PFC Beroe Stara Zagora

Football was played in Stara Zagora as early as 1916, however with no organized championship in Bulgaria until the late 1920s, numerous clubs enjoyed regional success in those early years for the game in both the city and Bulgaria itself. Beroe can trace its roots back to 4 May 1924, when it was founded as Beroya, after the merger of two other clubs – Borislav and Rekord.

The club withstood the almost constant chaos and strife of the times, often caused by numerous shifts in the political regimes of Bulgaria, and despite many mergers and name changes throughout the first four decades of its history, it is constantly among the top 3 clubs in the city. It has also often been the platform for attempts to unite all the clubs in Stara Zagora, which foreshadowed its role and meaning for the city in the years to come.

The establishment of an organized league to determine the champion of Bulgaria in the late 40s coincided with the consolidation of football in Stara Zagora, the city finally seeing a one single strong club emerge to represent it at the highest level of Bulgarian football. That club was Beroe, at first bearing the names of Udarnik and Botev, before finally restoring its old name in 1959.

1968 marked the beginning of Beroe's golden age. During the summer transfer period, the forward Petko Petkov joined the club. In the next 12 years he scored 144 goals for the club in A Group. Beroe became all-powerful, winning the Balkans Cup in 1968 (beating in the final Spartak Sofia with a 6–4 on aggregate) and 1969 (beating Dinamo Tirana with a 4–0 on aggregate). However in 1970 the team was relegated after being excluded from the championship after 18 rounds due to crowd trouble in the match with Levski.

Bouncing back after a year, season 1971–72 in the domestic league was very successful for the team, which finished 3rd, and qualified for the UEFA Cup. The club's first participation in UEFA Cup was also promising, with Beroe eliminating the Austrian Austria Wien (7–0 and 3–1) and the Hungarian Honvéd (3–0 and 0–1) respectively and reaching the third round (but being knocked out by the Yugoslav OFK Beograd).

In season 1973–74 Beroe reach the quarter-finals of the Cup Winners' Cup: after eliminating the Luxembourg Fola Esch and the Basques of Athletic Bilbao, they were stopped in DDR by 1. FC Magdeburg (2–0 and 1–1).

Beroe have had some success in Europe, such as the 1–0 win over Juventus in a Cup Winners' Cup first-leg in 1979 and a 3–0 win over Athletic Bilbao in 1973. Moreover, Beroe is one of the two Bulgarian football clubs that has a positive record of the matches played in European club competitions.

 

In 1982 and 1984 Beroe won the Balkans Cup for the third and fourth times.

In 1986, the team led by the coach Evgeni Yanchovski won the Bulgarian title, the first in the club's history. Beroe finished the season with 43 points (after 20 wins, 4 draws and 6 losses). Beroe played in the 1986–87 UEFA European Champions Cup where they were eliminated in the first round to Dynamo Kyiv of the Soviet Union after 1–1 at Beroe Stadium and 0–2 loss in Kyiv.^[1]

The 1990s would see a gradual decline as Beroe were relegated to B Group in season 1994–95, finishing in last place with twelve points.

The advent of democracy in Bulgaria ushered a new period of chaos and economical hardship for the country, and that didn't pass by Beroe. Nevertheless, despite several seasons of crisis the club again withstood the test of time, and despite needing a helpful merger with another team – Olimpik (Teteven) – remained a key player on the Bulgarian football scene.

The first two seasons back in top division saw Beroe fight relegation, with safety being achieved by second-half runs. In 2001–02 season the team again relegated.

In the autumn of 2007 the actual majority shareholder of Professional Football Club Beroe JSCo Nikolay Banev gave up the financial support of the team. In spite of that, the team demonstrated good football in most of the games. On 10 January 2008 23 players and 3 coaches terminated their contracts with the club after a planned sale of the shares had failed.

Beroe got out of trouble on 3 February 2008, when the Beroe veterans’ club and the national fanclub, assisted by lawyer Damian Georgiev initiated, through related firms, insolvency proceedings in respect of the club in the Regional Court of Stara Zagora. The appointed administrator Elka Petrova transferred all the assets and liabilities of the club to a newly established joint-stock company Professional Football Club Beroe Stara Zagora JSCo.

The new entity succeeded Professional Football Club Beroe JSCo as regard of the license, the membership in the Bulgarian Football Union and the running of the football team itself.

