FC Fratria (Bulgarian: ФК Фратрия) is a Bulgarian association football club based in Varna, which currently competes in the Second League, the second level of Bulgarian football league system. Fratria's home ground is the Albena 1 Stadium, which has a capacity of 3,000 spectators.

FC Fratria
Full nameФутболен Клуб Фратрия Варна
Fratria Varna Football Club
Founded16 April 2021; 3 years ago (2021-04-16)
GroundAlbena 1 Stadium, Albena
Capacity3,000
ChairmanViktor Bakurevich
ManagerEmanuel Lukanov
LeagueSecond League
2023–24Third League, 2nd (promoted)
WebsiteClub website
Current season

History

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Establishment

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Fratria was established in 2021 by businessman Viktor Bakurevich, owner of Berezka supermarkets. Bakurevich decided to start an academy that is free from taxes, making the club base in Benkovski, Varna Province.[1] Later that year, the team started a partnership with MFC Ticha Academy.[2]

Regional and amateur leagues climb up: 2021–2024

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They won their first season in B Regional Group and in 2022 were promoted to A Regional Group with Oleksandr Babych taking the manager position.[3] Since Bakurevich had Russian and Ukrainian roots, a few players from Russia and Ukraine, living in Bulgaria, joined the main team and the academies.[4] The team won the league and on 29 May 2023, Fratria secured promotion to Third League, being called the fastest developing team, not only because their quick promote to the third league, but also because of the development of their base and academy.[5] In June 2023, the team started to prepare for their first season in Third League with the intentions to win the group. Fratria also established a second team that joined A Regional League.[1] Later same month it was announced they will move to Stadium Albena 1 in Albena resort.[6]

In their first cup appearance, Fratria was drawn against local team Spartak Varna, but lost the match with a 1:3 result, played on 8 September 2023.[7] On 5 October 2023 the team announced that they are introducing a new sporting director in the name of Emanuel Lukanov, who took the position.[8] In January 2024, Fratria announced they will have a friendly match against Farul II, as part of their winter camp, setting a start of a partnership with Farul Constanța.[9] On 5 February Babych was signed by Pirin Blagoevgrad in First League and Lukanov was promoted as a manager of the team.[10] On 29 February 2024 the team once again changed stadium, moving to Kavarna Stadium, which would allow the team to play in Second League.[11] They won the Cup of Bulgarian Amateur Football League, beating Akademik Svishtov on Ivaylo Stadium on 22 May 2024 with 2:0.[12]

Professional league breakthrough: 2024–present

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On 1 June 2024 Fratria won their match against Ustrem Donchevo, finishing second, with the same points as Ludogorets III and promoted to Second League.[13] The team also returned to Albena 1 Stadium, due to administrative issues with Kavarna Stadium.[14]

Honours

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Logo, shirt and sponsor

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The "Fratria" name of the club translates to „Brotherhood", from Latin, with the team having the sloagan “frater pro fratre", meaning „brother for brother", on their logo. Their main colors are red (bordo) and black. Since 2021 their main sponsor is Berezka.

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt partner
2021–2023   Misho Sport Berezka
2023–2024   Saller
2024–   Macron

Players

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Current squad

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As of 2 September 2024[citation needed]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   BUL Stefan Petkov
2 DF   BUL Ivaylo Popov
3 DF   BUL Aleksandar Angelov
4 DF   BUL Denis Corso
5 DF   BUL Vasil Dobrev
7 FW   BUL Denislav Angelov
8 MF   BUL Steliyan Dobrev
9 MF   BUL Denis Kadir
11 FW   BUL Lachezar Voykov
13 DF   BUL Ivaylo Petrov
15 MF   BUL Viktor Ignatov
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF   BUL Martin Kostadinov
18 MF   MDA Vasile Bitlan
21 MF   BUL Iliyan Kapitanov
22 MF   BUL David Lukanov
23 MF   BUL Emil Yanchev
33 GK   BUL Georgi Kitanov
66 FW   MDA Vasil Andoni (captain)
71 DF   BUL Ibryam Ibryam
74 MF   BUL Мikhail Gashchuk
75 FW   UKR Andriy Lisak
77 FW   BUL Georgi Lazarov

For recent transfers, see Transfers summer 2024.

