FK Rabotnichki () or more commonly Rabotnički (old transliteration) and Rabotnicki is a football club that plays at the Toshe Proeski Arena in Skopje, North Macedonia. They currently compete in the Macedonian First League.
History
FK Rabotnichki was founded in 1937 as SK Radnički Skoplje. It is widely regarded as the ‘railway football club’. It started competing in the 1938–39 Second League of the Skoplje Football Subassociation which finished 4th out of 5 teams. However the next season Radnički won the league with no defeats among 6 teams and with a goal difference of 45–6, thus earning promotion to the First League of the Skoplje Football Subassociation. However the 1940–41 season of the First League of the Skoplje Football Subassociation was interrupted by the start of the Second World War. By the time Rabotnički had one win, two draws and one defeat.
After the end of the war, for a long time, Rabotnichki competed in the Federal Second League or the Macedonian Republic League. They also competed in the First Federal League of SFR Yugoslavia for two years. Since the Republic of Macedonia became an independent country, Rabotnichki constantly competes in the Macedonian First League. In all these years since its establishing in 1937, Rabotnichki has always been among the best clubs, and has always been a good representative of Macedonian football in Europe.
Rabotnički Kometal
The club's most successful years were those between 2001 and 2008 when the club was acquired by the famous company Kometal. Since it was acquired by Kometal, Rabotnichki showed constant progress: in 2002–03 they finished second in the national league and competed in the UEFA Cup, (2004–05) they won the national championship and competed in the qualifications for the UEFA Champions League, and in (2007–08) they had their best year by winning the double crown. Kometal and Trifun Kostovski left Rabotnichki and took over Vardar in 2008. The following year they won the Macedonian Cup for the second time in club history.
On 14 July 2009, they faced Crusaders of Northern Ireland in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round; the 1st leg was drawn 1–1. They managed to win the second leg 4–2 and went out in the third qualifying round against Danish club Odense BK after losing 3–7 on aggregate.
On 16 July 2010, they were drawn against Liverpool in the UEFA Europa League 3rd qualifying round. In the first leg on 29 July 2010, they lost 2–0, losing the return leg 2–0 a week later.
In July 2011, they were named the best club in the World for that month by the IFFHS. The winning streak of five games in the Europa League, from which four were in July, plus a win against Bregalnica in the first round of the domestic league were more than enough for the International Federation of Football History & Statistics to name Rabotnički as the "Best club in the World for July 2011".
In March 2012, with 674 points on the IFFHS list Rabotnički became the best club from Macedonia in the 21st century.
On 11 May 2014, Rabotnichki won their fourth Macedonian First League title. After winning their third Macedonian Cup the previous week, they accomplished the double crown for the second time in club history.
Veterans
Association of Veterans of Rabotnichki has been functioning informally since the formation of the club Rabotnichki itself, in 1937.
Officially, the association of the veterans of Rabotnički is formally registered in front of the competent court of law with approval number 29/05 in 18.02.2005, and it is notified in the register of the associations of citizens and foundations under registration number 1928 by the name Rabotnički “Veterans” Skopje with main office in Skopje, city park in large numbers. This association inherited the property of legal entity on 18 February 2005. Apart from this right, of independent legal entity, the association is functioning in association with Rabotnički, generally comparing its policies, delegate its own members in the governing bodies of the club, gives its own opinions, suggestions, and proposals of a common interest, and all this with a purpose-achieving greater results and giving real affirmation of the club in both Macedonia and abroad.