Levski aim to ride their luck

New PFC Levski Sofia coach Velislav Vutsov is aiming for group-stage football this season after his side were gifted a place in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.

Making amends
Despite finishing second in Bulgaria last season, a full 16 points adrift of league leaders PFC CSKA Sofia, the Blues are back in contention for a UEFA Champions League group stage place because their arch-rivals failed to fulfil the necessary licensing criteria to compete in Europe this season. Following a disappointing 2007/08 season, a new-look Levski are eager to make amends and take advantage of their good fortune.

New coach
With CSKA taking their 31st Bulgarian title, Levski endured a poor campaign last time around, bowing out to Finland's Tampere United in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. Their tails are up again now though and Vutsov is looking to emulate the European achievements of Stanimir Stoilov, who he replaced in May, as the new European season approaches.

Clear aim
Stoilov led Levski to the 2005/06 UEFA Cup quarter-finals and to the UEFA Champions League group stage the following season, and with his side entering the latter competition in the third qualifying round, Vutsov is optimistic. "Our aim is clear," he said. "We want to reach the group stage of the Champions League or the UEFA Cup. We will do our best in Europe and will give everything."

Altered beast
Only goalkeeper Georgi Petkov, Zhivko Milanov and Lucio Wagner remain from the Levski side which competed in the group stage under Stoilov. The likes of Elin Topuzakov, Igor Tomašić, Dimitar Telkiyski, Hristo Yovov, Cédric Bardon and Valeri Domovchiyski are long gone while veteran midfielder Daniel Borimirov has hung up his boots to become the club's sporting director.

Gonzo returns
Vutsov has been given rein to make substantial signings this summer, with the return of forward Georgi Ivanov, 32, for a fourth spell at Levski following 18 months in Croatia with HNK Rijeka bringing much excitement. The seasoned 'Gonzo' will be playing alongside another new signing, 23-year-old Georgi Hristov, who was the A PFG's top scorer last season with 19 goals for PFC Botev Plovdiv.

Foreign signings
Moroccan midfielder Rachid Tiberkanine has also come on board, the 23-year-old having previously played at youth level for AFC Ajax and Bayer 04 Leverkusen before joining Latvia's FK Daugava, while Czech defender David Bystron will also be looking to make a positive impression after making his first move away from FC Baník Ostrava at the age of 25.

Busy summer
"We have worked very hard over the summer," Borimirov said. "We boosted the squad with several good players. We needed a player like Georgi Ivanov, who is a real leader and before his return we lacked experienced players with strong mentality with the exception of Georgi Petkov and Zhivko Milanov. We think we have done a good job so far and hope to reap the benefits."