Pirin
 |
| Full name |
Футболен клуб Пирин Благоевград (Football club Pirin Blagoevgrad) |
| Nickname(s) |
Орлите (The Eagles) |
| Founded |
1922
2008 (After union) |
| Ground |
Hristo Botev Stadium, Blagoevgrad
(Capacity: 11,000) |
| Manager |
Kostadin Gerganchev |
| League |
Bulgarian RFG |
| 2010–11 |
A PFG, 13th |
| Website |
Club home page |
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FC Pirin Blagoevgrad (Bulgarian: ФК Пирин Благоевград) is a Bulgarian football club in Blagoevgrad which competes in the Bulgarian RFG, the fourth division.
The club was founded in 2008, after the union of the two clubs from Blagoevgrad – Pirin and PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad. The new club is the historical successor of the original and traditional club records of the former FC Pirin which was founded in 1922.
The club's home ground is the Hristo Botev Stadium in Blagoevgrad with a seating capacity of 11,000, which was expanded after the winter break of the 2010–11 season by making completely new all-seater east stand.
[edit] History
The club was founded in 1922. Pirin has played more than 20 seasons in the top flight and has played two times in the European football competitions - one participation in the UEFA Cup and one participation in the Cup Winners' Cup. The club's first participation in the UEFA tournaments was not promising. In 1985, Pirin faced the then reigning Swedish champion Hammarby IF. The first game in Blagoevgrad, ended with a 1–3 loss. The second game in Sweden was also a defeat – 0–4 and Pirin were out of the European competitions. Pirin's best season in the Bulgarian top division was in the 1984–85 season, where they managed a 5th place. The club was also two times runner-up of the Bulgarian Cup. Also, Pirin's youth academy is attributed as being one of the best developers of young and unknown players in Bulgaria. Among the club's famous players are Dimitar Berbatov, Spas Delev, Petar Mihtarski, Ivaylo Andonov, Ivan Cvetkov, Vladislav Zlatinov and Petar Zlatinov.
On August 18, 2006, after failing to arrange some debts and signals of corruption, Pirin was thrown out of the A PFG, the team's results for the season were annulled, and the club was demoted to play in the Bulgarian South-West V AFG. However, after two years, Pirin won the South-West V AFG and the club returned for the upcoming season of the Western B PFG.
[edit] The Union
In December, 2008, Pirin, which played in the Western B PFG merged with PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad, which played in A PFG. The new club was named FC Pirin Blagoevgrad and is officially the rightful holder of the club records of the former Pirin, which has played more than 20 seasons in the top flight. FC Pirin's Western B PFG place was taken by FC Bansko. Then, Nikolay Galchev was appointed manager of the club Petar Mihtarski. A few months later, the successes came nearby and Pirin qualified for the final of the Bulgarian Cup, beating CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia). However, in the final, they suffered a 3–0 defeat against Litex Lovech.
[edit] Colours
Currently, the team's home kit is green and the away kit is white. Various combinations of green and white have been used throughout the club's history.
[edit] Honours
[edit] Domestic
Bulgarian A PFG:
Bulgarian Cup:
- Runner-up (3): 1992, 1994, 2009
[edit] European
[edit] Current squad
- As of 1 February 2011.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
For recent transfers, see List of Bulgarian football transfers summer 2011.
[edit] External links
