Bulgaria Football Team Slumps to Record Low, Ranks behind Haiti

Sports | November 24, 2011, Thursday // 09:49|  views

Bulgaria’s new coach Lyuboslav Penev (pictured) is facing the gloomy prospect of seeing his team being kicked out of the top 100 teams in the world before his debut in February in a clash against Hungary. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Bulgaria's international football squad has collapsed to the 85th place in the FIFA World Ranking, a historical new low in its headlong fall over the last year.

The Bulgarian national squad that reached the historically high 8th spot back in 1995 is now lagging behind the likes of Haiti, Cape Verde Islands, Antigua and Barbuda.

Bulgaria's national team is in deep crisis, its dismal performance in the Euro 2012 qualifiers being the main reason behind the massive collapse. The Balkan squad finished last in its qualifying group with just 5 points.

The situation can become even worse and the team may get kicked out of the top 100 teams in the world before the new coach Lyuboslav Penev makes his debut in February in a clash against Hungary.

During this period there are many control matches to be played in the Caribbean region. Trinidad and Tobago, one of the best teams there, is now only 1 point behind Bulgaria in FIFA ranking.

Lyuboslav Penev, the nephew of Bulgaria's most successful football manager in history, was officially appointed as national coach at the beginning of November.

Penev, a former prolific striker who used to play for Spanish sides Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Compostela and Celta Vigo, has signed a two-year contract with the option to extend it for two more years.

Penev, the former coach of Bulgarian champions Litex, is expected to bring some "fresh blood" into the squad.

The country's greatest football success was in 1994 when its team reached the World Cup semifinals under the management of Lyuboslav Penev's uncle, Dimitar Penev.

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Tags: Bulgarian, national squad, Lothar Matthaeus, football, Bulgaria, FIFA ranking, FIFA, Lyuboslav Penev, coach

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