PFC Levski Sofia

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"Levski Sofia" redirects here. For the sports club, see Levski Sofia (sports club).
Levski Sofia
Full name Професионален футболен клуб Левски София
(Professional Football Club Levski Sofia)
Nickname(s)

Сините (The Blues)

Отбора на народа (The Team of the People)
Founded 24 May 1914 (1914-05-24)
Ground Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia
Ground Capacity 18000
Chairman Todor Batkov
Manager Antoni Zdravkov
League A Group
2012–13 A Group, 2nd
Website Club home page
Home colours
Away colours
Current season

PFC Levski Sofia (Bulgarian: ПФК Левски София), simply known as Levski, is a Bulgarian association football club based in Sofia, which currently competes in A Football Group, the top division of the Bulgarian football league system. The club was founded on May 24, 1914 by a group of young students, and is named after Vasil Levski, a Bulgarian revolutionary renowned as the national hero of Bulgaria.

Since its establishment, Levski Sofia has won 73 major domestic trophies (a national record): 26 A Group titles, 25 Bulgarian Cups, 3 SuperCups, 11 Sofia Championships, 3 Cups of the Soviet Army, 1 National Cup, 4 Ulpia Serdika Cups, and has achieved a record 13 doubles and 2 trebles. The club has a positive balance against all other Bulgarian teams in all national competitions and its a member of the European Club Association. The Blues are also the team with most seasons played in the Bulgarian football championship and has never been relegated.

Internationally, Levski has reached three European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals and two UEFA Cup quarter-finals. In 2006, it became the first and so far the only Bulgarian club to make it to the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

The team's regular kit colour is all-blue. Levski's home ground is the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium in Sofia, which has a capacity of 18000 spectators. To date, the club's biggest rivals are CSKA Sofia, and matches between the two capital sides are commonly referred to as The Eternal Derby of Bulgaria.

History

Sport Club Levski (1914–1969)

First kit (1914–20)
[1] Sport Club Levski was founded in 1911 by a group of students at the Second Male High School in Sofia, with football as the major sport practiced. The club was officially registered on May 24, 1914, a date, which is celebrated as Levski's birthday. The club's name was chosen in honour of the Apostle of Bulgarian freedom Vasil Levski.

In 1914 Levski lost its first official match against FC 13 Sofia by 0:2. In that period (1914–1920) football wasn't a popular sport in Bulgaria, so there isn't any other information from the period concerning the club. In the summer of 1921, the Sofia Sports League was founded. It united 10 clubs from Sofia, marking the beginning of organized football competitions in the city. The Blues won the first match in the championship for the season 1921/1922, held on September 18, 1921, against Athletic Sofia with the score of 3:1. Levski captured the first place in the league in 1923 after a dramatic 3:2 win over bitter rival Slavia Sofia and successfully defended the title in the following season.

The first National Championship was held in 1924 with Levski representing Sofia. The team went on to win the title in 1933, 1937 and 1942, and established itself as the most popular football club in Bulgaria. Levski also became the holder for all times of the Ulpia Serdica Cup by virtue of winning it for the third time in a row in 1933. In 1929 Levski became the first semi-professional football club in Bulgaria, after 12 players staged a boycott of the team in demand of financial remuneration and insurance benefits. The same year Levski met its first international opponents, losing to Gallipoli Istanbul 0:1 and winning against Kuban Istanbul 6:0.

Georgi Asparuhov
Levski kit during a large part of the 40s–60s [2]

After World War II, Levski became one of the two top clubs in Bulgaria. After winning the championship in 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950 and 1953 Levski would not capture the domestic title again until the mid-1960s. In 1949 the authorities changed the club's name to Dinamo following the Soviet traditions, but after the destalinization of Bulgaria, it was reverted in 1957. The 1960s were marked with return to success both on the domestic and on the international stage. Levski's academy would become the most successful in national youth competitions for the years to come, and the results were first seen in the likes of Georgi Asparuhov, Georgi Sokolov, Biser Mihailov, Kiril Ivkov, Ivan Vutsov, Stefan Aladzhov and Aleksandar Kostov, assisted by experienced veterans like Stefan Abadzhiev, Dimo Pechenikov and Hristo Iliev, who celebrated winning the championship in 1965, 1968 and 1970, and the 7:2 triumph over new bitter rival CSKA in 1968. The tie against Benfica in the European Cup in 1965 remained memorable for the Eusébio versus Georgi Asparuhov clash, and the recognition that the Portuguese great gave to his Bulgarian counterpart.

