The beginnings

OFC Sliven 2000 was founded on February 29, 2000, after the bankruptcy of FC Sliven, but as it is the real representative club of the same-name town, it keeps the tradition started back in 1914 with the first local football club Sportist. Through the years the leading club in Sliven had different names - Asenovetz, DNA, General Zaimov, Mlada Gvardia etc.

First Promotions and A Group Period

After World War II, Sliven took part in B PFG for ten years before seeing its first promotion to A PFG in season 1963-1964. Up to 2008-09, the club has played 22 seasons at the highest level of Bulgarian football (including continuously from 1974–1993). In 1983-84 FC Sliven finished on 7th place in A PFG and qualified for the UEFA Cup for 1984-85 because of reaching the semi-finals in the Soviet Army Cup; the Cup winners Levski Sofia qualified for European Cup; the finalist was not allowed to play in European competitions; where they faced FK Željezničar Sarajevo, winning the first leg 1-0 at home, but suffering a 1-5 defeat in the second leg.

First major trophy and European return

Sliven had its biggest success in 1990, winning the Bulgarian Cup against CSKA Sofia, with a score of 2-0. The goals were scored by Valeri Valkov and Yordan Letchkov. In the 1990-91 Cup Winners Cup, Sliven were drawn against former European champions Juventus, losing both matches by scores of 0-2 and 1-6, respectively.

Bankruptcy and rebirth

Sliven could not celebrate the cup success for too long. Over the next few years, the club went into a deep crisis, and was relegated to the regional football groups, eventually culminating in bankruptcy and dissolution. The bankruptcy was largely attributed to the turbulent economic times in Bulgaria after the fall of the communist regime.

Sliven was reborn in 2000 by establishing of the Municipal Football Club (OFC) Sliven 2000, led by club legend Yordan Letchkov. In 2005, the club finally earned promotion back to the second level of Bulgarian football, returning to professionalism.

Back Among the Elite and Sudden Downfall

In May 2008, Sliven were promoted to the top flight by winning the Eastern group of Bulgaria's second division. In their first year after returning to the elite, season 2008-09, OFC Sliven managed to finish in 12th place, thus avoiding relegation. The team managed to win eight games as well as drawing eight games, earning them 32 points. These results put them six points above Vihren Sandanski, who were relegated. From the eight wins that Sliven achieved, five were from home games, as well six of the draws, while at away games, Sliven managed to win three games and draw twice. Among these wins, Sliven managed to beat Bulgarian powerhouse CSKA Sofia 3-1 at home, as well as winning 3-1 against Botev Plovdiv, a traditionally strong side in Bulgarian football. This first season in the elite was under the management of Georgi Dermendzhiev, who would later successfully coach Ludogorets Razgrad and qualify the team two times for the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Sliven's second season in the Bulgarian elite was under Serbian coach Dragoljub Simonovic, who replaced Dermendzhiev. Sliven again displayed some strong results, winning nine games in total, as well as drawing five games, for a total of 32 points. They finished five points above FC Lokomotiv Mezdra, who were relegated. Sliven managed to win against Levski Sofia at home, one of Bulgaria's best teams. At home, Sliven won six games and drew three games, while away results included three wins and two draws.

Sliven's third consecutive season in the top flight was less successful, however. Dimcho Nenov was appointed as coach for the 2010-11 season. The team finished in last place, with only 4 wins, 7 draws, and 19 losses. This only earned the team 19 points, 6 points behind the 14th place, which would have at least qualified them for the relegation playoffs. Sliven managed three home wins, and only one away win, against fellow relegated Akademik Sofia. This relegation ended their three year stay in the A PFG.

After their relegation from the elite, Sliven were allocated to the East 2011–12 B Group. The team largely struggled with their performance, mainly due to the fact that many top players left the club after they were relegated. Sliven finished sixth out of 10 teams, a mediocre performance. Things went from bad to worse for Sliven, however. The team began experiencing serious financial problems, which affected their results, but more importantly, their ability to play professional football. On February 26, 2013, the Bulgarian Football Union suspended Sliven's participation in the B Group, as the team could field at most seven senior players. This automatically relegated the team to the V AFG, the third tier of Bulgarian football.

Sliven played in the third tier for three years, before being relegated to the Regional Amateur Leagues, the fourth tier of football.

Second reforming and new beginning

In 2021, the traditional team from the city was restored, called FC Sliven, and began competing in the fourth tier of Bulgarian football, the A RFG of Sliven province, for the 2020-21 season.^[1] The club is not considered a direct descendant of OFC Sliven 2000. Before the 2021-22 season, FC Sliven absorbed OFC Sliven, with the latter becoming the youth academy of the former.

At the end of the 2021-22 season, FC Sliven won promotion to the Third League, after just one season since reforming. It was revealed that club legend Yordan Letchkov was the key man behind the success of the team once more, similarly with how he helped finance OFC Sliven 2000.

Recent Seasons

Season		Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P	Cup	Notes
2005-06	B PFG	12	26	9	4	13	22	30	31	1/16
2006-07	B PFG	12	26	4	11	11	32	52	23	1/8
2007-08	B PFG	1	26	19	3	4	63	23	60	1/8	Promoted
2008-09	A PFG	12	30	8	8	14	32	40	32	1/8
2009-10	A PFG	13	30	9	5	16	29	40	32	1/8
2010-11	A PFG	16	30	4	7	19	22	52	19	1/16	Relegated
2011-12	B PFG	6	27	10	6	11	29	23	36	1/32
2012-13	B PFG	14	26	0	1	25	4	75	-2	1/22	Relegated
2013-14	V AFG	16	32	4	0	28	33	165	12

European cup history

Season	Competition	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1984/85	UEFA Cup	1		FK Zeljeznicar	1-0	1-5	2-5
1990/91	Cup Winners'Cup	1		Juventus	0-2	1-6	1-8