| North Macedonia First League | 03/10 13:00 | 22 |
Rabotnicki Skopje vs
KF Arsimi
|
- | View |
| Total | Home | Away | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matches played | 42 | 23 | 19 |
| Wins | 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Draws | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Losses | 23 | 12 | 11 |
| Goals for | 65 | 29 | 36 |
| Goals against | 69 | 33 | 36 |
| Clean sheets | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Failed to score | 17 | 12 | 5 |
FK Rabotnički (Macedonian: ФК Работнички), commonly known as Rabotnički and occasionally by the nickname "The Romantics" (Macedonian: Романтичари), is a professional football club based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Founded on 4 October 1937, the club plays its home matches at the Toše Proeski Arena, the country's largest stadium, which they share with their city rivals FK Vardar and the North Macedonia national football team. They currently compete in the Macedonian First Football League.
Considered one of the most successful clubs in Macedonian football history, Rabotnički has won the Macedonian First League title four times (2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, and 2013–14) and the Macedonian Football Cup four times (2007–08, 2008–09, 2013–14, and 2014–15). The club achieved the domestic "Double" (winning both the league and cup in the same season) on two occasions, in 2007–08 and 2013–14.
On the continental stage, Rabotnički has frequently represented North Macedonia in UEFA competitions. The club reached the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League twice: in the 2011–12 season, where they were eliminated by Lazio, and in the 2015–16 season, where they fell to Rubin Kazan after eliminating Trabzonspor.
The club maintains a fierce rivalry with FK Vardar, known as the "Neighborhood Derby," as both clubs are situated in central Skopje and share the same home ground. While Rabotnički enjoyed a resurgence in the 2024–25 season by finishing third and qualifying for the UEFA Conference League, the 2025–26 campaign proved challenging; as of February 2026, the team was positioned in the relegation zone of the First League table.
FK Rabotnički was founded on 4 October 1937 as SK Radnički Skoplje. The club was initially widely known as the "railway football club" due to its strong connection with the railway workers of Skopje. During the chaotic period of the Second World War, the club temporarily ceased operations or competed under different local structures, but was re-established in 1945 following the liberation of Skopje. Throughout the Yugoslav era, Rabotnički largely competed in the Macedonian Republic League (the third or fourth tier of the Yugoslav football league system) and the Yugoslav Second League. While they were often overshadowed by their city rivals FK Vardar, Rabotnički maintained a reputation as a talent factory and a stable club within the socialist republic's football hierarchy.
Following the independence of North Macedonia in 1991, Rabotnički became a founding member of the Macedonian First Football League (1. MFL). The club's trajectory changed dramatically in 2001 when it was acquired by the company Kometal, led by businessman Trifun Kostovski. This marked the beginning of the club's "Golden Era".
Under the new ownership, Rabotnički secured their first Macedonian First League title in the 2004–05 season. They successfully defended their crown in the 2005–06 season and won a third title in 2007–08, a season in which they also won the Macedonian Football Cup to complete their first "Double". During this period, the club achieved notable results in European competitions, including reaching the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League in 2006 and facing prominent clubs such as Lille OSC and Bolton Wanderers in the UEFA Cup.
After the Kometal sponsorship ended, the club remained a significant force in Macedonian football. Rabotnički won the Macedonian Cup again in the 2008–09 season. They secured their fourth league title in the 2013–14 season, once again achieving the domestic Double by winning the Cup the same year. They added a fourth Cup title to their trophy cabinet in the 2014–15 season. The club continued to regularly qualify for the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Europa League, maintaining a consistent presence on the international stage throughout the 2010s.
The early 2020s saw Rabotnički transition into a mid-table side, often focusing on developing young players. In the 2024–25 season, the club enjoyed a resurgence, finishing 3rd in the Macedonian First League table, which secured them a spot in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
However, the subsequent 2025–26 season proved to be difficult for the "Romantics". As of February 2026, the club found itself in a relegation battle, sitting in 11th place out of 12 teams in the First League standings. Despite the poor league form, the team showed signs of fighting spirit with a high-scoring 4–3 away victory against AP Brera Strumica on 20 February 2026.