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| image = FC Pirin Blagoevgrad.png
| image = FC Pirin Blagoevgrad.png
| image_size = 200px
| image_size = 200px
| fullname = Футболен клуб Пирин АД <br /> ''Futbolen klub Pirin [[Joint-stock_company#Bulgaria|AD]]'' <br /> (Pirin Football Club)
| fullname = Футболен клуб Пирин АД <br /> ''Football club Pirin [[Joint-stock_company#Bulgaria|AD]]'' <br /> (Pirin Football Club)
| nickname = ''Орлетата'' (The Eagles)
| nickname = ''Орлетата'' (The Eagles)
| founded = {{Start date and age|1922}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1922}}
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| chairman = [[Petar Zanev]]
| chairman = [[Petar Zanev]]
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| manager = [[Oleksandr Babych]]
| manager = [[Ivo Trenchev]]
| league = [[First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|First League]]
| league = [[Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|Second League]]
| season = [[2022–23 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|2022–23]]
| season = [[2023–24 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|2023–24]]
| position = First League, 11th of 16
| position = First League, 15th of 16 (relegated)
| website = https://fcpirin.com/
| website = https://fcpirin.com/
| pattern_la1 = _uhlsportscore26g
| pattern_la1 = _uhlsportscore26g
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[[File:Blagoevgrad Stadium.jpg|270px|right|thumb|[[Hristo Botev Stadium (Blagoevgrad)|Hristo Botev Stadium]]]]
[[File:Blagoevgrad Stadium.jpg|270px|right|thumb|[[Hristo Botev Stadium (Blagoevgrad)|Hristo Botev Stadium]]]]
'''Futbolen klub Pirin''' ({{lang-bg|Футболен клуб „Пирин“}}), also known as '''Pirin Blagoevgrad''' is a [[Bulgaria]]n [[Football team|football club]] based in [[Blagoevgrad]], which currently competes in the [[First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|First League]], the top division of Bulgarian football.
'''Football club Pirin''' ({{langx|bg|Футболен клуб „Пирин“}}), also known as '''Pirin Blagoevgrad''' is a [[Bulgaria]]n [[Football team|football club]] based in [[Blagoevgrad]], which currently competes in the [[Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|Second League]], the second division of Bulgarian football.


The club was founded in 2008, after a merger between two clubs from [[Blagoevgrad]], Pirin 1922 and [[PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad]]. By an official court decision later that year, the club was announced as a historical successor of the club records of the former FC Pirin, founded in 1922. In 2011, following the bankruptcy of the entity, which represented the football club, Pirin's football department was merged once again with Perun Kresna, to eventually become OFC Pirin.
The club was founded in 2008, after a merger between two clubs from [[Blagoevgrad]], Pirin 1922 and [[PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad]]. By an official court decision later that year, the club was announced as a historical successor of the club records of the former FC Pirin, founded in 1922. In 2011, following the bankruptcy of the entity, which represented the football club, Pirin's football department was merged once again with Perun Kresna, to eventually become OFC Pirin.
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===OFK Pirin===
===OFK Pirin===
In the foremath of the 2011–12 season, Pirin Blagoevgrad failed to receive a professional license for the [[2011–12 A PFG|A Group]]. However, due to their financial struggles they were also rejected to participate in the [[2011–12 V AFG|South-West V AFG]]. Later that year, they acquired the license of Perun Kresna. The team finished 2011-12 season as Perun, but for 2012-13 the team was renamed to '''Obshtinski futbolen klub Pirin''' ({{lang-bg|Общиснки футболен клуб „Пирин“}}), meaning ''Pirin Minicipal Football Club'', as the club was owned by [[Blagoevgrad Municipality]].
In the foremath of the 2011–12 season, Pirin Blagoevgrad failed to receive a professional license for the [[2011–12 A PFG|A Group]]. However, due to their financial struggles they were also rejected to participate in the [[2011–12 V AFG|South-West V AFG]]. Later that year, they acquired the license of Perun Kresna. The team finished 2011-12 season as Perun, but for 2012-13 the team was renamed to '''Obshtinski futbolen klub Pirin''' ({{langx|bg|Общиснки футболен клуб „Пирин“}}), meaning ''Pirin Minicipal Football Club'', as the club was owned by [[Blagoevgrad Municipality]].


