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Varna derby

The Varna derby () is a football rivalry between the two most successful and popular clubs in Varna, Bulgaria: Cherno More Varna and Spartak Varna. The rivalry is one of the most heated and passionate in Bulgarian football.

Overview

The matches between Cherno More and Spartak have a long history, dating back to the early 20th century. The two teams have had a number of intense encounters, especially in the Bulgarian First League. The derby is known for its passionate fanbases, with both sets of supporters having a strong following in Varna and across Bulgaria. The matches are typically high in intensity and often play a significant role in the league standings.

Summary of results

<small>As of the middle of the season 2025–26.</small>

<small>Note: Matches that have finished with a win after extra time are represented as a win for the respective club.</small>

A PFG / First League Matches (1948–49 – present)

B PFG / Second League Matches

Knockout and cup competitions

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Local Competitions

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Head-to-head ranking in First League (1948–2025)

  • Total: Cherno More with 52 higher finishes, Spartak Varna with 25 higher finishes (as of the end of the 2024–25 season).

Interesting Facts

Source:

  • The players with the most appearances in the Varna derby in the A Group are Todor Marev from Cherno More and Iliya Kirchev from Spartak, each with 18 matches.
  • The players with the most appearances in all official matches of the derby (city, regional, and national championships, A and B Group, national cup, and the Soviet Army Cup) are Boris Parushev – "Borleto" from Spartak with 23 matches, and Todor Marev from Cherno More with 22 matches.
  • The top goalscorer in the A Group matches of the derby is Stefan Naydenov from Spartak with 6 goals. Zdravko Mitev holds the record for Cherno More with 5 goals.
  • The top goalscorer in all official matches of the Varna derby is Dobromir Tashkov from Spartak with 12 goals. Zdravko Mitev and Stefan Bogomilov hold the record for Cherno More with 5 goals each.
  • The first and only hat-trick in the A Group derby was scored by Dimitar Yovchev from Cherno More, securing a 3:2 victory in 1952. A hat-trick was also scored by Dobromir Tashkov from Spartak in the Soviet Army Cup in 1946 (which at the time served as a national cup), when Spartak won 5:1. The other goals were scored by Boris Parushev and Spiridon Rukhov, while Anastaz Konakov scored the only goal for Cherno More.
  • The biggest margin of victory was recorded on November 14, 2008, when "The Sailors" (Cherno More) defeated "The Falcons" (Spartak) 5:0 at Ticha Stadium in an A Group match.
  • The largest victory margin for Spartak in the derby was on October 31, 1946, with a 5:1 win in a preliminary round of the national cup at "Kolodruma" stadium, and on July 25, 1948, in a quarterfinal second-leg match of the national championship with a 4:0 win, also at "Kolodruma" stadium.
  • The longest winning streak in the derby belongs to Spartak, with five consecutive victories: 2:1 (June 15, 1946, city championship), 5:1 (October 31, 1946, national cup), 3:1 (April 20, 1947, city championship), 2:1 (June 21, 1947, city championship), and 3:1 (August 2, 1947, regional championship). All matches were played at "Kolodruma" stadium.
  • The first foreign player to participate in the Varna derby at the A Group level was Albanian midfielder Mehmet Kurda. During the 1993/94 season, he played for Cherno More.
  • The first foreign player to score in the Varna derby was Ukrainian Volodymyr Khmelnytsky. During the 1991/92 season, he scored two goals for Spartak in a 3:0 victory in the B Group.
  • The first foreign player to score in the Varna derby at the A Group level was Russian Vladimir Gerasimov. On April 6, 2002, he scored in a 2:1 victory for Cherno More at Spartak Stadium.
  • Hristo Valchanov from Spartak is the only goalkeeper to have scored in the derby. He converted a penalty in 1962, helping "The Falcons" secure a 2:0 victory.
  • Georgi Iliev holds the record for the fastest goal in the history of the Varna derby. On September 15, 2002, he scored in the 1st minute, leading Cherno More to a 2:1 victory.

See also

References