Bulgaria's Lyubo Penev Most Likely to Replace Matthaeus

Penev was appointed at the helm of Litex Lovech about a year ago. Photo by BGNES

Lyuboslav Penev, the nephew of Bulgaria's most successful manager in history, has emerged as the strongest favorite for taking over the national team after it broke up with German legend Lothar Matthaeus.

The former CSKA and Valencia striker has admitted that he is holding talks with the Bulgarian Football Union president Borislav Mihaylov for the post.

"I am expecting one more meeting with Borislav Mihaylov this week. It is highly probable that this was my last match as Litex coach," Penev commented after his team won 2-1 against Ludogorets on Monday.

Mihail Madanski, who was previously in charge of Bulgaria's Under-21 internationals, took over Bulgaria national football team as an interim coach at the end of September when Lothar Matthaeus was fired over poor results and fierce opposition from the dressing room.

Meanwhile the management of Bulgarian champions Litex Lovech confirmed they have dismissed its head coach Lyuboslav Penev over the team's poor results.

Penev was appointed at the helm of Litex Lovech exactly a year ago, replacing Angel Chervenkov shortly after he was sacked for the team's failure in the Champions League.

Before that Lyuboslav Penev resigned from his post of CSKA Sofia coach along with the whole coaching staff of the top Bulgarian club.

Lyoboslav Penev's tenure in charge of CSKA was tainted with controversy including a travel ban over his default BGN 2 M loan from EIBank.

Lyuboslav Penev was appointed CSKA Sofia coach in the spring of 2009 after replacing his legendary uncle Dimitar Penev.

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