Levski-Spartak (1969–1985)

In January 1969 Levski was merged with Spartak Sofia and put under the auspice of the Bulgarian Interior Ministry. The name of the club was once again changed, this time to Levski-Spartak.

A new crop of youngsters in the likes of Kiril Milanov, Dobromir Zhechev, Pavel Panov, Todor Barzov, Voyn Voynov, Ivan Tishanski, Georgi Tsvetkov, Plamen Nikolov, and Rusi Gochev not only found their place in the first team, but brought new titles in 1974, 1977 and 1979. On the international stage the quarterfinal appearances in the Cup Winners Cup in 1970 and 1977, and in the UEFA Cup in 1976. Levski is up to this date the only European club to have scored five goals in a single game against Barcelona in a UEFA-sponsored international competition (UEFA CUP quarterfinals return leg, 17 March 1976).

Vitosha Sofia (1985–1989)

The name of the team was changed to Vitosha by the authorities following the disruptions during and after the Bulgarian Cup final in 1985. The game ran on high emotions fueled by the streak of consecutive victories of Levski over CSKA in the 2 years prior to the game (though CSKA won the Bulgarian Cup game 2-1). The controversial decisions of the referee led to confrontations both on the field and on the stands. By decree of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party some of the leading players both of The Blues and the Reds were suspended from the sport for life. The championship title of the club for 1985 was suspended.

Levski Sofia (1989–2009)

The suspensions were lifted shortly after, but regardless of the universal refusal of supporters to recognize and chant the new name of the team, it wasn't until 1989 and the Fall of the Berlin Wall that the club officially abolished the artificially imposed and hated title Vitosha and returned to being simply Levski. The normalization of sport activities in the country and the removal of the political influences on the football community were especially favorable to the results of The Blues. The team composed of the newcomers Plamen Nikolov, Petar Hubchev, Tsanko Tsvetanov, Emil Kremenliev, Zlatko Yankov, Georgi Slavchev, Ilian Iliev, Daniel Borimirov, Stanimir Stoilov and Velko Yotov and the return of the veterans Plamen Getov, Nikolay Todorov and Nasko Sirakov, dictated the game in the domestic championship by winning the title in 1993, 1994 and 1995. Memorable wins by big margins over challengers Lokomotiv Sofia – 8:0, CSKA – 7:1 and Botev Plovdiv – 6:1, clearly demonstrated Levski's complete superiority. Home games in European Competitions against Rangers FC and Werder Bremen turned into true holidays for supporters. Levski contributed with 5 first team players (Petar Hubchev, Tsanko Tsvetanov, Emil Kremenliev, Zlatko Yankov and Nasko Sirakov) and three reserve players (Plamen Nikolov, Petar Aleksandrov and Daniel Borimirov) to the Bulgaria national football team that ended on fourth place in the unforgettable American summer of the World Cup 1994.

Another relatively unsuccessful period lasted until 2005. Then the young new manager and former player Stanimir Stoilov organized a team of Levski's academy products Zhivko Milanov, Milan Koprivarov and Valeri Domovchiyski, the experienced Elin Topuzakov, Georgi Petkov, Stanislav Angelov and Dimitar Telkiyski, the fans' favorites Hristo Yovov, Daniel Borimirov and Georgi Ivanov, who came back after spending time abroad, reached the quarterfinal stage of the UEFA Cup, knocking out AJ Auxerre, winnings against Olympique de Marseille, Dinamo Bucharest and finishing ahead of the reigning title holder CSKA Moscow in the group stage, triumphing over Champions League participants Artmedia Bratislava and Udinese Calcio, before being knocked out by Schalke 04 in a controversial tie.

