Football champions in Bulgaria
In this article, we will introduce you to all the champions of the native Bulgarian championship, with interesting rankings, statistics, a short review of last season, in which Ludogorets became champion, and some important and historical events over the years related to Bulgarian football and Bulgarian national football team.
League Champions in Bulgaria
In this part we will show you the most interesting statistics, records, and achievements of teams and players in the Bulgarian championship since its inception, starting with the champions of the league.
Champions of Bulgaria by titles
CSKA Sofia – 31
Levski Sofia – 26
Ludogorets Razgrad – 8
Slavia Sofia – 7
Lokomotiv Sofia – 4
Litex Lovech – 4
Vladislav Varna – 3
Botev Varna – 2
Spartak Varna – 1
Ticha Varna – 1
Spartak Plovdiv – 1
Lokomotiv Plovdiv – 1
Beroe Stara Zagora – 1
Etar Veliko Tarnovo – 1
Sportklub Sofia – 1
Athletic Slava 1923 – 1
IMPORTANT – The names of some teams have changed over the years. Here they are:
Levski Sofia – Dynamo, Levski-Spartak and Vitosha;
CSKA Sofia – September at CDV, CSKA Cherveno Zname, CSKA Septevriisko zname and CSKA Sredets;
Cherno More – This team is the successor of Vladislav Varna and Ticha Varna;
Spartak Varna – This team is the successor of Shipchenski Sokol Varna.
Champions of Bulgaria by years
CSKA Sofia – 1948, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1975–76 , 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2007–08;
Levski Sofia – 1933, 1937, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1949, 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;
Ludogorets Razgrad – 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19;
Slavia Sofia – 1928, 1930, 1936, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1995–96;
Lokomotiv Sofia – 1939–40, 1945, 1963–64, 1977–78;
Litex Lovech – 1997–98, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2010–11;
Vladislav Varna – 1925, 1926, 1934;
Botev Plovdiv – 1929, 1966–67;
Spartak Varna – 1932;
Ticha Varna – 1937–38;
Spartak Plovdiv – 1962–63;
Lokomotiv Plovdiv – 2003-04;
Beroe Stara Zagora – 1985-86;
Etar Veliko Tarnovo – 1990-91;
Sportklub Sofia – 1935;
Athletic Slava 1923 – 1931.
Goalscorers of the Bulgarian championship for all times
Petar Zhekov – 253;
Martin Kamburov – 230;
Nasko Sirakov – 196;
Dinko Dermendzhiev – 194;
Hristo Bonev – 185;
Plamen Getov – 164;
Nikola Kotkov – 163;
Stefan Bogomilov – 162;
Petar Mihtarski – 158;
Petko Petkov – 152;
Dimitar Yakimov – 151;
Georgi Asparuhov – 150;
Georgi Kamenov – 150;
Todor Diev – 146;
Atanas Mikhailov – 145;
Nikola Yordanov – 141.
Other interesting records
Most wins in one season: Levski – 27 (out of 36 matches in 2001/02);
Least losses in one season: CSKA – 0 (from 30 matches in 2007/08), Spartak (Sofia) – 0 (from 22 matches in 1951), Levski – 0 (from 18 matches in 1948/1949), CSKA – 0 (from 11 meetings as CDNA in 1958);
Most consecutive victories: Levski – 14 (since the 23rd round in 2003/2004 to the 6th round in 2004/2005), Ludogorets-14 (19th round-32nd round 2017/2018);
Most consecutive games without a loss: CSKA – 33 (since the 28th round in 2006/07 (Marek 0:1) to the 2nd round in 2008/09 (Sliven 1:3));
Most points earned in one season: Levski – 88 points (from 36 matches in the 2001/02 season), Ludogorets – 88 points (from 36 matches in 2017/18);
Most goals scored in one season: Levski – 96 (in 30 matches in 2006/2007, 3 official);
Biggest victory: CSKA – 12:0 (as CDNA in the 1951 season against the team of Torpedo Ruse).
Interesting facts
Hristo Stoichkov has scored the most goals in one season – 38;
The record for the most goals scored by one player in one match is held by as many as 4 people – Petar Mihailov, Ivo Georgiev, Todor Pramatarov and Tsvetan Genkov;
Fastest goal: Miroslav Manolov in the 6th second for Cherno More Varna during the visit of Montana in the 16th round of A Grupa on March 22, 2012. … Marcos Da Silva (Cherno More) – 12 second (against Chernomorets (Sofia) on April 6, 2007);
The youngest football player to take part in A Grupa match is Yanko Kirilov, who made his debut in 1961 at the age of 15 years and 72 days for Levski Sofia against Minyor (Pernik);
The oldest football player who took part in A Grupa match is the goalkeeper Yordan Filipov, who on November 26, 1988, at the age of 42 years, 5 months and 8 days, kept for the Cherno More against Lokomotiv Plovdiv;
No one has become a champion in A Grupa with more than 6 losses. : Spartak Pd, in the season 1962/1963, Levski, in 1964/1965, CSKA, in 1974/1975, Levski, in 1984/1985 and Beroe, in 1985/1986 won the title, losing 6 matches in the championship;
The only team to get relegated in A Grupa with a positive goal difference is Beroe: In the 1973/1974 season Beroe finished 15th with an asset of 7 wins, 7 draws and 16 losses and a goal difference of 50-46. In the same season, the top scorer of the championship is from Beroe – Petko Petkov with 20 goals.
