Bulgarian Cup
The Bulgarian Cup is the premier knockout football competition in Bulgaria, pitting professional and amateur clubs against each other in a thrilling quest for silverware. It's renowned for its upsets, where underdogs from lower leagues often stun top-flight giants from the Parva Liga.
History and foundation
Established in 1936, the tournament has a rich history marked by iconic rivalries. Levski Sofia claimed the inaugural title by defeating Slavia Sofia. Post-WWII eras saw fierce clashes between Sofia's powerhouses, CSKA and Levski. A standout moment was Beroe Stara Zagora's 3-0 shock win over Levski in the 1982 final. The 1990s brought league reforms, but the cup's excitement endured. Recently, Ludogorets Razgrad has dominated, securing six consecutive titles from 2018 to 2023.
Tournament format
It's a single-elimination knockout format with around 100 teams from the First League down to regional divisions. The main draw starts from the Round of 32, with seeded top teams entering later. Preliminary rounds weed out amateurs, and the final is held on a neutral venue, often Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia.
Interesting facts
Matches average 2.5 goals, spiking to 4 in early rounds due to mismatches. Levski Sofia leads with 22 wins. Top scorers include Dimitar Berbatov (15 goals in 1998/99), Ilian Iliev, and modern stars like Claudio Cacapa. The cup launched careers of Hristo Stoichkov (CSKA) and Dimitar Mitkov (Ludogorets).