Spartak established itself as one of the most consistent teams in the Bulgarian A Group, only missing five seasons of top flight football between 1952 and 1988.

However, the fans of the club were against the new name and in a meeting, it was decided to change the team's name to "Spartak Pleven", which it still carries today.

In 1949, other football teams began to appear in the city, such as "Lokomotiv" and "General Vinarov".

However, less than a year later, it was decided that Spartak Pleven would separate and act as a club on its own.

Torpedo Pleven won that tournament and went to A PFG, while Spartak would start from the regional groups.

However, the team quickly managed to promote back to professional football, gaining a place in the Bulgarian elite by 1951.

Beginning in 1952, Spartak became a consistent member of the Bulgarian top tier.

This period wasn't however remembered for any significant results, as two nine-placed finishes in 1971 and 1975 were the best the team could achieve.

The team, however, experienced difficulties in the second tier, both financially and performance wise.

In May 2020, the Bulgarian Football Union decided to cancel the remainder of the season due to the coronavirus epidemic outbreak in Bulgaria.

At the time, Spartak was in 16th place (second to last), which meant relegation to the third tier, after just one year in the second league.

As of 31 October 2024[update] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.