Alexander Trajkowski made history for North Macedonia on Thursday as his late goal sealed a famous World Cup play-off victory over Euro 2020 winners Italy.
The visitors began the game at the Stadio Renzo Barbera as rank outsiders, and spent most of the 90 minutes rising enthusiastically as Italy advanced in search of a winner.
But it was Trzekowski, most familiar to Palermo’s home ground in Sicily, who popped up in seconds to break Italian hearts and set up a decider against Portugal.
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Who is Trejkowski?
At 29 years old, Trzekovsky is one of North Macedonia’s biggest football stars.
With 20 goals in 75 international appearances he is second only to Goran Pandav in the country’s all-time top scoring ranks, four of whom went on to help him finish second in Group J behind Germany in their latest World Cup qualification campaign. Come and progress. Play-off for the first time.
Where did the forward play?
As a teenager Trzekowski enjoyed a trial with Chelsea, and helped the young side of the Blues to victory in the 2010 Copa Amsterdam with a late goal against Botafogo of Brazil.
He spent time in Croatia and Belgium before becoming a favorite with Palermo.
The forward spent a total of four seasons in Sicily, before leaving with the rest of the club’s professional squad in 2019, when he was kicked out of the league system due to serious financial irregularities.
He had a stint in Spain with Mallorca and is now playing for Al Feha in Saudi Arabia.
