2010–11 A Group Explained

Competition:A Group
Season:2010–11
Dates:31 July 2010 – 28 May 2011
Winners:Litex Lovech
(4th title)
Relegated:Akademik Sofia
Sliven
Pirin
Continentalcup1:Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Litex Lovech
Continentalcup2:Europa League
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Levski Sofia
CSKA Sofia
Lokomotiv Sofia
League Topscorer: Garra Dembélé
(26 goals)
Biggest Home Win:Pirin 6–0 Akademik
(14 May 2011)
Biggest Away Win:Akademik 0–4 Slavia
(11 September 2010)
Chernomorets 0–4 CSKA Sofia
(5 March 2011)
Highest Scoring:Sliven 6–1 Vidima-Rakovski
(18 September 2010)
Lokomotiv Sofia 4–3 Slavia
(27 November 2010)
Matches:240
Total Goals:577
Prevseason:2009–10
Nextseason:2011–12

The 2010–11 A Group was the 87th season of the Bulgarian national top football division, and the 63rd of A Group as the top-tier football league in the country. The season commenced on 31 July 2010 and ended with the last games on 28 May 2011. The winter break was between the weekends around 29 November 2010 and 26 February 2011.[1] Litex Lovech had defended their 2009/10 A Group title and became champions for 2 years in a row.

Team information

Lokomotiv Mezdra, Sportist Svoge and Botev Plovdiv were directly relegated after finishing in the bottom three places. Lokomotiv Mezdra ended a two-year tenure, Sportist Svoge were relegated after a year in A Group, and Botev were excluded from A Group due to financial difficulties at the winter brake, ending a five-year stint in the A Group.

The relegated teams were replaced by Vidima-Rakovski, champions of West B Group and Kaliakra Kavarna, champions of the East B Group. Vidima-Rakovski returned to A Group after two years, while Kaliakra entered the top division for their first time.

A further place in the league was decided by a play-off match between the runners-up teams from the two B Group's. The game was played on 23 May 2010 between Nesebar and Akademik Sofia. Akademik won the match by 2–1 and returned to the top division after 28 years. The last season the club had played in A Group was 1981–82.

Stadia and locations

As in the previous year, the league will comprise the best thirteen teams of season 2009/10, the 2 champions of the West and East B Group's and the winners of the promotion play-off between the runners-up from the West and East B Group's.

The following teams have ensured their participation in A Group for season 2010/11 (listed in alphabetical order):

TeamCityStadiumStadium capacity
AkademikSofiaOvcha Kupel118,000
BeroeStara ZagoraBeroe17,800
Cherno MoreVarnaTicha8,250
ChernomoretsBurgasLazur18,037
CSKASofiaVasil Levski243,632
KaliakraKavarnaKavarna5,000
LevskiSofiaGeorgi Asparuhov29,986
LitexLovechLovech7,050
LokomotivPlovdivLokomotiv13,800
LokomotivSofiaVasil Levski343,632
MinyorPernikMinyor8,000
MontanaMontanaOgosta8,000
PirinBlagoevgradHristo Botev7,500
SlaviaSofiaOvcha Kupel18,000
Sliven 2000SlivenHadzhi Dimitar10,000
Vidima-RakovskiSevlievoRakovski8,816
Notes
  1. Akademik Sofia will play their league home games at Ovcha Kupel Stadium in Sofia because their Akademik Stadium had not received approval from the BFU license committee.
  2. CSKA Sofia will play their league home games at Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia because their Balgarska Armiya had not received approval from the BFU license committee.
  3. Lokomotiv Sofia will play their league home games at Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia because their Lokomotiv Stadium had not received approval from the BFU license committee.

Personnel and sponsoring

TeamManagerCaptainKit ManufacturerShirt Sponsor
Akademik Sofia Boris Angelov Nikola AsenovSallerBench Mark Group
Beroe Stara Zagora Ilian Iliev Slavi ZhekovGUPABulsatcom
Cherno More Varna Stefan Genov Georgi IlievMishoArmeets
Chernomorets Burgas Georgi Vasilev Trayan DyankovPumaQUARTO
CSKA Sofia Milen Radukanov Todor YanchevUhlsportGLOBUL
Kaliakra Anton Zdravkov Ivan RaychevUhlsportMunicipality of Kavarna
Levski Sofia Yasen Petrov Hristo YovovNikeM-Tel
Litex Lovech Lyuboslav Penev Nebojša JelenkovićAdidasb-connect
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Saša Nikolić Zdravko LazarovUhlsport
Lokomotiv Sofia Dian Petkov Kristian DobrevPuma
Minyor Pernik Stoycho Stoev Kostadin MarkovJumperMunicipal Insurance Company
Montana Atanas Dzhambazki Daniel GadzhevASICSGM Capital
Pirin Blagoevgrad Kostadin Angelov Veselin StoykovJomaBeer Pirinsko
Slavia Sofia Emil Velev Bogomil DyakovPuma
Sliven Dimcho Nenov Evgeni KaramanovTomy
Vidima-Rakovski Dimitar Todorov Georgi StoychevASICSVIDEXIM