In 2015, the club achieved promotion to the [[A Group]] after a four-year absence from top-flight football. The 2015-16 season ended in an 8th place finish out of 10 teams in a modified season format. The next season ([[2016–17 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|2016–17]]), Pirin again managed to avoid relegation. However the team was relegated from the A Group after the 2017-18 season.
In 2015, the club achieved promotion to the [[A Group]] after a four-year absence from top-flight football. The 2015-16 season ended in an 8th place finish out of 10 teams in a modified season format. The next season ([[2016–17 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|2016–17]]), Pirin again managed to avoid relegation. However the team was relegated from the A Group after the 2017-18 season.


On 11 June 2019, OFK Pirin secured a one-year sponsorship agreement and advertising partnership with the investment company [[Emirates Wealth EAD]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fcpirin.com/%d0%be%d1%84%d0%ba-%d0%bf%d0%b8%d1%80%d0%b8%d0%bd-%d0%b5%d0%be%d0%be%d0%b4-%d0%b1%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%b3%d0%be%d0%b5%d0%b2%d0%b3%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b4-%d0%b2%d0%bb%d0%b8%d0%b7%d0%b0-%d0%b2-%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%ba/ |title=ОФК Пирин ЕООД Благоевград влиза в рекламно партньорство с Емирейтс |date=11 June 2019 |website=fcpirin.com |access-date=12 January 2021 |language=bg}}</ref> In July, [[Blagoevgrad Municipality]] approved a business plan by the company discussing the future development of the club, in particular the partnership between the two sides, phases in acquiring participatory management, investment schemes, club finances and aims.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fcpirin.com/%d0%bf%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%bd%d1%8a%d1%82-%d0%b7%d0%b0-%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b7%d0%b2%d0%b8%d1%82%d0%b8%d0%b5-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d1%84%d0%ba-%d0%bf%d0%b8%d1%80%d0%b8%d0%bd-%d0%b1%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%b3%d0%be%d0%b5%d0%b2/ |title=Планът за развитие на ФК Пирин Благоевград |date=1 August 2019 |website=fcpirin.com |access-date=12 January 2021 |language=bg}}</ref> The plan saw Emirates Wealth EAD become a majority owner, as it acquired 75% of the OFK Pirin's shares, with 25% remaining in Blagoevgrad Municipality's ownership.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bnr.bg/blagoevgrad/post/101149121/ot-dnes-ofk-pirin-blagoevgrad-oficialno-e-s-nov-sobstvenik |title=От днес ОФК „Пирин“ – Благоевград официално е с нов собственик |date=26 July 2019 |publisher=Radio Blagoevgrad |access-date=12 January 2021 |language=bg}}</ref> Part of obtaining participatory management saw the creation of a new association, a joint-stock company named '''Futbolen klub Pirin [[Joint-stock_company#Bulgaria|AD]]''' ({{lang-bg|Футболен клуб „Пирин“ АД}}), meaning ''Pirin Football Club'', where OFK Pirin, owned by the municipality, was merged into.<ref name="PirinShareholders">{{cite web |url=https://www.dnevnik.bg/sport/2019/09/27/3969109_emireits_uelt_pridobiva_sobstvenostta_v_pirin_sled/ |title="Емирейтс Уелт" придобива собствеността в "Пирин" след одобрението на общината |date=27 September 2019 |publisher=Dnevnik.bg |access-date=12 January 2021 |language=bg}}</ref>
