Alexander Dimitrov is the most likely new national coach of Bulgaria, Gong.bg reported. The 49-year-old specialist has the greatest chances of replacing Ilian Iliev, and it is expected that he will be appointed to the position next week.
In recent days, the management of our football headquarters has held a number of talks, focusing on the current coach of the youth national team. He will be appointed as the permanent coach of the "tricolors", and not as a temporary one, as information has appeared.
Ilian Iliev parted ways with Bulgaria on September 9, Tuesday, after two losses at the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to Spain and Georgia with 0:3 each. Dimitar Dimitrov-Hero and Alexander Tunchev were also options for his replacement. Ultimately, the closest to the position is Alexander Dimitrov.
His debut as coach of the "Lions" will be on October 11 against Turkey at "Vasil Levski". Three days later, the team visits Spain in Valladolid. The World Cup qualifiers end with Turkey visiting Bursa on November 15, and on the 18th, Georgia is at home.
The 49-year-old specialist has been at the helm of the Bulgarian youth national team since December 20, 2018. He has led the team in a total of 54 matches, in which he recorded 19 wins, 15 draws and 20 losses with a goal difference of 67:60. Under his leadership, the team started the qualifications for the upcoming European Championship with a 3:0 victory over Gibraltar in Pazardzhik and a 1:1 draw against Azerbaijan in Baku.
Alexander Dimitrov began his coaching career as the head coach of Bulgaria's U-17 team in 2011. In 2014, the U-19 team led by the specialist qualified for the finals of the UEFA European Championship in Hungary, and in 2015 Dimitrov headed the national U-17 team, which participated in the Euro 2015 finals in Bulgaria.
He was an assistant coach of the youth national team, worked in Indonesia as an assistant to Ivan Kolev in Persipura, in the Indonesian national team and in the Indonesian Olympic team. In our country, he led Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa, Conegliano German and Beroe. He was an assistant coach at Botev Plovdiv.