The club was founded in 1921. Since 1948, Botev have played their home games at Stadion Hristo Botev. It is situated in the Hristo Botev sport complex, in the east part of Vratsa. The stadium originally had 25 000 seats. After a recent reconstruction, which took place in the first half of 2008 and in 2009, the stadium has 7 reconstructed seated sectors with a total of 6 417 seats.
Botev's longest continuous period in the top tier was 26 consecutive seasons between 1964 and 1990. The club's highest ever league finish came in 1970–71 when it finished third in the top flight.
Botev Vratsa Football Club was founded in 1921 by Nikola Kunov, Ivan Abuzov, Nako Paunov, Gergo Boytchev, Todor Orozov, Hristo Lighenski and Angel Rachinski. The place of foundation is a playground near the Old market in Vratsa. Between 1921 and 1956 various sport clubs were founded in the city. In 1957 most of the sport clubs in the city are joined together to form FC Botev Vratsa. Between 1957 and 1964 Botev Vratsa is a member of Bulgarian second division. In 1964 the club entered the Bulgarian top division and played there for 26 seasons.[1] The team of Vratsa has 788 games in the top flight of Bulgarian football.
Botev's most glorious moment came in 1971, when the team finished third in Bulgarian top division, after CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia. Botev did, however, represent Bulgaria in the 1971–72 UEFA Cup where they lost in the first round to Dinamo Zagreb from Croatia 2–8 on aggregate. The first game in Vratsa, in the presence of 35 000 spectators, ended with a 2–1 loss. The second game in Zagreb finished 6–1.
The biggest success in the Bulgarian Cup is a semi-final in 1960–61, 1974–75 and 1984–85. In 1989–90 Botev was relegated to second division. In the next 19 years the club participated in either the second or the third Bulgarian divisions.
Botev managed to return to the top flight in 2011, after they won the 2010-11 B PFG, thus ending a 21-year absence from the top level of Bulgarian football. The 2011-12 A PFG was successful because Botev avoided relegation, finishing 12th, which was the main goal of the club. The next season was less successful, with Botev finishing 13th, which meant that they were relegated after a two-year spell in the top flight. In the next couple of years, Botev Vratsa bounced between the second and third leagues, until 2018, when the team managed to return to the top flight, by winning the 2017-18 Second League. This ended a 5-year absence from the top flight.
Among the club's legendary players is Martin Petrov, considered by most Botev fans as the greatest player to have ever been involved with the club, and one of the greatest Bulgarian players. The list of other famous players to have come from the clubs' youth system consists of Ilya Valov, Valentin Iliev, and Valentin Stanchev. Nikolay Penkov is the player with most league appearances for the club – 334. The player with most league goals for the club is Georgi Kamenov, with 150 goals for Botev.
Colours, signs and symbols
Botev is known as one of the "green" teams in Bulgaria, but red is just as characteristic in the club's history. Until 1971, the home colours were red and black vertical stripes. To commemorate the 50th anniversary, officials decided to re-brand the entire image of Botev by selecting green as main colour from 1972 on. At the same time, the club logo was also changed, selecting a lion as its centerpiece to commemorate the revolutionary flags of the Hristo Botev revolutionaries. Until that point, the portrait of Hristo Botev himself was used as club logo. The most recent re-branding of the club was in 2009, when the fans initiated a return of the lion to the club logo, almost 15 years after it had been removed. The new logo, which incorporated the original graphic from 1971 was crafted by lifelong fan Aleksandar Alekov.[2]
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.
^. Livesport.bg. Archived from the original on 7 August 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
^"Botev Vratsa appoint the new manager". Gong.bg. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
^"Ясен Петров обеща да върне Ботев (Вр) в елита". topsport.bg. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
^Georgieva, Maria (5 December 2013). . 7sport.net. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to FC Botev Vratsa.
