Stoilov sacked by runners-up Levski

PFC Levski Sofia have sacked coach Stanimir Stoilov and have dismissed executive director Nasko Sirakov after losing the Bulgarian title race to arch-rivals PFC CSKA Sofia.

'Tough decision'
Stoilov has paid the price for the club's failure to retain the A PFG crown, with Levski owner Todor Batkov promising that a new coach will be appointed before Saturday's derby at CSKA. "It was a tough decision because Stoilov and Nasko Sirakov have etched their names in gold in the history of Levski." The blue side of the Bulgarian capital are fully 16 points behind CSKA with two games of the season remaining.

Glittering period
After taking the reins in the summer of 2004, Stoilov, 41, oversaw championship-winning campaigns in 2005/06 and 2006/07. His Levski team also became the first Bulgarian side to qualify for the UEFA Champions League proper, in the autumn of 2006, and lifted the Bulgarian Cup in 2005 and 2007. Both he and Sirakov, the 46-year-old former international, had offered to resign after a 1-0 defeat by CSKA in December, only for Batkov to keep them on. Stoilov had three spells with Levski as a player and also represented Fenerbahçe SK, CSKA, PFC Slavia Sofia and SC Campomaiorense.