FC Spartak Plovdiv
Encyclopedia
FC Spartak Plovdiv is a Bulgaria
n football club from the city of Plovdiv
. Spartak Plovdiv currently plays its home matches at the 3,000-seat Todor Diev Stadium
in the Kichuk Parizh district of Plovdiv
. The stadium is named after the club's all-time greatest player Todor Diev
. Currently Spartak competes in the second division of Bulgarian football, the B PFG.
clubs - Levski, Septemvri and Udarnik. The club is a reference to the Roman slave hero Spartacus. This reference also explains the club's nickname - The Gladiators . The first team colours of the club were chosen the same year, and soon Spartak was characterized by a blue, red and white check jersey.
The 1950s and 1960s were Spartak's golden age, spending that time in the A PFG. The club has been once champions of Bulgaria (in 1963
), coming second the previous year, and Bulgarian Cup
winners (in 1958).
The club participated in the European Cup
competition for the first time in 1963-64 vs KF Partizani Tirana
(0:1, 3:1) and vs PSV (0:1, 0:0). Second continental participation was in Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
1966-67 vs SL Benfica
(1:1, 0:3). In 1964 Spartak reached the Balkans Cup
final, losing to FC Rapid Bucureşti after two legs - 1:1 at home and 0:2 away.
In 1967 Spartak was merged with SSK Akademik and Botev Plovdiv into a new club - AFD Trakia. An independent Spartak did not re-emerge until 1982. In the period from 1982 to 1994 the club spended in second and third
divisions. In the 1993-94 season Spartak finished 2nd in B PFG, and qualified again for the A PFG, after 27 years break. But two seasons later, the team relegated again to B PFG. The club merged in 1998 with Komatevo Sokol`94 and were renamed Spartak-S`94. This remained club's official name till the 2001-02 season.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n football club from the city of Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
. Spartak Plovdiv currently plays its home matches at the 3,000-seat Todor Diev Stadium
Todor Diev Stadium
Todor Diev Stadium is a football stadium in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Located in the south urban area of Kyuchuk Parij. It is the home ground of FC Spartak Plovdiv. Presently the stadium holds 3,500 people...
in the Kichuk Parizh district of Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
. The stadium is named after the club's all-time greatest player Todor Diev
Todor Diev
Todor Nedyalkov Diev is a former Bulgarian football player.Diev was Born in Plovdiv. He played 308 games for Spartak Plovdiv and scored 146 goals. He was also capped 55 times for the Bulgaria national team and scored 16 goals.-References:...
. Currently Spartak competes in the second division of Bulgarian football, the B PFG.
History
Spartak was founded on 15 November 1947, after being evolved from three earlier PlovdivPlovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
clubs - Levski, Septemvri and Udarnik. The club is a reference to the Roman slave hero Spartacus. This reference also explains the club's nickname - The Gladiators . The first team colours of the club were chosen the same year, and soon Spartak was characterized by a blue, red and white check jersey.
The 1950s and 1960s were Spartak's golden age, spending that time in the A PFG. The club has been once champions of Bulgaria (in 1963
A PFG 1962-63
-League standings:-References:*...
), coming second the previous year, and Bulgarian Cup
Bulgarian Cup
The Bulgarian Cup is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it. It is sponsored by the Bulgarian Corporate Commercial Bank....
winners (in 1958).
The club participated in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
competition for the first time in 1963-64 vs KF Partizani Tirana
KF Partizani Tirana
Futboll Klub or Klubi Sportiv Partizani is an Albanian football club, playing in the capital, Tirana, and founded in 1946. Their first participation in the Albanian National Championship was in 1947....
(0:1, 3:1) and vs PSV (0:1, 0:0). Second continental participation was in Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...
1966-67 vs SL Benfica
SL Benfica
Sport Lisboa e Benfica , commonly known as simply Benfica or occasionally as Benfica Lisbon, is a Portuguese multi-sports club based in Lisbon. Although they successfully compete in a number of different sports, Benfica is mostly known for its association football team...
(1:1, 0:3). In 1964 Spartak reached the Balkans Cup
Balkans Cup
In 1961, a Balkans Cup for football clubs from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey, and Yugoslavia was introduced. It was played 27 times...
final, losing to FC Rapid Bucureşti after two legs - 1:1 at home and 0:2 away.
In 1967 Spartak was merged with SSK Akademik and Botev Plovdiv into a new club - AFD Trakia. An independent Spartak did not re-emerge until 1982. In the period from 1982 to 1994 the club spended in second and third
Bulgarian V AFG
The Bulgarian V Amateur Football Group is the third level of the Bulgarian football league system. While the first division and the second division are professional, the third division V AFG is amateur division...
divisions. In the 1993-94 season Spartak finished 2nd in B PFG, and qualified again for the A PFG, after 27 years break. But two seasons later, the team relegated again to B PFG. The club merged in 1998 with Komatevo Sokol`94 and were renamed Spartak-S`94. This remained club's official name till the 2001-02 season.
Honours
- Champions of Bulgaria (1): 1963
- Vice-champions (1): 1962
- National CupBulgarian CupThe Bulgarian Cup is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it. It is sponsored by the Bulgarian Corporate Commercial Bank....
winners (1): 1958Bulgarian CupThe Bulgarian Cup is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it. It is sponsored by the Bulgarian Corporate Commercial Bank.... - National CupBulgarian CupThe Bulgarian Cup is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it. It is sponsored by the Bulgarian Corporate Commercial Bank....
finalists (2): 1955Bulgarian CupThe Bulgarian Cup is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it. It is sponsored by the Bulgarian Corporate Commercial Bank....
, 1959Bulgarian CupThe Bulgarian Cup is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it. It is sponsored by the Bulgarian Corporate Commercial Bank.... - Balkans CupBalkans CupIn 1961, a Balkans Cup for football clubs from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey, and Yugoslavia was introduced. It was played 27 times...
runners-up (1) : 1964Balkans CupIn 1961, a Balkans Cup for football clubs from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey, and Yugoslavia was introduced. It was played 27 times...
European matches
| Season | Tournament | Round | Team | Home | Away | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963-64 | European Cup | Q |  |
Partizani Tirana | 3-1 | 0-1 |
| 1Q |  |
PSV Eindhoven | 0-1 | 0-0 | ||
| 1966-67 | Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Inter-Cities Fairs Cup The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials... |
1Q |  |
Benfica | 1-1 | 0-3 |
Current squad
As of March 19, 2011Notable players
- Todor DievTodor DievTodor Nedyalkov Diev is a former Bulgarian football player.Diev was Born in Plovdiv. He played 308 games for Spartak Plovdiv and scored 146 goals. He was also capped 55 times for the Bulgaria national team and scored 16 goals.-References:...
- Dimitar Vasilev
- Dimitar Dimov
- Ivan Manolov
- Mihail Dushev
- Hristo Dishkov
- Tobiah Momin
- Georgi Barbov
- Dimitar Hubinov
- Lyubomir Burnarski