Football agent Lachezar Tanev spoke to Darik radio and dsport about the derby between CSKA and Levski from the first round of the efbet League playoffs, the transfer summer in our country and in Europe, the situation with the “reds” and “blues” regarding transfers, the new president of the BFS Georgi Ivanov and the importance of the football league in our country.
“We’re moving agents. The end of the season is coming, the next one is coming. Trips and such. Now I will not come to the match between CSKA and Levski. Lately I’ve been in Bulgaria a lot, even more than Spain. I watch what happens. I see some lights in the tunnel regarding players and their qualities. It is not enough, but I can still give as an example the last official match of the youth national team. Lots of talented guys playing in the clubs and it gives them confidence. I haven’t seen a Bulgarian national team play with such a desire to win, a desire to play with the ball, not to worry, not to kick it forward, to play football like anywhere in the world. This is probably the most positive since the beginning of the year so far. Against Poland, the youngsters won with a game,” Tanev began.
“Emotions around the derby are always great. The charge is large. There is not always any class. The last match, I think, had a decent dynamic, but it’s not what we’ve seen many years ago. This is the match of matches who will talk. The history between the two teams is very long. The most titled teams abroad are those who won in the 60s and 70s. History supports this trend,” he added before the CSKA – Levski derby.
“The Reds had to take some measures because the season collapsed. They are many points away from the first place, yes, they are playing for the Cup, but they are far from the first place. Stamen Belchev is known to everyone and is the most suitable option to finish the season. I don’t know what their plans are. Otherwise, Levski standing firmly behind the coach is not bad news either. I assume that evaluations will be made after the end of the season, but Nasko Sirakov is also right that they did not provide him with a sufficient number of good players. They had to sell because of the debts and the inability to buy. When you’re looking for free agents, it’s not that easy. Do you know where the difference is? This huge history, which both clubs carry on their backs, makes Zapalyankov fans live in the years when these two clubs were worthy rivals of any team in Europe. However, that was 20-30 years ago. What is hidden behind the names Levski and CSKA in the last 15 years. “Both of them did not find the path to success, but expectations are greater than reality,” he added.
“I know what the leading teams in Bulgaria have to do. Whether we can provide it is another matter. It is clear. I could say for the tenth time that, especially for CSKA, the sums spent on wages are not small, but the performance is not what it should be for such a level of money. I continue to argue that the criteria for selecting players has been messed up in recent years. That’s where CSKA’s problem comes from. The problem for CSKA is not BFS or Ludogorets. They have very good conditions both as a base and as financial opportunities, but in my opinion, the players they choose do not make a difference in the team,” added Tanev.
“I speak professionally. Passions are passions. There are two teams, plus the Plovdiv two, that can accumulate serious funds and be self-supporting if things are done right. If you play in Europe, you have good players and a stadium. You cannot look for results without investments – financial and sports-technical.
I will give an example with another Bulgarian club. Kiril and Georgi Domuschievi saw a long time ago that in Razgrad they could hardly have a return. Therefore, their goal was to take risks. To buy expensive players because the real revenue comes through ECT. They took a risk and now they maintain this level,” said the football agent.
“At the moment, CSKA is building a new stadium, throwing huge funds. If the choice of players is better, they will have the same success. If a player wants to go to Razgrad, he will ask for more money, compared to if he is in Sofia. Even in clubs like Levski and CSKA will be a bit cheaper than Ludogorets. I don’t know if anyone realizes that. You can’t just wait beat.
I am good friends with Miguel Angel Hill Marin. He told me 15 years ago that there were two ways out for Atlético Madrid – either to leave this job or to make every effort, including financial ones, to raise the level of the club. Then the results will come. They made a huge investment with Radamel Falcao, they started to get better players and it paid off. They found partners, built a modern stadium. They are closer and closer in terms of sports and technology. They also became champions, resisting Barca and Real. “Levski, CSKA, Loko Pd and Botev Pd have a huge fan base and if you do things right, they happen,” said Tanev.
“For me, the most important thing in Levski is the person who is next to the coach on behalf of the club and together they make decisions about the players. Sirakov is a president, he cannot become a director or a scout. He is the president and should control the work. Borimirov has a lot of commitments. He can hardly focus on the selection. There should be at least one person in the club to control the selection – sales, analysis of players. I have always believed that the club should have the final say. The trend is slightly reversed. Coaches change, and everyone wants new players. The coach should be respected for what positions he is looking for, the options for a given position should be discussed with him, but the final opinion should be the club’s. If so, there must be a person who is in the business of making that choice on a daily basis. Given the fact that Nasko Sirakov is one of the few people in Bulgaria who really understands sports-technically what it is all about, but that is not his job. You should have one human unit and at least one more to travel. You can’t wait for an agent to offer you something until then. You look, the coach calls to take it – no, no. Levski can improve a lot. You have to have that interest.’