Champion of Bulgaria in football 2019
2019 it was the year of Ludogorets again. They are the current champions of the Parva Liga and this was their 8th consecutive and a total of 8 titles in their history. 5 points was the difference with the 2nd Levski at the end of the campaign
Ludogorets finished with only 2 losses and a positive goal difference of 39 goals. Interestingly, the eagles overall played a fairly stable season and performed exclusively against all top teams, dominating the matches with them, but the 2 losses came with 0-1 from Cherno More and Loko Plovdiv.
The format of the league included 14 teams with champions and two streams of relegated teams after the first 26 rounds. This campaign saw more competition from CSKA and Levski against Ludogorets.
As for the other events in the championship this season – Vereya and Septemvri Sofia were eliminated, and those who qualified for the Europa League were CSKA, Levski, and Loko Plovdiv. Stanislav Kostov from Levski became the top scorer with 24 goals, and the season will also be remembered with the huge Plovdiv derby in the final of the Bulgarian Cup between Botev and Loko Plovdiv, which Lokomotiv won 1-0.
Interesting records were set by some teams as Ludogorets recorded 19 consecutive games without a loss, and Vereya did not win in 32 matches. In September, he recorded 10 consecutive losses, which set a serious negative record. This season turned out to be very productive, because a total of 615 goals were scored, which is an average of 2.44 goals per game.
History of football in Bulgaria
Here we will introduce you to some of the more interesting events over the years in the national championship, as well as some events in the finals of the Bulgarian Cup. We will also recall some performances of the Bulgarian national team in major international forums.
Interesting historical events in the Bulgarian championship
It is no coincidence that the derby between CSKA and Levski is called “eternal” because since the dawn of Bulgarian football these two teams have been complete hegemons. Currently, out of a total of 93 titles, 57 belong to CSKA and Levski, which is over 61%. The mass domination of the two teams (with some exceptions over the years) continued throughout almost the entire history of the league until 2009.
Levski in the early ‘90s
Frankly from 1948 until about 1996 only 7-8 times, other teams have become champions. Of course, the two huge clubs are supported by powerful organizations. CSKA is the army club and Levski is connected with the Ministry of Interior, so their advantage is logical.
Interestingly, despite the reds and blues in the ‘60s and ‘70s, the teams were extremely equal, and actually many teams had a chance to become champions on paper before the start of the seasons. For example, Academic Sofia was one of the leading teams at that time. They have played with Milan and other European giants in European tournaments.
The big competition
From almost every team there were 4-5 players in the national team. The competition was so great that some very big players for Bulgaria have played quite a few matches in the national team. For example, Bobby Grigg (Bozhidar Grigorov), who is perhaps in the top 3 of the greatest players of Slavia of all time, has played 7 games for Bulgaria, because there were players like Gundi and Kotkov. Paro Nikodimov was also considered one of the top defenders in the country, but the competition between Dimitar Penev and Vutsov was huge.
Bobby Grigg
All this suggests that the Bulgarian championship, despite everything, was quite high quality, and this has led to some serious performances of the national team in major tournaments. At that time, however, there were no transfers and no players who had the opportunity to play in foreign clubs. Everyone has played in their own league.
One of the biggest events in history, which happened during a football match between CSKA and Levski, for the Bulgarian Cup though, leads to quite serious sanctions and changes. In the cup final in 1985, there was a mass fight and huge riots in the derby and there were several red cards in the match.
After the scandal
The Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party then decided that this could not continue and divided the clubs as CSKA became CFC Sredets and Levski became Vitosha. Both teams remain in the championship for next season, but with different names, and for this campaign in 1985. Levski won the championship title, and CSKA won the cup precisely because of the riots in the final.
Beroe took advantage of the problems with the two dominators and became champion the following season, and after democracy came in 1989 or the so-called “Transition” these cups from season 84/85 were returned to CSKA and Levski. After their names have been changed many times, Levski and CSKA remain so after democracy.
In 1991 Etar had a great team and became champions with players like Trifon Ivanov, Balakov, Tsanko Tsvetanov, Boncho Genchev.
In 1996 memorable clashes were played out. After a huge drama of the “Army” in a rematch for the Bulgarian Cup between CSKA and Levski, in which 6 goals, 3 red cards and 11 yellow cards fall, it is time for a meeting between the same teams, but for the championship. The derby takes place 10 days later after the semifinals.
An alive snake on the football pitch
It is remembered as one of the most scandalous, because after the 1st half a fan from Sector “A” threw a live snake at the referee of the match, Bogdanov. It falls away from his feet, and the referee is shocked and extremely disappointed. At first, he did not want to come out for the second half, but then he was dissuaded. He himself revealed that the snake was not intended for him, but he was so surprised that it seemed to him that there were several snakes, not one.
