The Varna derby () is a football rivalry between the two most successful and popular clubs in Varna, Bulgaria: Cherno More Varna and Spartak Varna. The rivalry is one of the most heated and passionate in Bulgarian football.
Overview The matches between Cherno More and Spartak have a long history, dating back to the early 20th century. The two teams have had a number of intense encounters, especially in the Bulgarian First League. The derby is known for its passionate fanbases, with both sets of supporters having a strong following in Varna and across Bulgaria. The matches are typically high in intensity and often play a significant role in the league standings.
Summary of results As of end of season 2025–26. Matches Cherno More Wins Draws Spartak Varna Wins Cherno More Goals Spartak Varna Goals A PFG/First League 67 25 27 15 78 61 Cherno More Home 34 12 16 6 43 31 Spartak Varna Home 33 13 11 9 35 30 B PFG/Second League 6 0 3 3 4 10 Knockout and cup competitions 16 6 3 7 21 24 Local competitions 9 2 1 6 13 19Total98333431116114
Note: Matches that have finished with a win after extra time are represented as a win for the respective club.
A PFG / First League Matches (1948–49 – present) Cherno More – Spartak Varna Spartak Varna – Cherno MoreSeasonDateVenueAttend.ScoreHome goalsAway goalsDateVenueAttend.ScoreHome goalsAway goals 1952 12–04–1952Kolodruma– 3-2Yovchev Nenchev Arnaudov 20–07–1952Kolodruma– 0–0–– 1954 10–10–1954Kolodruma– 0-1–Tunchev 16–05–1954Kolodruma– 1–1Zheliabov Bogdanov 1955 13–09–1955Kolodruma– 2-1Filipov Bogdanov Nenchev 08–05–1955Kolodruma15,000 0–0–– 1957 26–04–1957Kolodruma8,000 0-3–Arnaudov Filipov Kalugerov 20–10–1957Kolodruma15,000 0-1–Kirov 1958 16–03–1958Kolodruma13,000 1-3Kirov Traykov Arnaudov –––––– 1958-59 07–09–1958Gradski stadion15,000 0-0–– 22–03–1959Kolodruma– 0-2–Genov Kostov 1960-61 25–06–1961Gradski stadion30,000 1-2N. Dimitrov Stefanov 18–12–1960Gradski stadion10,000 2-0Filipov Nikolov – 1961-62 26–11–1961Yuri Gagarin35,000 0-0–– 15–07–1962Yuri Gagarin30,000 1-1Filipov I. Vasilev 1962-63 14–05–1963Yuri Gagarin– 2-1N. Dimitrov Petkov 21–10–1962Yuri Gagarin15,000 2-0Valchanov Nikolov – 1963-64 24–05–1964Yuri Gagarin25,000 1-1S. Nikolov Nikolov 17–11–1963Yuri Gagarin– 0-2–I. Vasilev G. Dimitrov 1965-66 03–04–1966Yuri Gagarin30,000 2-2Velikov Bogomilov Kalugerov Nikolov 29–08–1965Yuri Gagarin30,000 1-2Nikolov Yanev Mitev 1971-72 03–10–1971Yuri Gagarin27,000 1-1Kalchev Kolev 08–04–1972Yuri Gagarin14,000 1-2Bonchev Mitev Tahmisyan 1972-73 02–09–1972Yuri Gagarin10,000 3-1Mitev D. Georgiev E. Nedev S. Nedev 11–03–1973Yuri Gagarin5,000 1-3Fazhev Mitev Todorov 1973-74 24–12–1973Yuri Gagarin10,000 2-0Bogomilov D. Georgiev – 12–08–1973Yuri Gagarin25,000 1-1Minchev Bogomilov 1975-76 20–03–1976Yuri Gagarin20,000 1-1Kondov Dobrev 06–09–1975Yuri Gagarin30,000 1-0Dobrev – 1977-78 13–08–1977Yuri Gagarin30,000 0-0–– 04–03–1978Yuri Gagarin12,000 1-2Tahmisyan D. Georgiev Andreev 1982-83 05–03–1983Yuri Gagarin20,000 0-0–– 21–08–1982Yuri Gagarin16,000 2-0Naydenov – 1983-84 24–08–1983Yuri Gagarin8,000 0-2–Gospodinov Naydenov 11–03–1984Yuri Gagarin7,000 2-1Naydenov Ganev 1984-85 18–08–1984Yuri Gagarin15,000 1-0Spasov – 03–03–1985Yuri Gagarin15,000 1-0Naydenov – 1985-86 29–09–1985Yuri Gagarin15,000 3-0Radev Spasov Marev – 26–02–1986Yuri Gagarin7,000 2-2Gospodinov Trendafilov Rafiev 1988-89 18–04–1989Ticha10,000 1-1Bakardzhiev Kazakov 12–10–1988Spartak12,000 1-1Kazakov Vazharov 1993-94 09–10–1993Yuri Gagarin12,000 1-2Danev Deliyski G. Gospodinov 06–04–1994Spartak5,000 2-2Gerdzhikov Mitov Kelepov Bakardzhiev 2000-01 19–08–2000Ticha10,000 0-0–– 14–03–2001Spartak10,000 0-0–– 2001-02 14–10–2001Ticha9,000 