On 11 June 2019, OFK Pirin secured a one-year sponsorship agreement and advertising partnership with the investment company [[Emirates Wealth EAD]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fcpirin.com/%d0%be%d1%84%d0%ba-%d0%bf%d0%b8%d1%80%d0%b8%d0%bd-%d0%b5%d0%be%d0%be%d0%b4-%d0%b1%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%b3%d0%be%d0%b5%d0%b2%d0%b3%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b4-%d0%b2%d0%bb%d0%b8%d0%b7%d0%b0-%d0%b2-%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%ba/ |title=ОФК Пирин ЕООД Благоевград влиза в рекламно партньорство с Емирейтс |date=11 June 2019 |website=fcpirin.com |access-date=12 January 2021 |language=bg}}</ref> In July, [[Blagoevgrad Municipality]] approved a business plan by the company discussing the future development of the club, in particular the partnership between the two sides, phases in acquiring participatory management, investment schemes, club finances and aims.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fcpirin.com/%d0%bf%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%bd%d1%8a%d1%82-%d0%b7%d0%b0-%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b7%d0%b2%d0%b8%d1%82%d0%b8%d0%b5-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d1%84%d0%ba-%d0%bf%d0%b8%d1%80%d0%b8%d0%bd-%d0%b1%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%b3%d0%be%d0%b5%d0%b2/ |title=Планът за развитие на ФК Пирин Благоевград |date=1 August 2019 |website=fcpirin.com |access-date=12 January 2021 |language=bg}}</ref> The plan saw Emirates Wealth EAD become a majority owner, as it acquired 75% of the OFK Pirin's shares, with 25% remaining in Blagoevgrad Municipality's ownership.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bnr.bg/blagoevgrad/post/101149121/ot-dnes-ofk-pirin-blagoevgrad-oficialno-e-s-nov-sobstvenik |title=От днес ОФК "Пирин" – Благоевград официално е с нов собственик |date=26 July 2019 |publisher=Radio Blagoevgrad |access-date=12 January 2021 |language=bg}}</ref> Part of obtaining participatory management saw the creation of a new association, a joint-stock company named '''Futbolen klub Pirin [[Joint-stock_company#Bulgaria|AD]]''' ({{langx|bg|Футболен клуб „Пирин“ АД}}), meaning ''Pirin Football Club'', where OFK Pirin, owned by the municipality, was merged into.<ref name="PirinShareholders">{{cite web |url=https://www.dnevnik.bg/sport/2019/09/27/3969109_emireits_uelt_pridobiva_sobstvenostta_v_pirin_sled/ |title="Емирейтс Уелт" придобива собствеността в "Пирин" след одобрението на общината |date=27 September 2019 |publisher=Dnevnik.bg |access-date=12 January 2021 |language=bg}}</ref>


