Zoran Ilioski
NSL Career: Footscray, Preston 273 (26) / 1977 - 1988
"Zoki" was a highly intelligent and skilful footballer who was a star player for two talented sides that missed out on success in the NSL. During an era of Australian football when "kick and run" was the widely adopted tactic - Zoran Ilioski was excellent in keeping possession, drawing opponents out of position and was industrious in midfield.
Born in Yugoslavia, Ilioski moved to Australia as a child and started his junior career at Footscray JUST at the age of nine. Ilioski worked his way up through the junior ranks and made his first team debut in the Victorian State League at the age of 17. The following year, Footscray became a foundation club of the Phillips Soccer League and Ilioski played alongside some of the most technical footballers in the league such as Frank Mičić, Joe Picioane, Joe Palinkas and Mendo Ristovski.
Ilioski became a regular over the next two seasons and scored in Footscray's second round and quarter-final matches in the 1979 NSL Cup. Success remained elusive for Footscray during the early 1980s as Ilioski added goals to his game, scoring 13 in 81 league games between 1980 and 1982.
It was during this time that Ilioski became captain of the club and one of the best midfielders in the league. Following a four-one loss to Preston in the first round of the 1983 season, where Ilioski was the standout player for Footscray, Preston signed the star midfielder after Ilioski and Footscray failed to come to terms on a contract renewal.
Now with a club that represented his heritage, Ilioski formed part of a talented Preston midfield with fellow signings Žarko Odžakov and George Campbell. Preston finished the season in third place and narrowly missed out on a spot in the finals series the following season.
Having put together a well-balanced side in the 1984 season, Preston signed 1984 Victorian State League top scorer Steve Smith for the 1985 season to join star forwards Gary Cole and Sean Lane in attack. Ilioski scored in Preston's three-one NSL Cup Quarter-Final win over Green Gully before the club progressed to the final in which Ilioski unfortunately produced one of the misses of the season as Olympic scored two late goals to win the match two-one.
Following the NSL Cup Final, Preston qualified for the finals series and reached the Southern Conference Final after defeating South Melbourne in a penalty shoot-out in the preliminary final following a four-all draw, in which Ilioski scored Preston's second goal. Preston were again on the fringes of the top five during the 1986 season as they narrowly missed out on consecutive finals series. Bill Murray was sacked after the first 10 rounds of the 1987 season and was replaced by 34 year old assistant coach Ernie Merrick in his first head coaching role since 1983 in the Victorian State League.
Under Merrick, Preston went on a seven-game unbeaten run and lost just two games during the remainder of the season, finishing runners-up to APIA. Following the regular season, Ilioski helped Preston reach the preliminary final of the final edition of the Play-Off Series.
After a winless start to the 1988 season where Ilioski made just three league appearances in the first eight games, the 29 year old midfielder was released along with coach Merrick. Ilioski joined Victorian Division One side Altona Gate for the remainder of the 1988 season and helped them gain promotion to the VSL. Ilioski missed just one game for Altona during the 1989 season before hanging up his boots at the age of 31.
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