# Bulgaria women's national football team

The Bulgaria women's national football team (Bulgarian: Български женски национален отбор по футбол) represents Bulgaria in international women's football, and is controlled by the Bulgarian Football Union. The team's major success came in 2008 when they won the Balkan Championship and the Albena Cup in the same year. These major tournament victories brought them up to their all-time highest FIFA world ranking of 33rd.

## Team image
### Nicknames

The Bulgaria women's national football team have been nicknamed as "Лъвиците (The Lionesses)".

### Home stadium

Bulgaria plays their home matches on the Lovech Stadium.

## Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

### Legend

Win  Draw  Lose  Fixture

### 2024
## Coaching staff
### Current coaching staff

    As of 28 November 2022
| Role | Name |
| Head coach | Silvia Radoyska |
| Assistant coaches | Velizar Hristov |
| Assistant coaches | Trifon Panev |
| Goalkeeping coach | Emil Varadinov |
| Team manager | Doychin Bahov |

### Manager history

| Name | Period | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| Emil Atanasov | 18 November 2006 – 25 August 2010 | 21 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 52.38% |
| Valentin Chakarov | 24 November 2010 – 19 September 2012 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0% |
| Emil Kartselski | 20 August 2013 – 21 August 2014 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 18.18% |
| Silviya Radoyska | 17 September 2014–present | 29 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 22.73% |

## Players
### Current squad

** The following players were part of the squad ahead of the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying match against Armenia and Kazakhstan on the 12 and 16 July 2024, respectively.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 12 | 1GK | Roksana Shahanska | (1992-04-23) 23 April 1992 (age 32) | 29 | 0 | Lokomotiv |
| 1 | 1GK | Martina Ilieva | (2007-02-08) 8 February 2007 (age 18) | 0 | 0 | Ludogorets |
| 3 | 2DF | Yanitsa Ivanova | (2001-01-05) 5 January 2001 (age 24) | 15 | 0 | Lokomotiv |
| | 2DF | Nora Dimitrova (captain) | (1996-07-26) 26 July 1996 (age 28) | 14 | 1 | Lokomotiv |
| 11 | 2DF | Kristiana Karaivanova | (2004-07-11) 11 July 2004 (age 20) | 6 | 0 | Vis Mediterranea Soccer |
| | 2DF | Bianka Demirova | (2006-07-08) 8 July 2006 (age 18) | | | NSA Sofia |
| | 2DF | Gergana Halyanova | (2008-03-12) 12 March 2008 (age 16) | | | FC Sportika Blagoevgrad |
| | 2DF | Yoanna Tomova | (2003-07-16) 16 July 2003 (age 21) | | | |
| 18 | 2DF | Zhasmina Atanasova | (1996-06-25) 25 June 1996 (age 28) | 6 | 0 | Lokomotiv |
| 19 | 3MF | Yoana Stankova | (2005-08-20) 20 August 2005 (age 19) | 12 | 1 | Freedom |
| 9 | 3MF | Lora Petrova | (1998-10-12) 12 October 1998 (age 26) | 25 | 1 | Cesena [it] |
| 4 | 3MF | Leonora Zheleva | (1999-05-13) 13 May 1999 (age 25) | 8 | 1 | Trikala [el] |
| 8 | 3MF | Preslava Yordanova | (2005-09-14) 14 September 2005 (age 19) | | | NSA Sofia |
| 21 | 3MF | Antonia Angelova | (2005-09-15) 15 September 2005 (age 19) | | | Sevlievo Ladies |
| 17 | 4FW | Simona Petkova | (1993-09-03) 3 September 1993 (age 31) | 13 | 0 | Unattached |
| | 4FW | Evdokiya Popadinova | (1996-10-26) 26 October 1996 (age 28) | 8 | 3 | Lazio |
| | 4FW | Polina Rasina | (1999-03-12) 12 March 1999 (age 25) | | | NSA |
| 13 | 4FW | Aleksandra Yaneva | (2001-02-24) 24 February 2001 (age 24) | 2 | 2 | AEL |
| | 4FW | Nadezhda Ivanova | (2004-12-17) 17 December 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Beylerbeyi |
| 21 | 4FW | Aleksandra Sergeeva | (2005-11-03) 3 November 2005 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | VfL Wolfsburg II |
| | 4FW | Nikol Dimanova | (2007-07-25) 25 July 2007 (age 17) | | | FK Paldin Plovdiv |
| 8 | 4FW | Viky Yavorova | (2003-05-12) 12 May 2003 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Jacksonville State Gamecocks |

