PFC CSKA Sofia

not to be confused with FC CSKA 1948 Sofia
bulgarian association football club from Sofia

football club
CSKA ( bulgarian : ЦСКА ) is a bulgarian professional association football club based in Sofia and presently competing in the country ‘s premier football competition, the First League. CSKA is an abbreviation for Central Sports Club of the Army ( bulgarian : Централен Спортен Клуб на Армията ). officially established on 5 May 1948, CSKA ‘s roots date back to an united states army officers ‘ club founded in 1923. [ 1 ] The clubhouse has won a commemorate 31 bulgarian titles and 21 bulgarian Cups. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Internationally, CSKA are the only bulgarian club to have reached the semi-finals of the european Cup, which they have done twice, and they have besides reached the semi-final of the UEFA Cup Winners ‘ Cup once. [ 4 ] CSKA ‘s home colors are red and white and its home ground is the bulgarian Army Stadium. The club ‘s biggest rivals are Levski Sofia and matches between the two sides are known as “ The Eternal Derby of Bulgaria ” .

history

1923–1948

In October 1923, football clubs Athletic Sofia and Slava Sofia merged to form AS-23, shortstop for Officer’s Sports Club Athletic Slava 1923, under the patronage of the Ministry of War, which provided the equipment. In 1931, AS-23 won their first bulgarian championship and The Tsar ‘s Cup, followed by another Tsar ‘s Cup in 1941. The baseball club ‘s stadium ( completed in 1938 ) was named Athletic Park and was situated where the bulgarian Army Stadium now resides. On 9 November 1944, with the support of Mihail Mihaylov, an accountant at the Ministry of War and a patron of Shipka Sofia, a mix agreement was signed, merging AS-23, Shipka, and Spartak ( Poduene ) to form Chavdar Sofia. Gen. Vladimir Stoychev from AS-23, who at the time was fighting on the front in World War II, was appointed ( by telegram ) as the newly golf club ‘s president. Lawyer Ivan Bashev, a future Bulgarian foreign minister, was appointed cabaret repository and the person in charge of football. [ 5 ]

1948–1962

The unify protocol of Chavdar Sofia ( 1944 ) With the assistant of Mihail Mihaylov again, in February 1948, Chavdar became the departmental club of the Central House of the Troops ( “ Centralnia Dom na Voiskata ” ) and took on the name of CDV. Looking for ways to stop the club ‘s decline, CDV ‘s administrators sought to merge it with another baseball club. In May 1948, an agreement was reached between CDV and Septemvri Sofia ( which had already earned a set in the play-offs ) for uniting the clubs under the name “ Septemvri pri CDV ” ( Septemvri at CDV ). The narrow was signed on 5 May 1948, which is officially considered the baseball club ‘s date of foundation. The club ‘s played its first official match on 19 May 1948 against Slavia Sofia at Yunak Stadium, a 1–1 draw. Septemvri pri CDV eliminated Aprilov ( Gabrovo ) and Spartak Varna en path to the final, where it faced Levski Sofia, losing 1–2 in the first gear stage. The decisive second meet occurred on 9 September 1948. Septemvri pri CDV ‘s lineup consisted of : Stefan Gerenski, Borislav Futekov, Manol Manolov, Dimitar Cvetkov, Nikola Aleksiev, Nako Chakmakov ( captain ), Dimitar Milanov, Stoyne Minev, Stefan Bozhkov, Nikola Bozhilov and Kiril Bogdanov. The score was 3–3 on aggregate, as Septemvri pri CDV led 2–1 near the goal of regulation time, when a last-minute goal by Nako Chakmakov gave the club its inaugural ever championship. In 1950, the password “ Narodna “ ( “ Peoples ” in English ) was added to the mention of the Central House of the Troops, changing it to Central House of the People’s Troops ( “ Centralen Dom na Narodnata Voiska ” in English ), or C.D.N.V. for abruptly, besides effectively changing the club ‘s mention. The stick to two years, C.D.N.V. won two consecutive titles. In 1951, the Army club clinched their first duplicate. In 1953, the club was again renamed by the authorities, this time to Otbor na Sofiyskiya Garnizon ( “ team of the Sofia Garrison ” ), and most of the key players were illegally transferred out. The title was lost undeservedly. The following year, the club was renamed to CDNA ( ‘ Central House of the People’s Army ), and the years between 1954 and 1962 marked one of the most successful periods for the Reds, who won nine straight titles ( an unprecedented accomplishment in bulgarian football to this day ) and, in 1956, took separate in the second episode of the newly created european Cup competition, reaching the quarter-finals. [ 6 ]

