David Babunski

1.1. Childhood and education

Born in Skopje, Babunski's early life included a unique period in Osaka, Japan, from the age of two to four, where he attended a Japanese kindergarten. He later settled in Barcelona, Spain, joining FC Barcelona's prestigious La Masia academy in 2006 at the age of 12, having previously played for UDA Gramenet. During his formative years at La Masia, he was in the same period as future football star Takefusa Kubo. In December 2011, his talent was formally recognized when he was named Macedonian Young Sportsperson of the Year, an honor he received ahead of prominent karate athletes Aziz Ismail and Berat Jakupi. His development at La Masia culminated in his promotion to the Barcelona reserves in June 2013.

1.2. Family and influences

David Babunski comes from a family deeply rooted in football. His father, Boban Babunski, was also a professional footballer who played in several countries, including Spain, and later became a coach, notably for the Macedonian U-21 national team. His younger brother, Dorian Babunski, is also a professional footballer who plays as a forward. Dorian notably played in the Real Madrid academy and later in Japan's J2 League, where he faced David in a professional match. The brothers also had the unique experience of playing together for Debreceni VSC in Hungary. David Babunski's family lineage extends further back to his great-great-grandfather, Jovan Babunski, who was a vojvoda. David has publicly expressed pride in his descent from Jovan Babunski.

2.1. FC Barcelona B

After joining La Masia in 2006, Babunski steadily progressed through the youth ranks. He was promoted to the reserves in June 2013. His professional debut occurred on August 24, 2013, as a second-half substitute in a 2-1 home victory against CD Lugo in the Segunda División. He scored his first goal for the team on May 31, 2014, securing a last-minute winner in a 4-3 home success over AD Alcorcón. In the 2014-15 season, he played 16 games, a campaign that unfortunately ended with the team's relegation to Segunda División B. On February 28, 2015, he received a straight red card after being substituted at halftime in a 2-4 loss to RCD Mallorca. After a decade with the Barcelona organization, Babunski departed the club by mutual consent in January 2016.

2.2. Red Star Belgrade

On January 28, 2016, Babunski signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Serbian club Red Star Belgrade. He made his Serbian SuperLiga debut on February 20, entering as a substitute for Aleksandar Katai in the final 11 minutes of a 2-1 home win against FK Mladost Lučani. He went on to play five additional matches during the 2015-16 season, contributing to Red Star Belgrade's victory in their 27th league title. Despite winning the title, his tenure at Red Star saw him involved in fewer matches than anticipated.

2.3. Career in Japan

On January 30, 2017, Babunski made a significant move to Asia, signing with Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos. This transfer marked their second acquisition from Red Star that month, following the signing of Hugo Vieira. He made an impactful debut in the J1 League on February 25, scoring the opening goal in a 3-2 home victory over Urawa Red Diamonds in the season opener. This goal made David Babunski and his father, Boban, the first foreign father-son duo to score in the J.League's history. On August 16, 2018, Babunski's contract with Yokohama F. Marinos was terminated by mutual agreement.

Just six days later, on August 22, 2018, he signed with another Japanese club, Omiya Ardija, which played in the J2 League at the time. A notable moment in his J2 League career occurred on April 21, 2019, during a match against FC Machida Zelvia, when he and his brother Dorian, who played for the opposing team, were substituted onto the pitch at the same time, marking their first on-field professional encounter. This rare occurrence was met with applause from both sets of supporters, as the brothers shared a hug on the sideline before entering the game. On December 25, 2019, his contract with Omiya Ardija expired, and he departed the club.

2.4. Career in Romania

On March 2, 2020, David Babunski moved to Romania, signing a one-and-a-half-year contract with FC Botoșani. He played seven matches for the club in the 2019-20 season. On December 29, 2020, he was released from FC Botoșani by mutual consent. Shortly thereafter, on January 11, 2021, Babunski joined another Liga I club, FC Viitorul Constanța, on a two-and-a-half-year contract. However, his time there was also brief, as his contract with Viitorul Constanța was mutually terminated on June 8, 2021.

2.5. Career in Hungary

On July 8, 2021, Babunski signed a two-year deal with Hungarian club Debreceni VSC. In a unique turn of events, his younger brother, Dorian, also joined Debreceni VSC during the winter transfer window of 2022, marking the first time the two brothers played together on the same professional club team. However, David's contract with Debreceni VSC was terminated by mutual consent in the summer of 2022. On September 20, 2022, he signed with Mezőkövesd, another club in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I. In January 2023, he signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with Mezőkövesd, extending his commitment to the Hungarian side.

2.6. Dundee United

On July 16, 2024, David Babunski moved to Scotland, signing a one-year deal with Scottish Premiership side Dundee United. The contract also includes an option for a further season, providing potential for a longer tenure with the club.

3.1. Youth national teams

Babunski was a regular fixture in all of Macedonia's youth squads, including the U-17, U-19, and U-21 teams. He scored his first goal for the U-21 team on May 25, 2012, netting his side's second goal in a 2-2 friendly draw against Albania. He represented the U-21 national team in the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where the team competed in the group stage.

3.2. Senior national team

In August 2013, David Babunski received his first call-up to the senior national squad for a friendly match against Bulgaria. He made his debut for the senior team on August 14, 2013, playing the final 31 minutes of a 2-0 home victory in Skopje. As of 2023, he has made 15 appearances for the senior national team, though he has yet to score a goal.

6.1. Club

6.2. International