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Oka Nikolov

{{Short description|Macedonian footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Oka Nikolov

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|5|25}}

| birth_place = Erbach im Odenwald, West Germany

| height = 1.88 m

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub = Los Angeles FC (goalkeeping)

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1981–1989 | youthclubs1 = SG Sandbach

| youthyears2 = 1989–1991 | youthclubs2 = Darmstadt 98

| youthyears3 = 1991–1993 | youthclubs3 = Eintracht Frankfurt

| years1 = 1992–1996 | clubs1 = Eintracht Frankfurt II | caps1 = 73 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1995–2013 | clubs2 = Eintracht Frankfurt | caps2 = 379 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2013 | clubs3 = Philadelphia Union | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2014 | clubs4 = Fort Lauderdale Strikers | caps4 = 8 | goals4 = 0

| totalcaps = 460 | totalgoals = 0

| nationalyears1 = 1998–2001 | nationalteam1 = Macedonia | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2014

| managerclubs1 = Germany U-19 (goalkeeping)

| manageryears2 = 2015

| managerclubs2 = Macedonia (goalkeeping)

| manageryears3 = 2016–2017

| managerclubs3 = Philadelphia Union (assistant)

| manageryears4 = 2018

| managerclubs4 = LA Galaxy (assistant)

| manageryears5 = 2019–2020

| managerclubs5 = Philadelphia Union (assistant)

| manageryears6 = 2021

| managerclubs6 = D.C. United (assistant)

| manageryears7 = 2022–

| managerclubs7 = Los Angeles FC (goalkeeping)

}}

Orhej "Oka" Nikolov ({{IPA|de|ˈɔɐ̯hɛɪ ˈʔɔkaː ˈniːkolɔf}}; {{langx|mk|Орхеј "Ока" Николов}} {{IPA|mk|ˈɔrxɛj ˈɔka niˈkɔɫɔf|}}; born 25 May 1974) is a retired professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He serves as assistant coach for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer. He spent nineteen seasons with Eintracht Frankfurt, appearing in 413 official games over the course of 13 Bundesliga seasons.{{cite web | url = http://www.eintracht.de/aktuell/31676/ | title = Oka Nikolov bleibt im Eintracht-Tor | trans-title = Oka Nikolov remains in Eintracht goal | publisher = Eintracht's official website | first = Michael | last = Feick | language = de | date = 12 August 2010 | access-date = 19 May 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131224100854/http://www.eintracht.de/aktuell/31676/ | archive-date = 24 December 2013 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | url = http://www.fnp.de/sport/fussball/Nikolov-kehrt-zurueck;art4825,128378 | title = Nikolov kehrt zurück |trans-title=Nikolov returns | publisher = Frankfurter Neue Presse | language = de | date = 20 March 2013 | access-date = 19 May 2013}} Born in Germany, he represented Macedonia at international level.

Club career

Born Erbach im Odenwald, Hessen, West Germany, Nikolov grew up in Sandbach in Hessen, starting playing football with local SG Sandbach.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

Nikolov started his senior career at Eintracht Frankfurt as backup, first to Uli Stein and then Andreas Köpke.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} After the latter left the team in June 1996 following the team's relegation from the Bundesliga he became first-choice, losing that status in early 2002 to newly-signed Dirk Heinen; he made his debut in the top division on 9 September 1995, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 home win against 1. FC Kaiserslautern.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

In the following years Nikolov played in every season.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} In February 2007, after Pröll received a rib injury, he was reinstated by manager Friedhelm Funkel, contributing with 20 games during the team's 2006–07 season.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/oka-nikolov/1783/|title=O. Nikolov|website=Soccerway|publisher=Perform Group|access-date=5 August 2018}}

In January 2010, it was announced that the 35-year-old Nikolov would not renew his contract with Eintracht that was due to expire in the summer, but he eventually signed a new deal until 2012, and later until 2013.{{cite web | url = http://www.fr-online.de/eintracht-frankfurt/neuer-vertrag-oka-nikolov-verlaengert-bis-2013,1473446,11146624.html | title = Oka Nikolov verlängert bis 2013 |trans-title=Oka Nikolov renews until 2013 | publisher = Frankfurter Rundschau | language = de | date = 14 November 2011 | access-date = 19 May 2013}} In June 2013, Eintracht revealed that the goalkeeper's contract would be cancelled, effective immediately to allow Nikolov to fulfill his lifelong dream to play in the United States.{{cite web | url = http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/news/2012/0000257760.php | title = Frankfurt release Oka Nikolov | trans-title = Frankfurt release Oka Nikolov | publisher = Bundesliga.de | language = de | date = 18 June 2013 | access-date = 18 June 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130621191208/http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/news/2012/0000257760.php | archive-date = 21 June 2013 | url-status = dead }}

On 19 June 2013, Nikolov signed with the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.{{cite web | url = http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2013/06/union-sign-veteran-goalkeeper-oka-nikolov | title = Union sign veteran goalkeeper Oka Nikolov | publisher = Philadelphia Union | date = 19 June 2013 | access-date = 7 July 2013}} He made his first start as a Union player on 30 July 2013 in a friendly against Stoke City playing 45 minutes.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

Nikolov signed with Fort Lauderdale Strikers on 19 February 2014 on a contract for the nine-game Spring season.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} Nikolov started and played eight matches in goal for the Strikers, posting two clean sheets. The team ended up as runners-ups.

