Alan Pardew returns to management at CSKA Sofia and could win a trophy within a fortnight
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ALAN PARDEW is back in management at CSKA Sofia - with the Bulgarian Cup final immediately at stake.
The ex-Newcastle, West Ham and Crystal Palace chief landed the full-time job after being interim boss since Stoycho Mladenov's exit earlier this month.
And Pardew, 60, is already preparing to take on Sofia rivals Levski in Bulgarian football's domestic showpiece on May 11.
His CSKA contract runs until the summer, with former West Ham coach Alex Dyer assisting him.
Pardew's only pieces of silverware as a manager came when West Ham won the Championship play-offs in 2005 and Southampton lifted the Football League Trophy five years later.
But his main achievements, and certainly his what-might-have-been moments, were two FA Cup final defeats.
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Liverpool beat the Hammers on penalties in 2006 following a 3-3 draw famous for Steven Gerrard's double.
And Palace lost 2-1 after extra time against Manchester United six years ago.
CSKA say Pardew's management team will include Dyer, youth coach Martin Stoyanov and analyst Hristo Zahariev.
The former Palace midfielder's last boss job was with Dutch side Den Haag from 2019-20.
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He said: "I have always tried to work with young people.
"Martin and Hristo are excellent professionals who will have the opportunity to learn from me and Alex. "I hope this will help them progress even more and have the opportunity to apply what we have learned.
"My goal is to leave a legacy in CSKA and for these young coaches to be able to help the club in the coming years."
Having overcome neighbours Slavia on penalties in the Bulgarian Cup semi-finals, Pardew is a fortnight away from the huge clash with Levski.