Plamen Markov will take charge of Bulgaria's national football team after reaching an agreement with Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) chairman Borislav Mihaylov, state news agency BTA reported.

The agency quoted an unnamed member of BFU's executive committee as the source of its report.

Markov's previous spell at the helm of the team saw Bulgaria qualify for the EURO 2004 finals in Portugal, its only major tournament appearance since 1998.

But he was sacked after managing the side to defeats to Denmark and Sweden, as well as a draw with Italy, in the group stage.

With a dearth of homegrown coaches to take charge of the national team, BFU has scouted several foreign managers as potential candidates to fill the vacancy.

The most high profile of them, former England and Barcelona manager Terry Venables, has been reluctant to accept it, but is expected to give an answer to BFU's final wage offer by Friday.

BFU's executive committee is expected to announce the new manager at its meeting next week.

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