Barak Itzhaki, who recently left Beitar Jerusalem, is being considered for the head coach role at Bulgarian side Ludogorets, according to a report aired on Sport 5. If appointed, it would be the 41-year-old’s first coaching job abroad.
Itzhaki departed Beitar after more than two successful years on the bench. The article notes that with all the top coaching positions in Israeli football already filled, he may need to continue his career outside Israel.
Ludogorets is looking for a replacement for coach Per-Mathias Høgmo, who still has a contract for next season. Bulgarian reports said Høgmo did not attend the team’s first training sessions because of illness, while the club has been searching for a successor.
The interest in a new coach comes after Ludogorets failed last season, finishing third in the Bulgarian league and missing out on the championship for the first time in 14 years. Emil Vlev, a Bulgarian football legend who spent many years playing in Israel, said on Sport 5 that the salary offered to a Ludogorets coach is between 700,000 and 800,000 euros.