July 7, 2021
These diaries previously reviewed Ludogorets ahead of their Europa League play-off tie against Dinamo Brest in October last year, in addition to three reviews of the early stages of 2020/21 Bulgarian Parva Liga. Ludogorets were comfortable 2-0 winners in Belarus that day, although had the tie been playing in front of a hostile crowd in Brest instead of behind closed doors in Minsk, perhaps the outcome would have different ? Who knows !
In any case, here is an update on the background of the Bulgarian champions.
Formed : 1945
Championships : 10 ( the last 10 Bulgarian championships ! )
Cup Winners : 2 ( 2012 and 2014 )
Location : Razgrad, 335km north-east of Sofia
Stadium : Huvepharma Arena ( capacity 10,422 - although there are plans to increase capacity ).
Colours : All Green, change kit All White.
Nickname : The Eagles
Owner : Kiril Domuschiev ( Bulgarian Pharmaceutical entrepreneur )
Coach : Lithuanian Valdas Dambrauskas was appointed in January 2021, replacing Pavel Vrba, formally coach of Czech Republic ( and now coach of Sparta Prague ) who resigned in October 2020 after poor results in the Europa League.
Last Season : Champions - Ludogorets successfully defended their title with 4 rounds to spare, and finished 14 points clear of Lokomotiv Plovdiv. They were 12 points clear after the regular 26 game season, losing two matches, and clinched the title in the first of the 5 Championship play-off rounds. With the title secured, Ludogorets lost three of their last 4 matches.
Ludogorets started the 2020/21 season badly, losing the Super Cup to Lokomotiv Plovdiv and the first match of the season 1-3 at unfancied Botev Vratsa. However, in the 25 subsequent regular league matches, they lost only once more ( 2-3 at Lokomotiv Plovdiv in February )
In the Champions League, Ludogorets won 3-1 against FK Buducnost in Montenegro, then lost 0-1 at home to FC Midtjylland. Dropping down to the Europa League play-off, Dinamo Brest were beaten in Belarus to qualify for the Group stages, where they lost all 6 matches. Tottenham, Antwerp and LASK Graz were the opponents.
Current Season : The new Bulgarian Parva Liga does not start until 24th July, so Ludogorets have only played friendlies in preparation for the tie against Shakhtyor, drawing 1-1 with Cluj from Romania, losing 1-3 to Ferencvaros, and beating LASK 3-0. All matches were played at neutral venues
Squad :
Teams in Bulgaria can register five non-EU nationals in their squad, but only three can be part of the match-day squad. Non-EU nationals with EU ancestry can claim dual nationality, whilst those with no EU ancestry can claim Bulgarian citizenship after five years in Bulgaria.
Ludogorets have been busy in the close season transfer market. Their new signings include Suriname international defender Shaquille Pinas, the permanent signing of Bernard Tekpetey who was previously on loan from Schalke, goalkeeper Sergio Padt, midfielder Claude Goncalves from Gil Vincente, Ukrainian centre back Igor Plastun from Genk, Romanian forward Dorin Rotariu and Kiril Despodov after a loan from Cagliari.
Departures during last season and in the close season include ex Manchester City Youth and Guinea Bissau winger Jorginho, currently on loan to Egyptian side Wadi Dagla, 36 year old midfielder Svetoslav Dyakov has joined Pirin Blagoevgrad after over 300 appearances for the club and Brazilian goalkeeper Renan has been released. Romanian centre-back Cosmin Moti retired after 296 appearances for the club and veteran Romanian centre-back Dragos Grigore joined Rapid Bucharest.
Current Bulgarian Internationals :
Plamen Iliev : goalkeeper ( 29 ) – 19 caps, ex Levski Sofia and Astra Giurgiu
Anton Nedyalkov : left back/centre back ( 28 ) – 19 caps
Cincinho : right back ( 32 ) – 7 caps ( Brazilian born but now a naturalised citizen ) Ex-Santos
Georgi Terziev : centre back ( 29 ) – 16 caps
Kiril Despodov : forward ( 24 ) – 20 caps and national team captain. Ex-Cagliari and Sturm Graz
Dominik Yankov : midfield ( 20 ) – 6 caps, born in Canada and also lived in Sunderland
Ex Bulgarian Internationals/Other Domestic Players :
Vladislav Stoyanov : goalkeeper ( 33 ) – 19 caps
Wanderson : midfield ( 33 ) – 6 caps ( Brazilian born but now a naturalised citizen ). Signed in 2014.