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player

Second-team squad

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Foreign players

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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.

Personnel

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Club officials

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Position Name Nationality
Coaching staff
Head coach Emanuel Lukanov  
Assistant coach/Fratria II Evgeniy Gashchuk  
Goalkeepers coach Genko Slavov  
Youth coach Ivaylo Stanchev  
Youth coach Yevhen Lutsenko  
Conditional coach Diliyan Georgiev  
Methodist Tsvetomir Valeriev  
First team doctor vacant  
Management
Chairman Viktor Bakurevich   
Sporting director Vasil Petrov  

Managerial history

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Dates Name Honours
2021–2022   Ivaylo Stanchev
2022–2024   Oleksandr Babych
2024–   Emanuel Lukanov

Seasons

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League positions

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Second Professional Football League (Bulgaria)Third Amateur Football League (Bulgaria)Regional Amateur Football Groups (Bulgaria)Regional Amateur Football Groups (Bulgaria)

Past seasons

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Results of league and cup competitions by season
Season League Bulgarian Cup Other competitions Top goalscorer
Division Level P W D L F A GD Pts Pos
2021–22 B Regional Varna 5 10 9 0 1 29 8 +21 27 1st ↑ DNE
2022–23 A Regional Varna 4 18 15 2 1 55 10 +45 47 1st ↑ DNQ Cup of AFL R1   Vasil Andoni 19
2023–24 Third League 3 26 19 4 3 71 20 +51 61 2nd ↑ Preliminary W   Vasil Andoni
  Denys Vasin
13
2024–25 Second League 2 Qualified   Denislav Angelov 3

Goalscoring and appearance records

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As of 15 September 2024

Most league appearances for the club

Rank Name Career Appearances
1   Vasil Andoni 2022–present 42
2   Denis Kadir 2023–present 34
3   Ibryam Ibryam 2023–present 33
4   Andriy Lisak 2022–present 29
5   Martin Kostadinov 2023–present 26
  Hristiyan Hristov 2023–2024 26
7   Vasil Dobrev 2023–present 25
  Dimitar Vasilev 2023–2024 25
9   Ivaylo Popov 2022–present 23
10   Nikola Borisov 2023–2024 22

Most league goals for the club

Rank Name Career Goals
1   Vasil Andoni 2022–present 32
2   Danylo Polonskyi 2022–2024 15
3   Denys Vasin 2023–2024 13
4   Denis Kadir 2023–present 12
5   Andriy Lisak 2022–present 11
6   Lucas Macedo 2024 5
7   Yancho Andreev 2024 4
8   Ibryam Ibryam 2023–present 3
  Steliyan Dobrev 2024–present 3
  Denislav Angelov 2024–present 3
  Preslav Zhekov 2022–2023 3
  • Players in bold are still playing for Fratria.

References

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  1. ^ a b Собственикът на най-бързо развиващия се клуб в България: До 5 години искаме да сме в efbet Лига
  2. ^ МФК Тича ще си партнира с новосъздадения ФК Фратрия Варна
  3. ^ Здрава битка в аматьорския футбол и новоизгряваща футболна сила на Североизток
  4. ^ Представяме ви най-бързо развиващия се аматьорски футболен клуб
  5. ^ Фратрия пише нова футболна история край морето
  6. ^ Новакът в Североизточната Трета лига Фратрия (Варна) започна да попълва
  7. ^ Спартак (Варна) не се затрудни срещу Фратрия
  8. ^ Емо Луканов става спортен директор – Варна Спорт – Новинарски уебсайт за спорт
  9. ^ Фратрия договори контрола с румънци, поставя начало на сътрудничество
  10. ^ Собственикът на Фратрия няма да влиза в Пирин
  11. ^ Мъдрият ход на Фратрия – взе стадиона в Каварна
  12. ^ Хитът на Североизток спечели Купата на АФЛ
  13. ^ Фратрия вече е в професионалния футбол
  14. ^ Емо Луканов: Искам балансиран състав и да сме фактор във Втора лига
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