Coaching career

  • Director of Coaching at JFC Frankfurt
  • Project Director and Coach at the Eintracht Frankfurt Football Academy
  • Assistant coach for the Germany national under-19 team.
  • Nikolov also served as Assistant Coach for the Macedonian National Team as well as a goalkeeper coach for LA Galaxy.{{cite web|title=LA Galaxy add Oka Nikolov and Junior Gonzalez to coaching staff|url=https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2017/11/08/la-galaxy-add-oka-nikolov-and-junior-gonzalez-coaching-staff|website=lagalaxy.com|access-date=9 November 2017}}

Nikolov joined the coaching staff of Los Angeles FC in February 2022.{{cite web |title=LAFC Announces Assistant Coaching Staff Ahead Of Club's Fifth MLS Season |url=https://www.lafc.com/news/lafc-announces-assistant-coaching-staff-ahead-of-club-s-fifth-mls-season?custom=&landing=s&wt |website=LAFC.com |access-date=8 February 2022}}

International career

Nikolov chose to represent the country of his ancestors, going on to win five caps for Macedonia in four years. He made his debut in a September 1998 friendly match against Egypt but since he also possessed German citizenship he couldn't acquire a Macedonian passport and therefore was unable to play in official games under FIFA.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} His five appearances were in friendlies.{{cite web | url = http://www.macedonianfootball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1632:oka-nikolov&catid=22:national-team-players&Itemid=124 | title = Oka Nikolov | publisher = MacedonianFootball | date = 12 January 2010 | access-date = 29 January 2014}}

His final international was a match in November 2001 against Hungary.{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=24216|title=Player Database|website=eu-football.info|access-date=26 April 2020}}

Career statistics

= Club =

{{Updated|match played 1 June 2014}}{{Soccerway|oka-nikolov/1783}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

! rowspan="2" |Club

! rowspan="2" |Season

! colspan="3" |League

! colspan="2" |National cup

! colspan="2" |Europe

! colspan="2" |Other

! colspan="2" |Total

Division

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

!Apps

!Goals

rowspan="21"|Eintracht Frankfurt

|1993–94

|rowspan="3"|Bundesliga

|0

00000colspan="2"|—00
1994–95

|0

00000colspan="2"|—00
1995–96

|4

01010colspan="2"|—60
1996–97

|rowspan="2"|2. Bundesliga

|31

020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—330
1997–98

|34

030colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—370
1998–99

|rowspan="3"|Bundesliga

|34

020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—360
1999–2000

|17

020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—190
2000–01

|4

010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—50
2001–02

|rowspan="2"|2. Bundesliga

|19

000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—190
2002–03

|34

020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—360
2003–04

|Bundesliga

|31

020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—330
2004–05

|2. Bundesliga

|1

000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—10
2005–06

|rowspan="6"|Bundesliga

|30

060colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—360
2006–07

|20

03010colspan="2"|—240
2007–08

|12

000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—120
2008–09

|18

020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—200
2009–10

|31

030colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—340
2010–11

|20

020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—220
2011–12

|2. Bundesliga

|31

020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—330
2012–13

|Bundesliga

|8

010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—90
colspan="2" |Total

!379

034020colspan="2"|—4150
Philadelphia Union

|2013

|Major League Soccer

|0

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—00
Fort Lauderdale Strikers

|2014

|North American Soccer League

|8

010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—90
colspan="3" |Career total

!387

035020004240

Honours

Eintracht Frankfurt

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{Fussballdaten|nikolovoka}}
  • [http://www.eintracht-archiv.de/nikolov.html Eintracht Frankfurt archives] {{in lang|de}}
  • [http://macedonianfootball.com/oka-nikolov/ Profile] at MacedonianFootball {{in lang|en}}
  • {{NFT player|4023}}
  • {{Soccerway|oka-nikolov/1783}}

{{Los Angeles FC squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nikolov, Oka}}

Category:1974 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Erbach im Odenwald

Category:Footballers from Darmstadt (region)

Category:German people of Macedonian descent

Category:Naturalized citizens of North Macedonia

Category:Men's association football goalkeepers

Category:German men's footballers

Category:Macedonian men's footballers

Category:North Macedonia men's international footballers

Category:SV Darmstadt 98 players

Category:Eintracht Frankfurt players

Category:Eintracht Frankfurt II players

Category:Philadelphia Union players

Category:Fort Lauderdale Strikers players

Category:Bundesliga players

Category:2. Bundesliga players

Category:North American Soccer League (2011–2017) players

Category:Philadelphia Union non-playing staff

Category:Association football goalkeeping coaches

Category:LA Galaxy non-playing staff

Category:D.C. United non-playing staff

Category:Los Angeles FC non-playing staff

Category:German expatriate men's footballers

Category:Macedonian expatriate men's footballers

Category:Macedonian expatriate sportspeople in the United States

Category:German expatriate sportspeople in the United States

Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States