FC CSKA 1948 Sofia () is a Bulgarian football club from Sofia. The team plays its home matches at the Bistritsa Stadium and competes in Bulgaria's First League. The colours of the club are red and white.
History Foundation The club was founded on 19 July 2016, at a meeting at the Central Military Club in Sofia. The members of the Constituent Assembly announced partnership with Erreà.
2016–2018: Amateur Leagues On 21 August 2016, FC CSKA 1948 won its first cup in a friendly four-team tournament in Kokalyane. The team defeated Akademik Sofia 1–0 in the final.
In its first official game for the 2016–17 season in A OFG Sofia (capital) South, FC CSKA 1948 won 8–0 against Lyulin Sofia. The club began playing its home games at Vasil Levski National Stadium, but later during the season used the stadiums in Obelya and German. FC CSKA 1948 won its group and became champion of the whole A OFG Sofia (capital) after victory 4–3 against Nadezhda Dobroslavtsi. Then, on 7 June 2017, the team played with Bratsigovo in order to qualify for the Third League and won after penalties (7–6). Beside that, FC CSKA 1948 reached the final for the Cup of Bulgarian Amateur League, which they lost on 25 May 2017 to the club from the Third league Chernomorets Balchik.
For their first season in the third division of the Bulgarian football (2017–18), the club moved to Dragalevtsi Stadium, in order to comply with the requirements of the respective league. After very strong performance, on 19 May 2018, FC CSKA 1948 secured its place in Second Professional League. The team finished with 29 wins, 5 draws and no losses, as two players of the Reds became goalscorers of the South-West Third League – Andon Gushterov and Petko Petkov. Also, FC CSKA 1948 had again a good campaign for the Cup of Bulgarian Amateur League, this time reaching the semi-finals.
2018–2020: Second Professional League For the beginning of the 2018–19 season in the Second Professional League, FC CSKA 1948 moved to Vasil Levski National Stadium due to the higher league it is playing in. Strong selection of professional players was done, as the goal for the season is qualification for First League. After four rounds, manager Valentin Iliev, who managed the club from the very beginning, was replaced with Petko Petkov. FC CSKA 1948 eventually finished fourth, three points below the promotion playoff place, which was occupied by Arda Kardzhali. Although FC CSKA 1948 didn't promote to the elite in their first attempt, the team established itself as a strong contender for promotion.
For the 2019–20 season, FC CSKA 1948 started the season on a high note, defeating local rivals Lokomotiv Sofia 2–0 at home. This was followed by an away win at newly promoted Spartak Pleven with a score of 1–4. Another dominant 2–0 win against Spartak Varna earned the team three out of three wins in their first three matches. An away win against Montana, followed by a home destruction of OFC Pomorie extended their winning steak to 5 games. FC CSKA 1948's spectacular form continued, as the team defeated Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa and Strumska Slava in the following rounds. The team then beat fellow Sofia rivals Septemvri Sofia 5–0 at home. The first defeat of the season came in the tenth round, when FC CSKA 1948 lost 1–0 to Litex Lovech. After a 2–0 home win against Chernomorets Balchik, FC CSKA 1948 suffered another loss in the hands of Kariana Erden. This was followed by three consecutive wins, which ended with a disappointing 2–2 home draw against Ludogorets II. Following that, the team managed to win two away games, against Botev Galabovo and Lokomotiv Sofia again, which put them in second place in the table, three points behind Septemvri Sofia, before the winter break.
2020–present: First Professional League FC CSKA 1948 secured their First League spot for the 2020–21 season after finishing 1st in the 2019–20 Second League. Krasimir Balakov was announced as manager for the new season on 2 June, and the club unveiled a new logo on 30 June in preparation for their First League debut. On 7 August 2020, the team faced CSKA in its first ever top flight game, with the encounter resulting in a 2–2 draw.
CSKA 1948 established itself in the following years in the First League, frequently finishing in the top six of the championship. During the 2022–23 season, the team reached the final of the Bulgarian Cup for the first time in club history, eliminating Lokomotiv Sofia in the semi-finals.
