CSKA 1948 II (Bulgarian: ЦСКА 1948 II) or CSKA 1948 2 is a Bulgarian professional football team based in Sofia. Founded in 2019, it is the reserve team of CSKA 1948, and currently plays in Second League, the second level of Bulgarian football.
Obliged to play one level below their main side, CSKA 1948 II is ineligible for promotion to First League and also can not compete in the Bulgarian Cup.
History
2019–2020: Foundation
Since 2015, the Bulgarian Football Union allowed Bulgarian teams to have reserve sides in the lower regional divisions. In 2019 CSKA 1948 Sofia introduced their reserve team in A OFG Sofia (capital) South, the 4th level of Bulgarian football, led by Kiril Metkov.[1] The team finished on 2nd position, before season was ended due to COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the unknown situation, the team did not play in any league 2020–21 season.
2021–present: Second League
On 18 February 2021 one of the main sponsors of FC CSKA 1948, Tzvetomir Naydenov, announced that the reserve team will be introduced in Second League, the second level of Bulgarian football, from 2021-22 season.[2] On 29 May 2021 Miroslav Mindev was announced as the manager of the team, previously leading Zagorets Nova Zagora.[3] On 27 July 2021 Atanas Apostolov was announced as the new manager of the team, after Mindev was promoted as manager to the first team.[4]
On 26 May 2023, the team secured the title in Second League, becoming the first reserve team to become a champion of the league.[5]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
