Thomas Reis Appointed Head Coach of Bulgarian Champions Ludogorets Razgrad

PFC Ludogorets Razgrad has announced the appointment of German coach Thomas Reis as the new head coach of the club's first team. The 52-year-old arrived in Razgrad to finalize his agreement and is set to lead his first training session on Monday, July 14, 2026, with an official media introduction scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, 2026, at the Huvepharma Arena.

Reis brings a wealth of experience from German football, notably managing VfL BochumTeam·VfL Bochum where he guided them to the 2. BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga title in the 2020/21 season, ending an 11-year absence from the top flight. His coaching career also includes a spell with Schalke 04Team·Schalke 04 and significant time in the youth academies of Bochum and WolfsburgTeam·Wolfsburg. Prior to his move to Bulgaria, Reis achieved a historic third-place finish in the 2024/25 Süper LigCompetition·Süper Lig season with Turkish side SamsunsporTeam·Samsunspor, also leading them to the knockout rounds of the UEFA Conference LeagueCompetition·Conference League.

The appointment marks a pivotal moment for Ludogorets, who concluded their 2025/26 season with a third-place finish in the Bulgarian First League, accumulating 67 points from 19 wins, 10 draws, and 7 losses. Across all competitions, the club's overall record for the season stood at 30 wins, 16 draws, and 15 defeats in 61 matches. Despite a challenging league campaign, Ludogorets secured the Bulgarian SupercupCompetition·Bulgarian Supercup and advanced to the knockout stage of the UEFA Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League, demonstrating their continued presence on the European stage.

The 2025/26 season saw several managerial changes at Ludogorets. Rui MotaCoach·Rui Mota was initially appointed on June 13, 2025, before his dismissal on October 29, 2025. Todor ZhivondovCoach·Todor Zhivondov then served as interim head coach, with Per-Mathias Høgmo taking charge on November 21, 2025. Høgmo departed by mutual consent on July 1, 2026, paving the way for Reis's arrival.

Reis will be joined by an experienced coaching team, including Dutch coach Ton LokhoffCoach·Ton Lokhoff and Bosnian-Austrian coach Daniel Zenkovic. This new leadership aims to instill a fresh tactical approach and build upon the club's recent successes, particularly in European competitions. The focus will now shift to preparations for the upcoming 2026/27 season, with expectations high for Ludogorets to challenge for domestic honors and make a significant impact in Europe under their new German coach.