Football: Georgi Dermendzhiev appointed as Bulgaria's new head coach

Former PFC Ludogorets Razgrad and PFC Levski Sofia coach Georgi Dermendzhiev has been appointed as the new head coach of the Bulgarian national football team. After Ludogorets, he coached Kazakhstan's Ordabasy before briefly taking the helm at Levski Sofia. The 64-year-old Dermendzhiev will replace Krasimir Balakov, who resigned a few days after a humiliating 0-6 defeat against England in the Euro 2020 Qualifiers held on October 15, 2019, when some supporters taunted the visitors with Nazi salutes and monkey chants, which prompted match officials to halt the game twice.

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The 64-year-old coach is one of Bulgaria's most successful club managers. He led the Ludogorets to three Bulgarian league titles from 2015 to 2017 and to the group stages of the 2015 Champions League. As a player, he played as a defender for Slavia Sofia and won the Bulgarian Cup in 1980.

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Balakov, who took over the national team in May this year, quit on Friday, October 18, 2019 after the Euro 2020 qualifiers loss against England. Bulgaria have failed to reach the finals of a major championship since Euro 2004 in Portugal. Dermendzhiev will make his debut as Bulgaria coach in the international friendly against Haiti to be held in the month of November. They will then play their final group match against the Czech Republic.

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Balakov had denied racist abuse

Monkey chants and apparent Nazi salutes during the game sparked a storm, prompting the resignation of Bulgarian Football Union's President Borislav Mihaylov and the organisation's whole executive committee. Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford were all subjected to racist abuse from the Bulgarian fans, with pictures showing men Nazi saluting and holding up tops with the slogan 'No Respect' written on them. Krasimir Balakov had claimed that he did not hear any racist abuse from his team's supporters. He also took aim at England's fans, accusing them of disrespecting the Bulgarian national anthem and the home fans. Bulgaria are last in Group A but still have a chance to qualify for the Euros through the play-offs.

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