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing manager(s)Manner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableReplaced byDate of appointment
CSKA Sofia Adalbert Zafirov (interim)End of caretaker contract16 May 2010Pre-season Pavel Dochev13 May 2010[2]
Slavia Sofia Velislav VutsovSacked17 May 2010 Emil Velev19 May 2010[3]
Levski Sofia Anton Zdravkov
Georgi Ivanov
End of caretaker contract20 May 2010 Yasen Petrov20 May 2010[4]
Pirin Blagoevgrad Stefan GrozdanovLeaves the club8 June 2010[5] Yordan Bozdanski21 June 2010
Litex Lovech Angel ChervenkovSacked5 August 20101st Petko Petkov (interim)5 August 2010[6]
CSKA Sofia Pavel DochevSacked16 August 2010[7] 13th Gjore Jovanovski16 August 2010[8]
Pirin Blagoevgrad Yordan BozdanskiSacked30 August 201014th Kostadin Angelov1 September 2010[9]
Litex Lovech Petko Petkov (interim)End of caretaker contract1 September 20104th Luboslav Penev2 September 2010[10]
Minyor Pernik Anton VelkovResigned6 September 2010[11] 16th Stoycho Stoev8 September 2010[12]
Kaliakra Kavarna Filip FilipovSacked6 October 2010[13] 13th Anton Zdravkov7 October 2010
CSKA Sofia Gjore JovanovskiSacked21 October 2010[14] 9th Milen Radukanov21 October 2010[15]
Cherno More Varna Velizar PopovResigned23 October 2010[16] 10th Stefan Genov23 October 2010
Lokomotiv Sofia Dimitar VasevSacked22 November 2010[17] 5th Dian Petkov (interim)22 November 2010
Sliven Dragoljub SimonovićResigned4 December 2010[18] 15th Dimcho Nenov10 January 2011[19]
Chernomorets Burgas Krasimir BalakovResigned7 December 2010[20] 3rd Anton Velkov23 December 2010[21]
Chernomorets Burgas Anton VelkovSacked21 March 2011[22] 7th Georgi Vasilev21 March 2011
Lokomotiv Plovdiv Nedelcho MatushevSacked26 April 2011[23] 5th Saša Nikolić26 April 2011

League table

Relegation playoff

----

Chernomorets Pomorie wasn't allowed to compete in the next season, so there will be 2 play-offs. The first will be between the teams that lost against Chernomorets Pomorie, Vidima-Rakovski and Sportist Svoge. The other will be between Svetkavitsa and FC Etar Veliko Tarnovo (the 3rd teams in the West and East B Group) for the Pirin Blagoevgrad's place.

----

Champions

Litex Lovech
Goalkeepers
12 (0)
301 (0)
3126 (0)
Defenders
221 (3)
327 (1)
423 (0)
512 (0)
65 (1)
163 (0)
186 (0)
2224 (0)
3325 (2)
Midfielders
727 (5)
818 (1)
1010 (1)
1522 (12)
1727 (4)
196 (0)
200 (0)
2114 (0)
221 (0)
2322 (0)
241 (0)
2722 (3)
Forwards
925 (8)
1114 (2)
1412 (3)
Wilfried Niflore* 12 (6)
Ivelin Popov* 3 (0)
Florin Bratu* 7 (2)

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

Including matches played on 28 May 2011[24]

RankScorerClubGoals
1 Garra DembéléLevski Sofia26
2 Zdravko LazarovLokomotiv Plovdiv14
3 Spas DelevCSKA Sofia13
4 Doka MadureiraLitex Lovech12
5 Tsvetan GenkovLokomotiv Sofia11
Hristo ZlatinskiLokomotiv Plovdiv11
7 Michel PlatiniCSKA Sofia10
Nikolay BozhovSlavia Sofia10
Basile de CarvalhoLokomotiv Plovdiv10
Vladislav ZlatinovBeroe Stara Zagora10

Top assistants

Including matches played on 28 May 2011[25]