“I read that Ricardinho wants a transfer, but someone has to ask for it and give something serious.” The players say it’s time to be sold. Yes, but for what money. Córdoba, in my opinion, is a must. Moments were missed, but Levski sold others for good money. Our clubs must be firmly on the ground, including Ludogorets. The Bulgarian championship is not an interesting destination. A young player can come that can play in Europe, the club is historic and things like that, or players out of form. Our championship is not interesting for foreign players. They must be aware that if a more talented player comes, he wants to go to a higher level in the second or third year at most. Maybe the balance of the team will be disturbed, but you should know that a more honest footballer comes with the thought that this is a stepping stone to a higher level. You should immediately find a replacement for him. You can’t stop it. If you stop it, the player is not happy. He wants in stronger championships. Our clubs must understand it. To a large extent, this is what the player came to Bulgaria with – to get into a rhythm and go. Therefore, the people who manage our football should look further from their noses,” Tanev also said.
“I have spoken to Chiki Begiristain and Brian Marwood – the head of City Football Group. I guess they think there is more talent in the former Yugoslavia. They don’t know what condition the club they are taking is in. Levski was almost done with Sport Republik – Sholak’s fund. I guess something scared them in Bulgaria too. When there is tension between fans and management, who will take the hot potato? Fans are talking about Barcelona-style self-governance. But Barcelona had nearly 1 billion in revenue before the crisis. Then, yes. The members gather, choose someone and observe him. If you want to fight for the first place in Bulgaria, you have no chance with your own income. There must be a serious president to foot the bill. CSKA, if they build their stadium, Levski – also, no wonder some fund appears to bring it into the system. Any business that comes faces problems in Bulgaria. Administrative and any. That’s our system. How can he come when 100 thousand things fall on the investor and he just runs away. Other countries are perhaps more normal and flexible.”
“The system is pretty broken. Gonzo knows it. Just to say precisely because I was his agent, I know him quite well. He is a very honest and decent boy. He has a great sense of justice and dignity. Those who helped elect him are mistaken if they think they can influence him. He has undergone a development in management work. He has held positions of responsibility. I can see him quite grown up. I hope it will be like that in the decisions. He will be under enormous pressure. I hope his character and nerves hold out. It won’t be easy for him, but I think he’ll do it. There will be obstacles in the Executive Committee as well,” said Tanev regarding the new president of the BFS, Georgi Ivanov – Gonzo.
“He decided something very normal – to have open, transparent, real football. I don’t know how this thing will exist, but he’s made up his mind. Jump in and let’s wish him success. I am not saying anything against Berbatov and the others. Commenting on Georgi Ivanov. Berbatov is also an extremely honest boy. The outer shell is that he is arrogant. Everyone has a primary protective shell. They continue to have things clear and to the point. Resistance would be easier for them to deal with because they had never relied on it. I have spoken with Mitko two or three times. He asked me my opinion and I was very frank. I want there to be Bulgarian football. My business and especially my son’s depends on the quality of the players. They won’t be there if we don’t work properly and build a healthy and strong professional league. How come these 30 professional clubs did not get together once. They will not cry to me that the federation was like that, for the judges, for the state. How to help them without showing that they want to take the business into their own hands? They must have a lean organization to protect their interests against anyone you can think of. There should be active and serious people there. The clubs don’t want them,” Tanev was categorical.
“Do you know why they don’t want to? That’s who we are as a nation. Everyone copes as they can. We have no social responsibility as a nation. We are not responsible for problems in society. Everyone is hiding. I don’t care if the neighbor didn’t settle. Football clubs somehow seek support from the federation through referees and committees. They don’t trust each other.
You see Tebas in Spain what power he has as president of the professional league. He is more important than the president of the federation. He is negotiating for TV rights, for the format of the championship. It’s not complicated. The president there must be a person with authority and under him there must be young people who work around the clock. You can’t mess with one or two. She’s Mickey Mouse, she just has to have her. Can the office of the president of the league be next to the office of that of the BFS. It is shameful and offensive.
Business is in your hands, folks. I don’t understand them, I don’t feel like pushing into this Bulgarian history. When you see that you have no desire and like-minded people, what to do. Dig, dig, dig. I try to have a public response in the shows, to provoke opinions. There will always be swearing. Before we talk about anything, our league is nothing. Who is to blame – the clubs. Nothing personal to Atanas Karaivanov, but there should be a figure who, when he goes to the National Assembly, will stand up and greet him. He must be a person who seeks the development of football, not steal. I’m not saying it’s being stolen, but that’s the presumption. Football is an absolute social phenomenon. If we sports don’t support them, we go along the inclined plane. Things are very basic. No one wants to get off track,” concluded Tanev.
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