The Cups. They were three this year… the old Soviet Army Cup still existed, the Bulgarian National Cup, and newly introduced Supercup – every European country introduced such trophy in the 1980s and Bulgaria followed the fashion: in theory, the the trophy was to be the great clash between the champion and the Cup winner – but, just like the international European Supercup, the national Supercups never attracted great interest and importance. So, such competitions are and will be rarely, if at all, mentioned – the Bulgarian Supercup perhaps will not be mentioned again: the reason it is mentioned now is only because the trophy was created and introduced this season. Apart from that, the narrative is really about CFKA Sredetz – for they won everything this time.
The Soviet Army Cup. Lost its importance years ago, but it was still played. Many clubs were clearly disinterested, which in turn further reduced public interest in the already meaningless trophy. It would be quite correct to say that if a big club for whatever reason wished to win it, it was theirs. Martitza-Iztok (Radnevo) and CFKA Sredetz reached the final this season – Stoichkov, Kostadinov, and Trifon Ivanov against Third Division team. A mid-table Third Division team… they finished 12th in their 18-team South-Eastern Group of the Third Division. What contest? CFKA Seredetz won 6-1. Stoichkov scored 2 goals and Georgy Georgiev 4.
CFKA Sredetz won its 12th Soviet Army Cup. It was just statistics at this point. Sitting from left: Stefan Bachev, Nedyalko Mladenov, Christo Stoichkov, Lachezar Tanev, Krassimir Bezinski, Emil Kostadinov. Middle row: Nikolay Chervenyakov – doctor, Iliya Valov, Doncho Donev, Ivaylo Kirov, Trifon Ivanov, Kiril Kachamanov, Roumen Stoyanov, Roumen Apostolov, Aleksander Aleksandrov – rehabilitation, Spiridon Bachev – rehabilitation. Top row: Stoil Trankov – assistant coach, Petar Vitanov, Georgy Georgiev, Dimitar Penev – coach, Kostadin Yanchev, Iliya Dyakov, Petar Zhekov – assistant coach.
The Bulgarian Cup final also looked decided in advance: CFKA Sredetz vs Chernomoretz (Bourgas). Chernomoretz had a great run reaching the final – they eliminated Sliven, Vratza, and Vitosha – but they were also a Second Division, which even did not win that championship. CFKA Sredetz won 3-0.
Standing from left: St. Trankov – assistant coach, R. Apostolov, G. Georgiev, R. Stoyanov, D. Donev, D. Penev – coach, I. Kirov, St. Bachev, K. Kachamanov, P. Vitanov. I. Valov. P. Zhekov – assistant coach. Sitting: Kr. Bezinski, K. Yanchev, Tr. Ivanov, Plamen Getov, N. Mladenov, Chr. Stoichkov, L. Tanev, Em. Kostadinov, Lyuboslav Penev.
Third consecutive Bulgarian Cup and – at the time – 5th altogether. The Cup won in 1985 did not count, because the Communist Party voided this final and stripped the record. Anyhow, CFKA Sredetz was leading in this competition – the arch-enemy Vitosha had 3 Cups – but already it was clear that both the Soviet Army Cup and the Bulgarian Cup will be amalgamated and in the combined record the Army was behind Vitosha.
The brand new Supercup had to be played between the champions and the national Cup winner. Since CFKA Sredetz won both trophies the first Supercup final was a repeat of the Bulgarian Cup final – Chernomoretz again faced CFKA Sredetz. The match was played in Bourgas, Chernomoretz’s home turf and that plus the date – July 15th – perhaps explains why CFKA won minimally: just 1-0. the goal scored by Stoichkov in the 17th minute.
In the middle of July transfers already took place, so the finalists played with their 1989-90 teams, not 1988-89 squads. Thus, the difference – the new recruits are here and played in this final: A. Dimitrov, M. Bakalov, D, Mladenov, M. Urukov, and E. Dimitrov.
Crouching from left: Aleksandar Aleleksandrov – masseur, Anton Dimitrov, Marin Bakalov, Doncho Donev, Stefan Bachev, Ivaylo Kirov, Trifon Ivanov, Lyuboslav Penev – captain, Christo Stoichkov. Standing: Aleksandar Cherbenyakov – doctor, Stoil Trankov – assistant coach, Marius Urukov, Petar Vitanov, Dobry Dimov – superintendant, Kostadin Yanchev, Roumen Apostolov, Emil Dimitrov, Dimitar Mladenov, Petar Zheov – assistant coach, Emil Kostadinov, Iliya Valov, Dimitar Penev – coach.
CFKA Sredetz won every trophy this season – a quadruple winner, which instantly madse them the most successful squad in Bulgarian history. Even earlier great CSKA squads never won more than a double – but there were only 2 trophies before 1981 and 3 before this season, so no matter how good this team was, it was also lucky to have so many trophies available.