Ivan Yordanov : midfielder ( 20 )
Foreign Internationals
Stephane Badji : Senegalese midfielder ( 31 ) – 16 caps, ex Anderlecht
Claudiu Kesuru : Romanian striker ( 34 ) - 42 caps, ex Nantes. Top scorer last season with 18 league goals and 139 in total for Ludogorets
Bernard Tekpetey : Ghanaian forward ( 23 ) – 2 caps, ex Schalke.
Mavis Tchibota : Congolese forward ( 25 ) – 4 caps, ex Bnei Yehuda. 10 goals in all competitions last season
Anicet Abel : Madagascan midfielder ( 31 ) – 17 caps.
Jordan Ikoho : DR Congo defender ( 27 ) – 7 caps, ex Paris St Germain & Guingamp
Olivier Verdon : Benin defender ( 25 ) – 20 caps, ex Alaves, Bordeaux and Eupen
Shaquille Pinas : Suriname defender ( 23 ) – 4 caps, ex den Haag
Pieros Sotirou : Cypriot forward ( 28 ) – 44 caps, ex Astana, FC Copenhagen and APOEL Nicosia.
Dorin Rotariu : Romanian forward ( 25 ) – 10 caps, ex Astana, AZ Alkmaar, Club Brugge and Dinamo Bucharest
Ihor Platsun : Ukrainian midfielder ( 30 ) – 4 caps, ex Gent and Karpaty Lviv.
Other Foreign Players
Sergio Padt : Dutch goal-keeper ( 31 ), ex Gent and Groningen.
Cauly Oliviera : Brazilian midfielder ( 25 ), ex Paderborn, MSV Duisburg & Fortuna Koln
Josue Sa : Portuguese defender ( 29 ) – ex Anderlecht
Alex Santana : Brazilian midfielder ( 26 ), ex Botafogo
Claude Goncalves : Portuguese midfielder ( 27 ) ex Gil Vincente,
Higinio Marin : Spanish forward ( 27 ), ex Numancia
Elvis Manu : Dutch/Ghanaian winger ( 27 ), ex Feyenoord, Brighton &, Huddersfield
Kristjian Kahlina : Croatian keeper ( 28 ) ex Gorica
Summary :
After a poor showing in the Europa League in 2020/21, the new signings look on paper to have to have marginally strengthened the Bulgaria champions, who looked a cut above the Belarus champions last season. Whilst there are more Bulgarians in the squad, they are still reliant on journeyman Brazilians, promising Africans and discarded players with a point to prove. Veteran Romanian striker Claudiu Kesuru remains the class act up front.
However, they meet Shakhtyor without having played a competitive fixture whereas Shakhtyor are almost halfway through their season and possess an impressive 13-1-0 record. They are certainly a more formidable opponent than Dinamo Brest last season, and in Gambian striker Dembo Darboe have a serious threat upfront, with 13 goals since signing from North Macedonian side Shkupi. Igor Stasevich is arguably one of the best footballers ever produced by Belarus, and although clearly at the veteran stage of his career there are signs that he is starting to reproduce his best form since his move from BATE and then an injury early in the season.
Midfielder Yuri Kendysh is a key player for Shakhtyor, whilst Albanian midfielder Valon Ahmedi has impressed since joining from Shkendija, another North Macedonian side. Serbian left wing-back Nikola Antic is often dangerous going forward and Slovak Julius Szoke plays an important role as the holding midfielder.
Igor Filipenko has strengthened the back four since signing from BATE but if Shakhtyor have a weak link it is goalkeeper Aleksandr Gutor. Despite being a regular in the national team, where he has made some high profile errors, he does not inspire confidence, is weak in the air, and it always feels as if a big ricket is about to happen. Fortunately, the dominance of Shakhtyor in most games, and having a solid back four in front of him have shielded him this season, Back-up keeper Sergei Chernik impressed at Gorodeya last season and in his limited opportunities so far this year, and may get his chance for an extended run soon. Having said that Gutor will probably play a blinder against Ludogorets !
Ludogorets are 3/10 favourites with Bet365. Shakhtyor are 6/1 and the draw 7/2
Tickets for the matches are on sale on Ludogorets' website for between 8 to 15 Lev ( ( £3.50 to £6.60 ) and the weather is forecast to be 27 degrees at the 20.00 local time kick-off, with a 40% chance of rain.
Due to the political restrictions around travel from the EU to Belarus the return leg is being played at the Cukarici stadium in Belgrade on July 13th
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