PFC Slavia Sofia is a
BulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n football club founded on 10 April 1913 in
SofiaSofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
. Slavia's ground is Slavia Stadium with a capacity of 15,992. The team's colours are white and black.
The club has won the Bulgarian Championship 7 times and the
Bulgarian CupThe Bulgarian Cup is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it. It is sponsored by the Bulgarian Corporate Commercial Bank....
7 times. It has also come second in the championship nine times and reached the cup final 7 more times.
Among the team's international successes are a Cup Winners' Cup semifinal in 1967 and a quarterfinal in 1981, as well as two consecutive
Balkans CupIn 1961, a Balkans Cup for football clubs from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey, and Yugoslavia was introduced. It was played 27 times...
trophies (1986 and 1988).
Honours
- Champion of Bulgaria – 7 times
- 1928, 1930, 1936, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1996
- Vice-champion of Bulgaria – 9 times
- 1932,1934,1950,1954,1955,1959,1967,1980, and 1990
- Third place – 12 times
- 1940, 1942, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1982, 1986, 1991, and 1997
- Holder of National Cup – 7 times
- 1952, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1975, 1980, and 1996
- Semi-finals at the Cup Winners' Cup – 1966–67
- Holder of Balkan's Cup – 1986, 1988
History
On April 10, 1913, a group of young people living near a Russian Monument in
SofiaSofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
and representatives of the local capital clubs
Botev and
Razvitie, in a coffee-house – Alabin str. in
SofiaSofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, decided to establish an incorporated sport club – the fist organized sport club in
SofiaSofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
and in
BulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. The new incorporated club has named Slavia. Dimitar Blagoev – Palio, a 21 year-old student, was elected as the first president of the club. As members of the first club administrative council were elected Emanuil Geshev, Ferdinand Mihaylov, Tsvyatko Velichkov, Georgi Grigorov and Todor Kalkandzhiev.
A few days later, was elected the first football team of the club - Stefan Lalov, Ilia Georgiev, Emanuil Geshev, Todor Kalkandzhiev, Stefan Chumpalov, Dimitar Blagoev – Palio (all of them from "Botev") and Pavel Grozdanov, Ferdinand Mihaylov, Boris Sharankov, Asen Bramchev, Dimitar Cvetkov (all of them from "Razvitie"). The first sport dresses of the club were white shirts and black shorts. Since 1924 the team plays with white shirts and white shorts and up to present days it is popular as the "White pride". On August 11, 1913, Slavia plays its first match versus the local team "Savata" and wins by 1:0.
After the first world war, Slavia began to become more successful. On June 5, 1928, the team won its first champion title, winning with 4:0 the final match against
Vladislav VarnaPFC Cherno More Varna , or simply Cherno More is a Bulgarian professional football club from the city of Varna, which currently competes in Bulgaria's top football league, the A PFG....
. The title was won by Slavia five more times until 1946, these were achieved in 1929–30, 1935–36, 1938–39, 1940–41 and 1942–43.
Its most important achievements in Europe during 1966–67 Cup Winners' Cup campaign when Slavia eliminated
Swansea CitySwansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
,
RC StrasbourgRacing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...
and
Servette FCServette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
, before being eliminated by
RangersRangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
at the semi-finals.
Until now Slavia has played in all championships of Bulgaria , starting from 1924 to 2003–2004. In its 90-year history Slavia has achieved the “double” once – winning in 1996 the championship and the cup of Bulgaria, as well.
Stadium
In the first 10 years after Slavia was founded, the club played in the stadium of his predecessor SC Razvitie. On 3 October 1923, Slavia became the owner of land to the
Russian MonumentThe Russian Monument is a monument in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The first monument to be built in the capital of the newly liberated Principality of Bulgaria, it was unveiled on 29 June 1882 and is located on the road which Osman Nuri Paşa used to flee from Sofia to Pernik on 22 December...
in
SofiaSofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, where was the first ground of the club. They played their home games there for the next forty years, until the move to west Sofia in 1960.
