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Lokomotiv
Full name	PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Nickname(s)	The smurfs
Founded	26 July 1926
Ground	Lokomotiv Stadium,; Plovdiv; (Capacity: 13,800)
Chairman	Galina Topalova
Manager	Stefan Genov
League	TBI A Football Group
2008-09	6th
Home colours	Away colours

PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv (Bulgarian: ПФК Локомотив Пловдив) is a Bulgarian football club, from the city of Plovdiv. The club was founded in July, 1926.

[edit] Honours

Vice-champion of Bulgaria - 1 time – 1973
Champion of Bulgaria - 1 time – 2004
Winner of the cup of Bulgaria - 1 time – 1983
Winner of the Supercup of Bulgaria - 1 time – 2004

[edit] History

Lokomotiv was founded on 26 July 1926 as Sportclub, after union between two clubs from Plovdiv - Karadzha and Athletic. The football club characterized by a black, white and red check jersey. In 1938 Sportclub joined the Bulgarian National Football Division for first time in the club's history. The team finally became known as Lokomotiv in 1949-50 season. The most successful season in the club's history was the 2003-04 campaign. Lokomotiv won the Bulgarian championship and also played for the first time in the UEFA Champions League where they were beaten by Club Brugge of Belgium. In same year Lokomotiv also won the Bulgarian Supercup, after beating Litex Lovech in the final by scoring a brilliant header in the last seconds of the game (1:0). The club has a large fanbase, who are considered to be some of the most fanatic fans in all of Bulgaria. Lokomotiv is one of the most popular football clubs in southern Bulgaria and are seen to be one of the major clubs in the country. Lokomotiv Plovdiv has the oldest fanclub organization in Bulgaria, established in 1988.

[edit] Rivalry

Lokomotiv Plovdiv's major opponent is the other local team, playing in the First division - Botev Plovdiv. Hooligans of the two teams often organise mass fights, usually on the derby days, at some secluded location in the city.

[edit] Youth Academy

The club is attributed as being one of the best developers of young and unknown players in Bulgaria. Among the club's legendary players are Hristo Bonev - considered by most Lokomotiv fans as being the greatest player ever for Lokomotiv, and one of the greatest Bulgarian players also being the countries leading goalscorer with 47 goals to his name. The list of other famous players to have come from the clubs youth system consist of Hristo Kolev "Бащата" ("The Father"), Eduard Eranosyan (Also manager of the 2004 team that won the Bulgarian championship and SuperCup), Georgi "Gocho" Vasilev, Georgi "Gonzo" Ivanov, and Vasil Kamburov.

[edit] Previous names

1926-1944 Sportclub Plovdiv
1945-1947 S.P.-45
1947-1949 Slavia Plovdiv

[edit] Current squad

As of December 5, 2009

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Stoyan Stavrev
3	DF	Thiago Soares
4	DF	Lyudmil Nikolov
5	DF	Georgi Bachvarov
7	MF	Hristian Popov
10	MF	Milan Milutinović
12	GK	Kiril Akalski
14	FW	Dimitar Iliev
15	MF	Rafael Sciani
16	FW	Veselin Marchev
17	MF	Dejan Komljenović
18	MF	Krasen Trifonov

No.	Position	Player
19	MF	Georgi Danov
20	MF	Ton
21	FW	Emil Stoev
22	GK	Nikolay Mitev
23	DF	Georgi Mechedzhiev
24	DF	Martin Sechkov
25	DF	Angel Yoshev
26	FW	Georgi Petrov
27	MF	Stayko Stoychev
28	MF	Bahri Shakir
29	DF	Petar Kyumurdzhiev
30	DF	Félicien Singbo
88	MF	Dani Kiki

For recent transfers, see List of Bulgarian football transfers summer 2009.

[edit] Retired numbers

8 Hristo Bonev, midfielder, 1963-1967, 1968-1979

[edit] The champions team'2004

In the 2003-04 season, Lokomotiv Plovdiv won the Bulgarian title, the first and so far the only in the club's history. The coach, Bulgarian Eduard Eranosyan, formerly football player of the team started the 2003–04 well, with Lokomotiv leading the league by 6 points halfway through the season and remaining unbeaten. In the penultimate, 29th round, The Smurfs defeated Slavia Sofia in Plovdiv by 1:0 in front of more than 17000 spectators and Lokomotiv won the Bulgarian championship. Lokomotiv finished the season with 75 points, 3 more than the second, Levski.