The Macedonia national under-21 football team is a youth association football national team which represents Macedonia at this age level and is a feeder team for the Macedonia national football team. It was formerly known as the Macedonia national under-21 football team.

This team is for Macedonian players aged 21 or under at the start of a two-year UEFA European Under-21 Championship campaign, so players can be, and often are, up to 23 years old. Also in existence are teams for Under-20s (for non-UEFA tournaments), Under-19s and Under 17s. As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, making it possible to play for the U21s, senior side and again for the U21s. It is also possible to play for one country at youth level and another at senior level (providing the player is eligible).

The under-21 age category came into existence with the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976. The Macedonia U21 team was formed following Macedonia's independence from SFR Yugoslavia in 1991 and is controlled by the Football Federation of Macedonia (from 1976 to 1992 Macedonian players played for Yugoslavia U21). A 7–0 win in a friendly against Estonia played on 31 May 1994 was Macedonia U21s' first result. Four months later, Macedonia also had their first competitive match which ended in a 5–3 win against Denmark.

So far, the team has qualified for one final tournament, the one being the 2017 Euro U21 held in Poland for players born 1994 or later. They ended the tournament on the 11th position with 1 draw and 2 losses over the group stage.

UEFA U-21 Championship Record UEFA U-21 Championship recordUEFA U-21 Championship Qualification recordManager(s)YearRound 1996Did not qualify10 4 0 6 16 27 −11Jovo Nikushev 19988 1 1 6 3 17 −14Zoran Smileski 20008 1 0 7 2 25 −23Perica Gruevski, Blagoja Kitanovski 200210 1 2 7 6 18 −12Blagoja Kitanovski, Nikola Ilievski 20048 0 1 7 4 23 −19Zharko Odjakov, Mirsad Jonuz 200612 2 3 5 9 18 −9Mirsad Jonuz 20074 2 0 2 6 6 0 20098 2 3 3 5 6 −1 20118 0 2 6 9 19 −10Mirsad Jonuz, Boban Babunski 20138 3 3 2 14 15 −1Boban Babunski 20158 1 1 6 4 13 −13Boban Babunski, Vujadin Stanojković 2017Group stage 3 0 1 2 4 11 −710 6 3 1 13 7 +6Blagoja Milevski 2019Did not qualify10 2 1 7 1724−7Blagoja Milevski, Dobrinko Ilievski 202110 5 3 2 2012+8Blagoja Milevski 202310 2 3 5 8 15−7Blagoja Milevski, Dragi Kanatlarovski 202510 4 0 6 8 15−7 Dragi Kanatlarovski 2027To be determined Goran StanikjTotal1/153012411−7142362680144260−116

2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Qualification

Final tournament

Group stage

2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Qualification

2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Qualification

2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Qualification

2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship

Recent results and fixtures

Generation 2004+ DateVenueOpponentsScoreMacedonia scorer(s)ReportFriendly matches 14 November 2024Petar Miloševski Training Centre, Skopje, Macedonia1–3 Velichkovski ffm.mk 17 November 20240–1 21 March 2025Ekodizayn football complex, Antalya, Turkey1–3 Stojanov ffm.mk 25 March 20250–0 ffm.mk 28 May 2025 Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo0–0 ffm.mk 31 May 2025 Petar Miloševski Training Centre, Skopje, Macedonia0–0 ffm.mk * Macedonia's scores are always listed first

Squad

Current squad Squad named for the friendly match against Russia on 28 September 2026, and the U21 Euro qualifiers against Montenegro and Sweden on 1 and 5 October 2026. Caps and goals as of 5 October 2026, after the match against Sweden.

Recent call-ups Players that have been called up within the past 12 months and are eligible for the 2027 European U21 Football Championship Qualifiers.

A: Called up by the Macedonia A National Team U19: Called up by the Macedonia U19 National Team INJ: Injured WD: Withdrew NA: Not available

Current First Squad

Past squads 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship squad

Statistics

Most appearances

RankNameU21 CareerCaps1Mario Ilievski2020–2024332Dimitar Todorovski2021–2024323Goran Bogdanovikj2009–201228Metodi Maksimov2021–20245David Babunski2012–201727Davor Zdravkovski2015–20207Matej Angelov2023–2026268Luka Stankovski2021–2024259Stefan Despotovski2022–202424Boban Nikolov2013–2017Reshat Ramadani2021–2024Gjoko Zajkov2013–2017

Top goalscorers

RankNameU21 CareerGoalsCapsRatio1Dimitar Mitrovski2018–2020718Samir Fazli2008–201222Mario Ilievski2020–2024334Kire Markoski2013–2017616Luan Abazi2021–202418Jani Atanasov2018–20207Darko Churlinov2018–2021516Ilija Nestorovski2009–201219David Babunski2012–20172710Miroslav Gjokikj1994–199545+Artim Shaqiri1994–19959+Muarem Muarem2009–201011Aco Stojkov2002–200513Enis Bardhi2014–201714Berat Kalkan2021–202417Tihomir Kostadinov2015–201818Marjan Radeski2013–201721Metodi Maksimov2021–202428

See also North Macedonia national football team North Macedonia national under-19 football team North Macedonia national under-17 football team UEFA European Under-21 Championship

References

External links MacedonianFootball Contains news and information about the Macedonian U-21 National Football Team. UEFA Under-21 website Contains full results archive The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Contains full record of U-21/U-23 Championships.