In 2021, Pirin managed to return to the First League after three years of absence.
In 2021, Pirin managed to return to the First League after three years of absence.

After three seasons in the First League, Pirin was relegated back to the Second League at the conclusion of the [[2023–24 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|2023–24 season]].


==Colours and badge==
==Colours and badge==
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== Players ==
== Players ==
=== Current squad ===
=== Current squad ===
{{updated|10 February 2024<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fcpirin.com/joomsport_team/fc-pirin/?stab_players&lang=bg |title=Players |website=fcpirin.com |publisher=Pirin Blagoevgrad|access-date=4 August 2021 |language=bg}}</ref>}}
{{updated|15 November, 2024<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fcpirin.com/joomsport_team/fc-pirin/?stab_players&lang=bg |title=Players |website=fcpirin.com |publisher=Pirin Blagoevgrad|access-date=4 August 2021 |language=bg}}</ref>}}
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no= 1|pos=GK|nat=BUL|name=[[Mario Kirev]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 4|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=Boris Ivanov}}
⚫
{{Fs player|no= 4|pos=MF|nat=MAR|name=[[Ayoub Abou]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 5|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=[[Nikolay Bodurov]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 5|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=[[Nikolay Bodurov]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 6|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=Andrey Yordanov}}
{{Fs player|no= 6|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=[[Bogomil Bozhurkin]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 7|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=[[Asen Donchev]]|other=on loan from [[PFC CSKA Sofia|CSKA Sofia]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 7|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=[[Georgi Valchev (footballer, born 1991)|Georgi Valchev]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 8|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=Lazar Boyanov}}
{{Fs player|no= 8|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=Lazar Boyanov}}
{{Fs player|no= 9|pos=FW|nat=BUL|name=[[Stanislav Kostov]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 9|pos=FW|nat=FRA|name=[[Gobé Gouano]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=Ivan Tasev}}
{{Fs player|no=10|pos=FW|nat=FRA|name=[[Aymen Souda]]}}
{{Fs player|no=12|pos=GK|nat=UKR|name=[[Maksym Kovalyov (footballer, born 2000)|Maksym Kovalyov]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|pos=MF|nat=UKR|name=[[Bohdan Kovalenko]]}}
{{Fs player|no=13|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=Vladimir Laskov}}
{{Fs player|no=12|pos=GK|nat=BUL|name=Daniel Stefanov}}
{{Fs player|no=14|pos=FW|nat=UKR|name=[[Danylo Polonskyi]]}}
{{Fs player|no=13|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=Evgeni Georgiev}}
{{Fs player|no=16|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=Martin Georgiev}}
{{Fs player|no=15|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=Denis Buchev}}
⚫
{{Fs player|no=16|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=Nikola Bandev}}
⚫
{{Fs player|no=17|pos=FW|nat=BUL|name=[[Zapro Dinev]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=18|pos=DF|nat=FRA|name=[[Arnaud Luzayadio]]}}
{{Fs player|no=18|pos=FW|nat=CAF|name=[[Karl Namnganda]]}}
{{Fs player|no=19|pos=MF|nat=FRA|name=Hugo Komano}}
{{Fs player|no=20|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=Martin Georgiev}}
{{Fs player|no=20|pos=FW|nat=FRA|name=[[Aymen Souda]]}}
{{Fs player|no=21|pos=GK|nat=BUL|name=Yordan Dimitrov}}
⚫
{{Fs player|no=23|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=Ivan Ivanov}}
{{Fs player|no=25|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=Iliyan Kostov}}
{{Fs player|no=25|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=Iliyan Kostov}}
{{Fs player|no=27|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=Georgi Varbanov}}
{{Fs player|no=29|pos=FW|nat=BUL|name=[[Stanislav Kostov]]}}
⚫
{{Fs player|no=28|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=Vasil Hristov}}
{{Fs player|no=30|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=Lyubomir Todorov}}
{{Fs player|no=30|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=Lyubomir Todorov}}
⚫
{{Fs player|no=33|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=Aleksandar Pedinski}}
{{Fs player|no=38|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=[[Aleksandar Dyulgerov]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=38|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=[[Aleksandar Dyulgerov]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=73|pos=MF|nat=BUL|name=[[Ventsislav Bengyuzov]]}}
{{Fs player|no=71|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=Hristo Petrov}}
{{Fs player|no=77|pos=MF|nat=SEN|name=[[Modou Diagne]]}}
{{Fs player|no=76|pos=GK|nat=BUL|name=[[Krasimir Kostov]]}}
{{Fs player|no=83|pos=DF|nat=BUL|name=[[Hristo Popadiyn]]}}
{{Fs player|no=98|pos=FW|nat=BUL|name=[[Valentin Yoskov]]}}
{{Fs player|no=99|pos=FW|nat=MDA|name=Ilie Botnari}}
{{Fs end}}
{{Fs end}}


''For recent transfers, see [[List of Bulgarian football transfers summer 2023|Transfers summer 2023]] and [[List of Bulgarian football transfers winter 2023–24|Transfers winter 2023–24]].''
''For recent transfers, see [[List of Bulgarian football transfers winter 2023–24|Transfers winter 2023–24]] and [[List of Bulgarian football transfers summer 2024|Transfers summer 2024]].''


