Gjoko Zajkov (; born 10 February 1995) is a Macedonian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for UAE Pro League club Ajman and for the North Macedonia national team.
Early career Zajkov began his football career with FK Rabotnički.
Club career Born in Skopje into a family originally from Udovo, Gjoko Zajkov was playing in Macedonia for the youth team of Rabotnichki, until the summer in 2012 when he made his first appearance for the senior team of the club, competing in the Macedonian First League. He was voted best defender that year, at the age of 17.
On 23 June 2014 he left Macedonia for the French club Stade Rennais F.C., with whom he signed a three-year contract. After his first season in France, where he spent the majority of the time playing for the youth team of Rennais only, in the summer of 2015 he was loaned for one year to Charleroi in Belgium.
After being released from Charleroi, Zajkov signed a one-year deal with Levski Sofia in August 2021. In March 2022 he joined Slavia Sofia until the end of the season.
In January 2023 he signed for Universitatea Craiova.
International career He has been a member of Macedonian U-19 and U-21 national teams.
He made his senior debut for Macedonia in a June 2016 friendly match against Iran and has, as of May 2020, earned a total of 12 caps, scoring no goals.
He represented the nation at UEFA Euro 2020, their first major tournament.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsRabotnički2011–121. MFL400000—402012–131. MFL20200——2022013–141. MFL27130——301Total5133000—543Rennes2014–15Ligue 10000—1010Rennes B 2014–15CFA2150———150Charleroi (loan)2015–16 Belgian Pro League7010——80Charleroi2016–17Belgian First Division A1020——302017–18Belgian First Division A11020——1302018–19Belgian First Division A12000——1202019–20Belgian First Division A1010——202020–21Belgian First Division A000000—00Total3206000—380Levski Sofia2021–22First Professional Football League14120——161Slavia Sofia (loan)2021–22First Professional Football League6120——81Vorskla Poltava2022–23Ukrainian Premier League1400020—140Universitatea Craiova2022–23Liga I160———1602023–24Liga I23000—102402024–25Liga I2013020—251Total591302010651Ajman2025–26UAE Pro League0000—0000Career total191616040202136
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsNorth Macedonia201610201740201840201930202051202120202230202350202470202550Total391
As of match played 11 October 2020. North Macedonia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Zajkov goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Gjoko ZajkovNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition111 October 2020A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia133–33–32020–21 UEFA Nations League
Honours Rabotnički 1. MFL: 2013–14 Macedonian Football Cup: 2013–14
References
External links Gjoko Zajkov at Football Federation of Macedonia Gjoko Zajkov at MacedonianFootball.com