1960s

In 1962, CDNA was united with DSO Cherveno Zname to form CSKA Cherveno Zname ( “ CSKA Red Flag ” ). The Central House of the People ‘s Troops ceased its affiliation with the baseball club, which was taken over by the Ministry of People ‘s Defense. CSKA finished third after Spartak Plovdiv and Botev Plovdiv in the 1962–63 season. The adopt temper, CSKA had its worst performance in the bulgarian championship to date, finishing 11th in the final mesa, merely three points from relegation. This led to the sack of fabled coach Krum Milev after 16 years. CSKA did not recapture the title until 1966. however, during the 1966–67 season, CSKA recorded its first major external accomplishment after reaching the semi-finals of the european Cup for the first time, where they faced italian giants Internazionale. After two hard-fought 1–1 draws, a third decisive equal was played, which CSKA lost 0–1. [ 7 ] The following two seasons were unmemorable for the Army Men, as they finished in one-fifth and second base place respectively. In 1968, CSKA undergo another fusion, joining with Septemvri Sofia and taking the mention CSKA Septemvriysko Zname ( “ CSKA September Flag ” ). The cabaret clinched the title in 1969 with the avail of the late acquisition of Petar Zhekov, who would go on to become the top Bulgarian goalscorer of all time – a record he however holds today .

1970s

CSKA Sofia in 1973 The 1970s are widely considered the period when CSKA made its name on the european stage. The baseball club began the decade modestly, claiming second put domestically and reaching the round of 16 in 1970–71 european Cup Winners ‘ Cup, where they fell to English side Chelsea 0–2 on sum. [ 8 ] however, from 1971 to 1973, CSKA won three consecutive titles and delivered one of the biggest surprises in european football when it eliminated reigning three-time european supporter Ajax —considered the finest team of all-time [ 9 ] —2-1 on aggregate in the 1973–74 european Cup. [ 10 ] They then faced german champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. After losing 1–4 in the first stage in Munich, CSKA bowed out of the contest following a 2–1 win at family. [ 11 ] Between 1975 and 1979, the cabaret won two more domestic titles .

1980s

The 1980–81 season was again a memorable one for CSKA Sofia, winning the bulgarian championship once more and doubly beating european champion Nottingham Forest, both times with 1–0 scorelines, [ 12 ] before being stopped by the future european champions Liverpool with a 6–1 frustration on aggregate in the quarter-finals of the european Cup. [ 13 ] The adjacent season, CSKA reached their second-straight european Cup semi-final, eliminating spanish champions Real Sociedad, Glentoran and Liverpool after losing 0–1 in England and winning 2–0 at home with two goals by Stoycho Mladenov. [ 14 ] In the semi-final, the Reds again faced Bayern Munich. The first leg was held in Sofia and started with a fully laterality over Bayern, as by the 16th minute, CSKA were leading 3–0 in front of 85,000 elated spectators who saw the european final examination in their dreams. But the final result was 4–3 for CSKA. In Munich, the club suffered a 4–0 defeat, ending what is silent the deepest run by a bulgarian side in the european Cup or UEFA Champions League. [ 15 ] In the domestic league, CSKA did not let go of the title until the 1984–85 season, where they finished second behind arch-rivals Levski Sofia, but distillery managed to reach the bulgarian Cup final examination. On 18 June 1985, the final for the bulgarian Cup was held at the Vasil Levski National Stadium between CSKA and Levski Sofia. The match was marked by many questionable referee decisions and saw several beastly fights, including an rape on a referee by some of Levski ‘s players. CSKA won the match 2–1, even though they had missed a penalty when the sexual conquest was 2–0. By decree of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party, both teams were disbanded and re-founded under new management. CSKA was renamed Sredets while Levski was renamed Vitosha. several players were banned from participating in official matches for varying periods of time, including Hristo Stoichkov and Kostadin Yanchev from CSKA. One year later, the committee ‘s decisiveness was reversed and the players were reinstated. As Sredets, the club finished in fourth invest in the 1985–86 season. In 1987, the golf club was renamed CFKA Sredets ( “ Central Football Club of the Army Sredets ” ), and the follow three years were marked by a formidable performance, tied as Septemvri Sofia ended their 20-year partnership with CFKA in 1988 and became an freelancer club again. Coached by Dimitar Penev, CFKA won the deed in 1987 and 1989 and reached the UEFA Cup Winners ‘ Cup semi-finals against Barcelona in 1989. In reaching this stage, CFKA had eliminated Roda JC after penalty kicks following a 2–1 acquire at home and a 1–2 loss away. Barcelona, coached by erstwhile Dutch international Johan Cruyff, won both matches ( 4–2 in Barcelona and 2–1 in Sofia ) and CFKA were eliminated, but Cruyff did notice the endowment of Hristo Stoichkov and decided to bring him to Barcelona the surveil year, efficaciously launching Stoichkov ‘s external career .