Levski against Werder Bremen at the National Stadium in the Champions League

Levski, as the champions of Bulgaria, started their UEFA Champions League 2006-07 participation from the second qualiftying round, where they eliminated Georgian champions Sioni Bolnisi, defeating them 2-0 both home and away. In the third round, Levski faced Italian team Chievo Verona who are taking part in the tournament because of other clubs' sanctions as part of the 2006 Serie A matchfixing scandal. Levski eliminated Chievo after a decisive 2-0 win in Sofia and a secure 2-2 draw on Italian soil, and becoming the first Bulgarian club to ever reach the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.[3] There they faced last year's winners FC Barcelona from Spain, English champions Chelsea F.C. and German powerhouse Werder Bremen.[4]

Levski earned a spot in the UEFA Champions League 2008-09 after domestic champion CSKA Sofia failed to secure a UEFA license because of numerous debts to creditors.[5] Levski lost to FC BATE of Belarus in the third qualifying round.

Levski Sofia (2009-present)

During 2009/2010 season, Levski's team started their European campaign with 9:0 (on aggregate) in the second Qualifying round of Champions League against UE Sant Julià. On the next round, Levski Sofia faced FK Baku. The blues eliminated the team from Azerbaijan with 2:0 (on aggregate). In the play-off round Levski was eliminated by Debreceni VSC with 4:1 (on aggregate). However, Levski qualified for UEFA Europa League. In the group stage, Levski faced Villarreal CF, Lazio and Red Bull Salzburg. Levski achieved only one win and 5 losses. Levski took the win against SS Lazio, after Hristo Yovov scored the winning goal in the match. The match was played at Stadio Olimpico.

Levski started the 2010/2011 season with a match against Dundalk F.C. - a second qualifying round for Europa League. Levski won the first match and the result was 6:0.[6] In the return leg at Oriel Park, a confident Levski beat Dundalk FC 2-0 with two first half goals from Garra Dembele, the first on 4 mins and the second 10 mins before half-time. In the next round Levski played against Kalmar FF. The first match ended 1-1 in Sweden. In the return leg in Sofia Levski won 5:2. In between The Blues defeated their arch rival CSKA Sofia in the Eternal derby of Bulgarian football with 1:0. Their next match in the Europa League saw them play AIK Fotboll, from Stockholm, Sweden. The first match ended with a draw, 0-0 and after the game AIK-hooligans attacked the Levski players and staff, after Levski ultras did not show at meeting place. The second match ended in a 2-1 home win for Levski. Goals scored by Daniel Mladenov and Garra Dembélé put Levski in Europa League group stage. Levski was drawn in Group C, facing Gent, Lille and Sporting CP. The first match was against Gent. Levski won the match in a 3-2 home win. The winning goal was scored by Serginho Greene. With this win Levski recorded 8 games in-a-row without losing in European competitions. After that Levski lost catastrophically from Sporting CP with 5-0. Followed by another loss against Lille. In Sofia Levski played very well against Lille and was leading 2-1 until Ivo Ivanov scored an own goal to make it 2-2. In the last match of the Group C, Levski take a win against Sporting CP with 1-0, the winning goal was scored by Daniel Mladenov.

In the following 2011/12 season in the Third Qualifying Round of the Europa League, Levski were surprisingly eliminated by Spartak Trnava of Slovakia, following a late-minute 2-1 win in Sofia, and a loss of the same scoreline in Trnava. The penalty shootout cost Levski a place in the Playoff round. This caused an upset with the fans and players, the team barely clinching the fourth position at the winter break in the "A" PFG. Albeit only three points from the leaders Ludogoretz, the acting manager Gerogi Ivanov was sacked from the position, but remained in the club as a sporting director. Nikolay Kostov was appointed as the new manager of the club, giving the supporters a sense of optimism, which, however faded after a cup knock-out in the hands of Lokomotiv Plovdiv and a surprise loss at home to Minyor Pernik. Kostov shockingly handed in his resignation, leaving the managerial post once again vacant. Sporting Director Georgi Ivanov once again stepped up to help his club, and accepted being manager until the summer break, when a new one will be appointed.

