Markus Gisdol to begin coaching tenure at CSKA Sofia

German coach Markus Gisdol is set to begin his tenure with CSKA Sofia, with his first training session scheduled for Thursday. Gisdol, 57, has signed a contract through the end of the 2026/27 season, with an option to extend for an additional year. He arrives in Sofia accompanied by two members of his staff: assistant Rainer Widmaier and analyst Jakob Braun.

Before arriving in Bulgaria, Gisdol spent time in Germany reviewing match footage and conducting detailed analyses of the current squad. The club is also considering further additions to the coaching staff, including a goalkeeper coach and a fitness specialist, with interest in a Hungarian candidate and a preference from club leadership for a Bulgarian staff member.

His official competitive debut is scheduled for October 11 at 20:00 during an away match against CSKA 1948 in Bistritsa. The club is also planning a friendly match early next week to allow Gisdol to observe the team in a match environment.