1990s

The decade, immediately following the fall of communism, brought disruptive changes to Bulgarian football, and the club was not spared. The CSKA name was restored starting with the 1989–90 temper and they won the title again. In March 1991, former football player and administrator Valentin Mihov was chosen as president of CSKA. The baseball club bought some of the most talented bulgarian players, including Yordan Letchkov, Ivaylo Andonov and Stoycho Stoilov, among others. interim, the Ministry of Defense concluded their affiliation with the clubhouse. Despite the doubt and the numerous problems that followed, CSKA won the entitle again in 1992. They were late eliminated in the first cycle of the 1992–93 UEFA Champions League by Austria Wien after losing 1–3 in Vienna and winning 3–2 in Sofia. In the meanwhile, Valentin Mihov was appointed president of the Bulgarian Football Union and Petar Kalpakchiev was chosen to replace him at the helm of CSKA. however, Kalpakchiev wrangled with the club ‘s administration over their decisions to replace respective coaches, one of which was Gjoko Hadžievski, considered to be leading the club in the correctly direction, and finally he was fired. The owner of the Multigroup conglomerate, Iliya Pavlov, took over as president, but ultimately his sponsorship proved insufficient to overcome the club ‘s ineffective management. Five coaches were changed in merely one season, with Tsvetan Yonchev being coach for barely one day. In Europe, CSKA however defeated Juventus 3–2 in the first round of the 1994–95 UEFA Cup, but the result was annulled by UEFA because of the check player-indexing of forward Petar Mihtarski, and Juventus were awarded a 3–0 victory by default. In the second leg in Turin, CSKA succumbed to a 5–1 defeat. In the summer of 1995, CSKA made a hard excerpt and finally the club included half of the youth national football team of Bulgaria. Plamen Markov was appointed head coach, but after a disappointing first half of the season, he was replaced by Georgi Vasilev, who had previously won three bulgarian titles ( one with Etar Veliko Tarnovo and two with Levski Sofia ). Vasilev managed to win a double with CSKA for the 1996–97 season, entering the second gear qualify rung of the Champions League against Steaua București. After a dramatic 3–3 in Bucharest, CSKA fell 0–2 at dwelling. Vasilev was unexpectedly released from the clubhouse at the begin of the second one-half of the 1997–98 season after a 3–0 acquire over Spartak Pleven. Coach Petar Zehtinski took his stead. That year, the golf club saw the reappearance of Hristo Stoichkov, Emil Kostadinov and Trifon Ivanov, but the three of them challenged each other for the captain ‘s ring. Stoichkov played in only four matches and left CSKA correct before the bowler hat with Levski to play for a golf club in Saudi Arabia. After the end of the season, Ivanov besides left the club. CSKA finished the season in third base place. In the summer of 1998, Dimitar Penev took the go as bus for a second time. CSKA reached the irregular round of the UEFA Cup, and won the bulgarian Cup, but disappointed in the domestic league, finishing in fifth place in 1999. That season, the young talents of Martin Petrov, Stilian Petrov, Dimitar Berbatov and Vladimir Manchev started to play a bigger function in the team. There were problems with player-indexing due to some unpaid obligations to Neftochimik. In the domestic championship, CSKA had lone 16 players registered for the 1999–2000 season and some un-indexed players took part in official UEFA games. consequently, at the shareholders meeting at the end of 1999, the golf club possession was transferred to businessman Vasil Bozhkov, who became majority owner .

