Levski Sofia
PFC Levski Sofia is a Bulgarian professional association football club based in Sofia, founded on 24 May 1914 by a group of high school students. Named after Bulgarian revolutionary hero Vasil Levski, the club competes in the First League, Bulgaria's top division, and plays at the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium with a capacity of 17,688 spectators. Levski has won an impressive 74 trophies throughout its history, including 26 national championships, 26 national cups, and 3 supercups, establishing itself as one of Bulgaria's most successful clubs. The team is the only Bulgarian football club never to have been relegated from the top division since the league system's establishment in 1937, and notably became the first Bulgarian club to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage in 2006.
History
Overview
General information about the club
PFC Levski Sofia stands as one of Bulgaria's most prestigious football institutions, founded by students from the Second Male High School in Sofia. The club takes its name from Vasil Levski, a revered Bulgarian revolutionary who became the country's national hero. Since its establishment, Levski has maintained its position in Bulgaria's top flight, earning the distinction of being the only club never relegated from the first division since the organized league system began in 1937.
Most recent season and achievements
Under the leadership of owner Nasko Sirakov and manager Stanimir Stoilov, who returned to the club in 2021, Levski ended a 13-year trophy drought by winning the Bulgarian Cup in 2022, defeating arch-rivals CSKA Sofia 1-0 in the final. This victory marked the club's record 26th cup triumph and secured qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League, where they eliminated PAOK before falling to Ħamrun Spartans on penalties.
History
Early years
Sports Club Levski was officially registered on 24 May 1914, though the club was initially founded in 1911. The team's first official match resulted in a 2-0 defeat to FK 13 Sofia in 1914. Football remained relatively unpopular in Bulgaria during the early years, but organized competition began with the establishment of the Sofia Sports League in 1921. Levski's first championship victory came on 18 September 1921 against Atletik Sofia with a 3-1 win, and the club secured its first league title in 1923 after defeating bitter rivals Slavia Sofia 3-2, successfully defending the title in 1924 and 1925.
The club's early success continued with national championship victories in 1933, 1937, and 1942. In 1929, Levski became Bulgaria's first semi-professional football club after twelve players staged a boycott demanding financial compensation and insurance benefits. The same year marked the club's first international encounters, losing 1-0 to Gallipoli Istanbul but defeating Kuban Istanbul 6-0.
Successful period
Following World War II, Levski emerged as one of Bulgaria's two dominant clubs alongside CSKA Sofia. The team captured championships in 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, and 1953, though success would prove elusive until the mid-1960s. Political interference saw the club renamed to Dinamo in 1949 following Soviet traditions, but the original name was restored in 1957 after Bulgaria's de-Stalinization.
The 1960s marked a golden era for Levski, with the club's academy producing exceptional talents including Georgi Asparuhov, Georgi Sokolov, Biser Mihaylov, and Kiril Ivkov. These players, combined with experienced veterans, delivered championship victories in 1965, 1968, and 1970, including a memorable 7-2 triumph over newly established rivals CSKA Sofia in 1968.
In 1969, the Bulgarian Communist Party forcibly merged Levski with Spartak Sofia, creating Levski-Spartak under the Ministry of Interior Affairs. This period saw continued domestic success with league titles in 1974, 1977, 1979, 1984, and 1985, while European achievements included quarter-final appearances in the European Cup Winners' Cup (1969-70, 1976-77) and UEFA Cup (1975-76). A highlight came when Levski defeated Barcelona 5-4 in the second leg of the 1975-76 UEFA Cup, becoming one of only two European teams to score five or more goals against the Spanish giants in official UEFA competitions.
Crisis and recovery
Political turmoil following the 1985 Bulgarian Cup final led to another name change to Vitosha Sofia. The match against CSKA, won 2-1 by their rivals, sparked confrontations both on the field and in the stands, resulting in player suspensions and the temporary suspension of Levski's 1985 championship title. Despite these setbacks, the club won cup and league titles in 1986 and 1988 respectively.
After the 1989-90 season, Levski regained its original name and entered what became known as the "Blue Tale" period. The team, featuring players like Plamen Nikolov, Petar Hubchev, and Nasko Sirakov, won three consecutive championships in 1993, 1994, and 1995. Levski contributed a record seven players to Bulgaria's national team that finished fourth at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
The pinnacle of this era came in 2005-06 when Levski reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, eliminating Auxerre, finishing above SC Heerenveen, Dinamo București, and defending champions CSKA Moscow in the group stage, before falling to Schalke 04. The following season, Levski made history by becoming the first Bulgarian club to reach the Champions League group stage, though they lost all six matches against Barcelona, Chelsea, and Werder Bremen.
Current period
The period from 2009-2020 represented the darkest chapter in Levski's history. Despite early European success, including victories over UE Sant Julià (9-0 aggregate) and FK Baku, the club faced unprecedented challenges. Multiple ownership changes, financial instability, and poor sporting results plagued the institution. The club experienced its lowest-ever league finishes (seventh in 2014-15, eighth in 2020-21) and suffered humiliating European defeats, including a 7-0 aggregate loss to AEK Larnaca.
