Barak Itzhaki Emerges as Candidate to Coach Ludogorets

Bulgarian champions Ludogorets are considering Barak Itzhaki as a possible new head coach after a disappointing season that ended with the club finishing third. The team had won the Bulgarian title for 14 straight seasons before this setback, and it now intends to replace current coach Per-Mathias Høgmo, who is still under contract for next season.

Bulgarian reports said Høgmo did not show up to the squad’s first training sessions for the new season, saying he was absent temporarily because of sick leave. Ludogorets, however, is already looking for a replacement, and Itzhaki is among the names on its list.

Itzhaki is not the only candidate under consideration. Ludogorets also has higher-profile options, led by Albert Riera, who coached Eintracht Frankfurt in the second half of last season and was previously linked with a possible move to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The Bulgarian side will face Hapoel Tel Aviv in about a month in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Itzhaki ended last season with Beitar Jerusalem after a successful spell, but did not stay on for another year, and Almog Cohen was appointed in his place while also serving as the club’s sporting director.