Kris Trajanovski

NSL Career: Preston, Sydney Olympic, Adelaide City, Marconi, Brisbane Strikers, Melbourne Knights 311 (79) / 1990/91 - 2003/04

Socceroos Career: 16 (10) A Internationals

Despite a lack of team success during his career, Trajanovski was an exciting footballer who was a constant attacking threat to the opposition. Blessed with speed, vision and a powerful shot - Trajanovski scored and created plenty of goals during his NSL career.

Trajanovski started his junior career at Geelong Soccer Club where he played until the age of 14 before joining Sunshine George Cross in Melbourne to play in a higher level competition. Following his time at Sunshine, Trajanovski played for South Melbourne before earning a scholarship to the AIS Soccer Program in 1989.

The young forward made NSL connections while at the AIS and signed for Preston after completing his scholarship in 1990. Trajanovski made his NSL debut at the age of 18 in a three-two win over Wollongong City before becoming a regular during the season. Preston reached the semi-finals of the NSL Cup in which Trajanovski scored late in extra time against APIA to send the club through to their second-ever NSL Cup Final, in which they lost one-nil to Melita Eagles.

Trajanovski remained with the club for a further two seasons, scoring just three goals in 39 league appearances as the club struggled to keep their place in the competition, succumbing to relegation at the end of the 1992/93 NSL season. Following Preston's relegation, Trajanovski received an offer to join Hong Kong First Division side Happy Valley late in the 1992/93 season with Heidelberg midfielder David Clarkson and the pair helped them survive relegation.

Happy Valley decided to release the pair in favour of signing local players to save money and Trajanovski joined Sydney Olympic where he became a regular during the 1993/94 season. Trajanovski returned to Hong Kong to join South China for the 1994/95 season where he scored regularly before being released by the club, who were fully stocked with foreign and local strikers and joined league strugglers Kui Tan.

Trajanovski was unable to help the club avoid relegation and returned to Sydney Olympic for the 1995/96 season. Playing in a talented Olympic line-up among the likes of Kimon Taliadoros, Peter Tsekinis, Walter Ardone and Norman Tome - Trajanovski found career best form, finishing runner-up to Adelaide City's Damian Mori in the NSL Golden Boot standings. Following his brilliant season back in the NSL, Trajanovski made his full international debut in a four-nil win over Kenya before scoring seven goals over Australia's two-legged Oceania Nations Cup Final win over Tahiti in 1996. 

Trajanovski spent another season at Olympic before joining Adelaide City for the 1997/98 season. Trajanovski helped City finish third in the league and reach the elimination final before moving to Marconi where he scored 22 goals in 89 league games over three seasons. Following his time at Marconi, where he played finals football in each of his three seasons, Trajanovski joined Brisbane Strikers where he scored nine goals in 36 league games before moving back to Asia midway through the 2002/03 season.

Singapore club Tanjong Pagar United signed the Australian forward for the 2003 S.League season where he scored just once in 15 league appearances as the club narrowly avoided finishing last. Trajanovski returned to the NSL where he had a short stint at Melbourne Knights during the final season of the competition before joining Victorian Premier League side Whittlesea for the 2004 season. In 2005, Trajanovski moved to Adelaide and played for South Australian Premier League sides White City (later Beograd), Seaford Rangers and Adelaide Cobras - having stints as a player-coach before hanging up his boots at the age of 40.