The 2015–16 Macedonian First League was the 24th season of the Macedonian First Football League, the highest football league of Macedonia. It began on 9 August 2015 and ended on 19 May 2016. It was the last season as the format changed from the 2016–17 season which will each team be played the other sides four times on home-away basis, for a total of 36 matches each instead of play-off and play-out after 27th round.
The league was contested by 10 teams. Vardar are the defending champions, having won their eight title in 2014–15.
Promotion and relegation At the start of the 2015–16 season Promoted from 2014–15 Second League Shkupi (winners) Mladost Carev Dvor (runners-up) Relegated to 2015–16 Second League Pelister (9th) Teteks (10th) At the end of the 2015–16 season Promoted from 2015–16 Second League Pobeda (winners) Makedonija G.P. (runners-up) Pelister (3rd; won play-off) Relegated to 2016–17 Second League Horizont Turnovo (8th; lost play-off) Metalurg Skopje (9th) Mladost Carev Dvor (10th)1 1 Mladost Carev Dvor was declined their participation from the Second League due to financial problems.
Participating teams
Club City Stadium Capacity Bregalnica Shtip Gradski stadion Shtip 4,000 Metalurg Skopje Stadion Zhelezarnica 3,000 Mladost Carev Dvor SRC Biljanini Izvori 2,500 Rabotnichki Skopje Philip II Arena 33,460 Renova Djepchishte City Stadium Tetovo 15,000 Shkëndija Tetovo City Stadium Tetovo 15,000 Shkupi Skopje Chair Stadium 6,000 Sileks Kratovo Stadion Sileks 1,800 Horizont Turnovo Turnovo Stadion Kukush 1,500 Vardar Skopje Philip II Arena 33,460
Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorBregalnica Derbystar QuehenbergerMetalurg Macron MakstilMladost Legea Rabotnichki Zeus Renova Jako RenovaShkendija Nike EcologShkupi Lotto Čair MunicipalitySileks Legea Horizont Turnovo Jako VitaminkaVardar Hummel Zdravje
Regular season The first 27 Rounds comprise the first phase of the season, also called the Regular season. In the first phase, every team plays against each other team twice on a home-away basis till all the teams have played two matches against each other. The table standings at the end of the Regular season determine the group in which each team is going to play in the Play-offs.
League table
Results
Second phase The second phase are the so-called Play-off Rounds which is divided in two groups: Championship and Relegation. The top 6 ranked teams on the table after the Regular Season qualify for the Championship group, while the bottom 4 advance to the Relegation group.
Championship round In the Championship round, each team plays against every other one only once, making 5 games in total. Records from the first phase are carried over. Teams play each other once with each team playing five games in this round.
Table
Results
Relegation round In the Relegation round, each team plays twice against every opponent on a home-away basis. Records from the first phase are carried over. Teams play each other twice with each team playing six games in this round.
Table
Results
Relegation play-offs First leg
Second leg
Pelister won 3–1 on aggregate.
Season statistics
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Besart IbraimiShkëndija262 Sashko PandevHorizont Turnovo163 Blazhe IlijoskiRabotnichki134 Ferhan HasaniShkëndija125 Igor NedeljkovićSileks116 Dejan BlazhevskiVardar9 Armend AlimiShkëndija Argjent GafuriRenova Marjan RadeskiShkëndija10 Angel NacevBregalnica8 Argjent GafuriRenova Source: MacedonianFootball
See also 2015–16 Macedonian Football Cup 2015–16 Macedonian Second Football League 2015–16 Macedonian Third Football League
References
External links Football Federation of Macedonia MacedonianFootball.com