Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...
n
association football
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
club based in
Plovdiv
Plovdiv ( bg, Пловдив, ), is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, standing on the banks of the Maritsa river in the historical region of Thrace. It has a population of 346,893 and 675,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Plovdiv is the c ...
, that plays in the Second League, the second level of
Bulgarian football league system The Bulgarian football league system or the Bulgarian football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in Bulgaria. The system has a hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between leagues at different levels, and ...
.
It was established in 1921, after the merger of the teams Vampir and Trite Konski Sili. The club plays its home games at
Maritsa Stadium
Maritsa or Maritza ( bg, Марица ), also known as Meriç ( tr, Meriç ) and Evros ( ell, Έβρος ), is a river that runs through the Balkans in Southeast Europe. With a length of ,northern district. The team's biggest success is playing in Bulgaria's top division four times, in 1967–68, 1969–70, 1970–71 and 1996-97. They have also reached the semifinals of the
Bulgarian Cup
The Bulgarian Cup ( bg, Купа на България, Kupa na Bulgaria) is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it.
The tournament ...
once, in 1996–97.
The team is named ''Maritsa'' after the
river
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...
of the same name, which flows past
Plovdiv
Plovdiv ( bg, Пловдив, ), is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, standing on the banks of the Maritsa river in the historical region of Thrace. It has a population of 346,893 and 675,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Plovdiv is the c ...
.
History
Early Years
FC Maritsa was founded on 20 September 1921, after the Union of three smaller teams. The team, up until 1967, competed in either the second or third divisions of Bulgarian football, usually in the shadows of the much more popular and successful other teams from Plovdiv, namely Botev, Lokomotiv, and
Spartak Spartak may refer to:
In sports
*Spartak (sports society), an international fitness and sports society that unites some countries of the former Soviet Union
In Russia
*FC Spartak Moscow, a football club
*FC Spartak Kostroma, a football club
*PFC ...
.
First Tastes of Top Football
1967 is arguably one of the most important years in the club’s history, because that is when Maritsa managed to promote to the
A Group
The First Professional Football League ( bg, Първа професионална футболна лига, Parva Profesionalna Futbolna Liga), also known as the Bulgarian First League or Parva Liga, currently known as the efbet League for spon ...
for the first time ever. Maritsa's first season in the elite was largely unsuccessful. The team finished last (16th), with only 6 wins, 5 draws, and 19 losses. This earned them only 17 points, which was eight points below the safety zone, thus resulting in relegation after a single season.
Maritsa, however, did not have to wait long for their second season in the top level. This came just two seasons after their relegation, for season 1969–70. This time Maritsa managed to win 10 games and draw 3 times, earning them 23 points. This was enough for the team to ensure safety from relegation, as
Minyor Pernik
FC Minyor ( bg, ФК Миньор) is a football club in Pernik, Bulgaria, that competes in the Second League, the second tier of Bulgarian football. Founded in 1919 as SC Krakra, the club's home ground since 1954 has been Stadion Minyor. The c ...
and Beroe were relegated instead. Maritsa's third season in the elite was less successful, however. The team finished last, with only 4 wins and a total of 17 losses, only earning them 17 points, ending in relegation once more. This ended Maritsa's two year spell in the elite category.
Lower Leagues and Return Among the Best
Between 1971 and 1996, Maritsa bounced between the second and third tiers of Bulgarian football. This changed in 1996, when Maritsa promoted back to the A PFG after a 25-year absence from the top level of football. Their return proved to be difficult. Maritsa fought bravely against relegation, however that was not enough, as the team placed 14th, three points behind Etar, thus was relegated again. To date, this is the last appearance in the top level for Maritsa.
Second and Third Levels
Since then, Maritsa have largely played in the lower categories of Bulgarian football, mainly in the third level, with occasional appearances in the second tier.
The club is particularly famous for its renowned youth program that has produced many Bulgarian talents over the years –
Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov ( bg, Христо Стоичков Стоичков, ; born 8 February 1966) is a Bulgarian former professional Association football, footballer who is a football commentator for TUDN. A prolific Forward (association ...
,
Dinko Dermendzhiev
Dinko Tsvetkov Dermendzhiev ( bg, Динко Цветков Дерменджиев; 2 June 1941 – 1 May 2019), nicknamed Chico was a Bulgarian footballer and coach.
Club career
Dinko Dermendzhiev began his youth career in Maritsa Plovdiv. Initi ...
Kostadin Vidolov
Kostadin Todorov Vidolov ( bg, Костадин Тодоров Видолов; born 2 May 1970) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. In his career, he played for Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Botev Plovdiv, CSKA Sofia, ...
,
Krassimir Chomakov
Krasimir Chomakov ( bg, Красимир Чомаков; born 8 June 1977 in Plovdiv) is a former Bulgarian footballer who played as a midfielder.
Career
Chomakov is a former Bulgarian international and played with Maritsa Plovdiv, CSKA Sofia, ...
,
Valeri Domovchiyski
Valeri Angelov Domovchiyski ( bg, Валери Ангелов Домовчийски; born 5 October 1986) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Maritsa Plovdiv.
Career
Youth career
Born in Plovdiv, Domovchiys ...
,
Yordan Todorov Yordan Todorov may refer to:
* Yordan Todorov (footballer, born July 1981), Bulgarian footballer for ESV Regensburg
* Yordan Todorov (footballer, born November 1981), Bulgarian footballer for Kom
* Yordan Todorov (footballer, born 1999)
Yordan ...