In the summer of 2009 due to the world economic crisis most of the shareholders left the club due to financial problems. The club's main sponsor Brikel JSCo transferred its shares to Beroe veterans’ club and the national fanclub, who appointed a new board of directors. It consists of Damyan Georgiev – Chairman, Genyo Petrov – Executive Director and Tsvetelin Zhoevski.

In the 2007–08 season Beroe lost their place in A Group, due to a controversial match between Belasitsa Petrich and Marek Dupnitsa in the last round of the season. In the very next season, however, Beroe won first place in B Group and returned to the top flight. At that time Ilian Iliev had already been manager of the club for the last 2 years. In the year to follow, Beroe achieved its best season in over 20 years, beating all of the main competitors for the Bulgarian Cup. Beroe eliminated CSKA Sofia in the quarter-finals, which paved the way for them to obtain the trophy, winning against second-division Chernomorets Pomorie 1–0 in the final at Lovech Stadium.^[2] The winning goal was scored dramatically in the last seconds of the added time by Beroe's former youth player Doncho Atanasov, who also went on to become top goalscorer of the tournament with 4 goals. Beroe became one of the only two Bulgarian teams that have won the cup without succeeding any goals. This success led to Ilian Iliev being awarded with the Coach of the Season award, as well as Ivo Ivanov (defender) being proclaimed best defender in A Group for 2009. Besides him other players that played a main role throughout the season were Iskren Pisarov, Georgi Andonov, Zdravko Iliev, Slavi Zhekov, Dian Genchev. One of the players with most matches in A Group for all times Kostadin Vidolov ended up his career mid-season with Beroe and went on to become a coach for Beroe's second team.

Beroe started 2010–11 season with the debut of the team in the UEFA Europa League.^[3] Beroe entered the competition in the third qualifying round and faced the Austrian side Rapid Wien. The game in Bulgaria ended in a 1–1 draw. Rapid Wien won the rematch with 3–0^[4] putting an end to the international campaign of the Bulgarian team.

Beroe started 2012–13 season in Bulgarian Cup eliminating Akademik Svishtov in the second round. In the quarter-finals Beroe eliminated Lokomotiv (Mezdra) with aggregate result of 8–1, and then Pirin (Gotse Delchev) in the quarter-finals and Slavia Sofia in the semi-finals. In the final match at Lovech Stadium in Lovech against Levski Sofia, the result after 90 minutes was 3–3. After Beroe had taken the lead with 3–1 in the 80th minute, Levski Sofia with 10 men restored the tie, after Hristo Yovov received a second yellow card in the end of the first half. At the penalty shoot-out Levski Sofia scored just 1 from 4 penalties and Beroe, 3 of 5 which meant that Beroe had won the cup for the second time in the club's history.

In the summer of 2023, American player agency CRD Sport is the new owner of Bulgarian top tier club Beroe Stara Zagora. CRD has acquired 100% of the club’s shares.^[5] This came after several years of financial problems at the club. Argentinian Gustavo Aragolaza was announced as the new coach for the 2023–24 season.

 

Beroes colours are green and white.

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt Sponsor
1924–82	None	None
1982–83	Puma
1983–86	None
1986–91	Adidas
1991–92	Nike	CEBI
1992–95	Unknown
1995–04		None
2004–06	Uhlsport	AKB Fores
2006–07	Jako
2007–08	Uhlsport
2008–09	Tomy Sport	Stara Zagora
2009–10	GUPA
2010–11		Bulsatcom
2011–13	Uhlsport
2013–15	Joma	None
2015–22	Uhlsport	REFAN
2022–23	Jako	Efbet
2023–2024	Dryworld
2024–	Nike	8888.bg

• First League:
  • Winners (1): 1985–86
• Bulgarian Cup:
  • Winners (2): 2009–10, 2012–13
• Bulgarian Supercup:
  • Winners (1): 2013
• Second League:
  • Winners (9 - Record): 1953, 1956, 1957, 1959–60, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1982–83, 2003–04, 2008–09

• European Cup/Champions League
  • Round of 32 (1): 1986–87
• UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League
  • 1/8 final (1): 1972–73
  • 1/16 final (1): 1980–81
• Cup Winners' Cup
  • 1/4 final (1): 1973–74
  • 1/8 final (1): 1979–80
• Balkans Cup
  • Winners (4 - Record): 1967–68, 1969, 1981–83, 1983–84

