Arda Kardzhali is a Bulgarian professional club based in Kardzhali, in the southern Rhodope region. Founded in 1924, it has grown from a regional institution into an established top-flight side during the modern era. Sky blue and white define the club’s visual identity, while Arena Arda provides its home setting. This team page brings together the latest recorded squad, coaching chronology, player movement, competition history and a durable profile of Arda’s place in Bulgarian football.
Arda Kardzhali Upcoming matches by league
First League
-
- Regular Season - 10
Arda Kardzhali
Cherno More Varna
Arena Arda -
- Regular Season - 11
LudogoretsNo H2HArda Kardzhali
Huvepharma Arena -
- Regular Season - 12
Arda KardzhaliNo H2HLevski Sofia
Arena Arda -
- Regular Season - 13
Spartak VarnaNo H2HArda Kardzhali
Stadion Spartak
Arda Kardzhali Last matches by league
First League
Friendlies Clubs
Cup
UEFA Europa Conference League
Arda Kardzhali Team Roster
Arda Kardzhali’s recorded squad contains 23 players: 10 midfielders, eight defenders, three goalkeepers and two attackers. The group includes S. Kovachev, S. Yusein, D. Yankov and B. Karagaren, alongside Adama Ardile Traoré, Derick and David Akintola Idowu. G. Nikolov and P. Bachev are the listed attacking options, while A. Gospodinov, M. Yusuf and Y. Georgiev provide the goalkeeping group. Shirt numbers range from 1 to 99, with number 20 appearing twice in the recorded list.
position Goalkeeper
Anatoliy Enchev Gospodinov
Yanko Ivanov Georgiev
Mesut Mustafa Yusuf
position Defender
Viktor Borislavov Lyubenov
Viktor Nikolaev Popov
Simeon Sergeev Vasilev
Derick Fernando da Silva
Vyacheslav Velev
Martin Krasimirov Paskalev
Dimitar Valentinov Velkovski
Adama Ardile Traoré
position Midfielder
David Akintola Idowu
Dominik Ivilin Yankov
Serkan Kadir Yusein
Burak Akandzha
Antonio Ventsislavov Vutov
Lachezar Hristov Kotev
position Attacker
Georgi Nikolaev Nikolov
Svetoslav Svetozarov Kovachev
Atanas Vasilev Kabov
Preslav Valeriev Bachev
Stanislav Ivaylov Ivanov
Birsent Hamdi Karagaren
Last Arda Kardzhali Coachs
The most recent recorded coaching appointment is Aleksandar Tunchev, who began a spell at Arda Kardzhali on 1 June 2024. The coaching record does not verify him as the current holder, so the timeline is described neutrally. Nikolay Kirov is listed from February to May 2024, following Tunchev’s earlier spell from May 2022 to February 2024. Stamen Belchev’s recorded tenure ran from December 2021 to May 2022. The sequence contains no verified appointment after that date.
Aleksandar Blagov Tunchev
History
| Coach | Coach country | Coach since | Coach until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aleksandar Blagov Tunchev | Bulgaria | 1 June 2024 | |
| Nikolay Stoilov Kirov | Bulgaria | 1 February 2024 | 1 May 2024 |
| Todor Popov | Bulgaria | 1 May 2022 | |
| Aleksandar Blagov Tunchev | Bulgaria | 1 May 2022 | 1 February 2024 |
| Stamen Dimitrov Belchev | Bulgaria | 1 December 2021 | 1 May 2022 |
| Slavko Matić | Serbia | 1 November 2021 | 1 December 2021 |
| Dimitar Petrov Dimitrov | Bulgaria | 1 September 2021 | 1 September 2021 |
| 1 September 2021 | 1 November 2021 | ||
| Nikolay Stoilov Kirov | Bulgaria | 1 April 2020 | 1 September 2021 |
| Stamen Dimitrov Belchev | Bulgaria | 1 March 2019 | 1 April 2020 |
| Stoycho Zahariev Stoev | Bulgaria | 1 August 2018 | 1 March 2019 |
| Elin Kalinov Topuzakov | Bulgaria | 1 July 2017 | 1 August 2018 |
Arda Kardzhali Transfers
Arda Kardzhali’s recorded arrivals include D. Yankov from HNK Rijeka and V. Popov from Korona Kielce as free agents. V. Lyubenov and P. Bachev joined from Levski Sofia on recorded transfers, while Adama Ardile Traoré arrived from CSKA 1948 on loan. Derick and Y. Georgiev were listed as free-agent arrivals from Varzim and Septemvri Sofia. Earlier entries include W. Samaké and Isnaba Mané on loan, plus free-agent additions such as M. Paskalev, A. Kabov, S. Kovachev and G. Nikolov. The listed movements are a recent selection rather than a complete arrival total.
Latest player transfers from
| Player | Team from | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. Ivanov |
Ludogorets
|
Transfer | 5 August 2026 |
| D. Yankov |
HNK Rijeka
|
Free agent | 17 July 2026 |
| D. Yankov |
HNK Rijeka
|
Free agent | 16 July 2026 |
| P. Bachev |
Levski Sofia
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| Y. Georgiev |
Septemvri Sofia
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| Derick |
Varzim
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| Adama Ardile Traoré |
CSKA 1948
|
Loan | 30 June 2026 |
| P. Bachev |
Levski Sofia
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| V. Lyubenov |
Levski Sofia
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| V. Popov |
Korona Kielce
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| W. Samaké |
Bandırmaspor
|
Loan | 26 January 2026 |
| M. Paskalev |
FK Sarajevo
|
Free agent | 12 January 2026 |
| I. Popov |
Botev Plovdiv
|
Free agent | 16 September 2025 |
| A. Kabov |
Sakaryaspor
|
Free agent | 8 September 2025 |
| S. Kovachev |
Akhmat
|
Free Transfer | 21 July 2025 |
Recorded departures include F. Eboa Eboa to Nam Dinh and Patrick Luan to Karmiotissa as free agents, followed by free-agent moves for I. Nedelchev, Cascardo, C. Hüseynov and E. Viyachki. W. Samaké and Isnaba Mané returned to Bandırmaspor and Estoril after loans. Other listed exits include I. Kazakov to Pirin Blagoevgrad, I. Tilev to Hebar 1918, and S. Ivanov to Ludogorets on a transfer. The listed movements are a recent selection rather than a complete departure total.