2000s

After the first two fixtures in the spring of 2000, Dimitar Penev was relieved as coach because of the back-to-back losses and in his place was appointed Georgi Dimitrov – Jacky, who was former replaced by Spas Dzhevizov. After a 1–1 draw with Pirin at Bulgarian Army Stadium, Dzhevizov handed in his resignation and Aleksandar Stankov took his seat. even though at times CSKA had fallen a far as nine points behind league leaders Levski, the club shortened the difference to lone two points before the decisive catch for the title at Georgi Asparuhov Stadium. CSKA dominated Levski for most of the match, as Dimitar Berbatov made respective serious misses, but a last-minute goal from Georgi Ivanov secured the deed for Levski. In the summer of 2000, the italian Enrico Catuzzi was retained as head coach, who managed to revive the team. however, even though the Army Men played attractive matches under his leadership, Catuzzi resigned in the winter, citing kin problems. Aleksandar Stankov was appointed as passenger car again, but was replaced by Catuzzi again after two losses from Litex for the cup and the championship. The Reds finish up second, seven points behind Levski. To start the 2001–02 season, CSKA ‘s head coach was Asparuh Nikodimov, however he would be fired during the winter break, as CSKA was situated two points behind Levski. He was replaced by another italian, Luigi Simoni. Simoni failed to make CSKA champions as the club finished third and lost the bulgarian Cup final to Levski. Simoni left at the end of the temper. In the summer of 2002, former musician Stoycho Mladenov was appointed as read/write head coach. With him, the team set a commemorate with 13 consecutive wins in 13 matches in the bulgarian Championship and CSKA became champions for the first time since 1997. however, Mladenov was fired the following season after losing to Galatasaray in the qualifying rounds of the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League and after giving a less than impressive performance in the first round of the UEFA Cup, where the club lost on penalty kicks to Torpedo Moscow. immediately after, two of the new arrivals, Léo Lima and Rodrigo Sousa, purchased for 3 million dollars the year before, left the club on the grounds they had not received two monthly salaries. FIFA decided they had the right to leave and that CSKA had to pay them and return the players to their early club, Vasco district attorney Gama. Alexander Stankov was temporarily appointed as head coach until the winter break, when Ferario Spasov officially took over the position. In the end of 2004, Spasov was replaced by serbian coach Miodrag Ješić, despite the team finish up as champions in the league. Notwithstanding the cabaret ‘s choice issues, CSKA won their read 30th domestic deed in 2005. For the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League, after eliminating Tirana in the second modification round, CSKA were paired against reigning european champions Liverpool. The club lost 1–3 in the beginning match in Sofia, but amazingly won the second base stage 1–0 away at Anfield, though CSKA was however eliminated on aggregate. [ 16 ] [ 17 ] For the UEFA Cup, the Reds eliminated Bayer Leverkusen ( with Dimitar Berbatov in the team ) with two 1–0 wins and entered the group stage, where they finished fifth with three points from four matches and were eliminated. During the winter break of the 2005–06 season, the baseball club was in first position, seven points ahead of Levski. however, during the form, CSKA lost the seven-point advantage and ultimately finished second, three points behind Levski. Club president of the united states Vasil Bozhkov blamed head coach Miodrag Ješić for the failure to capture the championship and fired him, while some supporters blamed Bozhkov rather. Former CSKA read/write head bus Plamen Markov was appointed in Ješić ‘s place. Bozhkov then announced that he would restrict the finances of the club and that during the approaching season CSKA will not be aiming at the title. In December 2006, Bozhkov sold the cabaret to amerind steel baron and owner of Kremikovtzi AD, Pramod Mittal, brother of ArcelorMittal ‘s Lakshmi Mittal. Former Bulgarian politician Aleksandar Tomov became president of the club and assured the supporters that CSKA would, in fact, be aiming at both the championship and the cup. After two draws in the begin of the spring one-half of 2006–07, CSKA found themselves six points behind Levski. As a result, Plamen Markov was replaced by Stoycho Mladenov, who returned to lead the club after three-and-a-half years. CSKA finished second. During the get down of the 2007–08 season, CSKA purchased players for more than €2 million. The team was unfortunately eliminated from the UEFA Cup in the first base round of golf by french side Toulouse after a 96th-minute finish from André-Pierre Gignac in the irregular leg for 1–1. CSKA was besides eliminated from the bulgarian Cup in the round of 16 by Lokomotiv Plovdiv. The match was engulfed in a scandal because of three CSKA players who at the time were on loan at Lokomotiv ( Stoyko Sakaliev, Aleksandar Branekov and Ivan Ivanov ). The players had clauses in their contracts restricting them from playing matches against CSKA, but Lokomotiv ‘s management used the