Rich, controversial, sometimes strange and at the same time great is the history of Professional Football Club (PFC) Levski. History, which combines both pain and joy shared by generations of Bulgarians.

PFC Levski are one of the oldest teams in Bulgaria and at the same time the most popular club in this country. It is called by the football fans “The Blue Team” or “The Blue Avalanche”. Levski are the only club in Bulgaria which has played in the Football Premiership of Bulgaria since its establishment. The Blue club has a positive balance against all teams which have ever existed in Bulgaria. Levski is Bulgaria’s team N 1 in total number of won prizes - 26 Championship Titles, 26 Cups of Bulgaria and 3 Super Cups. Levski also hold a big number of individual records. One of them is the 6 goals in one match from European tournaments. The 6 goals were scored by Kiro Milanov and this record has not been broken yet.

The idea for the formation of PFC Levski dates back in 1911 when a group of school pupils from Sofia get together to play football for pleasure. The name of PFC Levski comes from one of Bulgaria’s brightest and most prominent figures in Bulgarian history – Vassil Ivanov Kunchev (Levski), symbol of Bulgaria’s fight for independence from the Ottoman rule. But the plans for the establishment of the club failed due to the beginning of the First Balkan War and then the Second Balkan War. Still on May 24, 1914, the dream of the football fans for the establishment of the club comes true. This date is considered the birthday of PFC Levski till now, no matter that one of the oldest flag of the team bears the year 1911.  The constituent assembly takes place in the area called Mogilkata in Sofia downtown. A monument now stands on this place reminding of the great event. The first club colors of the team are yellow and red. The outfits are brought from abroad. In 1921, due to the impossibility to deliver such outfits, Levski start using the blue color which remains the club’s color ever since, no matter that at the end of 1940’s and the beginning of 1950’s the club returns for several times to the tradition of the years of its establishment. In 1922, the emblem of the club is worked out. Two years later, Levski have their own anthem and in 1938 its banner. Levski’s debut match is played in the summer of 1914 – 0-1 against the substitutes of FC 13. The data about the matches at that time are quite scarce and the information about them is taken mainly from the register which the club’s managers make. A year later, according to the register, Levski play their first match vs Slavia 0-1. This match marks the beginning of the rivalry between these two clubs, which is nowadays known as the oldest derby in Sofia’s football history. Today, the derby match Levski-Slavia, is outrun in importance by the derby Levski-CSKA. The rivalry between Levski and CSKA is estimated as one of the toughest in the world. Levski may boast with impressive wins vs CSKA like – 7-1, 7-2, 6-3, 5-0 and 5-2. 
In 1921, Levski’s fame starts growing. Then starts the championship for Sofia which Levski regularly win and later Levski play in Bulgaria’s championship. But the Title slips away from Levski for several times. The things change in season 1932/1933 when Levski become Bulgaria’s championship for the first time. This triumph will be followed by another 25 titles. In 2006, Levski become the first Bulgarian club ever to play in Europe’s most prestigious tournament The Champions League. A year earlier, Levski register the incredible for a Bulgarian club 14 successive matches in the European tournaments when the Blue club reaches the 1/4 finals for the UEFA Cup playing vs Schalke 04. Levski can be proud of many victories on European football scene, eliminating Ajax, Stuttgart, Glasgow Rangers, Boavista, Dinamo Kiev, Olympiacos, the victory 5-4 vs Barcelona with Johan Cruyff and over Marseille. In December 2009, Levski become the first Bulgarian team which triumphs over an Italian team in a match played in Italy – 1-0 vs Lazio in a match from the group stage of Europa League. 

In the years of the WW II – in 1942 Levski take their first double victory – Championship Title and the Cup of Bulgaria. So far Levski have 13 such double wins. In 1984, Levski win the unprecedented till these time 3 trophies – Championship Title, Cup of Bulgaria and the Cup of the Soviet Army. Levski have not always used its original name in the tournaments. In 1949, just like the model in the Soviet Union, the club is renamed to Dinamo but in 1957 the club gets back its name Levski. Twenty years later, the name Spartak is added to the initial name Levski following the mergence of the two clubs. In 1985, with a decree from Bulgaria’s authorities Levski is remaned to Vitosha after a scandalous match vs CSKA for the Cup and hold this name till 1989. Two years later, Levski assume its real name which the club defends with dignity till recent days.
Levski footballers play a key role in Bulgarian National football team whose first participation on the international football scene is the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924. Later in the years, Levski players will be among the heroes who brought the first big success for Bulgaria – the Balkan Cup in 1932 and the debut in a World Championship in 1962. Levski players Nikola Mutafchiev scores the first goal for Bulgarian national team in 1924 in a match vs Turkey.
And when the present Bulgarian teenagers have for idols players like Georgi Ivanov-Gonzo, Mitko Ivankov, Elin Topuzakov, Hristo Yovov, their grandfather still live with the times of Georgi Asparukhov-Gundi, Hristo Iliev-Patrata, Georgi Sokolov, Alexander Kostov. Even older people remember with respect the names of Vassil Spassov (Valyaka), Borislav Tsvetkov (Zhuk), Lyubomir Aldev, Dimitar Doichinov, Bozhin Laskov, Rady Maznikov.
The last names are a constant part of the glorious team from the 1940’s which literally steamrolls their rivals. Then comes the generation of Georgi Asparukhov, Patrata, Sokoleto and Sasho Kostov which triumph victoriously in 1960’s to be replaced with dignity in 1970’s by the generation of Pavel Panov, Kiril Ivkov, Stefan Pavlov-Fifi, Stefan Aladzhov, Kiril Milanov, Todor Barzov. Then comes the turn of the unforgettable team led by Vassil Metodiev in which in 1980’s the names of Bozhidar Iskrenov, Nasko Sirakov, Borislav Mihailov, Emil Spassov, Nikolay Iliev, Russy Gochev mark glorious victories for Levski. The next period is again very impressive and exciting with a leader Nasko Sirakov and footballers like Ilian Iliev, Daniel Borimirov, Tsanko Tsvetanov, Peter Hubchev, Zlatko Yankov. This generation will be remembered with the glorious performance at the World Finals in the USA in 1994 when Bulgaria win bronze medals.