Honours

Domestic

Bulgarian A Group

  • Champions (26 times): 1933, 1937, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948–49, 1950, 1953, 1964–65, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09

Bulgarian Cup

  • Winners (25 times – record): 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1956, 1957, 1958–59, 1966–67, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07

Bulgarian Supercup

Tsar's Cup / Cup of the Soviet Army / Bulgarian Cup

  • Winners (6 times – record): 1933, 1937, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1987–88

Ulpia Serdika Cup

  • Winners (4 times – record): 1926, 1930, 1931, 1932

Sofia Championship

  • Winners (11 times – record): 1922–23, 1923–24, 1924–25, 1928–29, 1932–33, 1936–37, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1945–46, 1947–48

Doubles and Trebles

  • The Double (13 times – record): 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1969–70, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1993–94, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2006–07
  • The Treble (twice – record): 1983–84 and 2006–07

International

European Cup / UEFA Champions League

UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League

European Cup Winners' Cup / UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

  • Quarter-finals (3): 1969–703, 1976–774, 1986–875

Balkans Cup

  • Runners-up (2): 1961, 1963

Notes:

1 Eliminated by FC Barcelona, Agg. 5 - 8
2 Eliminated by Schalke 04, Agg. 2 - 4
3 Eliminated by Gornik Zabrze, Agg. 4 - 4
4 Eliminated by Atlético Madrid, Agg. 2 - 3
5 Eliminated by Real Zaragoza, Agg. 0 - 4

European record

Main article: PFC Levski Sofia in European football

Including 2012-13 season.

Competition S P W D L GF GA GD
UEFA Champions League / European Cup 16581514297482– 8
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup / European Cup Winners' Cup 1236145177055+ 15
UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup 2198372140132133– 1
Total 49 192 66 40 86 276 270 + 6

Recent seasons

Season Position M W D L G.D. P Bulgarian Cup Bulgarian Super Cup UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League Notes
2007/08 2 30 19 5 6 56:19 62 Quarter-finals Winner Second qualifying round Did not participate
2008/09 1 30 21 6 3 57:18 69 Semi-finals Did not participate Third qualifying round First round
2009/10 3 30 17 6 7 57:26 57 Round of 16 Winner Play-off round Group Stage
2010/11 2 30 23 3 4 67:24 72 Quarter-finals Did not participate Did not participate Group Stage
2011/12 3 30 20 2 8 61:28 62 Quarter-finals Did not participate Did not participate Third qualifying round
2012/13 2 30 22 5 3 59:20 71 Finalist Did not participate Did not participate Second qualifying round
2013/14 TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA Did not participate Did not participate First qualifying round

Club symbols

Names and emblems

The first club emblem designed by Mincho Kachulev in 1922. It was square with a blue background, which is written in a stylised letter "Л" (Bulgarian letter "L" short for Levski). The inner space of the letter was filled vertically equally in yellow and red. Later in the top two corners of the square are the letters "С" (Sport) and "К" (club) above the bottom side of the square is inscribed "Sofia". This badge was used by the club until 1949, when it was renamed Dinamo.

From 1949 to 1956, the emblem of the club was an irregular hexagon filled with vertical red, white, blue and yellow and inscribed handwritten letter "Д" with a red five-pointed star above it and the words "Sofia" underneath. From 1957 to 1968 the original logo was restored, but instead of "C" and "К" there was "Ф" (Athletic) and "Д" (union).

