Former Maccabi Tel Aviv Coach Darko Lazetic Linked to CSKA Sofia

Serbian coach Darko Lazetic, who was dismissed by Maccabi Tel Aviv in January and recently had a brief, unsuccessful stint with Saudi club Al-Taawoun, is reportedly a candidate to manage Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia. CSKA Sofia is seeking a new coach following the resignation of Hristo Yanev.

CSKA Sofia is familiar to Maccabi Tel Aviv, having eliminated the Israeli club from the Europa League qualifiers last month. CSKA Sofia won the first leg 3-0 and advanced with a 4-3 aggregate score despite losing the second leg 3-1.

According to Bulgarian outlet "Tema Sport," the 44-year-old Lazetic is among the coaches being considered by CSKA Sofia's management. Lazetic is described as a promising coach in his native Serbia, having led Backa Topola to second and third-place finishes in the Serbian league and a Europa League group stage appearance.

CSKA Sofia confirmed Yanev's resignation earlier this month and is reportedly in the final stages of selecting a replacement. The club has reviewed over 20 candidates, narrowing the list down. Other coaches considered include Spaniards Juan Francisco Ferrer-Roble and Asier Garitano, while Aleksei Shpilevsky is out of contention and Jose Luis Mendilibar was also a target.

While a Spanish coach is reportedly the leading candidate, the possibility of appointing someone like Lazetic remains. CSKA Sofia has kept the identity of the coach in final negotiations confidential, but an announcement is expected soon. If Lazetic is appointed, he would take over the team that recently caused a significant European disappointment for his former club, Maccabi Tel Aviv.