1-1Dionisiev Stanchev 10–03–2002Spartak4,000 0-0–– 08–05–2002Ticha5,000 1-1Dobrev Kremenliev 06–04–2002Spartak2,000 1-2Krumov Gerasimov Mihaylov 2002-03 15–09–2002Ticha12,000 2-1Iliev A. Zafirov M. Georgiev 22–03–2003Spartak5,500 2-1Stanchev Nankov Spalević 2003-04 15–08–2003Ticha8,000 1-1Mirchev A. Petrov 21–02–2004Spartak3,500 1-2Z. Mihaylov Savić Stanchev 2004-05 06–05–2005Ticha6,000 1-0Timnev – 30–10–2004Spartak3,500 1-0Radomirov – 2006-07 18–11–2006Ticha10,000 3-0da Silva Moke Zhekov – 19–05–2007Spartak4,500 2-0Ortega Todorov – 2007-08 10–05–2008Ticha6,500 0-0–– 1–12–2007Spartak5,000 0-1–Manolov 2008-09 14–11–2008Ticha7,500 5-0Manolov Fernández Iliev Kolev – 23–05–2009Spartak5,000 0-1–Kakalov 2022-23 07–05–2023Ticha– 3-2Panayotov Dimov Drobarov Ewandro Balanyuk 22–10–2022Spartak– 0-0–– 2024-25 08–03–2025Ticha– 1-1Martín Strauß 22–09–2024Spartak5,000 0-2–Soula Dudu 2025-2607–02–2026Ticha6,0000-0––16–08–2025Spartak5,0001-3Xande Lazarov Zlatev Phellipe
B PFG / Second League Matches Cherno More – Spartak Varna Spartak Varna – Cherno MoreSeasonDateVenueAttend.ScoreHome goalsAway goalsDateVenueAttend.ScoreHome goalsAway goals 1990–91 09–03–1991Ticha8,000 2-2Haralambiev Radev Vazharov Trendafilov 22–08–1990Spartak10,000 1–1Trendafilov Naydenov 1991–92 18–04–1992Ticha8,000 0-0–– 12–10–1991Spartak6,000 3–0Hmelnitzki Kazakov – 1994–95 06–05–1995Ticha10,000 0–2–Stanchev Trendafilov 29–10–1994Spartak8,000 2–1Trendafilov Kazakov Timnev
Knockout and cup competitions Competition Season Round Date Stadium Attendance Match ResultGoalscorersRed Army Cup1946Preliminary 28 Oct 1945 Kolodruma – Ticha–Vladislav Spartak 4–0 Mokanov , own goal, n/a, n/aRed Army Cup1947Preliminary 31 Oct 1946 Kolodruma 3,500 Spartak Ticha–Vladislav 5–1 Tashkov , Parushev , Ruhov ; Konakov Red Army Cup1948Preliminary 19 Oct 1947 Kolodruma – Spartak TVP 1–0 n/aRepublican Championship1948Quarterfinal 18 Jul 1948 Kolodruma 8,000 TVP Spartak 2–2 Konakov , Ganchev ; Tashkov , Parushev 25 Jul 1948 Kolodruma 10,000 Spartak TVP 4–0 Parushev , Tashkov Soviet Army Cup1952Round of 16 19 Oct 1952 Kolodruma – Spartak VMS 1–1 n/a 20 Oct 1952 Kolodruma – Spartak VMS 2–2 n/a 23 Oct 1952 Kolodruma – Spartak VMS 0–1 G. Dimitrov Soviet Army Cup1955First round 16 Oct 1955 Kolodruma – VMS Spartak 2–1 Dosev , Kovachev ; Arnaudov Soviet Army Cup1969-70Round of 32 06 Dec 1969 Gagarin – Spartak Cherno More 1–2 Kolev ; Bogomilov Soviet Army Cup1972-73Round of 32 20 Dec 1972 Gagarin – Spartak Cherno More 1–0 Nedev Bulgarian Cup1980-8133rd-64th Place 27 Dec 1980 Ticha 6,200 Cherno More Spartak 2–1 Ganev , Rafiev ; Petrov 11 Feb 1981 Spartak 10,000 Spartak Cherno More 2–1 Stoev , Voychev ; B. Kolev Soviet Army Cup1983-84Round of 32 25 Dec 1983 Gagarin 5,000 Spartak Cherno More 1–0 Naydenov Bulgarian Cup1984-85Second Round 11 Nov 1984 Gagarin 2,500 Cherno More Spartak 1–2 Hamidov ; Lichev , Naydenov 18 Nov 1984 Gagarin 3,000 Spartak Cherno More 0–2 N. Spasov , T. Atanasov
Local Competitions Competition Season Date Stadium Attendance Match Result Goalscorers Varna Championship 1945 27 May 1945 Kolodruma – Ticha–Vladislav Spartak 2–1 H. Konakov ; Parushev 8 Jul 1945 Kolodruma – Spartak Ticha–Vladislav 2–1 Manolov , Yovchev ; Nedev 1946 12 May 1946 Kolodruma 8,000 Ticha–Vladislav Spartak 2–2 n/a , n/a; Yovchev , Karpuschiev 15 Jun 1946 Kolodruma – Spartak Ticha–Vladislav 2–1 Tashkov ; Kasabov 1947 20 Apr 1947 Kolodruma 10,000 Spartak TVP 3–1 Zahariev , Tashkov ; A. Konakov 21 Jun 1947 Kolodruma – TVP Spartak 1–2 n/a Oblast Championship 1947 02 Aug 1947 Kolodruma 4,000 TVP Spartak 1–3 Nedev ; Zahariev , Ruhov Oblast Championship 1947–48 14 Mar 1948 Kolodruma 4,500 TVP Spartak 3–2 Ganchev , Nedev ; Parushev , Zahariev 30 May 1948 Kolodruma 6,000 Spartak TVP 2–1 Yovchev , Zahariev ; Terzistoev
