Botev Plovdiv President Iliyan Filipov Fatally Shot Outside Home, Bulgarian Football in Mourning

Botev Plovdiv President Shot Dead Near Residence

The world of Bulgarian football is stunned after Iliyan Filipov, president of Botev Plovdiv, was fatally shot outside his home in Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city. The incident occurred just after 1 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

Local police responded quickly to an emergency call reporting gunfire and found the 53-year-old businessman and club leader deceased at the scene. Investigators have opened a homicide case but have not yet revealed any suspects or motives.

Club Honors Its Leader and Visionary

Botev Plovdiv expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Filipov, who many credit with rescuing the club during the summer of 2025 and leading the complete renovation of the Hristo Botev Stadium. In an Instagram statement, the club said:

"PFC Botev Plovdiv mourns the tragic passing of club president Iliyan Filipov. Management, players, and staff send heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Filipov’s role in saving the club and his commitment to our yellow-and-black cause will never be forgotten. His name will be forever engraved in our history for overseeing the transformation of the Hristo Botev Stadium into Bulgaria’s most modern sports venue. We stand with his loved ones during this difficult time. May he rest in peace."

Mourning Period Halts Club Activities

This killing brings back dark memories of the violent mafia-style murders common in Bulgaria during the 1990s, especially amid rising political tensions before the upcoming presidential election.

Botev Plovdiv has suspended all sporting events and declared a mourning period. The scheduled friendly match against Septemvri Sofia was canceled, and the men’s first-team training session was called off as players and coaches grieve their president.

The club also announced:

• All youth academy matches for the coming weekend are postponed.
• Until the October 10 league match against Slavia Sofia, first-team training sessions will be closed to the public.
• The club will avoid media appearances during this period.

Filipov had dreamed of a united and strong Botev — a club the city could proudly support. The club declared, "Botev is eternal!"

Team Prepares for Return to Competition

After a time of mourning, Botev Plovdiv plans to return to domestic league play against Slavia Sofia on October 10. Currently, the team sits sixth in the Bulgarian First League with 16 points from 10 games. They trail league leaders Levski Sofia by nine points and have played one more game.

The coaching staff is focusing on restoring the squad’s mental strength behind closed doors as they aim to maintain hopes of European qualification.

Upcoming Matches

• October 3, 2026: UEFA Nations League match - Iceland vs Bulgaria, 19:00
• October 10, 2026: Bulgarian First League - Botev Plovdiv vs Slavia Sofia, 20:00