2012–13 A Group Explained

The 2012–13 A Group was the 89th season of the Bulgarian national top football division, and the 65th of A Group as the top-tier football league in the country. The season began on 11 August 2012^[1] and ended with the last games on 25 May 2013. Ludogorets Razgrad won the A Group title for a second consecutive season, after Levski were leading prior to the last round match, but made a draw with Slavia.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Teams

Vidima-Rakovski, Kaliakra and Svetkavitsa were relegated after finishing in the bottom three places of the table at the end of season 2011–12.^{[6] [7] [8]} Vidima and Kaliakra return to the second tier after two-year spells in the elite, while Svetkavitsa return after just one season in the top tier.

The relegated teams were replaced by Pirin (Gotse Delchev), champions of West B Group, Etar 1924 (Veliko Tarnovo), champions of East B Group and promotion play-off winners Botev (Plovdiv). Botev returned to A Group after two years of absence, Pirin made their debut on the highest level of Bulgarian football, while Etar 1924 made its debut in the top level, although it’s unofficial predecessor, Etar Veliko Tarnovo played in the top level 14 years ago, season 1997–98.

Stadia and locations

As in the previous year, the league comprised the best thirteen teams of season 2011–12, the champions of the two B Groups and the winners of the promotion play-offs.

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.^[9]

Team	Location	Stadium	Capacity
Beroe	Stara Zagora	Beroe	12,300
Botev	Plovdiv	Hristo Botev	18,000
Botev	Vratsa	Hristo Botev	32,000
Cherno More	Varna	Ticha	8,250
Chernomorets	Burgas	Lazur	18,037
CSKA	Sofia	Balgarska Armiya	22,015
Etar 1924	Veliko Tarnovo	Ivaylo	18,000
Levski	Sofia	Georgi Asparuhov	19,200
Litex	Lovech	Lovech	8,100
Lokomotiv	Plovdiv	Lokomotiv	10,000
Lokomotiv	Sofia	Lokomotiv	22,000
Ludogorets	Razgrad	Ludogorets Arena	6,000
Minyor	Pernik	Minyor	8,000
Montana	Montana	Ogosta	8,000
Pirin	Gotse Delchev	Gradski	5,000
Slavia	Sofia	Ovcha Kupel	15,992

Personnel and sponsoring

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team	Manager	Captain	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
Beroe Stara Zagora	Petar Hubchev	Doncho Atanasov	Uhlsport	Bulsatcom
Botev Plovdiv	Stanimir Stoilov	Asen Karaslavov	adidas	KTB AD
Botev Vratsa	Antoni Zdravkov	Iliya Iliev	Zeus	—
Cherno More Varna	Georgi Ivanov	Georgi Iliev	Misho	Armeets
Chernomorets Burgas	Dimitar Dimitrov	Trayan Dyankov	Legea	—
CSKA Sofia	Milen Radukanov	Ivan Bandalovski	Legea	GLOBUL
Etar	Serdar Dayat	Dormushali Saidhodzha	Jumper	CBA
Levski Sofia	Nikolay Mitov	Stanislav Angelov	Puma	VTB Bank, M-tel
Litex Lovech	Hristo Stoichkov	Nebojša Jelenković	adidas	b-connect
Lokomotiv Plovdiv	Stefan Genov	Zdravko Lazarov	Uhlsport	—
Lokomotiv Sofia	Emil Velev	Kristian Dobrev	Joma	MALIZIA, Casa Boyana
Ludogorets Razgrad	Ivaylo Petev	Emil Gargorov	adidas	Navibulgar
Minyor Pernik	Nikolay Todorov	Ivaylo Tsvetkov	Jumper	Municipal Insurance Company
Montana	Stoycho Stoev	Georgi Mechedzhiev	Jako	Ogosta Icecream
Pirin	Tencho Tenev	Petar Lazarov	Tinger	—
Slavia Sofia	Velislav Vutsov	Bogomil Dyakov	Joma	—

League table

Champions

Ludogorets Razgrad

Goalkeepers
1		6	(0)
21		14	(0)
91		10	(0)

Defenders
4		5	(0)
5		14	(3)
20		6	(0)
25		24	(0)
27		21	(1)
33		22	(2)
77		4	(0)
80		28	(0)

Midfielders
6		6	(0)
7		15	(5)
8		28	(3)
10		9	(0)
14		12	(2)
15		6	(0)
18		28	(3)
19		15	(4)
22		26	(4)
84		25	(6)
99	Franck Guela*	13	(1)

