Tomche Filipovski, Rabotnichki legend, dies at 85
Rabotnichki icon with 663 appearances and 225 goals; former president of the Football Association of Yugoslavia (1987–1991).
Tomche Filipovski, a towering figure in Macedonian football and a lifelong servant of Rabotnichki, has died at the age of 85. The news was published on 18 September 2026.
Career and numbers
Filipovski spent virtually his entire playing career at Rabotnichki, the club from the Debar Maalo neighbourhood of Skopje. Across 18 seasons he appeared in 663 matches for the club and scored 225 goals, becoming one of the most prolific forwards in the region.
His most notable season came in 1971/72, when he finished as the top scorer in the Second League of the former Yugoslavia.
After retiring from the pitch, Filipovski remained active in football off the field. He served as president of the Football Association of Yugoslavia from 1987 to 1991, a period that included the national team's last World Cup appearance for the former state in Italy in 1990, when it reached the quarter-finals.
Filipovski is remembered both for his records at Rabotnichki and for his later administrative role in regional football. His passing marks the loss of one of the most prominent names in Macedonian football history.
The football community in Skopje and beyond is mourning the death of a player and official who left a lasting mark on the game.
Photo: press material from the event
