Loko Plovdiv
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| Full name | Professional Football Club Lokomotiv 1926 Plovdiv |
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| Nickname(s) |
Smarfovete (The Smurfs) Zheleznicharite (The Railwaymen) |
| Founded | 25 July 1926 |
| Ground | Lokomotiv, Plovdiv |
| Capacity | 13,000 |
| Owner | Hristo Krusharski |
| Chairman | Hristo Bonev |
| Head coach | Voyn Voynov |
| League | First League |
| 2016–17 | First League, 5th |
| Website | Club home page |
Lokomotiv (Bulgarian: Локомотив) is a Bulgarian professional association football club based in Plovdiv, that competes in Bulgaria's primary football competition, the First League. Lokomotiv's home ground is the homonymous Lokomotiv Stadium situated in the Lauta park of the city, with a capacity of 10,000 spectators.
Established in 1926, in the 2003–04 season of the A Group, Lokomotiv became champions of Bulgaria, finishing the season with three points more than the second-ranked, Levski Sofia. Lokomotiv Plovdiv have also won one Bulgarian Supercup and one Cup of the Soviet Army in 1983. The club's biggest success in Europe is reaching the third round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1965, after losing to the Italian Juventus F.C. in a play-off match.
Description of the club's history requires attention to the reorganisations that the team has undergone since its creation and how the members and fans of the team have reacted to these changes. It should be noted that the political environment in Bulgaria during the communist period between 1944-1989 has led to some forced changes in the nature of sporting clubs throughout the country as to follow "the Soviet model". In the case of PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv, these changes have led to the merger of two teams, that are different in nature, leading to misinterpretations of the history of the teams. This said, a special approach is needed towards the history of the early years of the contemporary football club of Lokomotiv Plovdiv. In order to understand the origin of the contemporary team with its official full name, colours, and supporters, the examination of Lokomotiv's history has to be undertaken in two major "branches" - one defined by its followers and recognisable features, and the other by its functional characteristic and funding as a labour union team. These branches can be defined as that of Sportclub Plovdiv (being the fan-based team), and of club of the railway workers (being the team funded by the union).
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