After the merger with Spartak Sofia in 1969, the emblem of the club has been a shield in blue and white with a horizontal red bar above. In the shield entered the letters "Л" and "C", an abbreviation of the new name Levski-Spartak. The club had this emblem until 1985, when it was renamed Vitosha. The new emblem is in the form of a stylised letter "C" surrounding the football in the upper curve of the letter, coloured in blue and white.

In January 1990 the club restored its original name and original logo, the letters "C" and "K" in the upper corner of the blue square were replaced with "Ф" (football) and "K" (club). Due to legal issues with the ownership of the rights to the historic emblem the club was forced to change it in 1998, a new shield emblem was introduced, entirely in blue. At its centre was the letter "Л" and below was the year of establishment - 1914. The dome of the shield was labelled "PFC Levski".

After winning the case for the rights to the historic emblem in 2006, the club decided to use the two different logos simultaneously for a brief period. Later that year the shield emblem was completely abandoned and the classic square emblem has been used ever since.

Current squad

First team

As of 3 February 2014 (2014-02-03) Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Croatia GK Goran Blažević
2 Netherlands DF Dustley Mulder
3 Tunisia DF Aymen Belaïd
4 Bulgaria MF Stanislav Angelov (captain)
6 Bulgaria DF Orlin Starokin
7 Bulgaria FW Dimitar Makriev
8 Bulgaria MF Anton Ognyanov
9 Bulgaria FW Tsvetan Genkov
10 Bulgaria FW Valeri Bojinov
14 Bulgaria DF Miki Orachev
15 Bulgaria MF Vladislav Misyak
16 Bulgaria DF Deyan Ivanov
17 Czech Republic DF Pavel Čmovš
18 Bulgaria MF Borislav Tsonev
No. Position Player
19 Bulgaria FW Iliya Dimitrov
20 Bulgaria MF Miroslav Ivanov
21 Bulgaria MF Radoslav Tsonev
23 Bulgaria GK Plamen Iliev
24 Bulgaria GK Aleksandar Lyubenov
25 Bulgaria MF Daniel Dimov
27 Bulgaria MF Steven Petkov
35 Bulgaria DF Plamen Dimov
45 Bulgaria MF Vladimir Gadzhev (vice-captain)
59 Guinea MF Larsen Touré
71 Bulgaria MF Plamen Krumov
75 Mauritius MF Kévin Bru
77 Bulgaria MF Stefan Velev

For recent transfers, see List of Bulgarian football transfers winter 2013–14.

On loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
Slovakia MF Roman Procházka (on loan at Spartak Trnava until 30 June 2014)
No. Position Player
Bulgaria MF Plamen T. Iliev (on loan at Botev Vratsa until 30 June 2014)
Bulgaria DF Hristo Popadiyn (on loan at Botev Vratsa until 30 June 2014)

Note: For a complete list of Levski Sofia players, see Category:PFC Levski Sofia players.

Club officials

Club Ownership

Status Owner(s)
Owner, Majority Shareholder Bulgaria Todor Batkov

Board of Directors

Position Staff
Executive Director Bulgaria Konstantin Bazhdekov
Marketing Director Bulgaria Milena Modeva
Director Bulgaria Ivo Tonev
Director Bulgaria Georgi Markov
Director Bulgaria Dimitar Ivankov
Counselor Bulgaria Ivan Vutsov

Last updated: May 2013
Source:

First Team

Management
Director of Football Bulgaria Hristo Yovov
Technical staff
Head Coach Bulgaria Antoni Zdravkov
Assistant Coach Bulgaria Elin Topuzakov
Bulgaria Marian Hristov
Goalkeeper Coach Bulgaria Ruslan Mihaylov
Fitness Coach Bulgaria Yasen Ekimov
Administrator Bulgaria Rayko Yakimov
Scouting staff
Head Scout Bulgaria Doncho Donev
Scout Bulgaria Aleksandar Kostov
Bulgaria Georgi Tsvetkov
Bulgaria Kiril Vangelov
Medical staff
Doctor Bulgaria Mihail Iliev

Last updated: May 2013
Source:

Youth Academy

Management
Director of Youth Academy Bulgaria Kiril Ivkov
Youth Academy Manager Bulgaria Bozhidar Iskrenov
Youth Coaches
U-19 Coach Bulgaria Georgi Todorov
U-19 Goalkeeper Coach Bulgaria Stefan Staykov
U-19 Fitness Coach Bulgaria Yasen Ekimov
U-18 Juniors "A" Coach Bulgaria Vladko Shalamanov
U-17 Coach Bulgaria Angel Slavkov
U-16 Juniors "B" Coach Bulgaria Stefan Kolev
U-15 "Kids A" Coach Bulgaria Viktorio Pavlov
U-14 "Kids B" Coach Bulgaria Petko Medvetski
U-13 Preparatory group Coach Bulgaria Petar Petrov
U-12 Preparatory group Coach Bulgaria Mihail Zahariev
U-11 Preparatory group Coach Bulgaria Krasimir Petrov
U-10 Preparatory group Coach Bulgaria Veselin Surbakov
U-9 Preparatory group Coach Bulgaria Svetoslav Kolev

Last updated: July 2013
Source:

Stadium

Main article: Georgi Asparuhov Stadium

Initially, the club did not possess a field of its own and training was held on an empty space called The Hillock (Могилката/Mogilkata), where the National Palace of Culture was built later. In 1924 the Sofia Municipality provided the club with the rights to an empty field on what were then the outskirts of the city, and a decade later the stadium named Levski Field was finally completed. It provided for 10000 spectators and was regarded as the finest sport facility in the city.

In 1949 the stadium was nationalized and later the Vasil Levski National Stadium was built on the site. The team played in various locations (including the nearby Yunak Stadium) before moving to the "Dinamo" ground, which was located at the site of the modern Spartak swimming complex. In 1961 after districting the team moved to "Suhata Reka" neighborhood. There a new stadium was completed in 1963, renamed in 1990 in honor of Levski's most beloved former player Georgi Asparuhov.

In 1999 the stadium emerged from serious reconstruction for 29000 spectators. The field measures 105 x 68 meters. However, the team plays most of its important games versus foreign teams on the national stadium "Vasil Levski". The club president Todor Batkov has recently demanded that Levski should receive "Rakovski" stadium on loan. This should be done on account that the first club stadium was nationalized and Levski have never been repaid.

In October, 2012, it was announced that Levski is rebuilding its stadium. The first phase of the planned reconstruction is to be completed in 2014, on the centennial of the club's foundation. As of 2013 the capacity is reduced to 18000 due to the undergoing reconstruction of the main stand. On 5 July 2013, the first step was made in the construction of the main stand, which will have a capacity of 6000 spectators and will meet all the requirements of UEFA for the convenience of fans. Contractor of the "blue" building will be the leading Bulgarian company in the construction of sports venues, Glavbolgarstroy AD.

Supporters

Sector B

Historically, Levski Sofia fans gathered in the south stand of the stadium. This tradition is believed to have its roots in the Sofia Derby when Levski fans met before the games at the area close to the south end of the Vasil Levski National Stadium. Due to the orientation of the stadium and the naming conventions of stands at most Bulgarian stadiums, Sector B became synonymous with Levski fans. More recently the fans in Sector B are seen as part of the Ultras movement popular in central and eastern Europe. Today Sector B initiates most of the songs, choreography and pyrotechnic displays at Levski games. Levski supporters are organized by fanclubs, most notably the National Supporters Club which helps and coordinates fans from all around Bulgaria and supports the organization of events. There are also notable groups from Sofia (Sofia-West, South Division, HD Boys) and other cities across Bulgaria (such as Ultra Varna, Blue Warriors Plovdiv and many more.)

