Georgi Ivanov (Gonzo) on Bulgarian Football: National Team, Youth Development & League Updates
Georgi Ivanov – Gonzo, President of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFS), has asserted the organization’s independence from external pressures, particularly ultimatums, as he addresses key issues within Bulgarian football. Speaking in an exclusive interview with BNT on , Ivanov emphasized the consistent application of rules for all parties involved.
The national team’s performance has fallen short of expectations, a reality acknowledged by Ivanov. He pointed to the strength of the opposition faced during World Cup qualifying, but stressed that the national team represents only the “tip of the iceberg,” reflecting the overall state of the Bulgarian football system. “We see the reason in youth football,” Ivanov stated, “and that’s why we’re concentrating all our attention there, so that we can have a foundation, and we recognize that if the foundation and base are strong, successes will come in time.”
Ivanov highlighted a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Education, formalized through a memorandum of understanding. This partnership aims to integrate football into schools, with a project underway to construct ten novel pitches in educational institutions, leveraging programs offered by FIFA. He noted that the BFS currently receives no direct state funding, relying instead on project-based financing from UEFA, and FIFA.
A significant aspect of the BFS’s strategy involves a partnership with Double Pass, a globally recognized firm specializing in football development. Ivanov described the company as “one of the best in the world,” noting its work with numerous major football federations. Double Pass’s role centers on evaluating and improving academies, focusing on coach training, player development, and overall club infrastructure. The categorization process, according to Ivanov, doesn’t solely measure results but assesses the level of a school’s development and provides tailored recommendations for improvement.
Ivanov emphasized the importance of a unified methodology across all youth academies undergoing categorization. “Positive will be that now there will be work according to a single methodology in all youth schools that enter this categorization,” he explained. “Guidelines are given to coaches, guidelines are given to the club itself, based on infrastructure, based on the training process, based on workload. These are very important things for the development of Bulgarian football.” He noted that 130 federations and large clubs already collaborate with Double Pass, reinforcing the BFS’s belief in its potential to revitalize the foundation of Bulgarian football.
The BFS President acknowledged a historical imbalance in focus, stating that recent years have seen an overemphasis on professional football at the expense of youth development. “We have turned the pyramid upside down,” he said. “For us, It’s important to have men’s football, professional football, and we have forgotten the development of players.”
Looking ahead, Ivanov expressed a desire for a positive and ambitious atmosphere within Bulgarian football, emphasizing the unifying power of success. He cited the recent achievements of the Bulgarian volleyball team, whose second-place finish at the World Championship generated significant national enthusiasm as an example. “We want to lay the foundations so that we can build and in the near future have successes that the Bulgarian people can be proud of,” he added.
Regarding the upcoming League of Nations tournament, Ivanov expressed confidence in the team’s ability to compete, stating that the group consists of “equal teams” and that success will depend on their own performance. He outlined a clear objective: to finish first in the group as a stepping stone towards qualifying for the European Championship.
Ivanov also offered his assessment of the domestic league, describing it as “extremely engaging” with a competitive battle for both the championship title and to avoid relegation. He highlighted the increased intrigue resulting from the recent format change, reducing the number of teams from 16 to 14, with three teams facing relegation and one entering a playoff.
Addressing concerns about the quality of pitches in the First League, Ivanov clarified that the BFS is not directly responsible for their maintenance. He explained that licensing is granted to clubs, who then choose their stadium, and that the Sport-Technical Commission assesses pitch conditions before the start of the season. “Clubs are responsible for the maintenance of their pitches,” he stated. “And in Bulgaria, there aren’t many pitches that are great. Given that the financial condition of most clubs is not good. What everyone talks about is that the pitches are terrible, they only have criticism. Does anyone offer a solution?”
He defended the current league format of 14 teams, stating that the playoff phase was designed with this number in mind and that there is no significant demand for further reduction. Ivanov reported a positive atmosphere during a recent tour of clubs, with approximately 400 meetings held, indicating a sense of understanding and cooperation.
Ivanov concluded by emphasizing a shift away from the conflicts that plagued Bulgarian football in recent years. “What was before 2 years ago, this war that was 3 years long, in which there were clubs against the federation, clubs against clubs, there is now peace and tranquility in football,” he said. “I have said one thing before, that if someone wants to build, they must build in peaceful times. When there is war and discontent and all kinds of interpretations of every president who is dissatisfied with refereeing, with pitches, with something else, that does not lead to the development of football, that leads to collapse.”
The BFS is also actively working to improve the quality of Bulgarian referees, implementing video analysis of errors, utilizing body cameras, and adding additional cameras, including goal-line technology, to assist in decision-making. Regular seminars, gatherings, and testing are conducted to ensure referees maintain peak physical and mental condition.