rd SF Marjan Altiparmakovski 7
2021–22 1. MFL 33 12 11 10 33 33 47 6th SF Conference League QR1 Nemanja Bosančić 8
2022–23 1. MFL 30 20 8 2 53 19 68 1st RU Besart Ibraimi 19
2023–24 1. MFL 33 20 4 9 56 33 64 1st R2 Champions League
Conference League
QR1
PO
Besart Ibraimi
Marjan Radeski
15
2024–25 1. MFL 33 13 12 8 41 37 51 4th TBD Champions League
Conference League
QR1
QR2
Lanre Kehinde 15

1The 2019–20 season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia.[3]

European record

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Agg.
2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League 1QR Liepāja 1–4 1–1 2–5
2023–24 UEFA Champions League 1QR Žalgiris 1–2 0–0 1–2
UEFA Europa Conference League 2QR Budućnost Podgorica 1–0 4–3 5–3
3QR Swift Hesperange 3–1 1–2 4–3
PO Breiðablik 0–1 0–1 0–2
2024–25 UEFA Champions League 1QR Slovan Bratislava 1–2 2–4 3–6
UEFA Conference League 2QR Pyunik 2–1 1–3 3–4
Notes
  • PO: Play-off
  • QR: Qualifying round

Players

Current squad

As of 18 June 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 DF  MKD Hadis Tairi
4 DF  MKD Kire Ristevski
5 DF  MKD Bojan Ilievski
7 FW  MKD Arbi Vosha
8 MF  MKD Flamur Tairi
9 FW  NGA Lanre Kehinde
10 MF  MKD Besmir Bojku
11 MF  MKD Bunjamin Shabani (captain)
14 FW  MKD Marjan Radeski
17 DF  SEN Pape Fall
18 MF  MKD Shaban Zenku
19 DF  MKD Ard Kasami
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 DF  MKD Erand Ziba
27 FW  MKD Memetriza Hamza
28 MF  NGA Hogan Ukpa
29 FW  MKD Hristijan Maleski
33 FW  BFA Bassirou Compaoré
45 MF  MKD Stefan Jevtoski
77 FW  MKD Vebi Islami
95 GK  BIH Vedran Kjosevski
99 DF  GAM Maudo Jarjué
GK  ITA Marco Angeletti
FW  JPN Masaaki Takahara
DF  ALB Gledi Mici

Youth players

Players from the U19 Youth Team that have been summoned with the first team in the current season.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF  MKD Ferat Sela
No. Pos. Nation Player
31 MF  MKD Anes Maksutoski

Personnel

As of 28 February 2025[4]
Current technical staff
Position Name
Head coach Ilčo Gjorgioski
Assistant coaches
Meriton Gega
Stefan Mechkaroski
Gjoko Chadoski
Physiotherapist
Erblin Domazeti
Afrim Bojku
Board members
Office Name
President Arbtrim Qyra
General director Besar Isaku
Secretary Miftar Shaqiri
Security director Lum Qyra
Coordinator of football school Eugen Xhila
Information and media officer Ermir Korca

References

  1. ^ "History of FC Struga Trim & Lum". fcstruga.com. 16 August 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  2. ^ "Struga is first time champion of Macedonia". Kris Ninkovski. 7 May 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  3. ^ "Вонредна седница на Управен одбор на Фудбалска федерација на Македонија: Прекин на натпреварувачката сезона 2019/2020". Фудбалска Федерација на Македонија. 4 June 2020. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  4. ^ "F.C. STRUGA (kryesia e klubit)" [F.C. STRUGA (the club headship)] (in Albanian). FC Struga. Archived from the original on 2019-09-22. Retrieved 2019-10-07.