THE BEGINNINGS OF Handball at CSKA
Organised handball under the CSKA name began in October 1962, when the existing clubs CDNA and DFS “Cherveno Zname” merged. This marked the start of a youth handball academy that later became the leading one in the country.
The first men's handball team of the merged club CSKA “Cherveno Zname” was formed in April 1964. It was led by Mihail Sarbinov, who at the time was still a student at the “G. Dimitrov” Higher Institute of Physical Education.
The first women's handball team was put together from athletes from other sports. Totyu Valchev, who also played for the men's team, was appointed as its coach.
In 1965 the CSKA youth team won its first medals (silver). In 1969 CSKA “Cherveno Zname” merged with Septemvri. In 1970 almost all of the club's boys and girls youth teams finished at the top of their competitions.
Ten years after handball started at CSKA, the club won its first title: the women's team became champions in 1973. The men's team gradually rose to the top as well, and in 1976 CSKA won its first men's national title.
THE GREAT YEARS
Between 1976 and 1991, teams in CSKA colours won more than 40 trophies and made several breakthroughs in European club competitions, including a semi-final for the women's team. The CSKA men's team achieved a remarkable run of 82 consecutive wins in all competitions over almost two years. The streak ended with a defeat in the round of 16 of the European Champions Cup.
QUIETER YEARS
After the women's team's last national title in 1991 and the last Bulgarian Cup won by the men's team in 2002, success for CSKA teams across the age groups gradually declined.
In 2002 the CSKA men's team won the Bulgarian Cup, and the boys' youth team won the gold medals.
On the women's side, CSKA's most recent successes were reaching the final four of the championship and the semi-finals of the Bulgarian Cup.
Youth teams in CSKA colours.
CSKA teams from the youngest age groups.
