SFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo

The club was founded as OFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo in 2013[1] with the license of FC Botev Debelets.[2] In their first season they finished in 5th position in V Group.

In January 2016, Boncho Genchev became the new manager of the team which was in 3rd place at the halfway point in the season, only two points behind the 1st place team.[3] The selection included Lyubomir Genchev coming from A Group team Montana, Stefan Hristov from Spartak Pleven and the leading goalscorer in the first part of 2015–16 season in B Group, Petar Dimitrov.[4] The team eventually won all its matches, winning the league and being promoted to B Group.[5]

On 9 June 2016 Etar were officially approved for the new 2nd division — Second League, with the club changing its abbreviation to "SFC Etar". Ferario Spasov remains in his position as manager and with a good selection team made promotion to First League.[6] Etar were promoted as champions of the 2016–17 Second League, sealing their title on the final day of the season with a 2–2 away draw against Nesebar, coupled with Septemvri Sofia's 2–0 away defeat to Oborishte.[7][8]

Etar’s first season into the elite was difficult. The team finished 13th in the regular phase, with only four wins. This placed Etar as one of the candidates for relegation. In the relegation phase, Etar finished last in their group and had to play playoff/play out matches in order to remain in the elite. In the first round, Etar beat Pirin Blagoevgrad 3-1 aggregate and advanced to the second round. There, the violets faced Dunav Ruse. Two strong matches resulted in a 4-1 aggregate win, and Etar secured their status as a member of the top tier.

On 4 January 2018 Krasimir Balakov was announced as the new manager in the club with Stanislav Genchev, Iliyan Kiryakov and Kaloyan Chakarov as first team coaches.[9]

• First League:
  • 1st: 1990-1991
• Second League:
  • Winners (1): 2016–17
• Northwestern Third League:
  • Winners (1): 2015–16
  • Runners–up: 2014–15
• Bulgarian Cup:
  • Quarterfinals (2): 2017–18, 2018–19

As of 1 June 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Hristo Ivanov (captain) 5 DF Hristofor Hubchev 6 DF Dimitar Tsonev 7 FW Milcho Angelov 8 MF Pedro Lagoa 9 FW Ivan Petkov 10 FW Flo Bojaj 11 MF Anton Ognyanov 12 GK Tsvetomir Tsankov 13 GK Anatoli Gospodinov 14 DF Ivan Skerlev 16 MF Steliyan Dobrev 19 FW Tonislav Yordanov (on loan from CSKA Sofia)

No. Position Player 20 DF Yani Pehlivanov 22 MF Nikola Kolev 24 DF Georgi Kupenov 44 MF Bozhidar Katsarov 70 DF Kolyo Stanev 71 MF Toni Ivanov (on loan from Slavia Sofia) 72 MF Erol Dost (on loan from Ludogorets) 73 MF Ivan Stoyanov (vice-captain) 77 MF Dino Martinović 84 DF Zdravko Iliev 88 FW Dimitar Baydakov DF Plamen Krachunov FW Valentin Yoskov (on loan from CSKA 1948)

For recent transfers, see Transfers summer 2020.

Up to five non-EU nationals can be registered and given a squad number for the first team in the Bulgarian First Professional League however only three can be used in a match day. Those non-EU nationals with European ancestry can claim citizenship from the nation their ancestors came from. If a player does not have European ancestry he can claim Bulgarian citizenship after playing in Bulgaria for 5 years.