At a meeting with the media, the new head coach of the representative team, Oleksandr Babic, was introduced. He was welcomed by OFK Pirin manager Petar Zanev and sports director Petar Mihtarski, who wished him success. Babic's contract with the club is for a year and a half.
“It is an honor for me to take the coaching position in a team with Pirin's history. Understood, that the club has recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, which obliges and is a huge challenge. The team has potential, i believe, that we will be able to offer a good and effective game, which will delight football fans in Blagoevgrad”, said the new head coach of “eaglets” at his presentation.
Together with the 44-year-old mentor, Pirin is joined by his team - assistant coaches Oleksandr Lavrentsov and Artyom Filimonov, like physiotherapist Andrei Polonsky. Miroslav Mitev also joins the new staff as an assistant coach.
Babic's coaching career in professional football started in Chernomorets (Odesa), whose representative team leads the Premier League of Ukraine for almost three years - between the winter of 2014 and the summer of 2017 g.
Since September 2017 until July 2020 g. is at the head of another team from the Ukrainian elite – FC Mariupol. Precisely with Babic on the bench, Mariupol qualified for participation in the Europa League in two consecutive seasons - in 2018-2019 and through 2019-2020. Also, with the team from the seaside city, the specialist twice reached the 1/2-final in the tournament for the Cup of Ukraine – through 2018 and 2020 g.
Just before the outbreak of the war, Babic was in charge of FC Krivbas, a team that is currently the leader in the Ukrainian championship. During the autumn half-season, he was in charge of the Varna Phratria, which is fighting for promotion in the second level of Bulgarian football.
As a football player, Oleksandr Babic played in the Metalist teams (Kharkiv), Chernomorets (Odesa), Dnipro and Anzhi (Makhachkala).
OFK Pirin welcomes Oleksandr Babic and his team and wishes them success!
