Foundation and Amateur League (2013–2016)

The club was founded as OFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo in 2013^[1] with the license of FC Botev Debelets.^[2] In their first season they finished in 5th position in V Group.

In January 2016, Boncho Genchev became the new manager of the team which was in 3rd place at the halfway point in the season, only two points behind the 1st place team.^[3] The selection included Lyubomir Genchev coming from A Group team Montana, Stefan Hristov from Spartak Pleven and the leading goalscorer in the first part of 2015–16 season in B Group, Petar Dimitrov.^[4] The team eventually won all its matches, winning the league and being promoted to B Group.^[5]

Professional Football (2016–present)

On 9 June 2016 Etar were officially approved for the new 2nd division — Second League, with the club changing its abbreviation to "SFC Etar". Ferario Spasov remains in his position as manager and with a good selection team made promotion to First League.^[6] Etar were promoted as champions of the 2016–17 Second League, sealing their title on the final day of the season with a 2–2 away draw against Nesebar, coupled with Septemvri Sofia's 2–0 away defeat to Oborishte.^[7][8]

Etar's first season into the elite was difficult. The team finished 13th in the regular phase, with only four wins. This placed Etar as one of the candidates for relegation. In the relegation phase, Etar finished last in their group and had to play playoff/play out matches in order to remain in the elite. In the first round, Etar beat Pirin Blagoevgrad 3-1 aggregate and advanced to the second round. There, the violets faced Dunav Ruse. Two strong matches resulted in a 4-1 aggregate win, and Etar secured their status as a member of the top tier.

On 4 January 2018 Krasimir Balakov was announced as the new manager in the club with Stanislav Genchev, Iliyan Kiryakov and Kaloyan Chakarov as first team coaches.^[9]

After 4 seasons in the First League, Etar was relegated to the Second League at the end of the 2020-21 season.^[10] Back into the second tier, Etar managed to finish in fourth place during the 2021–22 season, qualifying for promotion playoffs. Etar, however, lost against Botev Vratsa and did not manage to return to the First League immediately. Next season (2022–23), Etar managed to finish in second place, securing promotion to the First League after two years of absence.

League positions

Domestic

• First League:
  • Winners (1): 1990–91
• Second League:
  • Winners (1): 2016–17
• Third League:
  • Winners (1): 2015–16

Current squad

As of 12 December 2023 ^[11]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  BUL Angel Martinov 4 DF  BUL Georgi Aleksandrov 5 DF  BUL Rosen Varbishki 7 DF  BUL Kolyo Stanev 8 MF  PAN Martín Morán (on loan from C.A. Independiente) 9 FW  BUL Martin Toshev 10 FW  CRO Lovre Knežević 12 GK  ITA Alessandro Guarnone 14 FW  BUL Ivaylo Dimitrov 15 DF  BUL Georgi Angelov 17 MF  BUL Atanas Atanasov 19 MF  PAN Javier Betegon

No. Pos. Nation Player 22 GK  BUL Martin Velichkov 23 MF  NGA Moses Candidus 24 MF  FRA Chano 25 DF  BUL Krum Stoyanov (captain) 26 DF  BUL Mariyan Ivanov 28 MF  BUL Nikolay Yankov 32 MF  NED Oussama Alou 33 DF  ECU Luis Córdova (on loan from Cuenca) 38 MF  BUL Vladislav Naydenov (on loan from Ludogorets II) 77 DF  BUL Martin Nikolov — DF  MEX Josecarlos Van Rankin

For recent transfers, see Transfers summer 2023 and Transfers winter 2023–24.

Foreign players

Up to five non-EU nationals can be registered and given a squad number for the first team in the Bulgarian First Professional League however only three can be used in a match day. Those non-EU nationals with European ancestry can claim citizenship from the nation their ancestors came from. If a player does not have European ancestry he can claim Bulgarian citizenship after playing in Bulgaria for 5 years.

Reserve team

Etar II

Full name	SFC Etar Veliko Tarnovo II
Nickname(s)	Болярите (The Bolyars)
Ground	Trifon Ivanov Stadium, Veliko Tarnovo
Chairman	Deyan Kuzdov
Manager	Stefan Angelov
League	Third League
2022–23	Third League, 14th
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

Etar II (Bulgarian: Етър II) is a Bulgarian football team based in Veliko Tarnovo. It is the reserve team of Etar Veliko Tarnovo, and currently plays in Third League, the third level of Bulgarian football.

Current squad

As of 12 March 2023 ^[12]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  BUL Teodor Ivanov — GK  BUL Presiyan Petkov — GK  BUL Nikos Rashkov — DF  BUL Rosen Varbishki — DF  BUL Ivalin Petkov — DF  BUL Ivelin Ivanov — DF  BUL Sever Aliev — DF  BUL Ismail Ibryamov — DF  BUL Denis Martinov — DF  BUL Vasko Parvanov — DF  BUL Aleksandar Pleshkov — DF  BUL Kenan Yumerov

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  BUL Georgi Ivanov — MF  BUL Trayan Dimitrov — MF  BUL Kristiyan Dimitrov — MF  BUL Atanas Atanasov — MF  BUL Dimitar Kolev — MF  BUL Aleksandar Kraev — MF  BUL Denislav Georgiev — FW  BUL Ivan Petkov — FW  BUL Zlatin Boyanov — FW  BUL Kaloyan Nenchev — FW  BUL Aleksandar Guguchkov

Board of directors

Position	Name	Nationality
Chairman	Deyan Kuzdov
Board Member	Georgi Markov
Board Member	Kristiyan Deshkov
Board Member	Lyubomir Filipov
Board Member	Svetoslav Totev
Board Member	Tsvetomir Boyadzhiev

Current technical body

Position	Name	Nationality
Administrative Director	Stefan Atanasov
Youth Academy director	Stefan Angelov
Head coach	Svetoslav Petrov
Assistant coach	Stefan Danailov
Assistant coach	Marin Stefanov
Goalkeeper coach	Kaloyan Chakarov
Youth Academy Coach	Tsvetan Raykov
Youth Academy Coach	Kristiyan Pavlov
Physiotherapist	Preslav Nikolaev
Housekeeper	Miroslav Chernev