players anyhow. At the end of the season, the Army Men secured the title in advance, finishing 16 points ahead of second-placed rivals Levski without losing a match from 30 backing matches. On 5 May 2008, the club marked its sixtieth anniversary with big celebrations organized by the management. An bowling alley of fame was built, comprising the names of the most successful current and early players of CSKA. On 24 May 2008, an exhibition catch was played between the current team and a mix team of bulgarian and extraneous football stars. The mix team was coached by former German external Lothar Matthäus, who was a limited node for the anniversary celebrations. The catch ended 6–6. In June 2008, only days after CSKA won its 31st entitle, UEFA notified the Bulgarian Football Union ( BFU ) that the club would not receive a license for participating in the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League because of unpaid obligations. [ 18 ] [ 19 ] The BFU then speculated this could besides result in CSKA not being able to take part in the domestic championship, efficaciously turning it into an amateur club. Attempts to arrange a settlement with UEFA proved unsuccessful and CSKA lost its right to compete in the Champions League in party favor of runner-up Levski Sofia. [ 20 ] The person widely blamed for the crisis was club president Aleksandar Tomov, who resigned concisely after and was arrested and sued for embezzling millions of lev from CSKA and Kremikovtzi AD. [ 21 ] The problems with the license exposed the club ‘s unaccented fiscal situation and led to chaos and panic, prompting many of the key players to flee, including capitulum coach Stoycho Mladenov himself, who left saying he was not glad with the fire sale of therefore many important players. The future of CSKA looked dour, its status as a professional club hanging in the counterweight. In the midst of the crisis, Dimitar Penev was given the oral sex bus ‘s job for the third fourth dimension and burdened with the undertaking of saving the club. With about all senior players gone, Penev was left to rely on members of the CSKA youth police squad. ultimately, CSKA managed to fulfill all license requirements set by the BFU and was allowed to compete in A Group. [ 22 ] Despite all the difficulties, and to the surprise of the solid football community, Penev ‘s young team claimed the bulgarian Supercup in August 2008, overcoming Litex 1–0. [ 23 ] At the begin of the 2008–09 season, the baseball club managed to strengthen their ranks by signing bulgarian internationals Zdravko Lazarov and Vladimir Manchev. On 24 December 2008, club owner Pramod Mittal announced he had signed a preliminary narrow with a local investor to sell the club. [ 24 ] The consider was finalized on 6 March 2009, and the ownership of the club was transferred to Titan Sport EAD, a subordinate of bulgarian godforsaken management company Titan AS. [ 25 ] meanwhile, passenger car Dimitar Penev was replaced by his nephew, Lyuboslav Penev, who set aggressive goals for the club. [ 26 ] After having led the league for most of the season, CSKA finished the championship in second base seat, one orient behind arch-rivals Levski .
In 2009, CSKA earned a place in the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League ‘s group stage after defeating Dynamo Moscow in the modify round and drew Roma, Basel and Fulham in the group stage. [ 27 ] The first equal was against Fulham in Sofia, where CSKA took the lead thanks to a beautiful goal by newly signed from Chernomoretz Burgas Brazilian Michel Platini. however, a simple goalkeeper mistake at the end of the couple allowed Fulham to score, ending the game in a 1–1 pull back. Despite the potent start, CSKA did not manage to earn any more points in the group stage and exited the contest after finishing one-fourth in its group. [ 28 ] In November 2009, coach Luboslav Penev threatened to resign following a quibble with the club ‘s management after they had reversed his decision to reprimand respective players for disciplinary reasons, but decided to carry on with the job. Their disagreements finally boiled over in January 2010 and the board relieved Penev of the situation. [ 29 ] Reports in the press pointed to former CSKA coach Miodrag Ješić as a possible substitute, but even though Ješić expressed a hope to come back to CSKA, his current shrink with Libyan clubhouse Alittihad Tripoli ruled him out. [ 30 ] On 17 January, the clubhouse retained romanian specialist Ioan Andone as passenger car. [ 31 ] Andone brought two romanian players with him and set out to overhaul the team. [ 32 ] however, over the adjacent six matches, CSKA won only two matches, drew arch-rivals Levski 0–0 and lost moment place to Lokomotiv Sofia. On 30 March, after two months on the problem, Andone resigned, citing syndicate reasons. [ 33 ] Former CSKA defender Adalbert Zafirov was put in his place. [ 34 ] At the lapp clock time, the baseball club turned to Dimitar Penev again, naming him supervisory program of the coach staff. [ 35 ] Despite the disruptive second one-half of the season, CSKA managed to finish at second place in the table, behind champions Litex, and prepared to enter the third gear qualifying round of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League. [ 36 ]