Latest player transfers to
| Player | Team to | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| F. Eboa Eboa |
Nam Dinh
|
Free agent | 31 July 2026 |
| Patrick Luan |
Karmiotissa
|
Free agent | 14 July 2026 |
| Patrick Luan |
Karmiotissa
|
Free agent | 13 July 2026 |
| I. Nedelchev |
Rilski Sportist
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| E. Viyachki |
Marek
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| C. Hüseynov |
Petrolul Ploiesti
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| Cascardo |
Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| I. Nedelchev |
Rilski Sportist
|
Free agent | 29 June 2026 |
| Isnaba Mané |
Estoril
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| W. Samaké |
Bandırmaspor
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| I. Kazakov |
Pirin Blagoevgrad
|
Free agent | 29 January 2026 |
| Isnaba Mané |
Estoril
|
Return from loan | 25 January 2026 |
| I. Tilev |
Hebar 1918
|
Free agent | 14 January 2026 |
| P. Petrov |
Sportist Svoge
|
Free agent | 18 September 2025 |
| Prince |
FC Urartu
|
Free agent | 24 August 2025 |
Transfers Synthesis
Arda Kardzhali’s movement record shows a mix of free-agent recruitment, conventional transfers, loans and returns from loan. The latest arrivals include D. Yankov and V. Popov as free agents, while V. Lyubenov and P. Bachev are recorded transfers and Adama Ardile Traoré is listed on loan. The departures show a similarly varied pattern. Several players left as free agents, including F. Eboa Eboa, Patrick Luan, Cascardo and E. Viyachki, while W. Samaké and Isnaba Mané returned to their parent clubs after loans. The record also includes outgoing transfers involving S. Ivanov, T. Yordanov and C. Offor. The available listings are recent and selective rather than exhaustive, so they describe the character of movement without establishing a complete seasonal balance. No recorded amounts are attached to the listed transactions, so the available evidence supports a categorical rather than financial assessment.
Leagues Arda Kardzhali has participated in
Arda Kardzhali’s recent competition record includes Bulgaria’s First League and Cup, recorded from 2018 or 2019 through 2025 and recently active in the latest entries. Club friendlies are recorded from 2020 through 2025 and are also recently active. The UEFA Europa Conference League appears from 2021 through 2025 with the same recent status. The Second League entry is historical, limited to 2018. These records place Arda’s modern competitive profile across domestic league and cup football, selected European involvement and scheduled friendly matches, without establishing results or honours for the listed seasons.
More about Arda Kardzhali
Arda Kardzhali is a Bulgarian football club from the southern city of Kardzhali, at the edge of the Rhodope Mountains. The club identity is anchored in 1924, the founding year recorded for Arda, and its name is connected with the Arda River. Sky blue and white are the defining colors, giving the side a clear visual link with the river landscape and the open mountain skies. Local descriptions also associate Arda with the Wolves of the Rhodopes, a nickname that reflects the region’s rugged character.
The club’s modern history is one of reconstruction and acceleration. It spent much of its earlier existence outside the top division, experienced dissolution in 2013, and was re-established in 2015. Promotion to Bulgaria’s top flight in 2019 marked a decisive turning point. Since then, Arda has developed into a regular First League participant, while its Bulgarian Cup run to the 2020–21 final represented a landmark achievement. The club also reached UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying, establishing its European footprint.
Arena Arda, formerly known as Druzhba Stadium, is the club’s home in Kardzhali and forms an important part of its modern identity. The venue was originally opened in 1963 and underwent substantial renovation between 2018 and 2020, creating a modern natural-grass setting associated with intimate matchday support. Arda’s following draws strongly from the city and the wider region, where the club serves as a shared sporting symbol across a culturally diverse community.
The club operates under Kardzhali Municipality ownership, with club leadership overseeing its administration. Its football ecosystem combines domestic Bulgarian experience with international recruitment, while the recorded 2026 squad shows a compact group of 23 players across goalkeeping, defence, midfield and attack. Together, the history, venue and regional connection explain Arda’s emergence as one of Bulgarian football’s notable modern projects.
Last matches statistics for Arda Kardzhali
| match | shots | Poss. | Pass % | Fouls | Cards | Saves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Botev Vratsa
1 - 0
Arda Kardzhali
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Septemvri Sofia
1 - 1
Arda Kardzhali
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Arda Kardzhali
1 - 0
Slavia Sofia
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
CSKA 1948
2 - 1
Arda Kardzhali
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Dunav Ruse
0 - 2
Arda Kardzhali
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Arda Kardzhali
3 - 1
Lokomotiv Sofia
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | 1 | |
|
Lokomotiv Plovdiv
0 - 1
Arda Kardzhali
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | 4 | |
|
Arda Kardzhali
2 - 0
Botev Vratsa
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | |
|
Arda Kardzhali
2 - 3
Botev Plovdiv
|
9 / 20 |
|
0% | 0 | 3 | |
|
CSKA Sofia
4 - 1
Arda Kardzhali
|
6 / 7 |
|
0% | 0 | 5 |
Detailed statistics Arda Kardzhali
Xtra rating history
Last rating points (most recent matches).