The coach of the Eagles' ladies Elena Peeva: Ludogorets was our dream, now we strive for the top three

On November, 16th, the Eagles' ladies of Ludogorets successfully completed their second fall half-season in the State Championship. The ladies, led by Elena Peeva, beat the team of Pirin (Blagoevgrad) 4:1 as hosts. The match was part of the XI round and put the championship battles of the ladies of Ludogorets on pause.

The rest of the last calendar months is also the most suitable time for taking stock - of achievements, joy and difficulties. Because if today the stands in the Eagles' Nest complex erupt in immeasurable joy with their favorite soccer players, the road to this point was not paved with a red carpet.

The more than successful hometown club with 13 consecutive gold cups in the Bulgarian championship added a women's team to its portfolio of fixtures at the end of August 2023. Then the club signed an agreement with WFC Varna for the attraction of their female players. Elena Peeva, who is also the assistant coach of the national teams for women and girls, remained at the head of the team. Born in Pazardzhik, she has been playing ball with the boys since she was little, and her father is a former soccer player. She competed for the local Hebar, from where she moved to Lokomotiv (Plovdiv). Her business card includes 10 championship years as a competitor with the Grandhotel Varna team. For several years, she was the captain of the national team, recorded playing minutes in Russia, but love binds her to Varna.

Together with her Eagles' ladies came out with the logo of Ludogorets in their first official match last September, 10th. From the very beginning, they showed character and recorded a 2:2 draw as guests of Sevlievo Ladies. Six days later, the Eagles played for the first time in front of their audience in Razgrad, immersing the aspiring girls in their football world during their joint open training. With this initiative, the path of the women's team of Ludogorets to healthy battles and capturing the hearts of fans was set.

Right from the start, the Eagles were on the road, winning convincingly 8:0 over Dunav (Ruse) in their debut match, played at the Eagles' Nest complex. And because it's a ball, it spins – alternating wins and losses followed. The State Championship newcomer's record after 26 rounds was seventh in the middle of the 12-team table, with 27 points and more losses than wins.

Against the background of the debut season in the Eagles family, the ladies already have an asset of 25 points after 11 games played. The achievement of eight wins places them in second place in the provisional rank and is more than indicative of the gradation that Elena Peeva and her team have achieved in the past months. She works with assistant coach Stefan Donchev and specialists from the Ludogorets Academy. All the joys and tribulations happen before the eyes of the ever-growing mass of supporters, empathizing with the growth of the Eagles. And what is the secret of success, the head coach of the women's team of Ludogorets, Elena Peeva, reveals in the following lines.

What are the accumulated emotions in the ranks of the Eagles after a year as part of the Ludogorets family?

There are many emotions and in different aspects. When we first became part of the Ludogorets family, we saw what quality conditions are offered and felt the warm and respectful attitude, we did not know what world we were in - me, the girls and the people I work with. What they provided us as working conditions and behavior towards us was a dream. At first, when it became a reality, it was hard for us to believe it. I am grateful to fate for meeting me with the leaders of Ludogorets, because all the time we have been looking for serious people who want to develop women's football. In Ludogorets, the topic was discussed many times until our paths crossed and we continued together with one common goal - to be number one. This is already happening, step by step and with the full support of the team's management, which stands closely behind us and supports us.

There are always emotions - both positive and negative. The scale is from one extreme to the other - this is the adrenaline in football! This is actually the magic of sports!

For that matter, is there more room for emotion in women's football or is gender irrelevant to the rationality of the game?

I don't think gender matters, I don't separate anyone. This is how my life turned out, that I also work with men, we played football against men... The emotions are the same - the feelings when you lose and when you win are the same. The only difference is that women's football is still more attractive. There is still not much thought about money here, no simulations like we are used to seeing in men. It is gaining great popularity all over the world, and recently also in Bulgaria. There is also great interest among teenagers, there just needs to be more people like the leaders of Ludogorets - to give the girls the opportunity to play.

What is your take on the fall half-season and the past three seasons in general?

I am very glad that almost everything is going according to plan. The first year was a bit difficult until we got used to the fact that we were competing with the Ludogorets emblem and being the center of attention. We did not received in the best way in places, but with the persistence and hard work the girls put in and the way they perform, they command the respect of the audience no matter what part of the country we play.

We have set ourselves a goal that this year will be better than last year. Above all, let's be healthy, because when we're all on the field, we don't have any big problems. We aim to be in the top three at the end of the season.

What is the reason for such an increase in the performance of your players? What is the key success factor?

The achievements are the result of persistence, dedication and hard work put in by the girls and us as coaches. There is no unrewarded work! This is the recipe and the path to success. When you want to learn, develop, when you don't stop wanting it and are dedicated, there will always be results!

What are the differences in terms of lineup today compared to a year ago?

Two or three girls from last year are no longer in our ranks, but we have brought in just as many new players that we needed to improve our attacking performance. Because of the conditions created for the girls' work, they show great interest in Ludogorets. Each of the girls wants to grow, and the achievements in the lineup make them feel rewarded. They are happy, and I always tell them that they have to be dedicated and persistent for it to work. We never give up!

What for you is the brightest moment of the past half-season?

Not one, I love every single moment. Even when it was difficult for us or we didn't understand each other - every moment has a lasting mark, be it positive or negative. So far we have a light shining our way. Even brighter moments are ahead of us!

What was the toughest battle for you and the girls on or off the field?

The biggest challenge is the times when it was hard for me to continue. Our path as non-professionals requires a lot of hard work. But the love for football has always kept me fit. This is what I try to convey to the girls as well – to never give up. We have had difficult times, but I do not believe that we will have more difficult ones. We are already in a place where football development is being thought of. It's hard when we lose games, but on the other hand, that's how we grow. So I wouldn't say it's the hardest. The road to get here was more complicated - to keep the team until the moment we met the people who are now with us and support us to be one.

What lies ahead during the team's preparations for the second half of the season?

We will continue with the training process so as not to lose momentum. During the Christmas holidays we will take a short break and around January, 10th we will start preparations for the spring half-season. We have a camp coming up next year, and the management of Ludogorets is looking for the best conditions with a suitable training base and mountain climate for a full-fledged winter training. At this stage, there are no talks about bringing in new girls.

With what attitudes do you go to your fourth half-season in the State Championship with the Ludogorets emblem?

Everything achieved so far is extremely compelling and means that we must work even harder to consolidate the positions we have won. A strong battle awaits us to prove that our successes are not the result of chance. We will do our best in the next half-season to not lose and finish in the top three.