As of 30 September 2024^[update]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   BRA Arthur Motta 2 DF   ESP Oier Sarriegi 3 DF   ARG Juan Pablo Salomoni 4 DF   ARG Franco Ramos Mingo (captain) 5 DF   ARG Luciano Squadrone (vice-captain) 6 DF   ESP Felipe Chacartegui 7 FW   URU Francisco Sagardia 8 MF   ARG Segundo Pachamé 9 FW   ARG Santiago Godoy 10 MF   ARG Francisco Politano 11 MF   ESP Ismael Ferrer 12 MF   BRA Vinicius Belotti

No. Pos. Nation Player 14 DF   BUL Viktorio Valkov 15 DF   ARG Enzo Espinoza 16 DF   BUL Stanislav Yovkov 17 FW   DOM Juanca Pineda 18 MF   BUL Stilyan Rusinov 19 MF   ESP Carlos Algarra 20 MF   URU Manuel Monzeglio (on loan from Nacional) 21 FW   ESP Alberto Salido 23 MF   ARG Kevin Ceijas 24 MF   BUL Stefan Gavrilov 32 MF   ARG Thiago Ceijas 96 GK   POR Rúben Rendeiro

For recent transfers, see Transfers winter 2023–24, Transfers summer 2024.

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF   BRA Werick Caetano (at Da Nang until 30 June 2025)

Up to twenty foreign nationals can be registered and given a squad number for the first team in the Bulgarian First League, however only five non-EU nationals can be used during a match day. Those non-EU nationals with European ancestry can claim citizenship from the nation their ancestors came from. If a player does not have European ancestry he can claim Bulgarian citizenship after playing in Bulgaria for 5 years.

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1967–68	Balkans Cup	Group A	Vllaznia Shkodër	0–4	2–0	1st
			Gençlerbirliği	2–0	1–0
			Farul Constanța	2–1	2–1
		Final	Spartak Sofia	3–0	3–4	6–3
1969	Balkans Cup	Group B	Pierikos	1–1	1–0	1st
			Ankaraspor	3–0	2–2
		Final	Dinamo Tirana	0–1	3–0 1	3–1
1970	Balkans Cup	Group A	Egaleo	2–0	4–2	1st
			Eskişehirspor	1–0	1–3
		Final	Partizani Tirana	1–1	0–3 1	1–4
1972–73	UEFA Cup	1/32 final	Austria Wien	7–0	3–1	10–1
		1/16 final	Honvéd	3–0	0–1	3–1
		1/8 final	OFK Beograd	0–0	1–3	1–3
1973–74	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1/16 final	Fola Esch	7–0	4–1	11–1
		1/8 final	Athletic Bilbao	3–0	0–1	3–1
		1/4 final	1. FC Magdeburg	0–2	1–1	1–3
1979–80	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1/16 final	Arka Gdynia	2–3	2–0	4–3
		1/8 final	Juventus	1–0	0–3 (a.e.t.)	1–3
1980–81	UEFA Cup	1/32 final	Fenerbahçe	1–0	2–1	3–1
		1/16 final	Radnički Niš	0–1	1–2	1–3
1981–83	Balkans Cup	Group A	Galatasaray	2–1	3–0 1	1st
			Steaua București	2–0	2–3
		Final	Tirana	3–0	3–1	6–1
1983–84	Balkans Cup	Group A	Argeș Pitești	2–4	2–1	1st
			Galatasaray	4–2	1–0
1984–85	Balkans Cup	1/4 final	Argeș Pitești	4–1	0–4	4–5
1986–87	UEFA European Cup	1/16 final	Dynamo Kyiv	1–1	0–2	1–3
1992–93	Balkans Cup	1/4 final	Teuta Durrës	0–1	1–1 (a.e.t.)	1–2
2010–11	UEFA Europa League	3QR	Rapid Wien	1–1	0–3	1–4
2013–14	UEFA Europa League	2QR	Hapoel Tel Aviv	1–4	2–2	3–6
2015–16	UEFA Europa League	1QR	Atlantas	3–1	2–0	5–1
		2QR	Brøndby	0–1	0–0	0–1
2016–17	UEFA Europa League	1QR	Radnik Bijeljina	0–0	2–0	2–0
		2QR	HJK	1–1	0–1	1–2

¹ ex officio the team doesn't come or leave the field.