=== Foreign players ===
=== Foreign players ===
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{{col-3}}
{{col-3}}
'''EU Nationals'''
'''EU Nationals'''
*{{flagicon|France}} Hugo Komano
{{col-3}}
{{col-3}}
'''EU Nationals (Dual citizenship)'''
'''EU Nationals (Dual citizenship)'''
*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Maksym Kovalyov
*{{flagicon|FRA}} {{flagicon|TUN}} [[Aymen Souda]]
*{{flagicon|FRA}} {{flagicon|CIV}} [[Gobé Gouano]]
*{{flagicon|CAR}} {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Karl Namnganda]]
{{col-3}}
{{col-3}}
'''Non-EU Nationals'''
'''Non-EU Nationals'''
*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Dmytro Semeniv]]
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Bohdan Kovalenko]]
*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Danylo Kondrakov]]
*{{flagicon|MDA}} Ilie Botnari
*{{flagicon|Belarus}} [[Vladimir Medved]]
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}


Line 214: Line 217:
*{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} '''[[Stanislav Kostov]]'''
*{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} '''[[Stanislav Kostov]]'''
*{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} '''[[Stanislav Manolev]]'''
*{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} '''[[Stanislav Manolev]]'''
*{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} '''[[Marquinhos (footballer, born April 1982)|Marquinhos]]'''
*{{flagicon|Brazil}} {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} '''[[Marquinhos (footballer, born April 1982)|Marquinhos]]'''
*{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} '''[[Petar Mihtarski]]'''
*{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} '''[[Petar Mihtarski]]'''
*{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} '''[[Dobromir Mitov]]'''
*{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} '''[[Dobromir Mitov]]'''
Line 241: Line 244:
{{col-4}}
{{col-4}}
;Europe
;Europe
*{{flagicon|Latvia}} '''[[Vitālijs Jagodinskis]]'''
*{{flagicon|Slovakia}} '''[[Kristián Koštrna]]'''
*{{flagicon|Slovakia}} '''[[Kristián Koštrna]]'''
;Africa
;Africa
*{{flagicon|CAR}} '''[[Karl Namnganda]]'''
*{{flagicon|Benin}} '''[[Steve Traoré]]'''
*{{flagicon|Benin}} '''[[Steve Traoré]]'''
;Asia
;Asia
Line 250: Line 255:


{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}



==Past seasons==
==Past seasons==
Line 260: Line 264:
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/07/2012 till:01/07/2023
Period = from:01/07/2012 till:01/07/2025
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:2013
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:2013
Colors =
Colors =
Line 285: Line 289:
from:01/07/2018 till:01/07/2021 color:white shift:(0,14) text: "[[Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|Second League]]"
from:01/07/2018 till:01/07/2021 color:white shift:(0,14) text: "[[Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|Second League]]"
from:01/07/2021 till:01/07/2022 shift:(0,-4) text:12
from:01/07/2021 till:01/07/2022 shift:(0,-4) text:12
from:01/07/2022 till:01/07/2023 shift:(0,-4) text:
from:01/07/2022 till:01/07/2023 shift:(0,-4) text:11
from:01/07/2021 till:01/07/2023 color:green shift:(0,14) text: "[[First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|First League]]"
from:01/07/2023 till:01/07/2024 shift:(0,-4) text:15
from:01/07/2021 till:01/07/2024 color:green shift:(0,14) text: "[[First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|First League]]"
from:01/07/2024 till:01/07/2025 shift:(0,-4) text:
from:01/07/2024 till:01/07/2025 color:white shift:(0,14) text: "[[Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|2nd]]"
</timeline>
</timeline>


Line 323: Line 330:
| [[2020–21 Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|2020–21]]||[[Bulgarian Second League|Second League]] || 1 || 20 || 5 || 5 || 66 || 26 || 65 || [[2020–21 Bulgarian Cup|Round of 32]]
| [[2020–21 Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|2020–21]]||[[Bulgarian Second League|Second League]] || 1 || 20 || 5 || 5 || 66 || 26 || 65 || [[2020–21 Bulgarian Cup|Round of 32]]
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|[[2021–22 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|2021–22]]||[[Bulgarian First League|First League]] (I) || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || [[2021–22 Bulgarian Cup|Qualified]]
|[[2021–22 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|2021–22]]||[[Bulgarian First League|First League]] (I) || 11 || 7 || 6 || 13 || 13 || 34 || 41 || [[2021–22 Bulgarian Cup|Round of 16]]
|- align="center"
|[[2022–23 First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)|2022–23]]||[[Bulgarian First League|First League]] (I) || 13 || 5 || 9 || 16 || 21 || 39 || 24 || [[2022–23 Bulgarian Cup|Round of 32]]
|-
|-
| colspan="12" align="center" | '''Green marks a season followed by promotion, red a season followed by relegation.'''
| colspan="12" align="center" | '''Green marks a season followed by promotion, red a season followed by relegation.'''