2010s

In the summer of 2010, the club hired Pavel Dochev as forefront coach, but after a chain of unsatisfactory results, including a 0–1 personnel casualty to Levski Sofia and a 1–2 loss to Chernomorets Burgas, he was fired. His place was taken by the relatively unknown Macedonian coach Gjore Jovanovski, who kept his caper for merely three months before being replaced by his assistant Milen Radukanov. Under Radukanov, CSKA won the 2011 bulgarian Cup and the bulgarian SuperCup, beating league champions Litex Lovech 3–1. CSKA started 2011–12 with eight-straight league victories, but after a 1–2 kill against Slavia Sofia and a 0–0 draw against Cherno More Varna, Radukanov was by chance fired by president Dimitar Borisov. Dimitar Penev was appointed as a impermanent director with Adalbert Zafirov as his adjunct. In the spring, Stoycho Mladenov was again hired as principal coach, and he led the club to a second-place league finish, a single point behind champions Ludogorets Razgrad after losing on the final examination sidereal day of the season .

2012–2013

CSKA began the season by being surprisingly eliminated from external football by slovenian side Mura 05. While the first branch in Slovenia ended in a 0–0 draw, a 1–1 tie at home eliminated the Reds from the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League in the second modify cycle. The get down of the domestic championship was unimpressive a well –- a 0–1 loss to Litex, in which the club had no right to use its new signings ascribable to administrative restrictions. however, in the middle of the fall one-half of the temper, CSKA achieved some meaning wins, defeating Levski 1–0 in the Eternal Derby and eliminating Ludogorets Razgrad in the circle of 32 of the bulgarian Cup. In belated December 2012, head coach Stoycho Mladenov was abruptly fired by the club owners for “ corrective ” reasons, and Miodrag Ješić was appointed in his place. During the winter transplant window, CSKA made several signings, such as bulgarian internationals Martin Kamburov and Spas Delev, in summation to South-American players Marcinho and Ignacio Varela. After managing the team for only two matches in the spring, Ješić was sacked and replaced by sports fan favored Milen Radukanov, with whom the clubhouse managed to finish the season with the bronze medals. In June 2013, former FIFA Ballon d’Or achiever Hristo Stoichkov was released from Litex Lovech to replace Radukanov on the bench, but the poor fiscal condition of the club forced him to leave shortly after his arrival without even having signed a compress. Most of the winder players left CSKA while speculations about the club ‘s bankruptcy circled in the media. [ 37 ] After the serious fiscal problems led to CSKA ‘s withdrawal from the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League, igniting multiple sports fan protests, the club was ultimately declared for sale. On 10 July 2013, it was formally purchased by the Red Champions Group, a union of businessmen and baseball club legends. The drawing card of the group was Aleksandar Tomov, former club president of the united states widely blamed for CSKA ‘s fiscal crisis in 2008. Stoycho Mladenov was hired back as coach by the fresh owners .

2013–2014

The baseball club made respective major signings for the new season, bringing in erstwhile team captains Valentin Iliev, Emil Gargorov and Todor Yanchev. Algeria ‘s home goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi and ex- Premier League stars Mamady Sidibe and Martin Petrov were besides brought on board. On 19 October 2013, the born-again CSKA crushed city rivals Levski 3–0 and were given the dub The Phoenixes. By the end of the temper, CSKA smashed Levski three more times and finished in second place, behind Ludogorets Razgrad. On 21 March 2014, as partially of the design to reduce debt and make the club ‘s finances more diaphanous, CSKA became the first club from Eastern Europe to be publicly traded by listing itself on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange. [ 38 ] [ 39 ]

2014–2015

Before the start of the new season, a few key players were no longer share of the club. Goalkeeper Raïs M’Bolhi was transferred to Major League Soccer ( MLS ) side Philadelphia Union after an impressive performance at the 2014 FIFA World Cup ; young endowment Ivaylo Chochev joined Palermo ; cabaret legends Martin Petrov and Todor Yanchev retired ; and the team ‘s ahead scorekeeper, Emil Gargorov, left due to conflict with the managing board. CSKA were amazingly eliminated by the Moldovan side Zimbru Chișinău in the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League ‘s second modify round, but performed well in the domestic league during the beginning half of the season, beating rivals Levski doubly more and being on the top of the table ahead of Ludogorets before the winter break. however, after the season resumed, CSKA lost three-straight matches without scoring a goal, prompting the resignation of read/write head bus Stoycho Mladenov. Former team captain and youth team ‘s coach Galin Ivanov was appointed as the raw head coach, [ 40 ] but after five more scoreless matches, he was replaced by european football legend Lyuboslav Penev, a motion wide praised by fans. [ 41 ] On 2 April, CSKA club president Aleksandar Tomov transferred his controlling stuff of shares to Milko Georgiev and Borislav Lazarov, with baseball club supporters intending to find a new owner and major sponsors able of paying off the golf club ‘s numerous debts. [ 42 ] On 24 April, it was officially announced the clubhouse ‘s newly control owner would be the pot Finance Marketing Company Ltd. [ 43 ] CSKA finished the season in fifth position, but due to the unfunded debts, the BFU refused to issue the club a license for A Group for the approaching season, alternatively sending the clubhouse to the South-Western V group, the third grade of bulgarian football. [ 44 ]

