Botev Plovdiv is a prominent Bulgarian football club from Plovdiv, identified with yellow and black and the enduring Canaries nickname. The club’s home is Hristo Botev Stadium, historically known as The College, in the Kamenitsa area. Its profile combines a strong local identity, a celebrated city rivalry with Lokomotiv Plovdiv and a history that reaches beyond domestic football into UEFA competition. This page brings together the club’s recorded squad, coaching chronology, recent player movement and competition footprint.
Botev Plovdiv Upcoming matches by league
First League
-
- Regular Season - 10
Septemvri Sofia
Botev Plovdiv
-
- Regular Season - 11
Botev PlovdivNo H2HSlavia Sofia
Stadion Hristo Botev -
- Regular Season - 12
CSKA 1948No H2HBotev Plovdiv
-
- Regular Season - 13
Botev PlovdivNo H2HDunav Ruse
Stadion Hristo Botev
Botev Plovdiv Last matches by league
First League
Friendlies Clubs
Cup
Super Cup
Botev Plovdiv Team Roster
The latest recorded squad contains 31 players: 13 midfielders, nine defenders, six attackers and three goalkeepers. The midfield group includes T. Nedelev, G. Milanov, Carlos Algarra and Mauro Rodrigues, giving the roster considerable depth through the centre of the pitch. Attack options include Franklin Mascote, C. Okoh and W. Chimezie, while M. Senger, N. Soldo and V. Mendes feature among the defenders. D. Naumov, H. Slavkov and Nikolay Prandzhev make up the goalkeeper group. The roster blends established names with a broad international presence.
position Goalkeeper
position Defender
Nikola Soldo
I. Videv
Gabriel Ivanov Zlatanov
Bogdan Georgiev Kostov
Timothy Dennis Awany
Marvin Senger
Bryan Anthony Chibuike Hein
V. Mendes
Simeon Petrov
position Midfielder
Nikola Iliyanov Iliev
Todor Lyubchev Nedelev
Asen Rumenov Chandarov
Carlos Algarra López
Veliyan Vidolov Vidolov
Georgi Ventsislavov Milanov
Dimitar Dimitrov Tonev
Henrique Jocú
Edson Martinho Silva
Lucas Araújo de Oliveira
position Attacker
Chidera Michael Okoh
Samuil Stoykov Tsonov
Mauro Daniel Rodrigues Teixeira
Franklin Geovane de Santana Chagas
C. Meotti
W. Chimezie
Samuel Kalu Ojim
Last Botev Plovdiv Coachs
The most recent recorded coaching appointment in the timeline is Dušan Kerkez, who began on 1 September 2023. The record does not establish that he remains in post, so his role is presented by date rather than as a current designation. Rafael Ferreira is listed from 1 August 2023, followed by Stanislav Genchev from June to August 2023 and Stefan Stoyanov from May to June. Bruno Baltazar’s earlier entry covers January to May 2023. The chronology reflects a sequence of recorded appointments, not a confirmed present-day hierarchy.