Latest revision as of 23:19, 18 November 2024

This article is about the currect club FC Pirin Blagoevgrad. For the defunct club, see PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad.
Pirin Blagoevgrad
Full nameФутболен клуб Пирин АД
Football club Pirin AD
(Pirin Football Club)
Nickname(s)Орлетата (The Eagles)
Founded1922; 102 years ago (1922)
GroundStadion Hristo Botev
Capacity7,500
ChairmanPetar Zanev
Head coachIvo Trenchev
LeagueSecond League
2023–24First League, 15th of 16 (relegated)
Websitehttps://fcpirin.com/
Hristo Botev Stadium

Football club Pirin (Bulgarian: Футболен клуб „Пирин“), also known as Pirin Blagoevgrad is a Bulgarian football club based in Blagoevgrad, which currently competes in the Second League, the second division of Bulgarian football.

The club was founded in 2008, after a merger between two clubs from Blagoevgrad, Pirin 1922 and PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad. By an official court decision later that year, the club was announced as a historical successor of the club records of the former FC Pirin, founded in 1922. In 2011, following the bankruptcy of the entity, which represented the football club, Pirin's football department was merged once again with Perun Kresna, to eventually become OFC Pirin.

The club's name is adopted from Pirin, a mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria. Their home ground is the Stadion Hristo Botev in Blagoevgrad with a capacity of 7,500 spectators. Pirin's nickname is Orletata (The Eaglets) and their kit colours are green and white.

To date, the club has four domestic cup finals and most notably, enjoys high praise for its development of football players, as several noted Bulgarian footballers were produced by Pirin's youth academy. Among them are the 1994 FIFA World Cup bronze medallists Petar Mihtarski and Ivaylo Andonov, as well as former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, who won two Premier League titles and was the 2010-11 Premier League top goalscorer.

Pirin share a regional rivalry with Marek Dupnitsa, as the two clubs are among the most successful ones from Southwestern Bulgaria.

History

[edit]

FC Pirin

[edit]

One of FC Pirin Blagoevgrad's predecessors, FC Pirin, was founded in 1922. FC Pirin has played more than 20 seasons in the top flight and has competed twice in the European football competitions with one participation in the UEFA Cup and one participation in the Cup Winners' Cup respectively. The club's first participation in the UEFA tournaments was not promising. In 1985, Pirin faced the then reigning Swedish champion Hammarby IF. The first game in Blagoevgrad, ended with a 1–3 loss. The second game in Sweden was also a defeat – 0–4 and Pirin were out of the European competitions. Pirin's best season in the Bulgarian top division was in the 1984–85 season, where they finished at 5th place at the end of the season. The club was also three times runner-up of the Bulgarian Cup. Also, Pirin's youth academy is attributed as being one of the best developers of young and unknown players in Bulgaria. Among the club's famous players are Dimitar Berbatov, Spas Delev, Petar Mihtarski, Ivaylo Andonov, Ivan Tsvetkov, Vladislav Zlatinov and Petar Zlatinov.

On August 18, 2006, after failing to arrange some debts and signals of corruption, Pirin was expelled from the A PFG, the team's results for the season were annulled, and the club was relegated to the Bulgarian South-West V AFG. However, after two years, Pirin won the South-West V AFG and the club returned for the upcoming season of the Western B PFG.