2015–present

On 24 June 2015, businessman Grisha Ganchev announced he would be the modern owner of CSKA. Club legend Plamen Markov and celebrated former football player Hristo Yanev were appointed as sports director and head coach respectively. [ 45 ] Yanev claimed he wants to form a police squad consisting wholly of bulgarian players. On 25 May 2016, and as amateurs, CSKA Sofia won the 2015–16 bulgarian Cup, becoming the first third part cabaret to record such an accomplishment. In the final, CSKA defeated Montana 1–0 to lift the cup for the twentieth time in golf club history. [ 46 ] On 27 May 2016, the legal firm that represented PFC Chavdar Etropole, “ PFC Chavdar EAD ”, was renamed to “ PFC CSKA-1948 AD ”. [ 47 ] On 6 June 2016, the legal firm which representedb Litex Lovech, “ PFC Litex-Lovech AD ”, was renamed to “ PFC CSKA-Sofia EAD ”, [ 48 ] in ordain for the cabaret to use PFC Litex Lovech ‘s professional license to apply for the reformed First League, [ 49 ] with “ PFC CSKA-1948 AD ” being written in as its owner. The shift was made because the old legal firm, “ PFC CSKA AD ”, was not issued a professional license, and former went bankrupted and ceased operations as of 9 September 2016. Litex Lovech late began playing in the Third League, taking the home of Botev Lukovit. [ 50 ] Following a series of unfavorable results in the backing, Hristo Yanev resigned as head coach. early adjacent workweek, the son of former Romanian football legend Anghel Iordănescu, Edward Iordănescu, was appointed as head coach. however, on 27 November, following a 1–1 home disembowel against Vereya and respective poor results, he resigned as head coach. In September, the club officially announced a sponsorship with the largest telecommunications company in Bulgaria, Mtel. The team besides signed a contract with bulgarian gambling ship’s company WinBet. On 11 October 2018 the ship’s company owning CSKA-Sofia obtained the CSKA Sofia EAD caller having the CSKA Sofia brand and become its official successor. [ 51 ]

League positions

Honours

domestic

Bulgarian A Group:
Bulgarian V Group:
Bulgarian Cup:
Bulgarian Supercup:

Winners (4): 1989, 2006, 2008, 2011

Bulgarian Cup – (unofficial tournament) [ 52 ]

Winners (1 time): 1981

Cup of the Soviet Army [ 52 ]

Winners (4 times): 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990

european

European Cup / UEFA Champions League
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League :
European Cup Winners’ Cup / UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
Biggest win in European tournaments:

UEFA Cup Winners – 8–1 in 1956–57 vs Dinamo București
UEFA Cup – 8–0 in 2000–01 vs Constructorul
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup – 9–0 in 1970–71 vs Haka

other trophies

Mohammed V Trophy, Morocco: [ 1 ]

Winners (1): 1967

Thöle-Pokal, Germany: [ 53 ]

Winners (1): 2003

Arona Cup, Spain: [ 54 ]

Winners (1): 2004

Martyrs of 17 February Cup, Libya: [ 55 ]

Winners (1): 2012

Club crest

The independent element in the current club peak is the red five-pointed star – symbol of glory and power. Red was the semblance of the uniform of the Roman legions, associated with love, freedom and aggression. The six oak leaves above the asterisk typify strength, endurance and traditions. CSKA ‘s list and year of foundation ( 1948 ) can be seen below the star, between two bulgarian flags. The traffic circle kind of the peak symbolises eternity and eternity. After CSKA won its thirtieth national championship in 2005, three gold stars were added to the logo. [ 56 ] In 2017, to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the club, CSKA introduced an update thorax. [ 57 ]

“ Atletik – Slava ( AS`23 ) ” ( 1923 – 44 )
“ Chavdar ( from 1948 – CDV ) ” ( 1944 – 48 )
“ Septemvri pri CDV ” ( 1948 – 49 )
“ CDNV ” ( 1950 – 1953 )
“ complementary dna ” ( 1954 – 1962 )
“ CSKA Cherveno Zname ” ( 1962 – 1968 )
“ CSKA Cherveno Zname ” alternate ( 1964 – 1968 )
“ CSKA Cherveno Zname ” alternate ( 1965 – 1968 )
“ CSKA Septemvriysko Zname ” ( 1968 – 1985 )
“ CSKA Septemvriysko Zname ” alternate ( 1968 – 1985 )
“ CSKA Septemvriysko Zname ” european championships ( 1968 – 1985 )
“ CFKA Sredets ” ( 1985 – 1989 )
“ CSKA ” ( 1987 – 1988 ) и ( 1990 – 1998 )
“ CSKA ” ( 1998 )
“ CSKA ” ( 1989 ) и ( 1998 – 2005 )
“ CSKA ” ( 2005 – 2017 )
“ CSKA ” ( 2017 – 2019 )
“ CSKA ” ( 2019 – )