On 12 March 1958, started the construction of Slavia Stadium. Mayor of the sixth area in Sofia and president of the Slavia women's basketball team, Dimitar Tinev presided at the laying in place of the first stone. The stadium is built in a residential area Ovcha Kupel, served by regular bus services 6 km from Sofia city centre. Slavia Stadium has undergone many changes over the years and it presently has an all-seated capacity of 15,992.
Records
- Atanas Aleksandrov - the great number of matches in Slavia – 338
- Andrey Zhelyazkov
Andrey Zhelyazkov is a former Bulgarian football player in midfielder role.He played in his home country for Minyor Radnevo and Slavia Sofia, in the Netherlands for Feyenoord, in France with RC Strasbourg, in Belgium for Beerschot, and for the Bulgaria national football team. He participated in...
– the great number of goals for Slavia – 134
- Aleksandar Shalamanov
Aleksandar Stefanov Shalamanov is a former football player and professional alpine skier and is known as the only Bulgarian who has participated in the Winter Olympics and in the FIFA World Cup...
player № 1 in Bulgaria – 1963, 1966
- Simeon Simeonov
Simeon Ivanov Simeonov is a former Bulgarian football player in goalkeeper role.He played mostly for PFC Slavia Sofia, and for Bulgaria national football team he participated at three editions of FIFA World Cup in 1966, 1970 and 1974. He gained 34 caps for Bulgaria.-References:...
player № 1 in Bulgaria – 1968
- Bozhidar Grigorov
Bozhidar Grigorov is a former Bulgarian footballer.He played for Slavia Sofia in the 1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, scoring two goals in the team's 1st round victory over Valencia CF....
player № 1 in Bulgaria – 1976
- Andrey Zhelyazkov
Andrey Zhelyazkov is a former Bulgarian football player in midfielder role.He played in his home country for Minyor Radnevo and Slavia Sofia, in the Netherlands for Feyenoord, in France with RC Strasbourg, in Belgium for Beerschot, and for the Bulgaria national football team. He participated in...
player № 1 in Bulgaria – 1980
Current squad
As of October 3, 2011
For recent transfers, see List of Bulgarian football transfers winter 2011–12.
Players out on loan
As of July 30, 2011
Technical staff
Notable players
| Petar Aleksandrov Petar Aleksandrov is a Bulgarian former footballer who played for various clubs in Bulgaria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland during the 1980s and 1990s...
Dimitar Baykushev Dimitar Blagoev Chavdar Cvetkov Georgi Cvetkov Ivan DavidovIvan Davidov is a Bulgarian football midfielder who played for Bulgaria in the 1966 and 1970 FIFA World Cups. He also played for PFC Slavia Sofia.-External links:*...
Blagoy GeorgievBlagoy Georgiev is a Bulgarian footballer currently playing for Terek Grozny as a midfielder.-Career:Born in Sofia, he played for Slavia Sofia and featured in 172 A PFG matches while scoring 46 goals....
Bozhidar GrigorovBozhidar Grigorov is a former Bulgarian footballer.He played for Slavia Sofia in the 1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, scoring two goals in the team's 1st round victory over Valencia CF....
Georgi Haralampiev Ivan Iliev-Achievements:-References:* on JudoInside.com...
Asen KaraslavovAsen Karaslavov is a Bulgarian football player who plays as a defender for SpVgg Greuther Fürth.-Botev Plovdiv:...
Stefan Kolev Todor KolevTodor Kolev is a Bulgarian football player who is club captain of A PFG club Ludogorets Razgrad, where he plays as a forward.-Career:...
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Vanio Kostov Martin KushevMartin Kushev is a Bulgarian football manager and former player. Current manager of A PFG club Slavia Sofia.During his football career, Kushev has often been described as an old fashioned English-style centre forward due to his physical presence and outstanding aerial ability.-Career:Kushev...
Dimitar LargovDimitar Largov is a Bulgarian football defender who played for Bulgaria in the 1966 FIFA World Cup. He also played for PFC Slavia Sofia.-External links:*...
Zdravko LazarovZdravko Lazarov is a Bulgarian football player, currently playing for Lokomotiv Plovdiv, captain of the team. He is also assistant manager of Hristo Bonev....
