Stoycho Mladenov is one of the emblems of the CSKA – Levski derby, especially when it comes to this rivalry before the XXI century. The coach who led the Reds to their last Bulgarian championship title has a total of 17 matches in charge of CSKA against Levski.
In them, Mladenov’s team defeated the “blues” 9 times, 6 of the meetings ended in a draw, and only 2 times Levski defeated the CSKA team led by Stoycho Mladenov.
Two days before the last derby for the 2023/2024 season, Stoycho Mladenov spoke to dsport, in which he commented on the topics surrounding “reds” and “blues”, as well as Bulgarian football in general.
– Mr. Mladenov, let’s start from there, how is life going with you, what have you been doing lately?
I help the family and of course, relieve both physical and mental stress.
– You continue to follow Bulgarian football, right?
– Not only the Bulgarian one, but on a global scale in general, at least here in Europe, I try to follow all the championships.
– Are you thinking about returning to football as a head coach? And as a director?
– Everything depends on many things?
– What would they be – attitude, conditions?
– With a good project, I would think about it, I would talk, but not at any cost.
– There is a derby between CSKA and Levski this weekend, let’s start from there – in your opinion, does this format of the playoffs in the top six, with only one match between the teams, allow for equality between the teams?
– Especially the match Levski – CSKA, whenever they meet, the thrill is indescribable on both sides, the whole of Bulgaria boils and seethes on the eve of the match, and during the match we know how everything goes. Some boundaries are even crossed, which is not pleasant for anyone.
– Why do you think some people in Bulgaria go to the match, as if they are going to war, and are ready to hurt their compatriots, even if they were from the other team, from the great enemy?
– It’s all about education and intelligence. I am one of the victims. You remember how I got hit by a snowball. I imagine between the fans in the stands what is going on, what kind of war is going on there. It shouldn’t be, after all this is a sporting event. I know that CSKA and Levski is the tip of the iceberg in the Bulgarian championship and here everything escalates to the limit, but we must be aware of how far we can go with our behavior. Everything should be in moderation, let each campaigner support his team and not exceed all the rights and rules that everyone should follow when going to a match. After all, this is not war.
– You are the last coach who led CSKA to the championship title of Bulgaria, and since then too much time has passed if we ask the fans. The same goes for Levski’s last title, which came right after. Why have both the “reds” and the “blues” continued to struggle for so many years and never managed to reach the cherished peak?
– There are two reasons. The first, which is de facto, perhaps the most substantial, is that both clubs were mismanaged. Extremely unprofessional, I would say. The second reason is Ludogorets. In Ludogorets, professionalism is at a very high level. Naturally, the financial power that the owners have, and the fact that they arranged things in a professional manner and each one in a certain position is responsible for his work. They have a scout unit, they have a chief scout, they have performers at every position and they are football people, professionals. So the club is run 99% by football personalities and specialists and from there on the tip of the iceberg is the owner who says yes and no.
– Coming back to the derby coming up on Saturday, what do you expect from the two teams given that they played against each other 2 weeks ago (April 7) and then CSKA completely outplayed Levski?
– I expect the same, I expect it, because in the last 10-15 years, CSKA has supremacy over Levski, and impressively so. Match streaks, winning streaks, etc. I think that everything positive leads to CSKA. In Levski there is a breakdown in this respect when they come out against CSKA, there is some concern, some complex that they cannot overcome.
– You are one of the reasons why CSKA has been dominant in the derby in recent years. From the Reds side, you are a specialist in derbies, what is required of a coach for his team to win this match, specifically CSKA vs Levski?
– This is not the only match in the championship, but it is the most important match, one of the most important I would say. We, the coaches, know that every single match has equal importance, but this match also reflects psychologically, not only for the club, but also for the entire fan base, not to mention the whole of Bulgaria. Therefore, the approach to this match is extremely important. The coach should think 3-4 rounds before this game. To think things like that and prepare the team to be in top shape in every aspect, like self-confidence, authority, physically prepared, mentally, in every aspect. Restored and prepared in every single part, so that every competitor, being in peak form, can give the maximum of himself. From a psychological point of view, this is very important, even in many moments it is not necessary for the coach to overdo things in motivation. After all, the footballers are obliged to motivate themselves to the maximum in this regard, in this match, and not wait for the coach to do such things.
– Regarding the coaches, what are your impressions of Stamen Belchev and Nikolay Kostov respectively?
– Congratulations to Nasko Sirakov for standing firmly behind the coach. This is an example to all other owners that this is exactly how the owner and management of a club should treat the head coach. When there is a vote of confidence, it should be a long-term vote of confidence, not changing the coach every 3-4 months. After 3-4 months the coach is changed, it says that the mistake was not made by the coach, but by the one who chose him. So he picked the wrong coach.
– What advice would you give to the two of them – Stamen Belchev and Nikolay Kostov, be it for the derby or be it in general?
– I am far from giving advice, I never did, I never will. Although I am now on the other side of the barricade, I am not active in this area as a coach, I would not give advice on how, why, etc.
– Finally, Mr. Mladenov, can you give any forecast for the upcoming derby?
– Victory for CSKA!
– And the result?
– No, no results. I’m not Grandma Vanga to tell results.
