Brazilian emerges as leading candidate to coach Bulgaria’s football team

Former Arsenal, Celta Vigo, Barcelona and Manchester City defender Sylvinho emerges as the leading candidate to become the permanent head coach of Bulgaria’s national football team, the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) reports.

Sylvinho coached Albania until this summer, guiding the Balkan side to its first-ever appearance at the European Football Championship at Euro 2024. Sylvinho has also coached Lyon and Corinthians before taking charge of the Albanian national team in 2023.

The Brazilian, whose full name is Sylvio Mendes Campos Júnior, lives in Italy. Should he take the job, former Manchester City and West Ham defender Pablo Zabaleta is expected to join him as an assistant.

• Bulgaria's national football team coach steps down after draw with Estonia

The national team has been without a permanent head coach since Aleksandar Dimitrov resigned following Bulgaria’s home defeat to Luxembourg and the 0-0 draw with Estonia in Plovdiv on September 29. Atanas Ribarski is currently serving as interim coach.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov