Manchester United’s academy created several superstars in the 1990s, Jovan Kirovski was a near miss.
The Class of 92 went from Manchester United’s youth team to winning an unprecedented level of first team silverware under Sir Alex Ferguson’s guidance.
The likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were all household names in the 90s and still are now, going on to win the Champions League with the Red Devils.
Jovan Kirovski was one of United’s most exciting youth team players in the 1990s, one who achieved success in his career yet also failed to live up to his potential.
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Jovan Kirovski, the United years
Jovan Kirovski became the first ever American player to sign with Manchester United when he joined the club at 16, way back in 1992
The young striker had impressed after a trial, and spent time playing in the youth team along with the likes of Scholes and Beckham.
Speaking to Grant Wahl in 2021, Kirovski explained: “I ended up going with a youth national team to England on a tour. And a scout from Manchester United wanted me to come back in the summer.
“I had this dream already, I wanted to go to Europe. I wanted to be the best player in the world.”
Kirovski made his USA international debut in late 1994 while he was at Manchester United. By the time he left the Red Devils in 1996, he had racked up 16 senior caps including playing at the Copa America and the World Cup.
Despite this, Kirovski was denied a work permit, which prevented his Manchester United career from ever progressing. He left without making a competitive appearance, despite scoring regularly for the Reserves.
“I wish I really had a chance to finish what I started there. I was in a good way, good form. I scored goals. I was rated highly, and I was one of them. So I grew up there… They wanted to give me a chance.”
Kirovski received advice from Sir Alex Ferguson on his next move and agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund.
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Jovan Kirovski, Champions League winner
Jovan Kirovski became the first ever American player to win the Champions League when Borussia Dortmund triumphed in 1997.
Dortmund did so at the expense of Manchester United, winning 1-0 on aggregate in the Champions League semi-finals.
Kirovski played two games for Dortmund in the group stages of the competition in 1996, and was on the bench for their home leg against United.
His career did not hit the heights he wanted to after that point. Kirovski played 29 times for Dortmund in total, scoring twice – including once in the Champions League against Sparta Prague in 1997/98.
Belatedly he was granted a work permit in English football, playing for Birmingham City and Crystal Palace.
But he had missed his chance to develop under Sir Alex Ferguson, and Manchester United had moved on.
Kirovski had brief spells in Portugal and Germany before heading home to play in MLS. His international career ended with 64 caps and nine goals.
Jovan Kirovski signed two former Man Utd stars
While Jovan Kirovski’s career will always be a case of ‘what might have been’, he has been putting his experience to good use.
Kirovski worked as technical director for LA Galaxy, and was instrumental in their signings of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez.
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