In general, the 90s are crazy years not only for Bulgarian football, but also for the whole country after the transition, but the dominance of Levski and CSKA slowly but surely ends shortly after the beginning of the new century. Litex Lovech comes to the fore, and with owner Grisha Ganchev they achieve considerable success. The reason is in the serious investments by Ganchev. Litex took 2 titles, several cups, and played in European tournaments as in the seasons 97/98 and 98/99 they won 2 titles, but then came a lull. Their other two titles are from the seasons 09/10 and 10/11.
One of the biggest losses for CSKA in general in their history is from Litex. This happened in 1998. as hunters defeat the army 8-0.
Ludogorets are the new kings
Litex’s short domination ends after 2011, because a new team is on the horizon, but it totally changes the structure of Bulgarian football. Ludogorets Razgrad was founded in 2001, and a few years later Kiril Domuschiev bought the club and from “V” Grupa for 1 season they entered “B” Grupa, and after another season they are in “A” Grupa. With their first year in the elite championship, the Eagles became champions and after that, they did not miss a season in which they did not become champions of Bulgaria.
The first two titles of Ludogorets are extremely dramatic and even fabulous. In season 11/12 they are in 2nd place with 2 points behind CSKA. It is interesting that in the last match they hosted the Reds. They need a victory, and CSKA needs a draw or a victory to be champions. Ludogorets took the lead early in the match with 1-0 and the match ended with this result, which is why they became champions.
In season 12/13 the other big Sofia team is extremely disappointed. Then the teams in the league are 16 and there are 30 rounds in total. In the last round, Levski leads Ludogorets with 1 point and needs a victory to be sure that it will be a champion. The Eagles have an easy visit to Montana, who were relegated then and the Greens won 3-0. The drama in the capital derby, however, is phenomenal. Levski hosts Slavia. The Blues lead the Whites 1-0 till the 74th minute, when Vesalov scores an own goal and the match ends 1-1.
Petkov, who is a former goalkeeper and favorite of Levski, makes a great match for Slavia. Ludogorets becomes a champion, and the fans of the blues cannot believe what is happening. Then they blame Petkov, but he shows Batkov’s mustache, referring to the fact that he is to blame for Levski’s condition. Todor Batkov was the owner of the Blues at that time. In very few other seasons Ludogorets had some more serious competition.
Bulgaria at European Championships
According to official statistics, Bulgaria has qualified for 2 European Championships – in 1996 in England and in 2004 in Portugal. In reality, however, the greatest success of the country was in 1968, when we reached the quarterfinals, but then the format of the Euros was such that everything to the semifinals was not the tournament itself, but something like qualifications.
Only when the best 4 remain in the European Championship statistically being held. However, Bulgaria recorded a serious achievement then. The first Euros were in 1960 and in 1980 for the first time there were 8 teams, not 4, respectively you understand that it is extremely difficult for a team to qualify for the European Championship in those times.
Bulgaria qualifies for the Euros for the very first time
In 1996 Bulgaria officially qualified for the first time at this forum and then the team was almost the same as the one in 1994, when we became 4th in the world. Perhaps the most noticeable difference is the presence of Radostin Kishishev, who was quite a quality right back. In this tournament, Bulgaria starts with a draw with Spain and defeats Romania.
In the last match, Bulgaria would have 5 points in a draw with France, as they would have had the French themselves and the Spaniards. Due to absurd rules in the groups, however, the Lions would not have had the opportunity to advance in these circumstances, so they needed a victory. However, they lost 3-1 to France as Lubo Penev scored an extremely beautiful own goal, due to which the result became 0-2 for France.
6 minutes later, in the 69th, Stoichkov reduced by 2-1, but Loko decided the clash for 3-1 far at the end of the match after the regular minutes. An interesting incident then happened when the national team returned to Bulgaria and the journalists literally made fun of Lubo Penev because of this own goal, which at one point Penev could not stand and in an interview with a journalist he just said “Blow it!.”
After that, Penev appeared in all headlines, in every media and insulted by everyone. He was to be punished by the federation, he was fined, and in general, this was one of the noisy events after the Euros, although not for the right reasons.
In 2004 Bulgaria qualified for the 2nd time at the European Championships and this is, in fact, the last big forum in which Lions have participated. Then the national team was called “the team with the three horses”, which means that Stilian Petrov, Martin Petrov, and Berbatov are the 3 who pulled the team up, and the rest were not at their level.
To some extent, this is evident in the tournament itself, in which Bulgaria started catastrophically with a 0-5 defeat by Sweden. After that, Denmark beat the Lions 2-0, and with Italy, the match was a draw until the very end of the match, but after the 90th minute Cassano scored 2-1 and so Bulgaria recorded 3 consecutive losses with Plamen Markov as coach at that time.
We deliberately miss the performances of the national team at the World Cups, because in Betinum we have a whole article about the WC, in which you can read short stories about all the tournaments by year, as well as those in which Bulgaria has participated and what it has achieved. You will find the article here.
If we missed something, add it in the comments