FC Yantra (Bulgarian: ФК Янтра) is a Bulgarian football club based in Gabrovo, which plays in Second League, the second tier of Bulgarian football. The club was originally founded in 1919 and home matches are played at Stadion Hristo Botev. Its home stadium has a capacity of 12 000 seats. Club colors are green and white.
The club was founded in the summer of 1919 under the name of FC City of Gabrovo. Its founders are Hristo Bobchev, dr. Dencho Nedyalkov, Simeon Kostov, Kosta Tepavicharov, Nikola Vulnarov, Nencho Dimitrov, Hristofor Negentsov, Hristofor Stomonyakov, Hristo Karafezov, Dimitar Popov, Sava Mihailov, Ivan, Naniu and Georgi Nenov. On 21 September 1919 the club played its first game against Gorna Oryahovitsa and won 1:0. The starting eleven for this game were: Sava Mihailov (goalkeeper), Ivan Nanev, Nikola Rashev, Georgi Nanev, Simeon Kostov, Nikola Vulnarov, Stoyan Nanev, Dosiu Peev, Hristo Bobchev, Nencho Dimitrov and Nencho Stoyanov. In the beginning of 1920 the club joined gymnastics association Yunak, but later this year separates and takes a new name sports club Balkan, which is followed by another change - FC Oto. The latter comes from one of the players - Spiridon Nedevsky, nicknamed Oto. Because he had a strong desire to get the ball while on the field he had constantly yelled at his teammates 'ot, ot!' this became a byword for the team. The club subsequently changed its name to Aprilov, FC Chardafon, Chardafon-Orlovets. They participated to Bulgarian Championship as Tarnovo Region champion at seasons of 1928–29, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1933–34 and as Gabrovo Region champion at seasons of 1944-45 and 1947–48. The best result was quarter final in 1944–45. The name FC Yantra came up in 1973, and is used until now (excluding the period 1994 - 2001 when, after a relegation for a corruption case, it played under the name FC Chardafon).
Yantra has played in Bulgarian A Football Group for a total of eight seasons. It made its debut during season 1970–71. Yantra managed to surprise many, finishing in eight place, comfortably avoiding relegation. Next season, however, Yantra could not replicate their success, finishing in last place, and suffering relegation after two seasons in the elite. Yantra also had six points deducted due to bribery allegations.
Yantra maintained a strong form in the B Group, managing to secure promotion to the top level after just one season away. For the 1973–74 season, Yantra again defied the odds, finishing 12th. However, their form dropped in the next season, and Yantra again fell into the B Group after two seasons in the elite.
After this second relegation, Yantra did not manage to recover quickly and the team spent the next fifteen seasons in the lower tiers of Bulgarian football, mostly the B Group. In 1990, Yantra finally returned to the A Group and finished 14th for the 1990–91 season. The next two seasons were even more successful, as Yantra finished 9th and 11th, respectively. This fine period in the club's history ended abruptly, however, in 1994. Yantra was administratively relegated to the B Group after only eight rounds during the 1993–94 season, as it was discovered the club was involved in a bribery scheme with Beroe Stara Zagora. After this scandal, Yantra began to decline and eventually the club dropped into the amateur levels of football.
During season 2005–06, the club was relegated to the third tier of Bulgarian football. Next season (2006–07), Yantra won the North-West "V" Football Bulgarian group and promoted to "B" West Football Group. However, season 2007-08 was not good for Yantra, as they were relegated to the third division (North-West "V" Bulgarian Football group) with 6-wins, 6-draw, 14-loses, GF:GA-31:48, Points:24.[citation needed]
After the end of the season 2008/2009 with the club's financial instability FC Yantra, 4th in the season and the new participant group Yantra 2000 (Gabrovo) were merged after drawing the program. The new team was named FC Yantra 1919 (Gabrovo) and played their home games at the stadium Hristo Botev, Gabrovo. The new team changed its home colours and play with black shirts, green shorts and black socks.[citation needed]
Due to financial reasons, FC Yantra gave up participation in the North-West "V" football group on 23 March 2012.[1]
In 2016, the newly reformed Yantra Gabrovo managed to promote to the V AFG, for the first time since their bankruptcy in 2012. This team claims to be the successor of the entity that existed before, thus carrying its traditions. A separate team from Gabrovo, called Yantra Gabrovo 1919 also promoted to the third tier in 2017. This meant that both teams were to play their home games at the Hristo Botev Stadium in Gabrovo. However, Yantra Gabrovo 1919 was relegated at the end of the 2017-18 season, leaving the original Yantra Gabrovo in the third tier.[citation needed]
On July 8, 2019, the two clubs from Gabrovo decided to merge and form one club, called Yantra Gabrovo 2019. Yantra finished first in the 2019-20 season in the third level, securing promotion to the Second League.[citation needed]
As of 28 August, 2024 [2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
For recent transfers, see Transfers winter 2023–24 and Transfers summer 2024.
Had international caps for their respective countries, held any club record, or had more than 100 league appearances. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries.
- relegated to V AFG under the name FC Chardafon
- promoted to B PFG after winning the playoff against Shumen 2001 with 2:0. - due to a lack of finances FC Yantra were at the brink of dissolving and failed to show up for their first match with Chavdar Byala Slatina; because of this, the club were relegated to V AFG - promoted to B PFG - relegated to V AFG - promoted to B PFG - relegated to V AFG - relegated to the Regional AFG - promoted to V AFG3 Debel dial Str. 5300 Gabrovo, Bulgaria tel. +359-66-808353