Club culture Until 2022, the club had a policy of relying exclusively on Bulgarian players, which gained the approval of a lot of the club's supporters who had previously criticized CSKA Sofia for fielding teams with many foreign footballers.
Shirt, sponsor and mascot The colours of the team main kit are red and white. The second kit is in white and the third – in black, with white sleeves.
On 31 January 2017 CSKA 1948 presented its main sponsor – Efbet. The company sponsors not only the first team, but the academy too.
PeriodKit manufacturerShirt partner2016 Erreà None2017–2020 Efbet2020–2023 Adidas2023–2025 Puma2025– Jako
Since 2018, the team mascot is Army the lion.
Honours First League: Runners-up (1): 2025–26 Third place (1): 2022–23 Bulgarian Cup: Runners-up (1): 2022–23 Bulgarian Supercup: Runners-up (1): 2023 Second League: Winners (1): 2019–20 Third League: Winners (1): 2017–18 A OFG Sofia: Winners (1): 2016–17
Players
Current squad
For recent transfers, see List of Bulgarian football transfers summer 2026.
Out on loan
Foreign players 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 Jules Meyer André Hoffmann Florian Krebs Bernardo Couto Frédéric Maciel
EU Nationals (Dual citizenship) Benaissa Benamar Mamadou Diallo
Non-EU Nationals Brian Sobrero Yegor Parkhomenko Héctor Cuéllar José Martínez Diego Medina Elias Franco Lasha Dvali Dragan Grivić Ognjen Gašević Fourat Soltani Moataz Zemzemi
Second-team squad
Goalscoring and appearance records
Most appearances for the club in all competitions
RankNameCareerAppearances1 Georgi Rusev2020–20232025–present1392 Daniel Naumov2019–20241373 Ivaylo Chochev2020–20241044 Mario Topuzov2020–2025955 Radoslav Kirilov2022–2025946 Andon Gushterov2017–2020937 Emil Tsenov2023–2025908 Reyan Daskalov2022–2025879 Denislav Aleksandrov2019–20238510 Angel Bastunov2020–202383Most goals for the club in all competitions
RankNameCareerGoals1 Andon Gushterov2017–2020722 Ivaylo Chochev2020–2024483 Georgi Rusev2020–20232025–present254 Denislav Aleksandrov2019–2023195 Galin Ivanov2020–2022186 Pedrinho2023–2024177 Yevheniy Serdyuk2022–2025158 Mamadou Diallo2025–present13— Vasil Shopov2019–2021202213— Emil Gargorov2017–201813— Radoslav Kirilov2022–202513
Includes appearances in First League, Second League, Third League, Bulgarian Cup, Bulgarian Supercup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Players in bold are still playing for FC CSKA 1948.
Most appearances for the club in First League
RankNameCareerAppearances1 Georgi Rusev2020–20232025–present1272 Daniel Naumov2019–20241063 Ivaylo Chochev2020–2024944 Mario Topuzov2020–2025905 Radoslav Kirilov2022–2025846 Reyan Daskalov2022–2025817 Birsent Karagaren2023–2025798 Angel Bastunov2020–2023769 Emil Tsenov2023–20257510 Simeon Petrov2020–202471— Steve Furtado2022–202571Most goals for the club in First League
RankNameCareerGoals1 Ivaylo Chochev2020–2024432 Georgi Rusev2020–20232025–present233 Galin Ivanov2020–2022184 Yevheniy Serdyuk2022–202512— Pedrinho2023–2024126 Mamadou Diallo2025–present117 Aleksandar Kolev2022–2023108 Martin Kamburov2018–20219— Thalis2023–present9– Birsent Karagaren2023–20259— Radoslav Kirilov2022–20259 Players in bold are still playing for FC CSKA 1948.
Notable players
Had international caps for their respective countries, or held any club record. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries.
