Marinov lands top job at Botev Plovdiv

Atanas Marinov is to relaunch his career in his home country after being named coach of Bulgarian Premier Division club Botev Plovdiv.

The 47-year-old had been without a job for three months. He parted company with Premier League club Marsaxlokk in the first week of October after 15 months in charge but a strong approach from Botev, his home club, persuaded him to make a quick return to coaching.

"Things happened so quickly," Marinov told The Times from Bulgaria only minutes before he was due to address his first players' meeting yesterday evening.

"I've been away from Bulgaria for 10 years but the president of Botev Plovdiv recently called to ask me if I was interested in coaching their team.

"To be honest, I wasn't thinking about returning to Bulgarian football yet but my strong links with Botev and the president's willingness to put me in charge prompted me to accept this challenge."

Reuters, the international news agency, reported yesterday that Marinov had been made the principal contender for Botev's coaching job after Italian Corrado Cota failed to turn up for the second half of the season.

Cota, who reportedly had agreed terms with the club to take charge after the winter break, went home to Italy before the New Year but did not go back to Bulgaria with training already underway.

"We cannot wait for him any longer. Cota's behaviour is disrespectful to our club. Marinov has 10 years' experience as a coach in Malta and we are happy to have someone like him," club director Kostadin Kostadinov was quoted as saying.

Marinov said that Botev had initially offered him a three-year contract but he opted to sign on until the end of the season.

"I want to see how things work out in the next few months before committing myself to a longer contract. Botev have struggled in the league so far but this is a great club with a great tradition," he said.

Botev are 11th in the Premier League standings with 12 points from 14 matches, only three points above the relegation zone.

Asked if he intends to sign Malta-based players before the league resumes in March, Marinov said: "For the time being, I don't plan to bring new players in. I want to check the level and strength of the current squad before making a decision."

Marinov had coaching spells with St Patrick, Birkirkara, Hamrun Spartans, Valletta and Marsaxlokk during his 10-year stay in Malta.