20 September 2009 - Seriously, Nobody Noticed That The Window Was Closed?

On 20 September 2009, Levski Sofia lost to their rivals CSKA Sofia 2-0 due in part to the absence of four key players. But it was the reason for the absences that made international headlines.

Earlier that month, the defending Bulgarian league champions received a fax from Russian Premier League champions Rubin Kazan offering to buy the four players--center back Youssef Rabah, right back Zhivko Milanov, midfielder Darko Tasevski, and winger Zé Soares--for a total of €7 million. The quartet traveled to Russia on 19 September to meet with Rubin and undergo medical examinations. As a result, they missed the match against CSKA.

When the players arrived in Russia, Rubin denied any interest in the players and claimed no knowledge of the purported offer. Indeed, the Russian transfer window was closed. The supposed transfer was a hoax.

Speaking about the incident, Tasevski said "I feel oppressed and I'm angry. Things could've been different if we played against CSKA." The match proved to be critical, as Levski finished one point behind CSKA in the final table (though they were both well behind champions Litex Lovech).

A subsequent investigation revealed that several large bets were placed on CSKA to win the derby, leading to speculation that the transfer hoax was intended to tip the scale in favor of a CSKA victory. To date, the culprits remain unidentified.

24 May 1914 - Levski Lives

On 24 May 1915, a group of students in Sofia founded Sport Club Levski. Now known as Levski Sofia, they have won a Bulgarian-record 55 major domestic trophies, including 26 league titles and 25 Bulgarian Cups.

Named after 19th Century Bulgarian revolutionary Vasil Levski, the club got off to an inauspicious start, losing their first official match 0-2 to FC 13 Sofia. But they won their first regional title in 1923, then followed that with two more in 1924 and 1925.

They won their first league title in 1933 and enjoyed tremendous post-war success, winning five more titles between 1946 and 1953. Since them they have won multiple league titles in every decade, up to their most recent one in 2009. Their tally of 26 league titles is second only to local rivals CSKA Sofia, who have 31.

Levski have also starred in European competitions, advancing to the Cup Winners' Cup quarterfinals three times (1970, 1977, 1987) and the UEFA Cup quarterfinals two times (1976, 2006).

22 September 1960 - Gundi Goes Pro

On 22 September 1960, Bulgarian center forward Georgi Asparuhov made his first professional appearance, a Bulgarian top division match for Levski Sofia against Lokomotiv Sofia. Asparuhov, nicknamed "Gundi," is widely regarded as the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time.

He played with Levski for two seasons, making 23 league appearances and scoring seven goals. In 1961, he transferred to Botev Plovdiv, where he won his first silverware--the 1962 Bulgarian National Cup. He moved back to Levski in 1963, where he remained until he died in an automobile accident in 1971. In total, he played 326 club matches and scored 209 goals, winning three more National Cups (1968, 1970, 1971) and three league titles (1965, 1968, 1970). He was the league's top scorer in the 1964-65 season with 27 goals and was named Bulgaria's top sportsman in 1965.

He also made 50 appearances for the Bulgarian national team from 1961 to 1971, scoring 19 goals.

Asparuhov drew attention from bigger European clubs after a tie against Benfica in the 1965-66 European Cup. Levski lost to Benfica on aggregate, 5-4, with Asparuhov scoring all four of Levski's goals. Scouts from AC Milan approached Asparuhov, who famously responded "There is a country named Bulgaria, and in this country is a team named Levski. You maybe haven't heard of it, but there I was born and there shall I die!"

In 1990, Levski's stadium was renamed Georgi Asparuhov Stadium.

20 September 2009 - Seriously, Nobody Noticed That The Window Was Closed?

On 20 September 2009, Levski Sofia lost to their rivals CSKA Sofia 2-0 due in part to the absence of four key players. But it was the reason for the absences that made international headlines.

Earlier that month, the defending Bulgarian league champions received a fax from Russian Premier League champions Rubin Kazan offering to buy the four players--center back Youssef Rabah, right back Zhivko Milanov, midfielder Darko Tasevski, and winger Zé Soares--for a total of €7 million. The quartet traveled to Russia on 19 September to meet with Rubin and undergo medical examinations. As a result, they missed the match against CSKA.

When the players arrived in Russia, Rubin denied any interest in the players and claimed no knowledge of the purported offer. Indeed, the Russian transfer window was closed. The supposed transfer was a hoax.

Speaking about the incident, Tasevski said "I feel oppressed and I'm angry. Things could've been different if we played against CSKA." The match proved to be critical, as Levski finished one point behind CSKA in the final table (though they were both well behind champions Litex Lovech).

A subsequent investigation revealed that several large bets were placed on CSKA to win the derby, leading to speculation that the transfer hoax was intended to tip the scale in favor of a CSKA victory. To date, the culprits remain unidentified.

24 May 1914 - Levski Lives

On 24 May 1915, a group of students in Sofia founded Sport Club Levski. Now known as Levski Sofia, they have won a Bulgarian-record 55 major domestic trophies, including 26 league titles and 26 Bulgarian Cups.

Named after 19th Century Bulgarian revolutionary Vasil Levski, the club got off to an inauspicious start, losing their first official match 0-2 to FC 13 Sofia. But they won their first regional title in 1923, then followed that with two more in 1924 and 1925.

They won their first league title in 1933 and enjoyed tremendous post-war success, winning five more titles between 1946 and 1953. Since them they have won multiple league titles in every decade, up to their most recent one in 2009. Their tally of 26 league titles is second only to local rivals CSKA Sofia, who have 31.

Levski have also starred in European competitions, advancing to the Cup Winners' Cup quarterfinals three times (1970, 1977, 1987) and the UEFA Cup quarterfinals two times (1976, 2006).

22 September 1960 - Gundi Goes Pro

On 22 September 1960, Bulgarian center forward Georgi Asparuhov made his first professional appearance, a Bulgarian top division match for Levski Sofia against Lokomotiv Sofia. Asparuhov, nicknamed "Gundi," is widely regarded as the greatest Bulgarian footballer of all time.

He played with Levski for two seasons, making 23 league appearances and scoring seven goals. In 1961, he transferred to Botev Plovdiv, where he won his first silverware--the 1962 Bulgarian National Cup. He moved back to Levski in 1963, where he remained until he died in an automobile accident in 1971. In total, he played 326 club matches and scored 209 goals, winning three more National Cups (1968, 1970, 1971) and three league titles (1965, 1968, 1970). He was the league's top scorer in the 1964-65 season with 27 goals and was named Bulgaria's top sportsman in 1965.

He also made 50 appearances for the Bulgarian national team from 1961 to 1971, scoring 19 goals.

Asparuhov drew attention from bigger European clubs after a tie against Benfica in the 1965-66 European Cup. Levski lost to Benfica on aggregate, 5-4, with Asparuhov scoring all four of Levski's goals. Scouts from AC Milan approached Asparuhov, who famously responded "There is a country named Bulgaria, and in this country is a team named Levski. You maybe haven't heard of it, but there I was born and there shall I die!"

In 1990, Levski's stadium was renamed Georgi Asparuhov Stadium.