Krum MilevKrum Milev was a Bulgarian football player and manager.He played for Botev Sofia, Slavia Sofia and Lokomotiv Sofia. He obtained 18 caps with Bulgaria.He was the topscorer of the Bulgarian National Football Division 1937-38....
Asen NikolovAsen Nikolov , nicknamed Bebeto , is a Bulgarian footballer playing as an attacking midfielder for French US Le Pontet. For the Bulgarian national team, Nikolov was capped one time.-Career:...
Georgi PachedzhievGeorgi Pachedzhiev was a Bulgarian football manager who coached Bulgaria at the 1962 FIFA World Cup. As a player he played for AS 23 Sofia, and was the top scorer in the Bulgarian A Professional Football Group in 1939 with fourteen goals. He died in April 2005.-References:...
Yordan PetkovYordan Petkov is a former Bulgarian football defender and currently assistant coach of Slavia Sofia under Martin Kushev....
Todor PramatarovTodor Pramatarov is a former Bulgarian football player. He was the top scorer of the 1997 championship ....
Dimitar RangelovDimitar Rangelov is a Bulgarian football striker who plays for Energie Cottbus on loan from Borussia Dortmund and the Bulgarian national team.In 2007 he made his debut for Bulgaria.-Slavia Sofia:...
Aleksandar ShalamanovAleksandar Stefanov Shalamanov is a former football player and professional alpine skier and is known as the only Bulgarian who has participated in the Winter Olympics and in the FIFA World Cup...
Simeon SimeonovSimeon Ivanov Simeonov is a former Bulgarian football player in goalkeeper role.He played mostly for PFC Slavia Sofia, and for Bulgaria national football team he participated at three editions of FIFA World Cup in 1966, 1970 and 1974. He gained 34 caps for Bulgaria.-References:...
Nasko SirakovNasko Petkov Sirakov is a retired Bulgarian footballer who played mainly as a striker.Part of the Bulgarian team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup as it finished fourth, he was one of the most important footballers in the country in the 80's/90's, being a legend at Levski Sofia, a club he represented in...
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Dobromir Tashkov Dobromir Tashkov is a former Bulgarian football player. He spent his whole career at Spartak Varna and Slavia Sofia. For the Bulgaria national football team Tashkov featured in 7 games and scored 2 goals...
Aleksandar VasilevAleksandar Vasilev - Choko is a retired Bulgarian football player. Vasilev was a central forward. He was a captain of Slavia Sofia in the period 1957-1967. Vasilev scored 100 goals for the club. For the Bulgaria national football team Choko featured in 7 games and scored 2 goals. He won the...
Mladen VasilevMladen "Maho" Vasilev is a former Bulgarian football player, and later coach.Between 1965 and 1968, Vasilev played for F.C...
Chavdar YankovChavdar Yankov is a Bulgarian footballer currently playing for FC Rostov on loan from Metalurh Donetsk. He is known for his passing, aerial ability and tackling. He is a central midfielder who plays in the holding midfield role or as an attacking midfielder...
Yordan Yosifov Zdravko ZdravkovZdravko Zdravkov is a former Bulgarian football goalkeeper. He ended his career at the end of 2006–07 season.-Career:...
Andrey ZhelyazkovAndrey Zhelyazkov is a former Bulgarian football player in midfielder role.He played in his home country for Minyor Radnevo and Slavia Sofia, in the Netherlands for Feyenoord, in France with RC Strasbourg, in Belgium for Beerschot, and for the Bulgaria national football team. He participated in...
Raïs M'Bolhi Sead Halilagić Sead Halilagić also known as Sead Dost is a Serbian-born Bosniak former football defender, who played for several clubs in Yugoslavia and Turkey....
Jane NikolovskiJane Nikolovski is a Macedonian football goalkeeper. He last played for AEP Paphos in Cyprus.-Career:Nikolovski returned from Bulgaria for FK Sloga Jugomagnat in July 2003. In 2005, he left for Iranian club Persepolis F.C.. In January 2006, he was signed by Croatian club NK Slaven Belupo...