Official website – in Bulgarian
January 21, 2023
pofc, botev, vratsa, botev, bulgarian, Ботев, bulgarian, professional, football, club, based, vratsa, that, competes, first, league, division, bulgarian, football, full, nameПрофесионален, Общински, Футболен, Клуб, Ботев, Врацаprofessional, municipal, football. Botev Bulgarian Botev is a Bulgarian professional football club based in Vratsa that competes in the First League the top division of Bulgarian football POFC Botev VratsaFull nameProfesionalen Obshinski Futbolen Klub Botev VracaProfessional Municipal Football ClubBotev VratsaNickname s Zelenite lvove The Green Lions Founded1921 102 years ago 1921 GroundStadion Hristo BotevCapacity25 000 6 417 seated OwnerVratsa MunicipalityChairmanHristo IlievHead coachDaniel MoralesLeagueFirst League2021 22First League 13th of 14WebsiteClub websiteHome coloursAway coloursThird coloursThe club was founded in 1921 Since 1948 Botev have played their home games at Stadion Hristo Botev It is situated in the Hristo Botev sport complex in the east part of Vratsa The stadium originally had 25 000 seats After a recent reconstruction which took place in the first half of 2008 and in 2009 the stadium has 7 reconstructed seated sectors with a total of 6 417 seats Botev s longest continuous period in the top tier was 26 consecutive seasons between 1964 and 1990 The club s highest ever league finish came in 1970 71 when it finished third in the top flight Contents 1 History 2 Colours signs and symbols 3 Honours 3 1 Domestic 3 2 European 3 3 League positions 4 Players 4 1 First team squad 4 2 Foreign players 5 Managers 6 Kit 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources POFC Botev Vratsa news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Botev Vratsa Football Club was founded in 1921 by Nikola Kunov Ivan Abuzov Nako Paunov Gergo Boytchev Todor Orozov Hristo Lighenski and Angel Rachinski The place of foundation is a playground near the Old market in Vratsa Between 1921 and 1956 various sport clubs were founded in the city In 1957 most of the sport clubs in the city are joined together to form FC Botev Vratsa Between 1957 and 1964 Botev Vratsa is a member of Bulgarian second division In 1964 the club entered the Bulgarian top division and played there for 26 seasons 1 The team of Vratsa has 788 games in the top flight of Bulgarian football Botev s most glorious moment came in 1971 when the team finished third in Bulgarian top division after CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia Botev did however represent Bulgaria in the 1971 72 UEFA Cup where they lost in the first round to Dinamo Zagreb from Croatia 2 8 on aggregate The first game in Vratsa in the presence of 35 000 spectators ended with a 2 1 loss The second game in Zagreb finished 6 1 The biggest success in the Bulgarian Cup is a semi final in 1960 61 1974 75 and 1984 85 In 1989 90 Botev was relegated to second division In the next 19 years the club participated in either the second or the third Bulgarian divisions Botev managed to return to the top flight in 2011 after they won the 2010 11 B PFG thus ending a 21 year absence from the top level of Bulgarian football The 2011 12 A PFG was successful because Botev avoided relegation finishing 12th which was the main goal of the club The next season was less successful with Botev finishing 13th which meant that they were relegated after a two year spell in the top flight In the next couple of years Botev Vratsa bounced between the second and third leagues until 2018 when the team managed to return to the top flight by winning the 2017 18 Second League This ended a 5 year absence from the top flight Among the club s legendary players is Martin Petrov considered by most Botev fans as the greatest player to have ever been involved with the club and one of the greatest Bulgarian players The list of other famous players to have come from the clubs youth system consists of Ilya Valov Valentin Iliev and Valentin Stanchev Nikolay Penkov is the player with most league appearances for the club 334 The player with most league goals for the club is Georgi Kamenov with 150 goals for Botev Colours signs and symbols EditBotev is known as one of the