Squad
Thomas Lam2021current
Stefan Bozhkov1948–1960
Ivan Kolev1950–1967- Georgi Naydenov1955–1965
Ivan Zafirov1957–1965
Aleksandar Shalamanov1960–1961
Boris Gaganelov1960–1974
Dimitar Yakimov1960–1974
Stoyan Yordanov1961–1977
Asparuh Nikodimov1964–1975
Dimitar Penev1964–1977
Ivan Zafirov1965–1966Hristo Bonev1967–1968
Ivan Zafirov1968–1981
Petar Zhekov1968–1975
Simeon Simeonov1974–1974- Georgi Dimitrov1977–1986
- Georgi Slavkov1980–1980
- Georgi Slavkov1982–1986
Stefan Bozhkov1982–1982
Hristo Stoichkov1984–1990Lyuboslav Penev1984–1989
Emil Kostadinov1985–1990
- Georgi Dimitrov1988–1989
Iliya Valov1988–1990- Trifon Ivanov1988–1990
Bernardo Redín1990–1991
Ivaylo Andonov1991–1994Yordan Letchkov1991–1992
- Boban Babunski1992–1994
Kiril Metkov1992–1993- Trifon Ivanov1992–1992
Stanimir Stoilov1993–1994
Ilian Stoyanov1995–1996- Trifon Ivanov1995–1995
Zdravko Lazarov1995–1995
Ivaylo Andonov1996–1998
Martin Petrov1996–1998
Stiliyan Petrov1996–1999Emil Kostadinov1997–1998
Dimitar Berbatov1998–2001Emil Kostadinov1998–1998
Hristo Stoichkov1998–1998- Trifon Ivanov1998–1998
Lyuboslav Penev2000–2001
- Hámilton Ricard2001–2002
Yordan Letchkov2001–2002
João Carlos Pinto Chaves2002–2004
Radoslav Zabavník2004–2005
Ivan Ivanov2005–2010
Joel Lindpere2005–2005
Sergej Jakirović2005–2007
Florentin Petre2006–2008
Mihail Aleksandrov2006–2007
Oliver Kovačević2006–2007
Filipe Machado Nascimento2007–2009
Nikola Vujadinović2007–2008
Aleksandar Tonev2008–2011
Zdravko Lazarov2008–2009
Cillian Sheridan2010–2012
Florentin Petre2010–2010Raïs M'Bolhi2010–2010
Carlos Diogo2011–2012- Denis Halilović2011–2011
Júnior Moraes2011–2012Raïs M'Bolhi2011–2012
Anicet Andrianantenaina2012–2013
Carlos Diogo2012–2012
Ivaylo Chochev2013–2014
Martin Petrov2013–2014Raïs M'Bolhi2013–2014
Toni Silva2013–2015- Aurélien Joachim2014–2015
Stephen Sunday2014–2015
Stanislav Manolev2016–2018
Raúl Albentosa2019–2020
Jordy Caicedo2021–2022
Duckens Nazon2022–2024
Michael Estrada2023–2024
PFC CSKA Sofia is a leading Bulgarian football club based in Sofia, known for its competitive spirit in the First Professional Football League.
The club's name, CSKA, stands for Central Sports Club of the Army, reflecting its historical ties to the military.
In 1931, CSKA Sofia won its first Bulgarian championship, marking the beginning of a successful era in Bulgarian football.
Biography
Formation
PFC CSKA Sofia, a prominent Bulgarian football club, was established in November 1923 through the merger of three Sofia-based clubs: Officers' Sports Club, Athletic Sofia, and Slava Sofia. This new entity, initially named AS-23, was formed under the patronage of the Ministry of War, which provided essential equipment for the team. The club quickly made its mark by winning its first Bulgarian championship in 1931, along with The Tsar's Cup, and continued to build its legacy with another cup victory in 1941.
Evolution and Name Changes
In 1944, AS-23 underwent significant changes, merging with Shipka and Spartak (Poduene) to become Chavdar Sofia. This transition was facilitated by Mihail Mihaylov, a key figure in the club's history. By 1948, the club was renamed CDV and became affiliated with the Central House of the Troops. Despite facing challenges, the club sought to merge with Septemvri Sofia to revitalize its fortunes.
Achievements and Legacy
CSKA Sofia has a storied history, boasting a record 31 championships in the Bulgarian A Group and 22 Bulgarian Cup victories. The club has also made its mark on the European stage, reaching the semi-finals of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League twice and achieving notable victories, including an 8-1 win against Dinamo București in 1956-57. CSKA Sofia remains a symbol of Bulgarian football, with a rich legacy that continues to influence the sport in the country.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
1923–1948
In November 1923, three Sofia-based football clubs (Officers' Sports Club, Athletic Sofia, and Slava Sofia) merged to form AS-23, short for Officers' 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 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 unifying 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 new club's chairman. Lawyer Ivan Bashev, a future Bulgarian foreign minister, was appointed club secretary and the person in charge of football.
1948–1962
With the help 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 club. In May 1948, an agreement was reached between CDV and Septemvri Sofia (which had already earned a place in the play-offs) for uniting the clubs under the name…
- League
- First Professional Football League
Legacy
Domestic
Bulgarian A Group:
Champions (31) (record): 1948, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 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 Bulgarian V Group:
Champions (1): 2015–16 Bulgarian Cup:
Winners (22 times): 1951, 1954, 1955, 1960–61, 1964–65, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2015–16, 2020–21, 2025–26 Bulgarian Supercup:
Winners (4): 1989, 2006, 2008, 2011 Bulgarian Cup – (secondary cup competition)
Winners (1 time) (shared record): 1980-81 Cup of the Soviet Army – (secondary cup competition)
Winners (4 times) (record): 1984–85, 1985-86, 1988-89, 1989–90
European
European Cup / UEFA Champions League
Semi-finals (2): 1966–67, 1981–82 Quarter-finals (4): 1956–57, 1973–74, 1980–81, 1989–90 European Cup Winners' Cup / UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
Semi-finals (1): 1988–89 UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League:
Round of 32 (3): 1984–85, 1991–92, 1998–99 Group stage (4): 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2020–21 UEFA Europa Conference League
Group stage (1): 2021–22 Biggest win in European tournaments:
UEFA Champions League – 8–1 in 1956–57 vs Dinamo București UEFA Europa League – 8–0 in 2000–01 vs Constructorul; 5–0 in 1999–00 vs Portadown UEFA Cup Winners' Cup – 9–0 in 1970–71 vs Haka; 8–0 in 1993–94 vs…
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
PFC CSKA Sofia is a Bulgarian professional association football club based in Sofia and currently competing in the country's premier football competition, the First League. CSKA is an abbreviation for Central Sports Club of the Army.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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