Budimir Đukić Velimir IvanovićVelimir Ivanović is a Serbian footballer. He currently plays as a midfielder for Spartak Varna.-Career:...
Vuk RašovićVuk Rašović is a former Serbian footballer.-Career:Being the son of Partizan's legend Branko Rašović, it's not surpisengly that still very young Vuk started to play in Partizan youth teams. He played professionally, initially, with FK Rad and Bulgarian Slavia Sofia...
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Notable stats
|
Most le>gue appearances for the club
| Rank | Name | Nat | Apps | Active |
| 1 |
Andrey ZhelyazkovAndrey Zhelyazkov is a former Bulgarian football player in midfielder role.He played in his home country for Minyor Radnevo and Slavia Sofia, in the Netherlands for Feyenoord, in France with RC Strasbourg, in Belgium for Beerschot, and for the Bulgaria national football team. He participated in...
|
 |
338 |
No |
| 2 |
Atanas Aleksandrov |
|
317 |
No |
| 3 |
Iliya Iliev Iliya Iliev is a Bulgarian footballer, currently playing for Slavia Sofia as a midfielder. He has a very good technique and a strong blow.- Career :...
|
|
306 |
No |
| 4 |
Bozhidar Grigorov Bozhidar Grigorov is a former Bulgarian footballer.He played for Slavia Sofia in the 1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, scoring two goals in the team's 1st round victory over Valencia CF....
|
|
301 |
No |
| 5 |
Georgi Gugalov |
|
293 |
No |
Most league goals for the club
| Rank | Name | Nat | Goals | Active |
| 1 |
Andrey ZhelyazkovAndrey Zhelyazkov is a former Bulgarian football player in midfielder role.He played in his home country for Minyor Radnevo and Slavia Sofia, in the Netherlands for Feyenoord, in France with RC Strasbourg, in Belgium for Beerschot, and for the Bulgaria national football team. He participated in...
|
|
136 |
No |
| 2 |
Bozhidar Grigorov Bozhidar Grigorov is a former Bulgarian footballer.He played for Slavia Sofia in the 1969–70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, scoring two goals in the team's 1st round victory over Valencia CF....
|
|
128 |
No |
| 3 |
Chavdar Cvetkov |
|
104 |
No |
| 4 |
Aleksandar Vasilev Aleksandar Vasilev - Choko is a retired Bulgarian football player. Vasilev was a central forward. He was a captain of Slavia Sofia in the period 1957-1967. Vasilev scored 100 goals for the club. For the Bulgaria national football team Choko featured in 7 games and scored 2 goals. He won the...
|
|
100 |
No |
| Petar Aleksandrov Petar Aleksandrov is a Bulgarian former footballer who played for various clubs in Bulgaria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland during the 1980s and 1990s...
|
|
100 |
No |
|
Bulgari>n league top scorer with the club
| Year | Name | Nat | Goals | Active |
| 1938 |
Krum Milev Krum Milev was a Bulgarian football player and manager.He played for Botev Sofia, Slavia Sofia and Lokomotiv Sofia. He obtained 18 caps with Bulgaria.He was the topscorer of the Bulgarian National Football Division 1937-38....
|
|
12 |
No |
| 1952 |
Dimitar Isakov Dimitar Isakov is a retired Bulgarian football player. Isakov was a central forward.During his career, he played for PFC Marek Dupnitsa and PFC Slavia Sofia. He was the Bulgarian League's top goalscorer during the 1951–52 season, scoring 10 goals for Slavia...
|
|
10 |
No |
| 1954 |
Dobromir Tashkov Dobromir Tashkov is a former Bulgarian football player. He spent his whole career at Spartak Varna and Slavia Sofia. For the Bulgaria national football team Tashkov featured in 7 games and scored 2 goals...
|
|
25 |
No |
| 1958 |
Dobromir Tashkov Dobromir Tashkov is a former Bulgarian football player. He spent his whole career at Spartak Varna and Slavia Sofia. For the Bulgaria national football team Tashkov featured in 7 games and scored 2 goals...
