The only Bulgarian club to never face relegation
In short: In the volatile world of professional football, staying at the top is often harder than climbing to it. Since the establishment of the Bulgarian league system in 1937, Levski Sofia has maintained a perfect record of never being relegated, surviving decades of political upheaval and shifting regimes.
Founded on May 24, 1914, by high school students, Levski Sofia was named in honor of the national hero Vasil Levski. The club's early years were marked by a lack of popularity for football in Bulgaria, with no significant records existing between 1914 and 1920. It wasn't until the 1921–22 season that the club began winning organized championships, eventually establishing itself as a dominant force by winning titles in 1933, 1937, and 1942.
The club's history is deeply intertwined with Bulgaria's political history. Following World War II, the authorities renamed the club 'Dinamo' to align with Soviet traditions, only reverting it to Levski in 1957 after de-Stalinization. In 1969, the Communist Party forcibly merged the club with Spartak Sofia, renaming it Levski-Spartak. Even in 1985, the club was renamed 'Vitosha' by decree after a heated derby against CSKA Sofia led to on-field and in-stand confrontations, resulting in some players being suspended from sport for life.
Despite these interruptions, Levski has secured 75 trophies, including 27 national championships. Their international 'Blue Tale' (2005–2007) saw them become the first Bulgarian club to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage in 2006–07. They also hold a unique distinction: they are one of only two European teams to score five or more goals in a single match against Barcelona in official UEFA competition, achieving a 5–4 victory over the Spanish giants in the 1975–76 UEFA Cup.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: PFC Levski Sofia
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