Forwards
9		14	(5)
11		17	(3)
23		22	(6)
73		28	(9)

• Guela left the club during a season.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank	Scorer	Club	Goals[10]
1	Basile de Carvalho	Levski Sofia	19
2	Ivan Tsvetkov	Botev Plovdiv	17
3	Georgi Milanov	Litex Lovech	16
4	Georgi Andonov	Beroe Stara Zagora	12
5	Ismail Isa	Litex Lovech	11
6	Todor Nedelev	Botev Plovdiv	9
	Ivan Stoyanov	Ludogorets Razgrad	9
		Litex Lovech	9
9	Rangel Abushev	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	8
		Beroe Stara Zagora / Chernomorets Burgas	8
	Michel Platini	CSKA Sofia	8

Awards

Weekly awards

Player of the Round

Round	Player of the Round
	Player	Club
Round 1[11]	Ivan Tsvetkov	Botev Plovdiv
Round 2[12]	Simeon Raykov	Levski Sofia
Round 3	Marcelinho	Ludogorets Razgrad
Round 4[13]	Basile de Carvalho	Levski Sofia
Round 5[14]	Anicet Andrianantenaina	CSKA Sofia
Round 6[15]	Marcelinho	Ludogorets Razgrad
Round 7[16]	Emil Gargorov	Ludogorets Razgrad
Round 8[17]	Todor Nedelev	Botev Plovdiv
Round 9[18]	Serge Nyuiadzi	CSKA Sofia
Round 10[19]	Georgi Milanov	Litex Lovech
Round 11[20]	Ismail Isa	Litex Lovech
Round 12	Ivan Tsvetkov	Botev Plovdiv
Round 13[21]	Stanislav Genchev	Ludogorets Razgrad
Round 14[22]	Basile de Carvalho	Levski Sofia
Round 15[23]	João Silva	Levski Sofia
Round 16[24]	Armando Vajushi	Litex Lovech
Round 17[25]	Serginho	CSKA Sofia
Round 18[26]	Georgi Milanov	Litex Lovech
Round 19[27]	Georgi Bozhilov	Cherno More
Round 20[28]	Michel Platini Mesquita	Cska Sofia
Round 21[29]	Georgi Milanov	Litex Lovech
Round 22[30]	Zdravko Lazarov	Slavia Sofia
Round 23[31]	Garry Rodrigues	Levski Sofia
Round 24[32]	João Silva	Levski Sofia
Round 25[33]	Marcinho	CSKA Sofia
Round 26[34]	Yordan Gospodinov	Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Round 27[35]	Ivan Tsvetkov	Botev Plovdiv
Round 28[36]	Stanislav Angelov	Levski Sofia
Round 29[37]	Iliya Iliev	Botev Vratsa

Transfers

• List of Bulgarian football transfers summer 2012
• List of Bulgarian football transfers winter 2012–13

