Billy Celeski

Blagoja "Billy" Celeski (born 14 July 1985) is a retired Macedonian-born Australian footballer. He last played as a midfielder for Ventforet Kofu in the J1 League in 2016.

Billy Celeski
Personal information
Full name Blagoja Celeski
Date of birth (1985-07-14) 14 July 1985
Place of birth Ohrid, SR Macedonia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Preston Lions
Bullen Zebras
2001 VIS
2002–2003 AIS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Bullen Zebras 16 (2)
2005–2006 Perth Glory 18 (0)
2006–2007 Bullen Zebras 23 (5)
2007–2008 Perth Glory 14 (4)
2008–2013 Melbourne Victory 91 (2)
2013–2014 Al-Shaab 10 (0)
2014 Liaoning Whowin 6 (0)
2014–2015 Newcastle Jets 4 (0)
2016 Ventforet Kofu 13 (1)
International career‡
2004–2005 Australia U-20 14 (0)
2006–2007 Australia U-23 13 (0)
2009 Australia 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 September 2016
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 November 2010

Club career

Celeski signed for Perth Glory for the 2005–06 A-League season from Bullen Zebras playing 18 times and won the club's media award, but was released at the end of the season. Celeski graduated from the Victorian Institute of Sport and Australian Institute of Sport. In March 2007 Celeski was signed by Perth Glory again. A notable performance, with Perth Glory, in the A-League occurred on Saturday, 15 December 2007 – where Celeski scored a hat-trick in Perth Glory's 4–2 win over Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium.[1]

Afterwards Celeski signed for Melbourne Victory at the end of the 2007–08 season in a one-year deal, post-mutual termination of his Perth Glory contract, primarily to bolster the squad for the AFC Champions League.[2] Celeski scored his first goal for his new club in their 3–2 win over Adelaide United on 31 October 2008.[3] Celeski signed a new 2-year contract with Melbourne Victory on 23 December 2008.

Celeski went on to play a role in the Melbourne team, performing an important role in their title-winning campaign,[4] while also not missing a league match until late 2009.[5] This was to be stopped on 3 September of that year however, when he suffered a season ending anterior cruciate ligament injury, in the opening of a match against Newcastle Jets.[6]

On 20 July 2013, Celeski represented the A-League All Stars in the inaugural A-League All Stars Game against Manchester United, a match in which the A-League All Stars were thrashed 5–1, courtesy of goals from Danny Welbeck, Jesse Lingard and Robin van Persie. Just 4 days later, on 24 July 2013, he represented Melbourne Victory against Liverpool, a match in which the Victory lost 2–0, courtesy of goals from Steven Gerrard and an own-goal from Victory captain Adrian Leijer. He was the only Victory player to have played in both of those exhibition matches.

On 30 July 2013, just a few days after representing the A-League All Stars against Manchester United and representing Melbourne Victory against Liverpool, Billy Celeski transferred from Melbourne Victory to UAE Pro-League club Al-Shaab.[7][8]

On 24 February 2014, Celeski transferred to Chinese Super League side Liaoning Whowin.[9] On 29 May 2014, he was released along with Artyom Filiposyan.[10]

On 6 August 2014, Celeski signed with the Newcastle Jets.[11] He was reportedly sacked by Jets owner Nathan Tinkler, following a player revolt midway through the season.

On 3 February 2016, Celeski joined J1 League club Ventforet Kofu.[12]

International career

Celeski made his first senior international debut for the Socceroos on 28 January 2009 in an AFC Asian Cup qualifying match versus Indonesia,[4] appearing as a substitute for Tom Pondeljak.[13] He was also a member of the unsuccessful Olyroos squad that took part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Personal life

Celeski was born in Ohrid, SR Macedonia, and moved to Melbourne, Australia as a child.

Honours

Club

Melbourne Victory:

Individual

References
  1. "Glory Shock Ends Sydney's Run". FourFourTwo Australia. 16 December 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  2. "Celeski Signs up to Victory". FourFourTwo Australia. 6 February 2008. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  3. "Victory the new comeback kings". Fox Sports. 31 October 2008. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  4. "Celeski a starter as Merrick looks for answers". The Age. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  5. "Crocked Celeski Out For a Year". FourFourTwo Australia. 4 September 2009. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  6. "Celeski Sidelined For a Year". FoxSports. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  7. "Victory's Celeski heads to UAE - Damien Souness, Omnisport - Football Australia 2013". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  8. "Victory confirms Celeski move : The World Game on SBS". theworldgame.sbs.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  9. 辽宁官方宣布前澳国脚入队 at sports.sina.com 24 February 2014 Retrieved 25 February 2014
  10. 辽足与双外援解约教练组添新人 at sports.sina.com 29 May 2014 Retrieved 30 May 2014
  11. "Jets sign Billy Celeski". Football Federation Australia. 6 August 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  12. "Notice of Billy Celeski signing" (in Japanese). Ventforet Kofu. 3 February 2016.
  13. "Socceroo 2009 Matches". Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  14. Jackson, Jamie (20 July 2013). "Manchester United thrash A-League All Stars to give David Moyes first win". The Guardian. Sydney. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
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