Names

CSKA has carried a overplus of names throughout its history. In chronological order, they are as follows : [ 58 ]

Septemvri pri CDV (Bulgarian: Септември при ЦДВ), September at the Central House of the Troops in 1948 and 1948/49.
Narodna Voiska (Bulgarian: Народна Войска), People’s Troops in 1950.
C.D.N.V. (Bulgarian: Централен Дом на Народната Войска, Ц.Д.Н.В .), Central House of the People’s Troops in 1951 and 1952.
Otbor na Sofiyskiya Garnizon (Bulgarian: Отбор на Софийския Гарнизон), Team of the Sofia’s garrison in 1953.
CDNA (Bulgarian: ЦДНА, Централен Дом на Народната Армия), Central House of the People’s Army from 1954 and until the 1961/62 season.
CSKA “Cherveno zname” (Bulgarian: ЦСКА „Червено знаме “), CSKA “Red Flag” between 1962/63 and 1967/68.
CSKA “Septemvriysko zname” (Bulgarian: ЦСКА „Септемврийско знаме “), CSKA “September’s flag” between 1968/69 and 1984/85.
CFKA “Sredets” (Bulgarian: ЦФКА „Средец “), Central Football Club of the Army “Sredets” from 1985/86 and until 1988/89
CSKA (Bulgarian: ЦСКА), CSKA – Central Sports Club of the Army since 1989/90.

Only Domestic Cup matches

european record

As of 26 August 2021

UEFA Ranking

As of 11 December 2020. Source: [2]

Players

current team

As of 10 September 2021

notice : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
For recent transfers, see Transfers summer 2021.

Out on loan

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

Foreign players

Up to five non-EU nationals can be registered and given a squad number for the first team in the Bulgarian First League however lone three can be used during a equal day. Those non-EU nationals with european lineage can claim citizenship from the nation their ancestors came from. If a actor does not have european ancestry he can claim bulgarian citizenship after playing in Bulgaria for five years .

bulgarian Army stadium

The team ‘s home stadium, the bulgarian Army Stadium, was completed in 1967 and stands on the same position as its harbinger, Athletic Park. It is situated in the Borisova gradina park, named after bulgarian czar Boris III, in Sofia ‘s city center. The stadium has four sectors with a total of 22,995 places ( 18,495 seats ), [ 59 ] [ 60 ] of which 2,100 are covered. The pitch distance is 105 metres and the width is 68 metres. The sports complex besides include a basketball court and gymnastics facilities, equally well as the CSKA Sofia Museum of Glory. The press conference room has 80 seats .

Supporters

According to many surveys, CSKA Sofia is one of the two most popular clubs in Bulgaria with approximately 190,000 organize supporters in 799 fan clubs around the world, including supporters from United States, Macedonia, Spain, Austria, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Germany and about every area in which there is a large phone number of Bulgarians. The official sports fan club was formed in 1990, which to date is the oldest one in the capital of Bulgaria. [ citation needed ] Sector G, the main stand for the ultras of CSKA, is located at the north side of the stadium. Inside the sector, the most influential supporters group is the newly founded ultras group “ Ofanziva ”, which was formed after the union of several smaller fan clubs. Another hard group is “ Animals ”. CSKA is besides the favored football club of the current head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Patriarch Neophyte. [ 61 ]

Friendships

managerial history

This is a list of the stopping point 10 CSKA Sofia managers :

golf club officials

Board of directors

current technical torso

Club kits

After the amalgamation between Chavdar Sofia and Septemvri Sofia, it was accepted the club ‘s family color would be red. White became the club ‘s away color. In previous years, black was besides used, chiefly for away or third kits. other color of the CSKA kits that can be seen are grey, yellow, orange and green, but lone in rarely occasions and alone in the color schema of the third kits. In the 2009–10 season, and for the first time in club history, CSKA used gold for their aside kits. After the 2011–12 temper in which CSKA used equipment of the italian company Kappa, from June 2012 the club has new kit supplier, italian caller Legea. The team used the new equipment for the first time in the pre-season friendly against Moscow side Torpedo Moscow, ended 1–2. The kits were sample and they were with a unlike kit and a unlike spot where the team badge was placed. The official presentation of the new kits was before the friendly match against macedonian side Drita on 14 July 2012 ( 2–0 ), played at the bulgarian Army Stadium .

Club hymn

The official anthem of CSKA Sofia is the song “ Sartsa cherveni ” ( “ Red hearts ” ) by the celebrated bulgarian singer Yordanka Hristova. The song is written in 1999 by composer Evgeni Dimitrov and lyricist Ivaylo Valchev, authors of many of the hits of Slavi Trifonov and Ku-Ku Band. [ 62 ]