Dušan Kerkez
History
| Coach | Coach country | Coach since | Coach until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dušan Kerkez | Serbia | 1 September 2023 | |
| Rafael Ferreira | Brazil | 1 August 2023 | |
| Stanislav Petrov Genchev | Bulgaria | 1 June 2023 | 1 August 2023 |
| Stefan Rumenov Stoyanov | Bulgaria | 1 May 2023 | 1 June 2023 |
| Bruno Miguel Nunes Baltazar | Portugal | 1 January 2023 | 1 May 2023 |
| Željko Kopić | Croatia | 1 August 2022 | 1 December 2022 |
| Azrudin Valentic | Sweden | 1 February 2021 | |
| Stefan Rumenov Stoyanov | Bulgaria | 1 December 2020 | 1 January 2021 |
| Petar Nikolov Penchev | Bulgaria | 1 October 2020 | 1 December 2020 |
| Ferario Ivanov Spasov | Bulgaria | 1 October 2019 | 1 October 2020 |
| Željko Petrović | Montenegro | 1 June 2019 | 1 October 2019 |
| Nikolay Stoilov Kirov | Bulgaria | 1 August 2016 | 1 May 2019 |
| Nikolay Kostov Nikolov | Bulgaria | 1 November 2015 | 1 August 2016 |
| Petar Nikolov Penchev | Bulgaria | 1 December 2014 | 1 July 2015 |
| Velislav Ivanov Vutsov | Bulgaria | 1 July 2014 | 1 December 2014 |
| Lyuboslav Mladenov Penev | Bulgaria | 1 June 2014 | 1 July 2014 |
| Stanimir Kolev Stoilov | Bulgaria | 1 January 2013 | 1 June 2014 |
| Ferario Ivanov Spasov | Bulgaria | 1 June 2012 | 1 December 2012 |
| Milen Radukanov | Bulgaria | 1 October 2011 | 1 March 2012 |
| Petar Kanchev Hubchev | Bulgaria | 1 June 2011 | 1 October 2011 |
Botev Plovdiv Transfers
Recorded arrivals show several routes into Botev Plovdiv. M. Senger joined from Stal Mielec as a free agent, while Mauro Rodrigues and C. Okoh arrived from Yverdon Sport and Asteras Tripolis in transfers. T. Nedelev, D. Tonev, T. Awany, A. Chandarov and G. Milanov are listed as free-agent additions from Bulgarian and overseas clubs. V. Mendes also arrived from Benfica by transfer. Loan arrivals included Z. Tindano and E. Rodríguez, while John Emmanuel, Tales, Tailson and S. Adelani are marked as returns from loan. These entries describe the latest recorded movement, not a complete recruitment total.
Latest player transfers from
| Player | Team from | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mauro Rodrigues |
Yverdon Sport
|
Transfer | 19 July 2026 |
| M. Senger |
Stal Mielec
|
Free agent | 19 July 2026 |
| G. Milanov |
Dinamo Bucuresti
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| A. Chandarov |
Cherno More Varna
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
Benfica
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 | |
| T. Awany |
Ashdod
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| D. Tonev |
Cherno More Varna
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| T. Nedelev |
Ludogorets
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| C. Okoh |
Asteras Tripolis
|
Transfer | 30 June 2026 |
| M. Senger |
Stal Mielec
|
Free agent | 29 June 2026 |
| S. Adelani |
Spartak Pleven
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| Tailson |
Spartak Varna
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| Tales |
Spartak Varna
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| John Emmanuel |
Spartak Varna
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
| C. Meotti |
Famalicão U23
|
- | 26 March 2026 |
Recorded departures include B. Bonev’s move to Dobrudzha and O. Abraham’s transfer to Raków Częstochowa. Free-agent exits took Noga to AB Copenhagen, J. Van Heertum to Den Bosch, K. Balogiannis to Apollon Limassol, Aleksa Maraš to FK Košice and H. Azzi to Ostersunds FK. Loans sent John Emmanuel, Tailson, Tales and S. Adelani to clubs including Spartak Varna and Spartak Pleven. T. Nedelev, E. Rodríguez and Z. Tindano are listed as returns from loan, while other recorded exits have no stated movement type. This is a dated selection of departures rather than a complete outbound total.
Latest player transfers to
| Player | Team to | Transfer type | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Emmanuel |
Al Mesaimeer
|
Transfer | 29 August 2026 |
| I. Dorgu |
Juventud Torremolinos
|
Free agent | 27 August 2026 |
| I. Dorgu |
Juventud Torremolinos
|
Free agent | 26 August 2026 |
| Tailson |
Prachuap
|
Free agent | 4 August 2026 |
| Pedro Igor |
Septemvri Sofia
|
Loan | 1 August 2026 |
| Noga |
AB Copenhagen
|
Free agent | 21 July 2026 |
| B. Bonev |
Dobrudzha
|
- | 10 July 2026 |
| Noga |
AB Copenhagen
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| Aleksa Maraš |
FK Košice
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| K. Balogiannis |
Apollon Limassol
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| J. van Heertum |
Den Bosch
|
Free agent | 30 June 2026 |
| Tailson |
Prachuap
|
Free agent | 29 June 2026 |
| Noga |
AB Copenhagen
|
Free agent | 29 June 2026 |
| B. Bonev |
Dobrudzha
|
- | 29 June 2026 |
Göztepe
|
Return from loan | 29 June 2026 |
Transfers Synthesis
Taken together, the recorded movement shows a squad reshaped through several different mechanisms rather than one single transfer route. The incoming entries combine free-agent additions, direct transfers, loans and returns from loan. The outgoing entries likewise include free-agent departures, direct transfers, temporary loans and players returning to parent clubs. Summer activity features multiple arrivals and exits around 30 June and 19 July, while earlier 2026 entries show both loan business and direct movement. Some names appear on both sides of the movement picture because a loan return or subsequent change can create separate dated entries. No recorded fees are provided, and the available lists are grouped rather than exhaustive, so they support a directional account of player movement rather than a complete balance of recruitment and departures. The pattern reflects changing squad membership across the 2026 calendar year, without establishing a net-spend figure or a definitive transfer strategy.