### Recent call-ups

    The following players have been called up to a Bulgaria squad in the past 12 months.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
| GK | Milena Karakoleva | (2004-04-03) 3 April 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Sportika | v. Romania, 4 June 2024 |
| DF | Nora Dimitrova (captain) | (1996-07-26) 26 July 1996 (age 28) | 14 | 1 | Lokomotiv | v. Armenia, 9 April 2024 |
| DF | Silviya Kefalova | (2001-06-06) 6 June 2001 (age 23) | 2 | 0 | NSA | v. Armenia, 9 April 2024 |
| DF | Ivet Vasileva | (1998-07-12) 12 July 1998 (age 26) | 0 | 0 | LP Super Sport | v. Armenia, 9 April 2024 |
| DF | Silviya Kefalova | (2001-06-06) 6 June 2001 (age 23) | 2 | 0 | NSA | v. Armenia, 9 April 2024 |
| DF | Ivet Vasileva | (1998-07-12) 12 July 1998 (age 26) | 0 | 0 | LP Super Sport | v. Armenia, 9 April 2024 |
| DF | Mariela Nedeva | (2000-07-12) 12 July 2000 (age 24) | 4 | 0 | Lokomotiv | v. Ukraine, 27 February 2024 |
| DF | Yana Dineva | (2002-11-08) 8 November 2002 (age 22) | 9 | 0 | Lokomotiv | v. Ukraine, 27 February 2024 |
| MF | Anita Churusinova | (2004-05-10) 10 May 2004 (age 20) | | | NSA Sofia | v. Armenia, 9 April 2024 |
| MF | Ivana Naydenova | (2001-12-21) 21 December 2001 (age 23) | 14 | 3 | Hellas Verona [it] | v. Armenia, 9 April 2024 |
| MF | Zdravka Parapunova | (2003-08-06) 6 August 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Unattached | v. Armenia, 9 April 2024 |
| MF | Veni Sarbinska | (1995-12-28) 28 December 1995 (age 29) | | | Sportika | v. North Macedonia, 5 December 2023 |
| MF | Eva Atanasova | (2005-06-05) 5 June 2005 (age 19) | 1 | 0 | Ludogorets | v. Kosovo, 23 September 2023 |
| MF | Nikoleta Boycheva | (1994-08-20) 20 August 1994 (age 30) | 19 | 0 | Lokomotiv | v. Romania, 4 June 2024 |
| MF | Ivelina Pavlova | (2003-07-18) 18 July 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | NSA | v. Romania, 4 June 2024 |
| FW | Antonina Shopska | (2001-01-17) 17 January 2001 (age 24) | | | ŽFK Kamenica Sasa | v. Romania, 4 June 2024 |
| FW | Yana Yordanova | (2003-02-20) 20 February 2003 (age 22) | | | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | v. Romania, 4 June 2024 |
| FW | Dimitra Ivanova | (2004-01-26) 26 January 2004 (age 21) | 9 | 0 | Politehnica Timișoara | v. Armenia, 9 April 2024 |
| FW | Catherine Karadjov | (1998-06-19) 19 June 1998 (age 26) | 1 | 0 | Orvault | v. Ukraine, 27 February 2024 |
| FW | Leonora Zheleva | (1999-05-13) 13 May 1999 (age 25) | 6 | 0 | AEL | v. Kosovo, 23 September 2023 |

### Captains

* Radoslava Slavcheva (????–)

## Records

    As of 23 May 2021
    Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 2021.

## Competitive record
### FIFA Women's World Cup

| FIFA Women's World Cup record | FIFA Women's World Cup record | FIFA Women's World Cup record | FIFA Women's World Cup record | FIFA Women's World Cup record | FIFA Women's World Cup record | FIFA Women's World Cup record | FIFA Women's World Cup record | | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record |
| Year | Result | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
| 1991 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | | UEFA Euro 1991 | UEFA Euro 1991 | UEFA Euro 1991 | UEFA Euro 1991 | UEFA Euro 1991 | UEFA Euro 1991 |
| 1995 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | | UEFA Euro 1995 | UEFA Euro 1995 | UEFA Euro 1995 | UEFA Euro 1995 | UEFA Euro 1995 | UEFA Euro 1995 |
| 1999 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 12 |
| 2003 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2007 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2011 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 25 |
| 2015 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 62 |
| 2019 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2023 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 37 |
| 2027 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | | 34 | 4 | 4 | 26 | 24 | 136 |
    *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

### UEFA Women's Championship

| UEFA Women's Championship record | UEFA Women's Championship record | UEFA Women's Championship record | UEFA Women's Championship record | UEFA Women's Championship record | UEFA Women's Championship record | UEFA Women's Championship record | UEFA Women's Championship record | Qualifying record | Qualifying record | Qualifying record | Qualifying record | Qualifying record | Qualifying record | Qualifying record | Qualifying record |
| Year | Result | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | P/R | Rnk |
| 1984 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1987 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1989 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 18 | – | – |
| 1991 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 18 | – | – |
| 1993 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 9 | – | – |
| 1995 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | – | – |
| 1997 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 6 | – | – |
| 2001 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2005 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2009 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | – | – |
| 2013 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 54 | – | – |
| 2017 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2022 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2025 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | | 41st |
| 2029 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 41 | 7 | 3 | 31 | 30 | 117 | 41st | 41st |
    *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

### UEFA Women's Nations League

UEFA Women's Nations League record :
| Year | League | Group | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | P/R | Rnk |
| 2023–24 | C | 5 | 2nd | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 14 | * | 40th |
| 2025 | C | 5 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 40th | 40th |
| | Promoted at end of season |
| | No movement at end of season |
| | Relegated at end of season |
| * | Participated in promotion/relegation play-offs |

## Honours

Albena Cup
* Champions : 2008
Balkan Cup
* Champions : 2008