Financial troubles intensified under various owners, culminating in over 30 million BGN in debt by 2019. However, the return of club legend Nasko Sirakov as majority shareholder in 2020, followed by Stanimir Stoilov's appointment as manager in 2021, marked the beginning of recovery. The 2022 Bulgarian Cup victory over CSKA Sofia ended a 13-year trophy drought and signaled Levski's gradual return to prominence.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Levski Sofia stands as Bulgaria's most successful football club with 74 total trophies. The club has captured 26 national championships, establishing dominance in Bulgarian football across different eras. Their cup success is equally impressive with 26 Bulgarian Cup victories, including the most recent triumph in 2022. The club has also secured 3 Bulgarian Supercups and achieved 13 domestic doubles, demonstrating consistent excellence across all domestic competitions. Additionally, Levski completed one treble during their illustrious history.
Continental and global competitions
On the international stage, Levski reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup twice and the quarter-finals of the Cup Winners' Cup three times, representing the club's highest European achievements. The team finished as runners-up in the Balkans Cup on two occasions. In 2006, Levski made history by becoming the first Bulgarian club to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage, though they failed to secure any points in their group containing Barcelona, Chelsea, and Werder Bremen.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The club's visual identity has evolved significantly throughout its history. The first crest, designed by Mircho Kachulev in 1922, featured a square blue background with a stylized Cyrillic letter "Л" (L for Levski), filled vertically with yellow and red colors. The letters "С" (Sport) and "К" (Club) were later added at the top, with "Sofia" inscribed at the bottom.
During the Dinamo period (1949-1956), the emblem became an irregular hexagon with vertical red, white, blue, and yellow colors, featuring a handwritten Cyrillic "Д" with a five-pointed red star above and "Sofia" below. The Levski-Spartak era (1969-1985) introduced a shield design in blue and white with a horizontal red bar, containing the letters "Л" and "С". The Vitosha period featured a stylized "С" surrounding a football.
After legal disputes over the historic crest rights, a new shield logo was introduced in 1998, entirely in blue with the letter "Л" and the establishment year 1914. Following a successful legal battle in 2006, the club restored its classic square emblem, with the Cyrillic letter "Л" now serving as the primary kit crest and social media identifier.
Traditional home and away kits colors
Levski's traditional home kit features an all-blue color scheme, which has become synonymous with the club's identity. This distinctive blue coloring has earned the team the nickname "The Blues" and remains central to the club's visual brand across all kit designs and club merchandise.
Traditional club anthem
The club's first anthem was written by renowned Bulgarian poet Dimcho Debelyanov and composed by Lyubomir Pipkov. Since 1999, Levski has adopted "Само Левски шампион" (Only Levski, the champion) as their official anthem, composed by Stefan Dimitrov. This anthem has become an integral part of the matchday experience and club culture.
Traditional Rivals
CSKA Sofia
Levski's fiercest rivalry exists with CSKA Sofia, with matches between these two capital clubs commonly referred to as the "Eternal Derby of Bulgaria." This intense rivalry has produced some of Bulgarian football's most memorable moments, including Levski's recent 1-0 victory in the 2022 Bulgarian Cup final that ended their 13-year trophy drought.
Slavia Sofia
Levski contests the "Oldest Capital Derby" with Slavia Sofia, a rivalry dating back to 1915. This historic rivalry represents one of the longest-standing competitive relationships in Bulgarian football, with both clubs being among the founding members of organized football in Sofia.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
The club has maintained various sponsorship agreements throughout its history, with current arrangements supporting the team's financial stability under Nasko Sirakov's ownership model focused on sustainable growth and debt reduction.
Nicknames
Levski is commonly known as "The Blues" due to their traditional all-blue kit colors. This nickname has become deeply embedded in Bulgarian football culture and is used by fans, media, and opponents alike when referring to the club.
Ownership and finances
The club's ownership has experienced significant turbulence, particularly during the 2009-2020 period. After multiple ownership changes and accumulating over 30 million BGN in debt, club legend Nasko Sirakov took control of the majority shares in 2020. Sirakov implemented a financial restructuring plan aimed at clearing most debt by 2023 through sponsorship deals, outgoing transfers, television rights, and fan support. The fans demonstrated unprecedented loyalty during the financial crisis, raising 2.6 million BGN through various donation initiatives within five months.
Traditions and culture
Levski supporters historically gather in the south stand, particularly Sector B, which has become synonymous with the club's ultras movement. The National Supporters Club coordinates fans from across Bulgaria and internationally, while notable supporter groups include Sofia-West, South Division, Blue Junta, HD Boys, and LSL. According to UEFA studies, Levski is Bulgaria's most popular club, sharing sixth position in Europe with Juventus by percentage of domestic support (31%). The club maintains a long-standing friendship with Lazio supporters.
Stadium
The Georgi Asparuhov Stadium serves as Levski's home ground, with a current capacity of 17,688 spectators following recent renovations. The stadium, located in Sofia's Suhata Reka neighborhood, was built in 1963 and renamed in 1990 to honor former Levski player Georgi Asparuhov. Major reconstruction occurred in 1999, initially increasing capacity to 29,000, though subsequent renovations have reduced this number. The main stand, completed in 2016, accommodates 6,000 spectators and meets all UEFA requirements. Since 2019, the stadium houses the Museum of Glory of Levski Sofia, celebrating the club's rich history and achievements.