|
|
9 |
No |
| 1959 |
Aleksandar Vasilev Aleksandar Vasilev - Choko is a retired Bulgarian football player. Vasilev was a central forward. He was a captain of Slavia Sofia in the period 1957-1967. Vasilev scored 100 goals for the club. For the Bulgaria national football team Choko featured in 7 games and scored 2 goals. He won the...
|
|
13 |
No |
| 1997 |
Todor Pramatarov Todor Pramatarov is a former Bulgarian football player. He was the top scorer of the 1997 championship ....
|
|
26 |
No |
Managerial history
This is a list of the last Slavia managers:
| Name |
Nat |
From |
To |
Honours |
| Miroslav Mironov |
|
October 1999 |
May 2000 |
– |
| Žarko Olarević Žarko Olarević is a Serbian football manager and former player....
|
|
May 2000 |
23 November 2000 |
– |
| Kiril Kachamanov |
|
23 November 2000 |
25 September 2001 |
– |
| Žarko Olarević Žarko Olarević is a Serbian football manager and former player....
|
|
25 September 2001 |
18 December 2002 |
– |
| Miodrag Ješić Miodrag Ješić is a Serbian football manager and a former footballer. He is the current Head coach of Shahrdari Tabriz.-Playing:...
|
|
18 December 2002 |
23 August 2003 |
– |
| Ratko Dostanić Ratko Dostanić is a Serbian football coach and former player.-Playing career:Ratko Dostanić started his youth career as a member of FK Partizan....
|
|
24 August 2003 |
23 September 2004 |
– |
| Atanas Dzhambazki Atanas Dzhambazki is a Bulgarian former football player and the current football manager of Litex Lovech.-Montana:In 2009 Dzhambazki becomes manager of Montana, when their former manager Stevica Kuzmanovski was released...
|
|
23 September 2004 |
29 March 2005 |
– |
| Petar Houbchev Petar Hubchev is a Bulgarian former football player, and currently manager of Botev Plovdiv. He was part of the Bulgarian national team that reached the semi-finals of the 1994 World Cup and also played at Euro 96.-As a player:...
|
|
29 March 2005 |
10 November 2005 |
– |
| Alyosha Andonov Alyosha Andonov is a Bulgarian football head coach who is a former coach of PFC Belasitsa Petrich.Andonov graduated from the Higher Training School of NSA. He has been a professional player for PFC CSKA Sofia, PFC Belasitsa Petrich in the BG First division, PFC Dunav Rousse, PFC Beroe, "Minior" ,...
|
|
10 November 2005 |
2 July 2006 |
– |
| Ratko Dostanić Ratko Dostanić is a Serbian football coach and former player.-Playing career:Ratko Dostanić started his youth career as a member of FK Partizan....
|
|
3 July 2006 |
26 December 2006 |
– |
| Alyosha Andonov Alyosha Andonov is a Bulgarian football head coach who is a former coach of PFC Belasitsa Petrich.Andonov graduated from the Higher Training School of NSA. He has been a professional player for PFC CSKA Sofia, PFC Belasitsa Petrich in the BG First division, PFC Dunav Rousse, PFC Beroe, "Minior" ,...
|
|
26 December 2006 |
6 June 2007 |
– |
| Stevica Kuzmanovski Stevica Kuzmanovski is a former Macedonian footballer and the current manager of Armenian Premier League club Banants Yerevan.-Playing career:...
|
 |
6 June 2007 |
2 June 2009 |
– |
| Velislav Vutsov Velislav Ivanov Vutsov is a Bulgarian football manager and former footballer. He is also the son of former footballer Ivan Vutsov.Throughout his career he has been the manager of the following football teams: Spartak Pleven, Spartak Varna, Yantra Gabrovo, Cherno More Varna, Marek Dupnitsa, Kaliakra...
|
|
2 June 2009 |
18 May 2010 |
– |
| Emil Velev Emil Velev is a former Bulgarian football player and currently manager of Lokomotiv Plovdiv.-Career:...
|
|
19 May 2010 |
present |
– |
External links