UPDATE 1-Soccer-Bulgaria sack coach Markov and seek replacement

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By Angel Krasimirov

SOFIA, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Bulgaria have sacked national coach Plamen Markov and could look abroad for a replacement, the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) said on Tuesday.

"It was a tough decision but all 13 (executive committee) members voted for Markov's departure," BFU president Borislav Mihaylov told a news conference.

"It was preceded by a serious discussion as we wanted to understand why the national team doesn't perform well on the pitch," he said.

The 51-year-old Markov, who had a contract with the BFU until the end of 2009, has been released after three disappointing draws in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers this autumn.

Markov, a former CSKA Sofia coach who won five league titles and three national cups as a player, had shrugged off calls for his resignation after Bulgaria's humiliating 6-1 loss against Serbia in a friendly last month.

Mihaylov said the BFU would do their best to find a replacement before their extraordinary congress on Jan. 30.

"It could be a Bulgarian coach but it's not impossible to hire a top-class foreigner," he said.