Bulgaria Denislav Aleksandrov Ivaylo Chochev Emil Gargorov Andon Gushterov Atanas Iliev Nikola Iliev Galin Ivanov Martin Kamburov Ivan Karadzhov Birsent Karagaren Radoslav Kirilov Aleksandar Kolev
Angel Lyaskov Daniel Mladenov Daniel Naumov Mariyan Ognyanov Miki Orachev Dimitar Pirgov Apostol Popov Georgi Rusev Ventsislav Vasilev Dimitar Sheytanov Antonio Vutov Serkan Yusein
Europe Erdenis Gurishta Yegor Parkhomenko Lasha Dvali Viðar Örn Kjartansson Mario Ilievski
Asia Parvizdzhon Umarbayev
Africa Steve Furtado Ryan Bidounga Mamadou Diallo
North America José Martínez Diego Medina Tom Rapnouil
Club officials Coaching staff and personnel
Ivo StanislavovOperations director Kiril EmilovSports Director Aleksandar AleksandrovHead coach Petko VasilevAssistant coach Plamen ZdravkovAssistant coach Deyan KostadinovGoalkeeping coach Aleksandar KostadinovAnalyzer Spas NikolayevScout Ivan AtanasovScout Ivan GeorgievFitness coach Panayot MilenkovFitness coach Hristo DeyanovPhysiotherapist Nikolay PredragovPhysiotherapist Ilian RadomirovMasseur Ivaylo IlievPsychologist Tsvetan YordanovAdministrator Dushko StefanovAdministrator Lyubomir LyupchovU19 coach Ivan SvetoslavovU17 coach Emil PetkovU15 coach Rumen KirilovU11 coach
Manager history NameNatFromToHonoursAdalbert Zafirov1 July 20161 September 2016Valentin Iliev2 September 201621 June 201899991 Fourth League title 1 Third League titlePetko Petkov1 July 201821 October 2019Yordan Yurukov21 October 20196 June 20201 Second League titleKrasimir Balakov6 June 202023 March 2021Rosen Kirilov (interim)23 March 202124 April 2021Todor Kiselichkov25 April 202126 July 2021Miroslav Mindev27 July 202130 August 2021Nikolay Kirov3 September 202120 May 2022Lyuboslav Penev28 May 20229 December 2022Todor Yanchev13 December 202225 May 2023Atanas Ribarski25 May 202315 August 2023Nikolay Panayotov15 August 20235 April 2024Valentin Iliev5 April 202430 October 2024Ivan Ivanov30 October 202419 February 2025Borislav Kyosev19 February 20254 April 2025Aleksandar Aleksandrov4 April 202529 April 2025Ivan Stoyanov29 April 202512 February 2026Aleksandar Aleksandrov12 February 2026
European record
CompetitionPlayedWonDrewLostGFGAGDWin%
Matches Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate 2023–24 UEFA Conference League 2Q FCSB 0–1 2–3 2–4 2024–25 UEFA Conference League 2Q Budućnost Podgorica 1–0 1–1 2–1 3Q Pafos 2–1 0–4 2–5 2026–27 UEFA Conference League 2Q Spartak Trnava 0–0 0–0 0–0 3Q Panathinaikos 1–2 1–1 2–3
Seasons + Results of league and cup competitions by seasonSeasonLeagueBulgarian CupOther competitionsTop goalscorerDivisionLevelPWDLFAGDPts Pos2016–17A OFG Sofia (capital) South422211010579864 1st DNECup of AFLF2017–18South-West Third League334295095167992 1st DNQSF Andon Gushterov222018–19Second League23016113391821594thRound of 32DNE Andon Gushterov212019–20221181259184155 1st Quarter-final Andon Gushterov282020–21First League1311211841347475thQuarter-final Martin Kamburov92021–221321181351456418thRound of 32 Ivaylo Chochev82022–231351713549222764 3rd Runners-up Ivaylo Chochev222023–2413613131035305527thQuarter-finalEuropa Conference League2Q Pedrinho82024–251371211144547−24711thRound of 163Q Yevheniy Serdyuk92025–261Quarter-finalDNE Mamadou Diallo11
League positions
See also List of fan-owned sports teams AFC Wimbledon SV Austria Salzburg CSA Steaua București C.F. Os Belenenses F.C. United of Manchester
References
External links
bgclubs.eu