Penev to combine Bulgaria role with Botev

Bulgaria coach Luboslav Penev is to take charge of PFC Botev Plovdiv while retaining his national-team role.

Penev, 47, succeeds Stanimir Stoilov who left his position at Botev earlier this week. Former PFC CSKA Sofia and title-winning PFC Litex Lovech coach Penev was appointed by the Bulgarian Football Union (BFS) in November 2011 and in the same month of 2013 signed a new two-year contract for UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying.

"My work at Botev will not hinder my duties with the national team," Penev said. "We have had talks with Bulgarian Football Union president Borislav Mihaylov and we assessed every detail of the situation before agreeing to sign for Botev.

"I would like to thank him and the members of the Executive Committee for giving me the chance to work simultaneously with the national team and Botev. I am sure this will even benefit the national team, with whom our goal is the UEFA EURO 2016 finals."

Botev will enter the UEFA Europa League in the first qualifying round after finishing fourth and losing to champions PFC Ludogorets Razgrad in the Bulgarian Cup final. Bulgaria start UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying on 9 September in Azerbaijan; they are in Group H, which also involves Croatia, Italy, Malta and Norway.