FC Maritsa Plovdiv

Early years FC Maritsa was founded on 20 September 1921, after the Union of three smaller teams. The team, up until 1967, competed in either the second or third divisions of Bulgarian football, usually in the shadows of the much more popular and successful other teams from Plovdiv, namely Botev, Lokomotiv, and Spartak. First Tastes of Top Football 1967 is arguably one of the most important years in the club's history, because that is when Maritsa managed to promote to the A Group for the first time ever. Maritsa's first season in the elite was largely unsuccessful. The team finished last (16th), with only 6 wins, 5 draws, and 19 losses. This earned them only 17 points, which was eight points below the safety zone, thus resulting in relegation after a single season. Maritsa, however, did not have to wait long for their second season in the top level. This came just two seasons after their relegation, for season 1969–70. This time Maritsa managed to win 10 games and draw 3 times, earning them 23 points. This was enough for the team to ensure safety from relegation, as Minyor Pernik and Beroe were relegated instead. Maritsa's third season in the elite was less successful, however. The team finished last, with only 4 wins and a total of 17 losses, only earning them 17 points, ending in relegation once more. This ended Maritsa's two-year spell in the elite category. Lower Leagues and Return Among the Best Between 1971 and 1996, Maritsa bounced between the second and third tiers of Bulgarian football. This changed in 1996, when Maritsa promoted back to the A PFG after a 25-year absence from the top level of football. Their return proved to be difficult. Maritsa fought bravely against relegation, however that was not enough, as the team placed 14th, three points behind Etar, thus was relegated again. To date, this is the last appearance in the top level for Maritsa. 2017–present: Return to professional football In 2016–17 Third League season Maritsa Plovdiv finished second in their regional division, but gained promotion, because the first ranked team – FC Zagorets declined the offer to participate in the Second Professional League. On 16 June 2017 the club signed a contract with Botev Plovdiv for collaboration. Botev sent 5 players on loan and allowed Maritsa to play their home games on their training base, the Botev 1912 Football Complex, until Maritsa Stadium is altered for professional matches. Maritsa was, however, relegated back to the third tier after only one season in the second league. In 2021, Maritsa again achieved promotion to the Second League, winning the 2020–21 Southeast Third League. Maritsa managed to secure a ninth-place finish in the 2021–22 season in the second tier. Youth academy The club is particularly famous for its renowned youth program that has produced many Bulgarian talents over the years – Hristo Stoichkov, Dinko Dermendzhiev, Aleksandar Aleksandrov. Bulgarian national first-team players Georgi Georgiev, Kostadin Vidolov, Krassimir Chomakov, Valeri Domovchiyski, Yordan Todorov, Asen Nikolov had also came through the ranks at Maritsa. ==Honours==

Domestic • First League: • Fourtheenth (2): 1969–70, 1996–97 • Bulgarian Cup: • Semifinals (1): 1996–97 • Second League: • Winners (1): 1995–96 • Third League: • Winners (1): 2020–21 ==Past seasons==