RankPlayerClubAssists
1 Darko TasevskiLevski Sofia9
2 TomLitex Lovech8
Zdravko LazarovLokomotiv Plovdiv8
4 JoãozinhoLevski Sofia7
Hristo YanevLitex Lovech7
Spas DelevCSKA Sofia7
7 Gregory NelsonCSKA Sofia6
Iskren PisarovLokomotiv Sofia6
Marcho DafchevLokomotiv Sofia6
10 Tsvetan GenkovLokomotiv Sofia5
Basile de CarvalhoLokomotiv Plovdiv5
SerginhoLokomotiv Plovdiv5
Dragi KotsevLokomotiv Plovdiv5
Emil GargorovCSKA Sofia5
Todor HristovBeroe5
Doka MadureiraLitex Lovech5
Atanas ChipilovMontana5

Scoring

Discipline

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Първенството стартира на 1 August 2010. 30 April 2010. Bulgarian Football Union. bg. 10 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100502050408/http://www.bfunion.bg/%D0%9F%D1%8A%D1%80%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE_%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B0_1_%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B3%D1%83%D1%81%D1%82_2010_%D0%B3_8165.html. 2 May 2010. dead.
  2. Web site: Павел Дочев официално е новият треньор на ЦСКА. 13 May 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 13 May 2010. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182935/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=237296. dead.
  3. Web site: Славия изхвърли Вили Вуцов, Кокала е новият треньор на "белите". 19 May 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 19 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100522151111/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=238456. 22 May 2010 . live.
  4. Web site: Левски представя Ясен Петров днес. 20 May 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 20 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231511/http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=238563. 3 March 2016. live.
  5. Web site: Стефан Грозданов напусна Пирин. 8 June 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 8 June 2010. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183918/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=241657. dead.
  6. Web site: Литекс обяви причината за изгонването на Червенков – Петко Петков е новият треньор. 5 August 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 5 August 2010. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182355/http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=252186. dead.
  7. Web site: Официално: ЦСКА уволни Павел Дочев. 16 August 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 16 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100818035219/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=253885. 18 August 2010 . live.
  8. Web site: Безработен македонец ще е новият треньор на ЦСКА. 16 August 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 16 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100819120944/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=253966. 19 August 2010 . live.
  9. Web site: Нова треньорска рокада в "А" група. 1 September 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 1 September 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100904121136/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=256769. 4 September 2010 . live.
  10. Web site: Любо Пенев е новият треньор на Литекс. 1 September 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 1 September 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100905031355/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=257089. 5 September 2010 . live.
  11. Web site: Миньор остана без треньор. 6 September 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 6 September 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231504/http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=257817. 3 March 2016. live.
  12. Web site: Миньор избра треньор и нов шеф. 8 September 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 8 September 2010. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232422/http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=258128. dead.
  13. Web site: Калиакра уволни Филип Филипов. 6 October 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 6 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101007230525/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=263393. 7 October 2010 . live.
  14. Web site: Изхвърлиха Гьоре Йовановски. 21 October 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 21 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101024053356/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=266215. 24 October 2010 . live.
  15. Web site: Стана ясен новият треньор на ЦСКА. 21 October 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 21 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101024053429/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=266233. 24 October 2010 . live.
  16. Web site: Черно море остана без треньор след резила срещу Монтана. 23 October 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 23 October 2010. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232441/http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=266541. dead.
  17. Web site: Локо (Сф) сменя Васев, праща го в отпуск до Нова година. 22 November 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 22 November 2010. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001203/http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=272129. dead.
  18. Web site: Драголюб Симонович напуска Сливен. 4 December 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 4 December 2010. 7 December 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101207121044/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=274069. dead.
  19. Web site: Димчо Ненов е новият старши треньор на ОФК Сливен. 10 January 2011. dariknews.bg. bg. 10 January 2011.
  20. Web site: Красимир Балъков си тръгна от Черноморец. 7 December 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 7 December 2010. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062136/http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=274536. dead.
  21. Web site: Тони Велков наследява Балъков в Черноморец. 23 December 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 23 December 2010. 26 December 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101226152203/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=277225. dead.
  22. Web site: Гочето пое Черноморец. 21 March 2011. sportal.bg. bg. 21 March 2011. 24 March 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110324181919/http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=294191. dead.
  23. Web site: Саша Николич ще води Локо Пд до края на сезона. 21 April 2011. sportni.bg. bg. 26 April 2011.
  24. Web site: Bulgaria – A PFG Top goalscorers. Soccerway.com. 10 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100605153426/http://www.soccerway.com/national/bulgaria/a-pfg/2010-2011/regular-season/players/. 5 June 2010 . live.
  25. Web site: Bulgaria – A PFG Top assistants. 4 May 2010. sportal.bg. bg. 4 May 2010. 16 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110616125558/http://www.sportal.bg/statistics_players_stats.php?champ=1&season=49&team=0&order=score. dead.