Mladen Krstajic is no longer the coach of the Bulgarian national team. This announcement came from Georgi Ivanov-Gonzo, the technical director of the Bulgarian Football Union, following a meeting of the Executive Committee of the organization.
"After evaluating the team's recent performance, it was a unanimous decision to part ways with Mladen Krstajic. It was a natural step given the circumstances. We are currently in negotiations with a potential coach, and while we're in the final stages, we haven't reached a final decision yet. We'll be hosting a press conference to introduce the new national coach on November 1," Ivanov stated. He also mentioned that the name of the new coach will be disclosed on that date.
"We have been in talks with several coaches, and names have been circulating in the public domain. The federation's top priority is to find a competent coach who can lead Bulgaria to better results. We are not content with the past year's outcomes. In sports, results matter the most," he added.
"We only provide support to the head coach in terms of resources and conditions. The head coach is responsible for the team's results, including strategy, player selection, and tactics. We do not believe any coach would accept the position if they were micromanaged. Mladen Krstajic was a foreign coach we had high hopes for in our European qualification efforts. While the first four games showed promise, it became evident that the players were not adequately prepared for the demands. We must now focus on nurturing Bulgarian talent. The coach bears responsibility, but the players must also be accountable for their performance. We need to assess whether the Bulgarian Football Union is solely to blame for the criticism it has faced from fans and the media," Gonzo added.
Gonzo also noted that the fans' protests were a response to the national team's poor performance rather than the management of the football union. "Every Bulgarian has the right to voice their opinion, and we acknowledge the fans' sentiments, particularly during the 18th minute. It's natural to face pressure when there's a lack of success, but advocating for unrest and chaos is not the way to support the national team. The protests stem from the team's results, not from the management of the Bulgarian Football Union."
Emil Kostadinov, the vice-president of the Bulgarian Football Union, admitted that there was an earlier discussion about Krstajic's resignation, but they opted to give him more time to turn things around. "There was a suggestion to part ways with Krstajic earlier, but we decided to grant him additional time to prove himself. Unfortunately, we suffered a few losses, and in the end, results matter the most."
Kostadinov added, "Changing coaches is the most challenging aspect for us. The coach is in a precarious position, and so are we. When there are poor results, the blame falls on both the coach and us. Even before signing a contract, the coach is aware of their responsibilities and the authority they have as a selector. Mistakes in appointing coaches have been made here. In the national team, the coach has full autonomy to make decisions, and no one interferes with their work."
In addition to terminating Krstajic's contract, today's Executive Committee meeting also saw changes to the Rules for the contracts and transfers of football players, particularly in relation to sanctions when players leave a club without valid reasons. If such cases are substantiated, the respective football player will face a 6-month suspension of their competitive rights, in accordance with FIFA transfer regulations. Moreover, the injured club is entitled to financial compensation from both the player and their new team.
Additionally, amendments to the financial parameters in the National Club Licensing Ordinance were adopted, limiting clubs to allocating no more than 70 percent of their revenue to pay salaries to players, administrative staff, and players' agents. /BGNES
