Quick Facts
Biography
Boban Babunski (Macedonian: Бобан Бабунски; born 5 May 1968) is a Macedonian retired footballer who played as a central defender, and a coach.
Playing career
Babunski was born in Skopje, Macedonia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. On the club level he started playing with hometown's FK Vardar, then spent two seasons in Bulgaria with PFC CSKA Sofia to become of the first Macedonians to compete in the A Football Group. After two solid years in the Spanish second division with UE Lleida he played the same time in Japan, at Gamba Osaka.
Babunski retired professionally in 2001 at the age of 33, after stints with AEK Athens FC, CD Logroñés, K. Sint-Truidense V.V. and Chemnitzer FC – he left Germany in December 2000, signing with native FK Rabotnički – the second and the last teams two also in the respective countries' second level.
Babunski was capped two times for Yugoslavia in 1991. Subsequently, during seven years, he played 23 matches and scored once for the newly formed Macedonia.
Manager career
Babunski began his coaching career as assistant in the Macedonian national side, under Slobodan Santrač. When the latter resigned on 23 August 2005 he was appointed interim manager but, on 17 February of the following year, Srečko Katanec took over the job on a permanent basis.
On 23 July 2009, Babunski was signed as head coach of First Macedonian Football League champions Rabotnički, also from Skopje, winning the domestic cup in his sole season. Four years later he returned to the national team.
Personal life
Babunski's sons, David and Dorian, are also footballers. The former played youth football with FC Barcelona, whilst the latter did the same at Real Madrid.
Statistics
Club
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Yugoslavia | League | Yugoslav Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 1985–86 | Vardar | First League | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 1986–87 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||||||
| 1987–88 | 23 | 1 | 23 | 1 | ||||||
| 1988–89 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||||||
| 1989–90 | 15 | 1 | 15 | 1 | ||||||
| 1990–91 | Second League | 38 | 5 | 38 | 5 | |||||
| 1991–92 | First League | 26 | 7 | 26 | 7 | |||||
| Bulgaria | League | Bulgarian Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 1992–93 | CSKA Sofia | A Football Group | 22 | 2 | 22 | 2 | ||||
| 1993–94 | 18 | 2 | 18 | 2 | ||||||
| Spain | League | Copa del Rey | Copa de la Liga | Total | ||||||
| 1994–95 | Lleida | Segunda División | 31 | 1 | 31 | 1 | ||||
| 1995–96 | 31 | 1 | 31 | 1 | ||||||
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 1996 | Gamba Osaka | J1 League | 14 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| 1997 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 7 | ||
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Greece | League | Greek Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 1998–99 | AEK Athens | Superleague Greece | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Spain | League | Copa del Rey | Copa de la Liga | Total | ||||||
| 1999–00 | Logroñés | Segunda División | 33 | 0 | 33 | 0 | ||||
| Belgium | League | Belgian Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 1999–00 | Sint-Truiden | Belgian Pro League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Germany | League | DFB-Pokal | DFB Ligapokal | Total | ||||||
| 2000–01 | Chemnitzer FC | 2. Bundesliga | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 | ||||
| Macedonia | League | Macedonian Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||||
| 2000–01 | Rabotnički | First League | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||
| Country | Yugoslavia | 141 | 14 | 141 | 14 | |||||
| Bulgaria | 40 | 4 | 40 | 4 | ||||||
| Spain | 95 | 2 | 95 | 2 | ||||||
| Japan | 38 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 52 | 8 | ||
| Greece | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||||||
| Belgium | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Germany | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 | ||||||
| Macedonia | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 306 | 25 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 348 | 31 | ||
National team
| Yugoslavia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 |
| Macedonia | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | 3 | 0 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1996 | 2 | 1 |
| 1997 | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 23 | 1 |