# Zoran Smileski

Zoran Smileski (Macedonian: Зоран Смилески; born 9 January 1950) is a Macedonian former football manager and player.

## Club career

Born in Skopje, Smileski moved at an early age to Split, where his father was stationed in the Yugoslav People's Army. He started playing football with Hajduk Split at the age of 10. Later on, Smileski relocated with his family to Belgrade and joined the youth system of Partizan in 1962. He made his competitive debut for the club in the second half of the 1967–68 season. Smileski, along with the likes of Momčilo Vukotić and Vlado Pejović, was among a number of youngsters introduced to the team that season, and the new group of players came to be known collectively as the Bobek Babes. He was later loaned to Borac Banja Luka for two years, before returning to Partizan. In the 1972 winter transfer window, Smileski was transferred to Borac Banja Luka.
In 1979, after making over 150 appearances for Borac Banja Luka in the Yugoslav First League, Smileski went abroad to Austria to play for SPG Innsbruck, spending the next two and a half seasons with the club. He finished his playing career at BSK Banja Luka.

## International career

At international level, Smileski represented Yugoslavia at the 1968 UEFA European Under-18 Championship.

## Managerial career

After serving as an assistant to Đorđe Gerum at Borac Banja Luka, Smileski was manager of lower league club Omarska in the 1985–86 season, winning the title and promotion.
In 1991, Smileski was appointed as manager of Borac Banja Luka. He led them to the 1992 Mitropa Cup, defeating Italian side Foggia on penalties in the final. After leaving the club in March 1993, Smileski went to Macedonia and took charge of Pelister the following month, eventually losing in the Cup final later that season.
In 1995, Smileski became manager of Sileks. He would go on to win three consecutive Macedonian championship titles (1995–96, 1996–97, and 1997–98) and one national cup (1996–97).
In October 2006, it was reported that Smileski would be taking charge of Greek side Trikala. He left by mutual consent in February 2007. Shortly after, Smileski was appointed as manager of fellow Gamma Ethniki club Thiva.
In 2008, Smileski moved to Iran and served as manager of multiple clubs over the next five years, including Petrochimi Tabriz (two spells), Machine Sazi, Foolad Yazd, Naft Masjed Soleyman, and Iranjavan Bushehr.

## Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals |
| Partizan | 1967–68 | Yugoslav First League | 2 | 0 |
| Partizan | 1968–69 | Yugoslav First League | 8 | 2 |
| Partizan | 1969–70 | Yugoslav First League | — | — |
| Partizan | 1970–71 | Yugoslav First League | — | — |
| Partizan | 1971–72 | Yugoslav First League | 10 | 1 |
| Partizan | Total | Total | 20 | 3 |
| Borac Banja Luka (loan) | 1969–70 | Yugoslav Second League | 29 | 16 |
| Borac Banja Luka (loan) | 1970–71 | Yugoslav First League | 32 | 4 |
| Borac Banja Luka (loan) | Total | Total | 61 | 20 |
| Borac Banja Luka | 1971–72 | Yugoslav First League | 17 | 1 |
| Borac Banja Luka | 1972–73 | Yugoslav First League | 33 | 6 |
| Borac Banja Luka | 1973–74 | Yugoslav First League | 28 | 1 |
| Borac Banja Luka | 1974–75 | Yugoslav Second League | | |
| Borac Banja Luka | 1975–76 | Yugoslav First League | 32 | 2 |
| Borac Banja Luka | 1976–77 | Yugoslav First League | — | — |
| Borac Banja Luka | 1977–78 | Yugoslav First League | 23 | 3 |
| Borac Banja Luka | 1978–79 | Yugoslav First League | 28 | 1 |
| Borac Banja Luka | Total | Total | 161 | 14 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 242 | 37 |

## Honours
### Player

Borac Banja Luka
* Yugoslav Second League: 1974–75
* Yugoslav Cup runner-up: 1974

### Manager

Borac Banja Luka
* Mitropa Cup: 1992
Sileks
* Macedonian First League: 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98
* Macedonian Cup: 1996–97