Unification

[edit]

In December 2008, Pirin, which competed in the Western B PFG, was merged with PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad, (former FC Makedonska Slava), which played in the A PFG after a significant pressure from the supporters in the town. The new club was named FC Pirin Blagoevgrad and was soon proclaimed as a holder of the club records of the former FC Pirin, which competed for more than 20 seasons in the top flight.[1] FC Pirin's West B PFG place was taken by FC Bansko. Then, Nikolay Galchev appointed Petar Mihtarski as a manager of the club. A few months later, under Naci Şensoy's management, the successes followed-up and Pirin qualified for the final of the Bulgarian Cup, eliminating subsequently on their way CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia. In the final match played at the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium in Sofia, Pirin were eliminated after a 3–0 defeat against Litex Lovech.

OFK Pirin

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In the foremath of the 2011–12 season, Pirin Blagoevgrad failed to receive a professional license for the A Group. However, due to their financial struggles they were also rejected to participate in the South-West V AFG. Later that year, they acquired the license of Perun Kresna. The team finished 2011-12 season as Perun, but for 2012-13 the team was renamed to Obshtinski futbolen klub Pirin (Bulgarian: Общиснки футболен клуб „Пирин“), meaning Pirin Minicipal Football Club, as the club was owned by Blagoevgrad Municipality.

In 2015, the club achieved promotion to the A Group after a four-year absence from top-flight football. The 2015-16 season ended in an 8th place finish out of 10 teams in a modified season format. The next season (2016–17), Pirin again managed to avoid relegation. However the team was relegated from the A Group after the 2017-18 season.

On 11 June 2019, OFK Pirin secured a one-year sponsorship agreement and advertising partnership with the investment company Emirates Wealth EAD.[2] In July, Blagoevgrad Municipality approved a business plan by the company discussing the future development of the club, in particular the partnership between the two sides, phases in acquiring participatory management, investment schemes, club finances and aims.[3] The plan saw Emirates Wealth EAD become a majority owner, as it acquired 75% of the OFK Pirin's shares, with 25% remaining in Blagoevgrad Municipality's ownership.[4] Part of obtaining participatory management saw the creation of a new association, a joint-stock company named Futbolen klub Pirin AD (Bulgarian: Футболен клуб „Пирин“ АД), meaning Pirin Football Club, where OFK Pirin, owned by the municipality, was merged into.[5]

In 2021, Pirin managed to return to the First League after three years of absence.

After three seasons in the First League, Pirin was relegated back to the Second League at the conclusion of the 2023–24 season.

Colours and badge

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Currently, the team's home kit is green and the away kit is white. Various combinations of green and white have been used throughout the club's history.

Honours

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Domestic

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European Record

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Season Competition Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate
1985–86 UEFA Cup 1 Sweden Hammarby 1–3 0–4 1–7
1994–95 Cup Winners' Cup QR Liechtenstein Schaan 3–0 1–0 4–0
1 Greece Panathinaikos 0–2 1–6 1–8

Players

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Current squad

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As of 15 November, 2024[6]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
4 DF Bulgaria BUL Boris Ivanov
5 DF Bulgaria BUL Nikolay Bodurov
6 MF Bulgaria BUL Bogomil Bozhurkin
7 MF Bulgaria BUL Georgi Valchev
8 MF Bulgaria BUL Lazar Boyanov
9 FW France FRA Gobé Gouano
10 FW France FRA Aymen Souda
11 MF Ukraine UKR Bohdan Kovalenko
12 GK Bulgaria BUL Daniel Stefanov
13 MF Bulgaria BUL Evgeni Georgiev
15 DF Bulgaria BUL Denis Buchev
16 MF Bulgaria BUL Nikola Bandev
17 FW Bulgaria BUL Zapro Dinev
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 FW Central African Republic CTA Karl Namnganda
20 DF Bulgaria BUL Martin Georgiev
21 GK Bulgaria BUL Yordan Dimitrov
23 MF Bulgaria BUL Ivan Ivanov
25 DF Bulgaria BUL Iliyan Kostov
29 FW Bulgaria BUL Stanislav Kostov
30 MF Bulgaria BUL Lyubomir Todorov
38 DF Bulgaria BUL Aleksandar Dyulgerov (captain)
71 DF Bulgaria BUL Hristo Petrov
76 GK Bulgaria BUL Krasimir Kostov
98 FW Bulgaria BUL Valentin Yoskov
99 FW Moldova MDA Ilie Botnari

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

Foreign players

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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.