Head-to-head ranking in First League (1948–2025) P.495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899000102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223242526122333333444555555566666666666666777777777777777777778888888889999999910101010101010101010101011111111111111121212121212121212131313131414141414141515151515151515151515151616161617 18 B32318145211681071197781615318117 Total: Cherno More with 53 higher finishes, Spartak Varna with 25 higher finishes (as of the end of the 2025–26 season).
Interesting Facts
Source:Book "Football Varna", 2007. The players with the most appearances in the Varna derby in the A Group are Todor Marev from Cherno More and Iliya Kirchev from Spartak, each with 18 matches. The players with the most appearances in all official matches of the derby (city, regional, and national championships, A and B Group, national cup, and the Soviet Army Cup) are Boris Parushev – "Borleto" from Spartak with 23 matches, and Todor Marev from Cherno More with 22 matches. The top goalscorer in the A Group matches of the derby is Stefan Naydenov from Spartak with 6 goals. Zdravko Mitev holds the record for Cherno More with 5 goals. The top goalscorer in all official matches of the Varna derby is Dobromir Tashkov from Spartak with 12 goals. Zdravko Mitev and Stefan Bogomilov hold the record for Cherno More with 5 goals each. The first and only hat-trick in the A Group derby was scored by Dimitar Yovchev from Cherno More, securing a 3:2 victory in 1952. A hat-trick was also scored by Dobromir Tashkov from Spartak in the Soviet Army Cup in 1946 (which at the time served as a national cup), when Spartak won 5:1. The other goals were scored by Boris Parushev and Spiridon Rukhov, while Anastaz Konakov scored the only goal for Cherno More. The biggest margin of victory was recorded on November 14, 2008, when "The Sailors" (Cherno More) defeated "The Falcons" (Spartak) 5:0 at Ticha Stadium in an A Group match. The largest victory margin for Spartak in the derby was on October 31, 1946, with a 5:1 win in a preliminary round of the national cup at "Kolodruma" stadium, and on July 25, 1948, in a quarterfinal second-leg match of the national championship with a 4:0 win, also at "Kolodruma" stadium. The longest winning streak in the derby belongs to Spartak, with five consecutive victories: 2:1 (June 15, 1946, city championship), 5:1 (October 31, 1946, national cup), 3:1 (April 20, 1947, city championship), 2:1 (June 21, 1947, city championship), and 3:1 (August 2, 1947, regional championship). All matches were played at "Kolodruma" stadium. The first foreign player to participate in the Varna derby at the A Group level was Albanian midfielder Mehmet Kurda. During the 1993/94 season, he played for Cherno More. The first foreign player to score in the Varna derby was Ukrainian Volodymyr Khmelnytsky. During the 1991/92 season, he scored two goals for Spartak in a 3:0 victory in the B Group. The first foreign player to score in the Varna derby at the A Group level was Russian Vladimir Gerasimov. On April 6, 2002, he scored in a 2:1 victory for Cherno More at Spartak Stadium. Hristo Valchanov from Spartak is the only goalkeeper to have scored in the derby. He converted a penalty in 1962, helping "The Falcons" secure a 2:0 victory. Georgi Iliev holds the record for the fastest goal in the history of the Varna derby. On September 15, 2002, he scored in the 1st minute, leading Cherno More to a 2:1 victory.
See also Football in Bulgaria PFC Cherno More Varna PFC Spartak Varna
References