Zlatko Nastevski

NSL Career: Marconi, Wollongong Macedonia, Sydney Olympic 112 (52) / 1987 - 1991/92

Socceroos Career: 1 (0) B International

Marconi was historically a club that demanded excellence - being represented by numerous Socceroos, high-calibre foreign players and developed young talent that would go on to forge successful overseas careers. The club proved this when they signed one of the greatest imports to grace Australian football in the late 1980s.

Zlatko Nastevski's close ball control allowed him to dance around his direct opponent before firing the ball home with either foot. Nastevski was capable of turning provider when playing in a deeper role, his attacking awareness and timing in the box meant he was a threat in the air and was a free-kick specialist.

A Skopje native, Nastevski was a junior at Macedonia's biggest club Vardar before making his first team debut at the age of 19 in the Yugoslav Second League. Nastevski helped the side gain promotion to the First League before having a short stint at Second League side Rabotnički. 

The forward's next move was to Second League side Pelister where he began to make his mark as a footballer. Nastevski became a top player in a top team, scoring goals for fun as the club fell short of promotion during the first half of the 1980s, finishing third in the East Division on three occasions.

Following his time at Pelister, Nastevski saw to offers from West Germany and Austria, but couldn't find a suitable offer. Nastevski received an offer from Australia and decided to join NSW Division One side Rockdale Ilinden in 1986. 

Despite joining Ilinden midway through the year, Nastevski finished the season as the league's top scorer before fellow Macedonian and former Vardar team mate Žarko Odžakov helped him earn a contract with NSL club Marconi for the 1987 season. Despite his obvious talent, Nastevski struggled to adapt to life in Australia and lacked consistency in his first season at the club, scoring just three league goals.

As a testament to Nastevski's abilities, Marconi's arguably greatest foreign player Roberto Vieri coached Nastevski in the 1987 season and told Australian Soccer Weekly, "I have played with some of Europe's greatest players during my career in Italy. Nastevski has a football technique which is every bit as good as any of them."

In the 1988 season, Nastevski began to make his mark in the NSL, scoring goals regularly while supporting dangerous strikers Frank Farina and Fred de Jong. Nastevski scored the winning goal in extra time for Marconi in their grand final win against Sydney Croatia. 

Following Farina's departure to Europe at the end of the season, Nastevski stepped up as Marconi's focal point in attack during the 1989 season. Nastevski dominated the 1989 NSL season - scoring 20 goals in 25 games during the regular season to claim the NSL Golden Boot, being named the Johnny Warren Medallist and scored all of Marconi's semi-final and grand final goals to claim back-to-back championship medals.

Nastevski started the 1989/90 season in devastating form, scoring 11 goals in 11 games (including five against St George), and earned a call up for the Socceroos B team. Nastevski suffered an ACL injury in the match, which in essence, ended his aspirations to earn a full international cap for Australia. 

Nastevski struggled to return to form in the 1990/91 season and moved to the recently promoted Wollongong Macedonia halfway through the season, who got relegated at the end of their only season in the competition. Following the 1990/91 season, Nastevski took up an offer to join Malaysian side Kedah with fellow NSL player George Jolevski.

The Macedonian forward found some good form in Malaysia, finishing behind Australian striker Abbas Saad in the golden boot race, but was unable to save Kedah from relegation. Nastevski returned to the NSL, signing for Sydney Olympic in the 1991/92 season but only managed to play eight matches, which would be his last in the competition. Nastevski returned to Wollongong Macedonia in the NSW Super League before hanging up his boots at the age of 35. For his contribution to the success of Marconi in the late 1980s, Nastevski was selected in the club's Greatest XI.