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.
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| Full name | Футболен Клуб Фратрия Варна Fratria Varna Football Club | |||
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| Founded | 16 April 2021 | |||
| Ground | Albena 1 Stadium, Albena | |||
| Capacity | 3,000 | |||
| Chairman | Viktor Bakurevich | |||
| Manager | Vasil Petrov | |||
| League | Second League | |||
| 2023–24 | Third League, 2nd (promoted) | |||
| Website | https://fcfratria.com/ | |||
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History
editEstablishment
editFratria 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
editThey 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
editOn 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] They won the preliminary round of the Bulgarian Cup against Botev Novi Pazar to face Beroe Stara Zagora in the round of 32. The match , played on 14 November 2024, ended 3-3 on regular time, with Beroe later winning on penalties.[15] Few hours after the result, despite the positive play of the team and being close to eliminate the team from First League, Lukanov was sacked.[16] Later the same day, the sport director Vasil Petrov, was promoted as manager of the team.[17]
Honours
edit- A RFG Varna:
Winners (1): 2022–23
- B RFG Varna:
- Winners (1): 2021–22
- Cup of Bulgarian Amateur Football League:
- Winners (1): 2023–24
Logo, shirt and sponsor
editThe "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
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Berezka |
| 2023–2024 |  Saller
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| 2024– |  Macron
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Players
editCurrent squad
editAs of 2 October 2024[update][18]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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For recent transfers, see Transfers summer 2024.
Out on loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Second-team squad
editForeign players
editUp 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.
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EU Nationals |
EU Nationals (Dual citizenship)
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Non-EU Nationals
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Notable players
editHad international caps for their respective countries, held any club record, or had more than 100 league appearances. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries.
Personnel
editClub officials
edit| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Coaching staff | ||
| Head coach | Vasil Petrov |
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| Assistant coach | Dilyan Georgiev |
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| Assistant coach | Denys Vasin | 
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| Youth coach | Ivaylo Stanchev |
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| Youth coach | Yevhen Lutsenko |
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| Goalkeepers coach | vacant |
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| Management | ||
| Chairman | Viktor Bakurevich | 
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| Sporting director | vacant |
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Managerial history
edit| Dates | Name | Honours |
|---|---|---|
| 2021–2022 | Ivaylo Stanchev
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| 2022–2024 | Oleksandr Babych
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| 2024 | Emanuel Lukanov
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| 2024– | Vasil Petrov
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Seasons
editLeague positions
edit
Past seasons
edit| 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
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19 |
| 2023–24 | Third League | 3 | 26 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 71 | 20 | +51 | 61 | 2nd ↑ | Preliminary | W | Vasil Andoni Denys Vasin
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13 | |
| 2024–25 | Second League | 2 | Round of 32 | Denislav Angelov
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8 | |||||||||||
Goalscoring and appearance records
edit
Most league appearances for the club
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Most league goals for the club
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- Players in bold are still playing for Fratria.
References
edit- ^ a b Собственикът на най-бързо развиващия се клуб в България: До 5 години искаме да сме в efbet Лига
- ^ МФК Тича ще си партнира с новосъздадения ФК Фратрия Варна
- ^ Здрава битка в аматьорския футбол и новоизгряваща футболна сила на Североизток
- ^ Представяме ви най-бързо развиващия се аматьорски футболен клуб
- ^ Фратрия пише нова футболна история край морето
- ^ Новакът в Североизточната Трета лига Фратрия (Варна) започна да попълва
- ^ Спартак (Варна) не се затрудни срещу Фратрия
- ^ Емо Луканов става спортен директор – Варна Спорт – Новинарски уебсайт за спорт
- ^ Фратрия договори контрола с румънци, поставя начало на сътрудничество
- ^ Собственикът на Фратрия няма да влиза в Пирин
- ^ Мъдрият ход на Фратрия – взе стадиона в Каварна
- ^ Хитът на Североизток спечели Купата на АФЛ
- ^ Фратрия вече е в професионалния футбол
- ^ Емо Луканов: Искам балансиран състав и да сме фактор във Втора лига
- ^ Фратрия отпадна от турнира за Купа на България
- ^ Фратрия се раздели със старши треньора Емануел Луканов - ФК ФРАТРИЯ | Официален сайт
- ^ Васил Петров поема Фратрия
- ^ Фратрия Първи отбор