League positions ImageSize = width:1350 height:60 PlotArea = left:10 right:10 bottom:30 top:10 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/07/1983 till:01/07/2026 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:1984 Colors = id:bl1 value:rgb(0.5,0.8,0.5) id:bl2 value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.3) id:rs value:rgb(0.8,0.6,0.6) id:rn value:rgb(0.9,0.1,0.1) PlotData= bar:Position width:16 color:white align:center from:01/07/1983 till:01/07/1984 shift:(0,-4) text:16 from:01/07/1983 till:01/07/1984 color:white shift:(0,14) text: "B Group" from:01/07/1984 till:01/07/1985 shift:(0,-4) text:4 from:01/07/1985 till:01/07/1986 shift:(0,-4) text:6 from:01/07/1986 till:01/07/1987 shift:(0,-4) text:2 from:01/07/1987 till:01/07/1988 shift:(0,-4) text:5 from:01/07/1988 till:01/07/1989 shift:(0,-4) text:2 from:01/07/1989 till:01/07/1990 shift:(0,-4) text:3 from:01/07/1990 till:01/07/1991 shift:(0,-4) text:3 from:01/07/1991 till:01/07/1992 shift:(0,-4) text:5 from:01/07/1992 till:01/07/1993 shift:(0,-4) text:2 from:01/07/1984 till:01/07/1993 color:red shift:(0,14) text: "V Group" from:01/07/1993 till:01/07/1994 shift:(0,-4) text:6 from:01/07/1994 till:01/07/1995 shift:(0,-4) text:2 from:01/07/1995 till:01/07/1996 shift:(0,-4) text:1 from:01/07/1993 till:01/07/1996 color:white shift:(0,14) text: "B Group" from:01/07/1996 till:01/07/1997 shift:(0,-4) text:14 from:01/07/1996 till:01/07/1997 color:green shift:(0,14) text: "A Group" from:01/07/1997 till:01/07/1998 shift:(0,-4) text:5 from:01/07/1998 till:01/07/1999 shift:(0,-4) text:4 from:01/07/1999 till:01/07/2000 shift:(0,-4) text:15 from:01/07/1997 till:01/07/2000 color:white shift:(0,14) text: "B Group" from:01/07/2000 till:01/07/2001 shift:(0,-4) text:11 from:01/07/2001 till:01/07/2002 shift:(0,-4) text:7 from:01/07/2002 till:01/07/2003 shift:(0,-4) text:11 from:01/07/2003 till:01/07/2004 shift:(0,-4) text:2 from:01/07/2004 till:01/07/2005 shift:(0,-4) text:2 from:01/07/2000 till:01/07/2005 color:red shift:(0,14) text: "V Group" from:01/07/2005 till:01/07/2006 shift:(0,-4) text:2 from:01/07/2006 till:01/07/2007 shift:(0,-4) text:10 from:01/07/2007 till:01/07/2008 shift:(0,-4) text:6 from:01/07/2008 till:01/07/2009 shift:(0,-4) text:15 from:01/07/2005 till:01/07/2009 color:white shift:(0,14) text: "B Group" from:01/07/2009 till:01/07/2010 shift:(0,-4) text:2 from:01/07/2010 till:01/07/2011 shift:(0,-4) text:9 from:01/07/2009 till:01/07/2011 color:red shift:(0,14) text: "V Group" from:01/07/2011 till:01/07/2012 shift:(0,-4) text:1 from:01/07/2011 till:01/07/2012 color:blue shift:(0,14) text: B Regional from:01/07/2012 till:01/07/2013 shift:(0,-4) text:2 from:01/07/2013 till:01/07/2014 shift:(0,-4) text:1 from:01/07/2012 till:01/07/2014 color:yellow shift:(0,14) text: "A Regional" from:01/07/2014 till:01/07/2015 shift:(0,-4) text:11 from:01/07/2015 till:01/07/2016 shift:(0,-4) text:9 from:01/07/2014 till:01/07/2016 color:red shift:(0,14) text: "V Group" from:01/07/2016 till:01/07/2017 shift:(0,-4) text:2 from:01/07/2016 till:01/07/2017 color:red shift:(0,14) text: "3rd" from:01/07/2017 till:01/07/2018 shift:(0,-4) text:14 from:01/07/2017 till:01/07/2018 color:white shift:(0,14) text: "2nd" from:01/07/2018 till:01/07/2019 shift:(0,-4) text:5 from:01/07/2019 till:01/07/2020 shift:(0,-4) text:2 from:01/07/2020 till:01/07/2021 shift:(0,-4) text:1 from:01/07/2018 till:01/07/2021 color:red shift:(0,14) text: "3rd League" from:01/07/2021 till:01/07/2022 shift:(0,-4) text:9 from:01/07/2022 till:01/07/2023 shift:(0,-4) text:7 from:01/07/2023 till:01/07/2024 shift:(0,-4) text:17 from:01/07/2021 till:01/07/2024 color:white shift:(0,14) text: "2nd League" from:01/07/2024 till:01/07/2025 shift:(0,-4) text:4 from:01/07/2025 till:01/07/2026 shift:(0,-4) text: from:01/07/2024 till:01/07/2026 color:red shift:(0,14) text: "3rd" ==Current squad==

For recent transfers, see Transfers summer 2023 and Transfers winter 2023–24. ==Personnel==

Current technical body ==Notable players==

Had international caps for their respective countries, held any club record, or have more than 100 league appearance. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries. ;Bulgaria • Aleksandar Aleksandrov • Marin Bakalov • Krasimir Chomakov • Dinko Dermendzhiev • Valeri Domovchiyski • Georgi Georgiev • Georgi Hristov • Yordan Hristov • Nikolay Kirov • Petar Kurdov • Stanislav Malamov • Dimitar Marashliev • Veselin Marchev • Ivan Mekikov • Dimitar Mladenov • Asen Nikolov • Iliya Nikolov • Dimitar Popov • Zapryan Rakov • Hristo Stoichkov • Yordan Todorov • Kostadin Vidolov ;Europe • Armen Ambartsumyan ;Asia • Aleksey Dionisiev ==References==