Leagues Botev Plovdiv has participated in
Botev Plovdiv’s latest recorded domestic footprint runs through 2025 in the First League and the Cup, both recently active in the competition record. Friendlies Clubs are also recorded through 2025. The club has a historical UEFA profile in the available competition history, with Europa League participation recorded from 2014 through 2024 and UEFA Europa Conference League entries from 2022 through 2024. Those European entries are treated as historical rather than current, while the domestic and friendly competitions represent the most recent recorded activity. No current-season standing is established here.
More about Botev Plovdiv
Botev Plovdiv is a professional football club rooted in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and one of the country’s most distinctive sporting institutions. Its identity is expressed through yellow and black colours, a shield-style crest and the nickname The Canaries. The club is named in honour of Hristo Botev, the Bulgarian poet, revolutionary and national hero, whose legacy gives the institution a cultural meaning beyond the matchday result. The club’s home is Hristo Botev Stadium in the Kamenitsa neighbourhood of Plovdiv. Supporters also know the ground by its historic name, The College, a title connected with the site’s long sporting history. The venue is central to Botev’s visual and communal identity, alongside the yellow-and-black matchday tradition and the anthem custom associated with Blue Canary. Botev’s strongest local rivalry is with Lokomotiv Plovdiv. Their meetings form the Plovdiv Derby, one of Bulgaria’s defining city rivalries, and provide a clear expression of the club’s place in the city. The wider football ecosystem combines regional youth development with international recruitment, giving the squad a balance between academy pathways and overseas professionals. Historically, Botev has competed in Bulgaria’s top domestic structure and in national cup football. Its European footprint includes recorded participation in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League, while the club’s broader continental history includes appearances in UEFA competitions and a run to the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Domestic competition, European ambition and local belonging therefore sit together in the club’s profile. The organisation is associated with the PFK Botev Association and a supporter-linked community tradition often expressed through the Botevisti identity. Its modern operating history has also involved corporate and private stewardship, creating an institutional framework around that longstanding public culture. Botev Plovdiv remains defined by the relationship between its historic name, Plovdiv home, Canaries colours, intense derby culture and continuing place in Bulgarian football.
Last matches statistics for Botev Plovdiv
| match | shots | Poss. | Pass % | Fouls | Cards | Saves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Botev Plovdiv
4 - 0
Beroe
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Botev Plovdiv
1 - 1
Lokomotiv Sofia
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
CSKA Sofia
3 - 2
Botev Plovdiv
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Botev Plovdiv
1 - 0
Cherno More Varna
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Botev Plovdiv
3 - 2
Spartak Varna
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Ludogorets
2 - 0
Botev Plovdiv
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | - | 0 |
|
Botev Vratsa
1 - 0
Botev Plovdiv
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | 3 | |
|
Botev Plovdiv
1 - 3
Levski Sofia
|
0 / 0 |
|
0% | 0 | 3 | |
|
Arda Kardzhali
2 - 3
Botev Plovdiv
|
5 / 9 |
|
0% | 0 | 1 | |
|
Botev Plovdiv
2 - 0
Lokomotiv Plovdiv
|
5 / 6 |
|
0% | 0 | 3 |
Detailed statistics Botev Plovdiv
Xtra rating history
Last rating points (most recent matches).