Notable players

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See also: Category:OFC Pirin Blagoevgrad players

Had international caps for their respective countries, held any club record, or have more than 100 league appearance. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries.

Past seasons

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League positions

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Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)First Professional Football League (Bulgaria)Bulgarian A Football GroupBulgarian B Football GroupBulgarian V AFG

Last Seasons

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Season League Place W D L GF GA Pts Bulgarian Cup
2012–13 V Group (III) 3 19 5 6 69 26 62 not qualified
2013–14 V Group 1 25 4 1 87 6 79 not qualified
2014–15 B Group (II) 2 17 10 3 52 15 61 First round
2015–16 A Group (I) 8 5 11 16 27 45 26 First round
2016–17 First League (I) 10 12 7 13 41 44 43 Quarterfinals
2017–18 First League 14 7 9 16 29 42 30 First round
2018–19 Second League (II) 13 9 4 17 29 49 31 First round
2019–20 Second League 11 6 7 7 24 29 25 Preliminary round
2020–21 Second League 1 20 5 5 66 26 65 Round of 32
2021–22 First League (I) 11 7 6 13 13 34 41 Round of 16
2022–23 First League (I) 13 5 9 16 21 39 24 Round of 32
Green marks a season followed by promotion, red a season followed by relegation.

Personnel

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Club officials

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Position Name Nationality
Coaching staff
Head coach Oleksandr Babych Ukraine
Assistant coach Artem Filimonov Ukraine
Assistant coach Miroslav Mitev Bulgaria
Goalkeepers coach Oleksandr Lavrentsov Ukraine
Physiotherapist Andrey Polonskyi Ukraine
Management
Chief Executive Officer Petar Zanev Bulgaria
Sporting director Petar Mihtarski Bulgaria
Academy manager Radoslav Mitrevski Bulgaria

Managerial history

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Dates Name Honours
2011–2014 Bulgaria Kostadin Gerganchev 99991 V AFG title
2014–2015 Bulgaria Yordan Samokovliyski 9999 promotion to A Group
2015 Bulgaria Ivo Trenchev (interim)
2015 Bulgaria Nedelcho Matushev
2015–2016 KosovoTurkey Naci Şensoy
2016−2017 Bulgaria Stefan Genov
2017−2018 Bulgaria Milen Radukanov Relegation to Second Professional League
2018–2019 Bulgaria Petar Zlatinov
2019–2019 Bulgaria Ivan Stoychev
2019 Bulgaria Ivo Trenchev
2019–2021 Northern Ireland Warren Feeney 1st place promotion to First Professional League
2021–2022 Bulgaria Radoslav Mitrevski
2022 Bulgaria Krasimir Petrov
2022 Bulgaria Vasil Petrov (interim)
2022–2023 Bulgaria Hristo Yanev
2023 Bulgaria Radoslav Mitrevski
2023–2024 Bulgaria Ivo Trenchev
2024– Ukraine Oleksandr Babych

References

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  1. ^ "История". pirinfc.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  2. ^ "ОФК Пирин ЕООД Благоевград влиза в рекламно партньорство с Емирейтс". fcpirin.com (in Bulgarian). 11 June 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Планът за развитие на ФК Пирин Благоевград". fcpirin.com (in Bulgarian). 1 August 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  4. ^ "От днес ОФК "Пирин" – Благоевград официално е с нов собственик" (in Bulgarian). Radio Blagoevgrad. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  5. ^ ""Емирейтс Уелт" придобива собствеността в "Пирин" след одобрението на общината" (in Bulgarian). Dnevnik.bg. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Players". fcpirin.com (in Bulgarian). Pirin Blagoevgrad. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
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