Shkëndija Tetovo KF Shkëndija is a football club from Tetovo, North Macedonia, founded in 1979. Its history is closely connected with the Albanian community of Tetovo, as the club was established by local Albanian enthusiasts with the intention of creating a football team that would also preserve and promote the community's cultural identity. The club's traditional colours are red and black, reflected in its nickname, the “Red-Blacks”.
The early history of Shkëndija was unusually turbulent. After its foundation, the club progressed rapidly through the Yugoslav football system, but it was disbanded in the early 1980s. Following the establishment of an independent Macedonian football system, Shkëndija was re-established and gradually climbed through the lower divisions. Its first promotion to the top level came in 1996, but the decisive turning point arrived in the 2010/11 season, when the club won the Macedonian championship for the first time. UEFA recorded the achievement as Shkëndija's maiden national title, secured after a 2–1 victory over Rabotnički.
Shkëndija subsequently developed into one of the leading clubs in North Macedonia. The team won the national championship again in 2017/18, 2018/19, 2020/21 and 2024/25, giving it five Macedonian league titles in total. The fifth championship was secured in June 2025, with captain Besart Ibraimi lifting the trophy. Ibraimi was also the joint top scorer of the 2024/25 league season, with 15 goals.
The club has also enjoyed success in the Macedonian Cup, winning the competition in 2015/16 and 2017/18. The second triumph formed part of a domestic double: Shkëndija had already secured the league title and then defeated Pelister 3–0 in the cup final in Strumica. Visar Musliu scored twice in that match, while Besart Ibraimi added the other goal.
European competition has become an important part of Shkëndija's modern identity. The club has regularly appeared in UEFA qualifying rounds, although it has not won a major European trophy. Its European record includes notable victories over established opponents, and in the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League qualifying campaign Shkëndija eliminated Polish side Cracovia 4–1 on aggregate. The first leg in Tetovo ended 2–0, and Shkëndija completed the job with a 2–1 victory in Kraków.
Another important European campaign came in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds. Shkëndija eliminated The New Saints 2–1 on aggregate and then overcame FCSB 3–1 on aggregate, reaching the third qualifying round. There, the Macedonian champions faced Qarabağ and were eliminated after a 6–1 aggregate defeat. The campaign nevertheless represented one of the club's strongest performances in the Champions League qualifying phase.
Among the most important figures in the club's modern history is Besart Ibraimi, who became Shkëndija's leading European goalscorer according to UEFA statistics. The striker is also one of the club's most recognisable players and captained the side when it celebrated its fifth league championship in 2025. Another significant figure is coach Qatip Osmani, who led Shkëndija to its first league title in 2011 and later returned to guide the club to further domestic success.
Shkëndija's home is in Tetovo, where the club uses the Ecolog Arena for domestic matches. The stadium and the club's red-and-black identity are closely connected with the football culture of the city. The supporters known as Ballistët are an important part of the club's public identity, while the club itself describes Shkëndija as an institution whose significance extends beyond football and into the cultural life of Tetovo.
Today, KF Shkëndija is firmly established among the leading clubs of North Macedonia. Its five league championships, two Macedonian Cups and repeated participation in European competitions have transformed a club founded in 1979 into one of the country's most successful modern football institutions. Its history is distinctive not only because of its sporting achievements, but also because of the strong connection between the team, the city of Tetovo and the community that created it.
