FC CSKA 1948 Sofia

The club was founded on 19 July 2016, at a meeting at the Central Military Club in Sofia. The members of the Constituent Assembly announced partnership with Errea and a new crest close to CSKA Septemvriisko Zname.[2]

On 21 August 2016, FC CSKA 1948 won its first cup in a friendly four-team tournament in Kokalyane. The team defeated Akademik Sofia 1–0 in the final.

In its first official game for the 2016–17 season in A OFG Sofia (capital) South, FC CSKA 1948 won 8–0 against Lyulin Sofia. The club began playing its home games at Vasil Levski Stadium, but later during the season used the stadiums in Obelya and German. FC CSKA 1948 won its group and became champion of the whole A OFG Sofia (capital) after victory 4–3 against Nadezhda Dobroslavtsi. Then, on 7 June 2017, the team played with Bratsigovo in order to qualify for the Third League and won after penalties (7–6).[3] Beside that, FC CSKA 1948 reached the final for the Cup of Bulgarian Amateur Football League, which they lost on 25 May 2017 to the club from the Third league FC Chernomorets Balchik.[4]

For their first season in the third division of the Bulgarian football (2017–18), the club moved to Dragalevtsi Stadium, in order to comply with the requirements of the respective league. After very strong performance, on 19 May 2018 FC CSKA 1948 secured its place in Second Professional League.[5] The team finished with 29 wins, 5 draws and no losses, as two players of the Reds became goalscorers of the South-West Third League – Andon Gushterov and Petko Petkov. Also, FC CSKA 1948 had again a good campaign for the Cup of Bulgarian Amateur Football League, this time reaching the semi-finals.

For the beginning of the 2018–19 season in the Second Professional League, FC CSKA 1948 moved to Vasil Levski Stadium due to the higher league it is playing in. Strong selection of professional players was done, as the goal for the season is qualification for First League. After four rounds, manager Valentin Iliev, who managed the club from the very beginning, was replaced with Petko Petkov. FC CSKA 1948 eventually finished fourth, three points below the promotion playoff place, which was occupied by Arda Kardzhali. Although FC CSKA 1948 didn't promote to the elite in their first attempt, the team established itself as a strong contender for promotion.

For the 2019–20 season, FC CSKA 1948 started the season on a high note, defeating local rivals Lokomotiv Sofia 2–0 at home. This was followed by an away win at newly promoted Spartak Pleven with a score of 1–4. Another dominant 2–0 win against Spartak Varna earned the team three out of three wins in their first three matches. An away win against Montana, followed by a home destruction of OFC Pomorie extended their winning steak to 5 games. FC CSKA 1948's spectacular form continued, as the team defeated Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa and Strumska Slava in the following rounds. The team then beat fellow Sofia rivals Septemvri Sofia 5–0 at home. The first defeat of the season came in the tenth round, when FC CSKA 1948 lost 1–0 to Litex Lovech. After a 2–0 home win against Chernomorets Balchik, FC CSKA 1948 suffered another loss in the hands of Kariana Erden. This was followed by three consecutive wins, which ended with a disappointing 2–2 home draw against Ludogorets II. Following that, the team managed to win two away games, against Botev Galabovo and Lokomotiv Sofia again, which put them in second place in the table, three points behind Septemvri Sofia, before the winter break.

FC CSKA 1948 secured their First League spot for the 2020–21 season after finishing 1st in the 2019–20 Second League. Krasimir Balakov was announced as manager for the new season on 2 June, and the club unveiled a new logo on 30 June in preparation for their First League debut. On 7 August 2020, the team faced CSKA in its first ever top flight game, with the encounter resulting in a 2–2 draw.[6]

CSKA 1948 established itself in the following years in the First League, frequently finishing in the top six of the championship. During the 2022–23 season, the team reached the final of the Bulgarian Cup for the first time in club history, eliminating Lokomotiv Sofia in the semi-finals.

In May 2023, the team took over the stadium in Trebitch neighborhood in Sofia, prepering to invest over 1,3 mil euro in renovation.[7]

As of 10 October 2023[12][13]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  BRA Johnathan 4 DF  BUL Miki Orachev 5 DF  BRA Héliton 6 DF  CPV Steve Furtado 7 MF  BRA Thalis 8 FW  BRA Pedrinho 9 FW  ISL Viðar Örn Kjartansson 10 FW  BUL Georgi Rusev 11 MF  BUL Birsent Karagaren 13 MF  BUL Stoyan Stoichkov 15 DF  BUL Simeon Vasilev 17 MF  BUL Nikola Iliev (on loan from Inter Milan) 18 MF  BUL Ivaylo Chochev (vice-captain) 19 FW  CMR Rooney Eva Wankewai

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 MF  BUL Antonio Vutov 21 MF  BUL Emil Tsenov 23 DF  BUL Emil Viyachki 24 DF  ALB Erdenis Gurishta 25 FW  UKR Yevheniy Serdyuk 28 MF  SRB Nedeljko Piščević 29 GK  BUL Daniel Naumov (captain) 31 DF  FRA Tom Rapnouil 33 GK  UKR Hennadiy Hanyev 39 MF  TJK Parvizdzhon Umarbayev 87 DF  BUL Simeon Petrov 91 DF  CGO Ryan Bidounga 92 DF  CMR Pierre-Daniel N'Guinda 99 FW  BUL Radoslav Kirilov

For recent transfers, see Transfers summer 2023.

Up to twenty foreign nationals can be registered and given a squad number for the first team in the Bulgarian First League, however only five non-EU nationals can be used during 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.