Stanimir Stoilov (Bulgarian: Станимир Стойлов; born 13 February 1967) is a Bulgarian professional football manager and former player. Primarily known for his successful stints managing PFC Levski Sofia and FC Astana, he is considered one of the most accomplished Bulgarian football managers of his generation.
Early Life and Playing Career
Born in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, Stoilov began his football career as a defensive midfielder. He played for several clubs throughout his career, most notably:
- PFC Levski Sofia: He had multiple spells with Levski Sofia, becoming a key player and winning the Bulgarian Cup in 1992 and 1994.
- Fenerbahçe SK: He played for the Turkish giants in the mid-1990s.
- PFC Litex Lovech: Stoilov also had a period with Litex Lovech.
- He also played for other Bulgarian clubs like CSKA Sofia, Etyr Veliko Tarnovo, and Spartak Varna, and abroad for Campomaiorense in Portugal.
Managerial Career
Stoilov transitioned into management shortly after retiring as a player, quickly establishing a reputation for tactical astuteness and success.
PFC Levski Sofia
Stoilov's most significant early managerial success came with PFC Levski Sofia.
- Domestic Dominance: He led Levski to multiple Bulgarian First League titles (2006, 2007) and Bulgarian Cups (2005, 2007).
- European Breakthrough: Under his leadership, Levski Sofia became the first Bulgarian club to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage in the 2006–07 season, a historic achievement for Bulgarian football. He also guided them to the UEFA Cup group stage in the 2005–06 season.
- He had several stints with Levski Sofia, returning to the club in different capacities, including as head coach and sporting director.
PFC Litex Lovech
He also managed PFC Litex Lovech, winning the Bulgarian Cup in 2008.
Bulgaria National Team
Stoilov served as the head coach of the Bulgaria national football team from 2007 to 2010.
FC Astana
Stoilov achieved immense success with FC Astana in Kazakhstan.
- Kazakhstan Premier League: He led Astana to four consecutive Kazakhstan Premier League titles (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017).
- European Group Stages: He was instrumental in Astana's consistent qualification for European group stages, including the UEFA Champions League group stage (2015–16) and multiple UEFA Europa League group stage appearances. This made Astana a dominant force in Kazakh football and a recognized name in European club competitions.
Kazakhstan National Team
He briefly managed the Kazakhstan national football team in 2018.
Other Clubs
Stoilov has also managed other clubs, including PFC Botev Plovdiv and Göztepe S.K. in Turkey. He returned to Levski Sofia for another successful period in the early 2020s, winning the Bulgarian Cup in 2022.
Achievements (as Manager)
- Bulgarian First League (2): 2005–06, 2006–07 (with Levski Sofia)
- Bulgarian Cup (4): 2004–05, 2006–07, 2021–22 (with Levski Sofia), 2007–08 (with Litex Lovech)
- Bulgarian Supercup (2): 2005, 2007 (with Levski Sofia)
- Kazakhstan Premier League (4): 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 (with FC Astana)
- Kazakhstan Super Cup (3): 2015, 2018 (with FC Astana)
- UEFA Champions League Group Stage: 2006–07 (with Levski Sofia), 2015–16 (with FC Astana)
- UEFA Europa League Group Stage: Multiple appearances with FC Astana and Levski Sofia.
Stanimir Stoilov is highly regarded for his ability to build strong, tactically disciplined teams and achieve both domestic and international success, especially with clubs like Levski Sofia and FC Astana, where he created legacies of unprecedented achievements.