Gjoko Hadzievski frontrunner to coach Lokomotiv Sofia, due in Nadezhda for final talks

Gjoko Hadzievski is the leading candidate to become the new head coach of Lokomotiv Sofia, and he is expected to arrive at the club's facilities in the Nadezhda neighborhood today for final talks that could lead to a contract signing and an official presentation. The news was reported on November 10, 2026.

Club seeks quick resolution after Penev exit

Hadzievski, who previously managed CSKA Sofia and Spartak Varna, most recently left Spartak Varna shortly after the season began. Club officials in Sofia have shortlisted him as the primary option to replace Ljuboslav Penev, who parted ways with Lokomotiv earlier this season.

Another name that surfaced in the club's search was Dushan Kosic, the current coach of Lokomotiv Plovdiv. Lokomotiv Sofia owner Hristo Krusharski reportedly offered the Slovenian strategist to his colleague Veselin Stoyanov, but the two sides failed to reach an agreement over compensation for his release.

Lokomotiv Sofia fielded a different matchday bench after Penev's departure: on the team's most recent game against Septemvri Sofia at the Gerena stadium, the side was led from the touchline by youth academy director Aleksandar Georgiev.

Bulgarian outlets also reported that Penev's contract was not terminated by mutual consent; the club paid him a severance sum that was reduced following negotiations compared with the originally stipulated amount in his contract.

In addition to Hadzievski and Kosic, other coaches considered for the position included Yavor Valchinov, Georgi Donkov, Aleksandar Tomash and Pavel Dochev. Donkov had been among the favourites after Stanislav Genchev left at the end of last season, but the management then opted for Ljuboslav Penev.

Photo: press material from the event