,
Asen Nikolov
Asen Nikolov ( bg, Асен Николов; born 5 August 1976 in Plovdiv), nicknamed Bebeto (Бебето), is a Bulgarian footballer playing as an attacking midfielder. For the Bulgarian national team, Nikolov was capped one time.
Career
...
had also came through the ranks at Maritsa.
2017–present: Return to professional football
In 2016–17 Third League season Maritsa Plovdiv finished second in their regional division, but gained promotion, because the first ranked team – FC Zagorets declined the offer to participate in the Second Professional League. On 16 June 2017 the club signed a contract with
Botev Plovdiv
Profesionalen Futbolen Klub Botev, commonly referred to as Botev Plovdiv ( bg, „Ботев“ Пловдив, ) or simply Botev (within its associated city), is a Bulgarian professional football club based in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, that competes ...
for collaboration. Botev sent 5 players on loan and allowed Maritsa to play their home games on their training base, the
Botev 1912 Football Complex
Futbolen kompleks Botev 1912 ( bg, Футболен комплекс „Ботев 1912“, en, 'Botev 1912 Football Complex' ) is a football complex in the Komatevo neighbourhood of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, which is the temporary home of Botev Plov ...
, until
Maritsa Stadium
Maritsa or Maritza ( bg, Марица ), also known as Meriç ( tr, Meriç ) and Evros ( ell, Έβρος ), is a river that runs through the Balkans in Southeast Europe. With a length of ,A Group / Bulgarian First League:
*Fourtheenth (2): 1969–70, 1996–97
Bulgarian Cup
The Bulgarian Cup ( bg, Купа на България, Kupa na Bulgaria) is a Bulgarian annual football competition. It is the country's main cup competition and all officially registered Bulgarian football teams take part in it.
The tournament ...
B Group
The Bulgarian Second Professional Football League ( bg, Втора професионална футболна лига, Vtora Profesionalna Futbolna Liga), also known as Second League ( bg, Втора Лига) or Vtora liga, is the second level ...
B Group
The Bulgarian Second Professional Football League ( bg, Втора професионална футболна лига, Vtora Profesionalna Futbolna Liga), also known as Second League ( bg, Втора Лига) or Vtora liga, is the second level ...
A Group
The First Professional Football League ( bg, Първа професионална футболна лига, Parva Profesionalna Futbolna Liga), also known as the Bulgarian First League or Parva Liga, currently known as the efbet League for spon ...
B Group
The Bulgarian Second Professional Football League ( bg, Втора професионална футболна лига, Vtora Profesionalna Futbolna Liga), also known as Second League ( bg, Втора Лига) or Vtora liga, is the second level ...
B Group
The Bulgarian Second Professional Football League ( bg, Втора професионална футболна лига, Vtora Profesionalna Futbolna Liga), also known as Second League ( bg, Втора Лига) or Vtora liga, is the second level ...
3rd
Third or 3rd may refer to:
Numbers
* 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3
* , a fraction of one third
* Second#Sexagesimal divisions of calendar time and day, 1⁄60 of a ''second'', or 1⁄3600 of a ''minute''
Places
* 3rd Street (d ...
2nd
A second is the base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI).
Second, Seconds or 2nd may also refer to:
Mathematics
* 2 (number), as an ordinal (also written as ''2nd'' or ''2d'')
* Second of arc, an angular measurement unit ...
Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov Stoichkov ( bg, Христо Стоичков Стоичков, ; born 8 February 1966) is a Bulgarian former professional Association football, footballer who is a football commentator for TUDN. A prolific Forward (association ...
*
Valeri Domovchiyski
Valeri Angelov Domovchiyski ( bg, Валери Ангелов Домовчийски; born 5 October 1986) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Maritsa Plovdiv.
Career
Youth career
Born in Plovdiv, Domovchiys ...
*
Krassimir Chomakov
Krasimir Chomakov ( bg, Красимир Чомаков; born 8 June 1977 in Plovdiv) is a former Bulgarian footballer who played as a midfielder.
Career
Chomakov is a former Bulgarian international and played with Maritsa Plovdiv, CSKA Sofia, ...
*
Kostadin Vidolov
Kostadin Todorov Vidolov ( bg, Костадин Тодоров Видолов; born 2 May 1970) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. In his career, he played for Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Botev Plovdiv, CSKA Sofia, ...
Yordan Todorov Yordan Todorov may refer to:
* Yordan Todorov (footballer, born July 1981), Bulgarian footballer for ESV Regensburg
* Yordan Todorov (footballer, born November 1981), Bulgarian footballer for Kom
* Yordan Todorov (footballer, born 1999)
Yordan ...
*
Dinko Dermendzhiev
Dinko Tsvetkov Dermendzhiev ( bg, Динко Цветков Дерменджиев; 2 June 1941 – 1 May 2019), nicknamed Chico was a Bulgarian footballer and coach.
Club career
Dinko Dermendzhiev began his youth career in Maritsa Plovdiv. Initi ...
*
Petar Kurdov
Petar Kurdov ( Bulgarian: Петър Курдов; born 13 March 1961) is a Bulgarian football player and manager. His son is the football player Atanas Kurdov.
Career
He played for Bulgarian team of Levski Sofia and during that time he made hi ...
Asen Nikolov
Asen Nikolov ( bg, Асен Николов; born 5 August 1976 in Plovdiv), nicknamed Bebeto (Бебето), is a Bulgarian footballer playing as an attacking midfielder. For the Bulgarian national team, Nikolov was capped one time.
Career
...