UEFA & IFFHS rankings

Club coefficients

This is the current 2012–13 UEFA coefficient:[7]

Rank Team Coefficient
136Denmark FC Nordsjælland12.640
137Denmark Odense BK12.640
138Ukraine FC Metalurh Donetsk12.451
139Russia FC Dinamo Moscow12.266
140Bulgaria PFC Levski Sofia11.950
141Czech Republic SK Slavia Prague11.745
142Austria SK Sturm Graz11.575
143Moldova FC Sheriff Tiraspol11.533
144Ukraine SC Tavriya Simferopol11.451

Club world ranking

These are the IFFHS club's points as of 1 March 2013:[8]

Rank Team Points
409Germany Hamburger SV62,0
409Italy Genoa C.F.C.62,0
409Russia FC Terek Grozny62,0
409Germany 1.FC Nürnberg62,0
409Bulgaria PFC Levski Sofia62,0
418Scotland Motherwell FC61,5
422Scotland Aberdeen FC60,5
423Romania CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu60,0
426Netherlands NEC Nijmegen60,0

Club sponsors

Due to a change in the marketing programme, Levski Sofia signed contracts with three international firms in a week - cola producer Pepsi, Russian bank VTB Capital, Turkish healthcare group Acibadem, as well as renewing its contract with the largest Bulgarian mobile phone network, MTel. Levski also have contracts with other firms, including Ceresit, German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, Bulgarian bookmaker Eurofootball, Gorna Banya, DB Schenker, and others.

Player records

Players in bold are currently playing for the team. Statistic is correct as of match played 11 August 2010.

Most appearances for Levski

# Name Career Appearances Goals
1 Bulgaria Stefan Aladzhov 1967-81 473 4
2 Bulgaria Emil Spasov 1974-90 413 111
3 Bulgaria Pavel Panov 1969-81 383 177
4 Bulgaria Kiril Ivkov 1967-78 376 15
5 Bulgaria Aleksandar Kostov 1956-71 346 85
6 Bulgaria Elin Topuzakov 1996-08
2009-10		 332 23
7 Bulgaria Hristo Iliev 1954-68 329 132
8 Bulgaria Dimitar Telkiyski 1999-08
2009-10		 310 64
9 Bulgaria Stefan Abadzhiev 1953-68 302 45
10 Bulgaria Hristo Yovov 1995-97
2004-07
2009-		 298 86

Most goals scored for Levski

# Name Career Appearances Goals Goals/Game
Ratio
1 Bulgaria Nasko Sirakov 1981-94 258 206 0.80
2 Bulgaria Pavel Panov 1969-81 383 177 0.46
3 Bulgaria Georgi Asparuhov 1959-71 238 153 0.64
4 Bulgaria Georgi Ivanov - Gonzo 1997-09 204 135 0.60
5 Bulgaria Hristo Iliev 1974-90 415 132 0.27
6 Bulgaria Emil Spasov 1956-65 207 111 0.50
7 Bulgaria Dimitar Yordanov 1981-87 169 103 0.60
8 Bulgaria Mihail Valchev 1990-95 295 102 0.29
9 Bulgaria Asen Peshev 1924–1940 99 86 0.87
10 Bulgaria Aleksandar Kostov 1960–1968 112 85 0.69

Managerial history

Bulgarian Footballer of the Year

A Group top goalscorers

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Levski – 94 years of joy, pains and hopes". Levski.bg. 
  2. ↑ "Bulgarian Football Union History". Retrieved 4 March 2012. 
  3. ↑ "Levski make Bulgarian history". Uefa.com. Retrieved 2006-08-23. 
  4. ↑ "Levski land to heroes' welcome". Uefa.com. Retrieved 2006-08-24. 
  5. ↑ "Levski set to replace CSKA in Champions League". Football24.bg. Retrieved 2008-07-30. 
  6. ↑ "Dundalk way out of depth in Sofia". irishtimes.com. July 7, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-16. 
  7. ↑ "UEFA Club Rankings". UEFA.com. 2013-05-15. Retrieved 2013-05-15. 
  8. ↑ "Club World Ranking". IFFHS.de. 2013-03-01. Retrieved 2013-03-05. 

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