green teams in Bulgaria but red is just as characteristic in the club s history Until 1971 the home colours were red and black vertical stripes To commemorate the 50th anniversary officials decided to re brand the entire image of Botev by selecting green as main colour from 1972 on At the same time the club logo was also changed selecting a lion as its centerpiece to commemorate the revolutionary flags of the Hristo Botev revolutionaries Until that point the portrait of Hristo Botev himself was used as club logo The most recent re branding of the club was in 2009 when the fans initiated a return of the lion to the club logo almost 15 years after it had been removed The new logo which incorporated the original graphic from 1971 was crafted by lifelong fan Aleksandar Alekov 2 Honours EditDomestic Edit Bulgarian First League Third place 1 1970 71Bulgarian Second League Winners 3 1963 64 2010 11 2017 18Bulgarian Cup Semi finals 2 1961 1974 75European Edit UEFA Cup Season Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate1971 72 1 Dinamo Zagreb 1 2 1 6 2 8League positions EditPlayers EditFirst team squad Edit As of 7 January 2023 update 3 Note Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules Players may hold more than one non FIFA nationality No Pos Nation Player3 DF BUL Martin Kavdanski4 DF BRA Luiz Felipe6 MF BUL Antonio Georgiev7 MF BUL Mitko Panov8 DF BRA Diego Ferraresso9 MF BUL Daniel Genov14 DF BUL Martin Atanasov on loan from Slavia Sofia 15 FW BUL Miroslav Marinov16 FW BUL Krasimir Todorov17 MF BUL Chavdar Ivaylov19 FW COL Brayan Perea20 DF CGO Messie Biatoumoussoka No Pos Nation Player21 FW FRA Jean Pierre Da Sylva22 DF BUL Petar Kepov23 DF ITA Bryan Mendoza24 MF BUL Stefan Gavrilov28 MF FRA Kleri Serber on loan from Toulouse 34 GK COL Federico Barrios37 DF FRA Tom Rapnouil on loan from Toulouse 76 GK BUL Krasimir Kostov captain 91 FW BUL Ventsislav Hristov99 GK BUL Lyubomir Vasilev DF BUL Tsvetoslav Popovchev DF BUL Petko GanevFor recent transfers see Transfers summer 2022 and Transfers winter 2022 23 Foreign players Edit 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 EU Nationals Tom Rapnouil Kleri Serber EU Nationals Dual citizenship Diego Ferraresso Luiz Felipe Messie Biatoumoussoka Jean Pierre Da Sylva Bryan Mendoza Non EU Nationals Brayan Perea Federico BarriosManagers Edit Sasho Angelov 2009 11 Atanas Dzhambazki Sept 2011 Oct 11 Todor Garev Oct 2011 Dec 11 Antoni Zdravkov Dec 2011 Aug 12 Giuliano Sonzogni 4 Aug 2012 Sept 12 Antoni Zdravkov 5 Sept 2012 June 2013 Yasen Petrov 6 June 2013 September 2013 Boyko Velichkov 7 December 2013 June 2014 Viktorio Pavlov June 2014 November 2014 Adalbert Zafirov December 2014 April 2015 Atanas Dzhambazki May 2015 November 2015 Nikolay Todorov December 2015 May 2016 Boyko Velichkov May 2016 November 2016 Sasho Angelov November 2016 November 2019 Antoni Zdravkov November 2019 March 2021 Veselin Velikov March 2021 June 2021 Daniel Morales June 2021 March 2022 Ivaylo Dimitrov March 2022 May 2022 Gennaro Iezzo May 2022 June 2022 Rosen Kirilov June 2022 September 2022 Daniel Morales September 2022 Kit EditPeriod Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor chest back 2019 2022 Errea WINBET2022 Zeus WINBET SportRespectReferences Edit B Group archive Archived 2008 03 07 at the Wayback Machine Botev Vratsa history botevvratsa com Archived from the original on 7 July 2013 Retrieved 29 May 2014 Otbort 2022 23 Futbolen klub Botev Vraca Italian head coach signs Botev Vratsa in Bulgarian Livesport bg Archived from the original on 7 August 2012 Retrieved 6 August 2012 Botev Vratsa appoint the new manager Gong bg Retrieved 20 September 2012 Yasen Petrov obesha da vrne Botev Vr v elita topsport bg 20 June 2013 Retrieved 28 May 2015 Georgieva Maria 5 December 2013 Bojko Velichkov poe Botev Vraca 7sport net Archived from the original on 28 May 2015 Retrieved 28 May 2015 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to FC Botev Vratsa Official website in Bulgarian Unofficial website in Bulgarian Botev Vratza Picture Gallery in Bulgarian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title POFC Botev Vratsa amp oldid 1134806473, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
