April 9 – The issue of not enough homegrown players has been highlighted by the Mayor of Stara Zagora Zhivko Todorov, who voiced his strong disapproval over local club Beroe’s heavy reliance on foreign players. Todorov’s comments came after Beroe faced CSKA without a single Bulgarian player in the starting XI.
Since June 2023, Parva Liga Beroe has been 100%-owned by American sports agency CRD Sport, although the local municipality remains a key supporter of the club’s infrastructure and youth academy. Mayor Todorov emphasised that while the city will always stand by the team, the owners must seriously reconsider their long-term vision.
“What is happening in the club at the moment is not right – to have not a single Bulgarian in the squad. We support everything the veterans’ club is doing and the changes being made by the Bulgarian Football Union regarding youth football. We hope that with combined efforts, we can make the continued development of young talents possible, and this is a conversation we will be having in depth from now on,” stated Todorov.
The mayor highlighted that the municipality had maintained Beroe’s facilities in “perfect condition” and stepped in to revive the youth academy after it was nearly abandoned. He argued that the identity and spirit of Beroe are tied to its history and local community, which is being overlooked by the current “victory at any cost” approach.
“Whatever happens, we will not let Beroe sink. This is the duty of every citizen of Stara Zagora. The club must develop the right way; there must be local people and Bulgarians in it. I understand that it is impossible for everyone to be Bulgarian, but the tradition must be preserved,” Todorov added.
Todorov expressed hope that the team would avoid relegation but insisted that a change in concept is vital for the club’s future. He suggested that integrating Bulgarian players would not only honour tradition but also unlock greater financial and moral support from the local business community and the public.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at [email protected]