Ana Stojkov — from handball executive to the first Macedonian with a FIFA football management licence

Ana Stojkov has become the first Macedonian to obtain a FIFA licence for football management, a credential that qualifies her to represent some of the world’s biggest players. Her professional biography, however, is rooted in handball where she spent most of her career as a player and executive.

From handball executive to licensed football agent

Stojkov served for 11 years as a manager at RK Vardar 1961 and held executive roles at ŽRK Vardar and ŽRK Atletik. That period placed her at the centre of the club that wrote one of North Macedonia’s greatest European sporting stories, and gave her experience coordinating teams, managers and officials at the highest level.

Recalling how football entered her life, she says she grew up around the game: “My love for football goes back to my earliest years. My father played recreationally, but he was also the chief doctor for FK Sileks, and as a little girl he would take me to the team’s trainings and matches. I followed everything on and off the field with great interest, all the communication between players, coaches, doctors, the whole technical staff. Their dedication, discipline, persistence, fighting spirit, the energy between them and the entire environment made my love for this sport.”

Stojkov describes the FIFA qualification process as rigorous and highly structured. “It was not easy, but precisely for that reason this success means even more to me. FIFA regulations require a great deal of commitment and understanding. I can say that to some extent they are similar to those in handball, but they carry greater weight, are more precise, and there are special rules for every situation. You literally pay attention to every detail.” She added that licence holders must remain active through courses and tests every three months or risk having their licence frozen.

Balancing the studies with family life was one of her biggest challenges: “The greatest challenge was that I am a mother of two beautiful children, and one of them was 1 year old at that time. Some days I studied late into the night, but I never thought of giving up. In life there will always be reasons to quit, but if you truly love something you will always find a reason to continue.”

Looking ahead, Stojkov says she wants to promote greater professionalism, transparency and investment in youth development in Macedonian sport. “I learned that professionalism, trust and honesty are the foundation of every success. I would like to see better organisation here, greater transparency and much more investment in youth categories, because that is where the future of Macedonian sport is born.”

She also offered direct advice to women aiming for careers off the pitch: “Never stop believing in yourself. Never let anyone tell you that you cannot do something because you are a woman. Work honestly, learn every day and be combative, persistent and patient.”

In addition to her manager roles, Stojkov runs a sports management and logistics company that cooperates with European handball giants visiting North Macedonia. She says large clubs expect professional organisation, clear communication and reliability—standards she aims to meet as she expands into football management.

Photo: press material from the event