Bulgaria keeps interim manager Ribarski for November
The Bulgarian Football Union agreed to retain caretaker coach Atanas Ribarski through the final two Nations League matches pending formal board sign-off.
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In a nutshell
Following Aleksandar Dimitrov's late-September resignation amid a winless start in the UEFA Nations League, the Bulgarian Football Union promoted under-19 coach Atanas Ribarski on an interim basis. To preserve competitive continuity while vetting permanent candidates like Aleksandar Jankovic, federation officials agreed to keep the 41-year-old tactician for November matches against Iceland and Estonia, pending a formal board vote on October 12.
Highlights
- Former senior head coach Aleksandar Dimitrov resigned in late September after a winless Nations League run.
- Under-19 coach Atanas Ribarski stepped in as interim manager for October matches against Iceland and Luxembourg.
- Bulgarian football authorities agreed to retain Ribarski for games against Iceland on November 13 and Estonia on November 16.
- The Bulgarian Football Union scheduled an extraordinary Executive Committee session for 11:00 AM on October 12 in Sofia to confirm the move.
- Federation leaders are vetting permanent managerial options, including Serbian coach Aleksandar Jankovic.
From the Editor’s Diary
Interim extensions offer tournament continuity, but buying time on the touchline works only if federation leadership uses the breathing room to secure a permanent manager before the next competitive cycle begins.
Who's involved
Atanas Ribarski
Bulgaria under-19 national coach and current interim senior national team manager
goal → steady the senior squad and deliver competitive results against Iceland and Estonia
Bulgarian Football Union
governing body that oversees organized soccer in Bulgaria, led by Georgi Ivanov
goal → preserve tactical continuity through November while recruiting a permanent head coach
Georgi Ivanov
president of the Bulgarian Football Union
goal → handle the coaching vacancy and set contractual terms for the incoming senior staff
Aleksandar Jankovic
Serbian soccer manager and former assistant coach at Levski Sofia
goal → establish himself as a primary foreign contender for the permanent managerial job
In short
Bulgarian soccer leaders have chosen short-term stability over an immediate overhaul by keeping interim head coach Atanas Ribarski in charge of the senior national team through November 2026. This decision matters because it spares a struggling squad another sudden tactical disruption while letting federation directors negotiate with permanent managerial candidates away from match-day pressure.
The stopgap extension makes an Executive Committee vote on October 12 the decisive next hurdle before Ribarski leads the side against Iceland and Estonia.
That ratification is near-certain because top union leadership already brokered the retention plan to resolve urgent travel and fixture deadlines.
How it unfolded
Executive Committee Session Called
Bulgarian daily newspaper 24 Chasa reported that the Bulgarian Football Union called an extraordinary Executive Committee session for October 12, 2026. The urgent gathering was scheduled to formally accept Aleksandar Dimitrov's resignation and settle the senior managerial vacancy following two consecutive road games.
Retention Leaks Ahead of Federation Vote
Talks between federation executives and technical directors shifted the momentum from a rushed external hiring process toward temporary stability. Domestic sports outlets reported that union executives decided to retain Atanas Ribarski for the final two Nations League fixtures against Iceland on November 13 and Estonia on November 16. Newspaper Tema Sport broke news of the agreement, reporting that the board would formally vote on the deal on Monday morning, October 12, as the union evaluated foreign candidates including Serbian coach Aleksandar Jankovic.
Where things stand
Atanas Ribarski's retention as interim manager for the November 2026 fixtures has been widely reported across Bulgarian media, leaving only formal confirmation at the Bulgarian Football Union Executive Committee meeting set for October 12 at 11:00 AM in Sofia.
The long-term coaching post remains unresolved as federation executives examine candidate profiles and wage expectations, including talks involving Serbian manager Aleksandar Jankovic, keeping Ribarski's role strictly temporary.