Notes

• Clubs which ultimately won the tournament in that same season are indicated in bold
• 1983–84 Balkans Cup Winner decided on group stage
• QR: Qualifying Round

Club coefficients edit This is the current 2016–17 UEFA coefficient:[6] Rank Team Coefficient 270   Hibernian 4.785 271   Dundee United 4.785 272   Aalesunds 4.665 273   Kukësi 4.633 274   Olimpija Ljubljana 4.625 275   Beroe Stara Zagora 4.625 276   Botev Plovdiv 4.625 277   Ermis Aradippou 4.610 278   Valletta 4.550 279   Khazar Lankaran 4.550 280   Čukarički 4.480 Full list

Club world ranking edit These are the IFFHS club's points as of 7 January 2016:[7] Rank Team Pointsdie 142   Belenenses 108,00 142   Slovan Bratislava 108,00 142   CS Sfaxien 108,00 146   Panathinaikos 107,00 146   Malmö FF 107,00 148   Beroe Stara Zagora 106,50 148   Orlando Pirates 106,50 150   Brøndby 106,00 150   Cerro Porteño 106,00 152   Johor Darul Ta'zim 105,50 153   Deportes Tolima 104,00 Full list

Beroe Stadium is situated in the northwestern part of Stara Zagora near the biggest park of the city – Ayazmoto, which is the biggest sport facility of the team. The team has also three training grounds, the Beroe stadium base includes also tennis facilities and covered training hall. Built in 1959, the stadium is currently being renovated and has around 13,000 seating places, most of which are covered. The stadium has its own gymnastics, acrobatics and boxing hall. There is also a table-tennis facility. The stadium's overall capacity is about 15,000. The Beroe stadium has the fastest athletics lane and was often used for such competitions. The biggest attendance was in 1986 when the team won the championship title and more than 40,000 spectators were celebrating together with the players.

The club has very strong support in the country. Their group is called Zara Boys.

Beroe's main rival is Botev Plovdiv. The match between these two teams is called Thracian Derby. They also have a strong rivalry with the two most popular teams in the country – Levski Sofia and CSKA Sofia. Other teams that are in bad relations with Beroe are Lokomotiv Plovdiv and especially Neftochimic Burgas.

The only team with which fans Zara Boys have a strong friendship is Etar Veliko Tarnovo.

Evgeni Yanchovski holds Beroe's overall appearance record – he played 341 matches over the course of 14 seasons from 1960 to 1974. This is also the record for League appearances. Beroe's all-time leading scorer is Petko Petkov, who scored 144 goals while at the club from 1968 to 1980. Beroe's biggest victory is 8–0 in A Group against Minyor Pernik in 1973–74 and Chernomorets Burgas Sofia in 2006–07. Beroe's 7–0 defeat of Austria Wien in 1972 was its largest Europe win. Beroe's heaviest defeat, 2–10, came against CSKA Sofia in 1991–92.

• Players in bold are currently playing for the team. Statistic is correct as of match played 1 December 2021.

Most league appearances for the club # Name Apps 1   Evgeni Yanchovski 341 2   Tenyo Minchev 308 3   Hristo Todorov 280 4   Todor Krastev 263 5   Petko Petkov 259 6   Kancho Kasherov 253 7   Venelin Sivriev 245 8   Jordan Mitev 238 9   Ivo Ivanov 237 10   Boris Kirov 227 =   Veselin Penev 227

Most league goals for the club # Name Gls 1   Petko Petkov 144 2   Petar Zhekov 101 3   Jordan Mitev 68 4   Vasil Dragolov 58 =   Martin Kamburov 58 6   Georgi Belchev 52 7   Myumyun Kashmer 50 8   Stoycho Mladenov 42 9   Georgi Andonov 39 =   Georgi Stoyanov 39 10   Radko Kalaidjiev 37

Bulgarian league top scorer with the club Year Name Goals 1967   Petar Zhekov 21 1968   Petar Zhekov 31 1974   Petko Petkov 19 1976   Petko Petkov 18 1978   Stoycho Mladenov 21 2020   Martin Kamburov 18

• Official website