Club legends Stanimir Stoilov and Nasko Sirakov were sacked from their jobs as head coach and executive director of Levski Sofia football club, respectively, on May 7 2008. The duo made the announcement after a meeting with club owner Todor Batkov.
According to Sirakov, Batkov's decision was no drama. “I have fulfilled my mission at Levski. My agreement with Batkov from four years ago was that he would keep me as long as he thinks I'm useful to Levski. We part as friends and I will never say a bad word about the club as I expect the same in return,” he was quoted as saying by Bulgarian Focus news agency.
Stoilov said he would speak to the media after the match against arch-rivals CSKA Sofia on May 10 2008 match.
“It was a difficult decision to let go Stoilov and Sirakov,” Batkov said, as quoted by Focus. “I can only be happy for what they have done with Levski, but inevitably there comes a time for change. I think that Stoilov needs a new challenge to prove that he is the best coach Bulgaria has,” he noted.
As for the fans, Batkov said that Levski was going to have a new coach by May 10.
Some Bulgarian media suggested that Levski's next coach was going to be Velislav Voutsov, current coach of second-division side Kaliakra Kavarna, known for his temper and long-standing ambition to manager Levski.
Batkov's decision comes at the end of a disappointing season for Levski. The team started the season as the reigning champions and a year after Levski reached the group stage of the Champions League tournament, something that had never been done by a Bulgarian club before.
Unfortunately, things did not go well for the team and at the end of the season it is second to the rivals from CSKA, who have already secured the domestic title. The final drop were the last two consecutive losses against Chernomorets Bourgas and Lokomotiv Sofia.
The team also failed to progress in the Bulgarian Cup and can only look forward to a place in the UEFA Cup next year. This season, it suffered a humiliating defeat over the two legs of the second qualifying round of the Champions League, its European campaign over before even starting.
But a win against CSKA on May 10, already crowned champions and hosting the match, would undoubtedly boost the fans' confidence and spoil CSKA's bid for an undefeated league campaign.
