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'Gonzo' comes in for Dostanić at Levski

Ratko Dostanić has resigned as PFC Levski Sofia coach following the 1-0 league loss to PFC Beroe Stara Zagora, with sporting director Georgi Ivanov, nicknamed 'Gonzo', his stand-in replacement.

Ratko Dostanić (left) has been replaced by Georgi Ivanov (right)
Ratko Dostanić (left) has been replaced by Georgi Ivanov (right) ©PFC Levski Sofia

Serbian Ratko Dostanić has resigned as coach of PFC Levski Sofia in the wake of a shock 1-0 league home defeat, with sporting director Georgi Ivanov his stand-in replacement.

Beroe defeat
The 49-year-old Dostanić, a former defender who spent his whole career in France, representing the likes of SM Caen and Le Mans UC 72, carried the can after the loss against PFC Beroe Stara Zagora left the Bulgarian champions ninth in the 16-team A PFG with just ten points from eight games. Dostanić, who has coached nine clubs in five different countries since 2003, took over at Levski in July but failed to guide his side to the UEFA Champions League group stage, losing out 4-1 on aggregate to Debrreceni VSC in the play-off round. His side also lost their opening UEFA Europa League Group G games to Villarreal CF and S.S. Lazio.

Levski hero
Having accepted Dostanić's resignation, 33-times capped Bulgaria striker Ivanov will take personal charge of first-team affairs until the end of the first half of the Bulgarian season before taking a decision on the long-term future. The 33-year-old 'Gonzo' is in his third spell at Levski, where he has won five league titles, four Bulgarian Cups and two national Player of the Year awards. He has yet to abandon hope of playing for the club again, though injuries ruled him out for the current season as he took on his new role as sporting director in the summer. Schooled at his hometown club PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv, he counts Stade Rennais FC, Samsunspor, Gaziantepspor and HNK Rijeka among his former clubs. Levski visit FC Salzburg in UEFA Europa League Group G on Thursday.

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