Notes and References

1. http://inews.bg/%D0%A1%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82/%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%8F%D1%82-%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%BD-%D0%B2-%D0%90-%D0%B3%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%B0_l.a_c.392_i.210192.html The new season begins
2. http://www.goal.com/en/news/1549/rest-of-europe/2012/05/23/3123089/ludogorets-razgrad-pip-cska-sofia-to-bulgarian-title-on-dramatic- Ludogorets Razgrad completed a remarkable league-and-cup double by being crowned champions of Bulgaria
3. Web site: Ludogorets wins the championship . 2012-11-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121110153235/http://www.trud.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=1389307 . 2012-11-10 . dead .
4. http://inews.bg/%D0%A1%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82/%D0%9B%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%86-%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%8F%D1%82-%D1%88%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%91%D1%8A%D0%BB%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F_l.a_c.392_i.184091.html Ludogorets Razgrad - the new champion of Bulgaria
5. http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=366310 Ludogorets wins A PFG
6. http://www.vidimarakovski.bg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=512:videovidimachernomore&catid=45:novini-sezon-20112012&Itemid=76 Vidima was relegated from A PFG, after losing against Levski Sofia
7. http://www.prosport.bg/news/25230-Liteks-bi-mnogo-Kaliakra-izpadna-.html Litex send Kaliakra into B PFG after –-0 win
8. http://www.btv.bg/sport/a-grupa/story/1489029016-Svetkavitsa_ofitsialno_izpadna_ot_A_grupa_Vidima_i_Kaliakra_do_posledno_v_bitka_za_baraja.html Svetkavica is relegated from A PFG
9. Web site: News, standings, rounds, seasons, teams, grounds, cities, matches at a-pfg.com . 2012-11-07 . https://archive.today/20121211033128/http://a-pfg.com/index.php . 2012-12-11 . dead .
10. Web site: Извеждане на голмайсторите в "А" Група . A PFG . Bulgarian A Professional Football Group . 11 March 2013 . bg . https://web.archive.org/web/20130530180652/http://www.a-pfg.com/players.php?module=top-scorers . 30 May 2013 . dead . dmy-all .
11. http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=381139 Ivan Tsvetkov named for Bulgarian Player of the First Round (in Bulgarian)
12. http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=381995 Simeon Raykov is the top player of the Second Round (in Bulgarian)
13. http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=384029 Basile de Carvalho wins the award ahead of Anton Karachanakov and Stanko Yovchev (in Bulgarian)
14. http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=386590 Anicet wins the award after scoring twice against Botev Vratsa
15. Web site: Marcelinho wins the award after scoring against CSKA . 2012-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120927065904/http://www.btv.bg/sport/a-grupa/story/289574427-Golat_sreshtu_TsSKA_napravi_Marselinyo_futbolist_na_kraga.html . 2012-09-27 . dead .
16. http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=388699 Emil Gargorov is picked for the best player of the round (in Bulgarian)
17. http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=390915 Stars of Botev (Plovdiv) blew the competition in 'A' group away (in Bulgarian)
18. http://www.sportni.bg/index.phtml?tid=40&oid=2741687 The hero of the derby scoops Player of the round award (in Bulgarian)
19. http://www.cross.bg/1336629 Georgi Milanov became player of the tenth round (in Bulgarian)
20. http://www.sportal.bg/sportal_tv.php?category=107&video_page=1&video=51302 Ismail Isa - number one player of the eleventh round (in Bulgarian)
21. http://gong.bg/view_article.php?article_id=311315 Stanislav Genchev number one of the round (in Bulgarian)
22. http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=399496 Basile de Carvalho named Footballer of the round
23. http://levski.gong.bg/view_article.php?article_id=315901 Joao Silva with first individual trophy at Levski
24. http://gong.bg/view_article.php?article_id=332149 Armando Vajushi named as footballer of the 16th round
25. Web site: Serginho named as footballer of the 17th round . 2013-03-15 . https://archive.today/20130410112009/http://tv7.bg/sport-news/bulgaria-football/9668862.html . 2013-04-10 . dead .
26. Web site: Georgi Milanov became player of the 18th round (in Bulgarian) . 2013-04-09 . https://archive.today/20130616011335/http://agrupa.news7.bg/klasacii/?phaseId=18 . 2013-06-16 . dead .
27. https://archive.today/20130627100903/http://agrupa.news7.bg/klasacii/?phaseId=19 Joro Bozhilov became player of the 19 round (in Bulgarian)
28. https://archive.today/20130616011354/http://agrupa.news7.bg/klasacii/?phaseId=20 Michel Platini became player of the 20 round (in Bulgarian)
29. Web site: Milanov won the again (in Bulgarian) . 2013-04-14 . https://archive.today/20130705232402/http://agrupa.news7.bg/klasacii/?phaseId=21 . 2013-07-05 . dead .
30. https://archive.today/20130616011306/http://agrupa.news7.bg/klasacii/?phaseId=22 Elektrichkata player of the 22nd round (in Bulgarian)
31. https://archive.today/20130627100852/http://agrupa.news7.bg/klasacii/?phaseId=23 Convincing Garry Rodrigues (in Bulgarian)
32. https://archive.today/20130616011400/http://agrupa.news7.bg/klasacii/?phaseId=24 Convincing Garry Rodrigues (in Bulgarian)
33. https://archive.today/20130705232355/http://agrupa.news7.bg/klasacii/?phaseId=25 Marcinho player of the round (in Bulgarian)
34. https://archive.today/20130707163849/http://agrupa.news7.bg/klasacii/?phaseId=26 Yordan Gospodinov number 1 of the round (in Bulgarian)
35. https://archive.today/20130616011314/http://agrupa.news7.bg/klasacii/?phaseId=27 Ivan Tsvetkov best player of the round (in Bulgarian)
36. http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=428235 Stanislav Angelov: Luck is part of life (in Bulgarian)
37. Web site: Iliya Iliev number 1 of the 29th round (in Bulgarian) . 2013-05-23 . https://archive.today/20130627100918/http://agrupa.news7.bg/klasacii/?phaseId=29 . 2013-06-27 . dead .